She was always there. So why did it suddenly feel like she was behind?
Claire stood by the window outside the student council room, pretending to scroll through her phone while the meeting inside wrapped up. She told herself she was just passing by. That she wasn't waiting for anyone. That it was just coincidence.
Then she heard Ethan's voice.
Calm. Measured. Just loud enough to be heard.
She didn't catch the words. Just the rhythm of them. The kind that got people to follow.
He never used to speak like that.
Back when they were kids, Ethan hated being the center of attention. He'd freeze during class presentations and hide behind her during school events. She used to be the one talking for both of them.
Now, she watched through the glass as he leaned over the table, explaining something to Lena. Calmly, confidently. And Lena—Claire blinked—was listening.
Not arguing. Not scoffing.
Actually listening.
Claire's fingers tightened slightly around her phone.
She found herself sitting alone at the field bleachers a few minutes later. Not her usual spot, but she didn't want to go home yet.
The afternoon sun made the metal warm beneath her palms. She closed her eyes.
When did things change?
She used to know every little thing about him—his favorite brand of instant ramen, the exact laugh he made when he thought something was clever, not funny.
And now she was standing outside a room, watching him from the other side.
She hadn't left. She hadn't moved. She was still the girl next door.
So why did it feel like she'd fallen behind?
Claire scrolled through her gallery until she found the old picture, taken during a class picnic, back when Ethan still wore oversized hoodies and grumbled about math clubs. They were sitting under a tree, sharing a sandwich. Her hand was holding the corner of the bread. His mouth was mid-bite.
She laughed softly.
"I should've kept pulling him out of his shell," she whispered. "Instead of assuming he'd stay there."
She walked to her family's front porch, paused, then turned back around. The sky was darker now.
Her fingers hovered over Ethan's name in her contacts.
She didn't want to send a casual text. Not something shallow like How was your day? or Wanna hang out? Those felt wrong.
So she typed something simpler.
You still like that udon place near the arcade? My treat this time.
She hit send before she could overthink it.
She didn't think she had to compete. But maybe it was time she stopped waiting to be chosen… and started choosing him back.