Chapter 1After graduation, I crashed a campus preview event at my boyfriend and best friend's school.
I was gonna surprise them by selling flowers—
But then Caspian showed up right in front of me.
"I need a massive bouquet delivered to the quad tonight. Got a confession to make."
I tugged at my hoodie, barely able to hide my excitement.
Ever since we graduated high school, he'd been saying he owed me a proper confession.
No idea how he knew I was here, but I nodded eagerly anyway.
That evening, after busting my ass setting up a heart made of candles around the quad, Caspian finally showed up.
My best friend Sloane was there too, fashionably late.
I smile and jogged over, reaching up to pull down my hood.
Then everything stopped.
Caspian turned to Sloane and dropped to one knee.
"Sloane, I'm in love with you."
"Will you be with me?"
...
The crowd went wild.
Sloane took the roses and leaned down to kiss him.
Someone nearby sighed dreamily.
"Finally! They're perfect together!"
"I heard they were the top two students in high school—always neck and neck. Total rivals-to-lovers energy!"
My hands started shaking.
I'd heard that line way too many times over three years of high school.
They'd go head-to-head at debate tournaments.
Fight for the top spot on every exam.
Even when it came to being nice to me, they'd try to one-up each other.
People used to joke that rivals like them were made for each other.
But back then, Sloane would just loop her arm through mine and scoff.
"As if I'd ever fall for someone that clueless! Don't get the wrong idea about us, Wren."
And Caspian would ruffle my hair gently.
"Don't listen to them. You're my girlfriend."
Suddenly, someone's eyes landed on me.
"Who's that? Why's she standing so close?"
Sloane's confused gaze followed.
Thank God I was bundled up enough that even the tears pooling in my eyes stayed hidden.
I dropped my voice and shoved the flowers into Sloane's hands.
"Delivery."
Then I turned and pushed my way to the back of the crowd without a second thought.
It wasn't until someone blocked my view that I finally let myself fall apart.
A girl tapped my shoulder.
"Your keychain is so cute! Can I get the link?"
I looked down to where she was pointing—at the little plush cat dangling from my bag.
Caspian had sent it to me two days ago as a graduation gift.
He'd held it up next to his face on video call, grinning like an idiot.
"For the best girlfriend ever—Wren!"
"I hope every time you see it, you think of me!"
My throat felt like sandpaper.
I wiped my eyes roughly, yanked the plush off my bag, and pressed it into her palm.
"I don't want it anymore. It's yours."
Before she could respond, I bolted.
As I passed the campus bulletin board, I stopped.
Right in the center was a photo of Caspian and Sloane at some award ceremony.
Above it, someone had scrawled in fresh marker:
[Caspian and Sloane—a match made in heaven!]
I recognized his handwriting instantly.
My grades were never great, so Caspian used to send me notes, handwritten letters.
Over and over, he'd write about how much he hoped I'd get into his college.
His signature move?
A tiny dot at the end of every sentence.
I opened USC's Yik Yak.
Most of them were thirsting over Caspian.
Then I hit October 5th of last year. Someone had posted:
[Stop simping, he's got a girlfriend.]
[And they're disgustingly cute together.]
The photo showed Caspian smiling as he kissed Sloane's cheek.
The comments went feral.
[WAIT I know them! They went to the same high school!]
[I heard Caspian had to confess to Sloane 99 times before she agreed to be with him!]
I stared at the screen, my brain short-circuiting.
October 5th last year was my birthday.
We'd done a group video call. I'd blown out candles on screen with them.
Afterward, Sloane posted on her Instagram:
[Spending the day with someone who matters.]
I'd commented: [Wait for me! Next year we'll celebrate together!]
She never replied.
Now I got it.
That post had nothing to do with me.
My phone buzzed.
Our group text exploded with messages.
Sloane sent a photo from the quad confession:
[@Wren, someone just got proposed to at our school! When you get in, we'll make Caspian give you a proper one too, okay?]
[Don't be mad, babe. We've just been super busy today.]
Caspian chimed in: [Wren, stop being difficult.]
I stared at those words as tears slid down onto my screen.
They thought I was still upset about this morning.
When my acceptance letters came, I'd gotten into USC—their college—easily.
So I couldn't wait to see them.
But when I brought it up, Caspian shot me down for the first time ever.
"Wren, there's a curfew here. Plus we've got a huge project going on. We won't have time to hang out."
Sloane jumped in too.
"How about next time, babe? I promise we'll make it up to you!"
"Once you're enrolled here, we'll see each other every day anyway!"
I thought they really were busy.
Turns out they were just busy with their ninety-ninth confession.
I wiped my face.
There wouldn't be a next time.
This was the last one.
Chapter 2
I dropped my location in the group text.
[You guys free?]
[I'm at USC.]
The chat went silent.
Ten minutes later, shadows fell over me.
I looked up. Caspian and Sloane were standing right there.
Caspian's eyes lingered on me for a second.
If he'd looked closer, he would've recognized me from earlier.
But he just sighed.
"You're impossible, you know that?"
"Come on, princess. Let's get you some food."
Sloane was still holding that giant bouquet of roses.
She looped her arm through mine. "Wren, did you miss me that much?"
Caspian snorted from up ahead. "Miss you? She obviously missed me."
Sloane huffed and shoved the flowers into my arms, then chased after him, pretending to smack him.
"Shut up! Wren missed me more!"
They ran ahead, laughing and shoving each other—just like all those nights after class in high school.
Back then, they'd always turn around and wait for me.
"Wren, hurry up! We're waiting!"
These two people who were always so good to me—could they really betray me like this?
I'd seen it with my own eyes.
But some pathetic part of me still wanted to believe it wasn't real.
While I stood there frozen, a thorn from the roses dug into my palm.
I looked down.
These were the same roses they'd been kissing over just minutes ago.
A wave of nausea hit me hard.
I bent over and dry-heaved.
By the time I straightened up, they were already way ahead.
I stood there, stunned.
I couldn't remember when it started, but no matter which of them grabbed my hand first, they always ended up walking together.
And left me behind.
I remembered what a friend told me once:
"If someone really loved you, they'd never let you walk alone."
Suddenly, the whole thing felt ridiculous.
I flew all the way to LA, only to watch my boyfriend and best friend get together right in front of me.
When we reached the campus gates, someone they knew called out to them.
"Heard you two finally made it official! Congrats!"
"Honestly, you guys have always looked like a couple anyway."
Their smiles froze.
Caspian glanced at me. "They're just messing around. Don't take it seriously."
Sloane stayed quiet, looking uncomfortable.
I stared at them.
We'd known each other for almost fifteen years.
I knew exactly what they looked like when they lied.
In the past, every time I caught them, I'd force myself to smile and change the subject—anything to smooth things over.
But now? I just nodded. Said nothing.
Maybe because they were scared I'd get suspicious, they started making a big show of keeping their distance.
But then, while we were eating, a message popped up in the group text from Sloane:
[How long is she staying? Today's supposed to be our first day together!]
[Our alone time is totally ruined!]
She deleted it a second later.
I was supposed to be Caspian's actual girlfriend.
But she made it sound like I was the other woman.
They both panicked for a moment, then tried to act normal and started talking about where to take me next.
I looked down at the fish they'd put in my plate.
After all these years, they still didn't remember I was allergic to fish.
I swallowed the ache in my throat.
"Don't worry about it. I already bought a ticket home."
Sloane forced a smile.
"Come on, Wren. You came all this way. We have to show you around."
I looked her dead in the eye.
"Didn't you say I was ruining your little couple bubble?"
Her face went stiff.
"I sent that by accident, Wren. You're misunderstanding—"
"You two are great together. I'm just a third wheel anyway. Kind of a burden."
Sloane stared at my calm face, her lips trembling.
Tears streamed down her face.
Caspian frowned and stepped in front of her.
"Sloane and I are friends. People talk. That's normal."
"We were busy today and still made time for you. Why are you twisting everything?"
"Wren, it's bad enough that you're slow—do you have to be dramatic too?"
My nails dug into my palms.
Everyone always said I was slow.
Teachers said it when I couldn't solve problems.
Classmates said it when I didn't fight back.
But Caspian used to ruffle my hair and tell me, "You're never slow to me, Wren."
Now he was saying it too.
I looked him straight in the eye.
"Caspian, we're done."
Chapter 3
His face darkened.
"There's a limit to throwing tantrums, you know."
"You were the one who said you wanted us to look out for each other."
"Besides, Sloane is your best friend."
Best friend?
I stared at the matching rings glinting on their fingers.
"Do friends pretend to be a couple on campus? Do friends wear matching rings?"
With every word I said, Caspian's expression got worse.
"Enough! Do you have to make this such a big deal?"
Sloane's tears came on cue. "Wren, don't do this because of me—"
She was crying, but I could see the satisfaction flickering in her eyes.
"Don't touch me!"
I yanked my arm away from her.
Ripped the bracelet on her wrist broke.
That little heart charm dug into my palm.
I'd made that for her by hand when she graduated high school.
It had two crystals with a heart in the middle.
Back then, I told her I was the pink crystal, she was the blue one, and the heart meant our friendship was strong as steel.
Caspian reached out to steady her, but his eyes caught the blood dripping from my hand.
He looked worried. He started toward me.
But Sloane grabbed his arm tight. "I don't feel good."
His words caught in his throat.
He panicked, scooped her up, and muttered, "Let's just… cool off for a bit," before walking away without looking back.
Outside the window, some kids were shoving each other around, laughing.
I felt like I was watching my life from a distance.
We grew up in the same neighborhood.
When I was seven, my parents were never home.
The neighborhood kids used to bully me.
They dumped cold water on my head. Caspian and Sloane stopped them.
Sloane puffed out her chest like some kind of gang leader.
"Don't worry! I've got your back from now on!"
After that, we were inseparable.
In high school, the three of us went to watch a meteor shower.
I asked them what they wished for.
Sloane grinned mysteriously. "I hope the three of us stay best friends forever."
Caspian leaned close and whispered in my ear, his voice firm. "I hope I get to be with Wren."
Sloane yelled at him for breaking the rules.
I blushed.
And I wished on that meteor that we'd stay together forever.
But now?
Those promises felt like slaps across my face.
My phone buzzed. Caspian texted me:
[Go home for now, okay?]
[When school starts, we'll come pick you up and hang out properly.]
I stood up and started packing my stuff.
But as I turned the corner, I saw them.
They hadn't left yet.
Sloane was sobbing. "Everyone knows we're together now. If she ends up at USC too, what am I supposed to be—the side chick?"
"I know you feel guilty about Wren. I do too. But I've given you everything. Can't you put me first just once?"
"I'm not trying to compete. I just want to be with you."
Caspian looked at her with nothing but tenderness.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"Don't worry. I won't let her come to USC."
Sloane sniffled. "But… her scores are already good enough."
Caspian nodded, his tone casual—like what he said next was no big deal.
"I declined USC's offer on her portal. Accepted LASC instead. The deadline's already passed."
"I'll just say I misclicked or something. She won't blame us."
"That way, she'll never find out."
My legs gave out.
I almost collapsed right there.
