Chloe and I had been inseparable since
kindergarten. She was the popular one,
always surrounded by admirers. I benefited, of
course. Free movie tickets, inside scoops on
the cute boys
perks of being the best
friend. Chloe had high standards, though. She
never seemed interested in any of them.
L
We went to the same college, where I met
Ethan at a student government meeting. He
was campus royalty – handsome, charming,
and heir to a small fortune. I had a massive
crush, but it stayed safely tucked away.
Then, the lead for the college Christmas show
fell ill. Ethan, knowing I had some theatre
experience, begged me to step in. We spent
every waking hour rehearsing, and a
friendship blossomed.
Chloe, feeling neglected, started giving Ethan
the cold shoulder. He returned the favor, and
they became a constant source of bickering.
Junior year, fueled by liquid courage, I
confessed my feelings to Ethan. To my
surprise, he said yes.
Chloe was furious. She sulked for weeks, then
く
finally forgave me, but she never missed a
chance to badmouth Ethan. He, in turn,
constantly told me to spend less time with
her. This awkward dynamic became our new
normal. I figured it was just one of those
―
things the boyfriend and the best friend
who couldn’t stand each other. I never
imagined they were both playing me for a
fool.
