(Aaron's POV)
The autumn wind was biting, kicking up dry leaves across the concrete courtyard, but the real chill was settling deep inside my chest.
I leaned against the cold brick wall near the exit doors, clutching the straps of my backpack like a shield. The courtyard was a buzzing hive of middle schoolers trading gossip, slamming locker doors, and rushing for the buses, but my eyes automatically tracked to the bike racks.
Liam was standing there with Linna.
She was animatedly gesturing with her hands, her bright red hair shifting in the breeze, throwing her head back as she laughed. But it wasn't her that made my stomach twist into a violent knot. It was him. He was leaning against the metal rack, his head tilted, totally locked into her orbit. He was looking down at her with this soft, crinkling warmth around his eyes, catching her laugh and throwing it right back.
It was an unfiltered, radiant kind of joy. And it absolutely leveled me, because I recognized that exact expression. It was the same look he used to give me when we'd conquer a giant tree in the woods or declare our stick castles impenetrable.
I had spent my whole life thinking that light in his eyes belonged exclusively to our private universe. Seeing it directed at someone else—at *her*—felt like a physical blow to the ribs.
*She makes him happy,* I desperately rehearsed in my head, a mantra to keep myself from breaking down right there on the pavement. *That's what he deserves. You're his best friend. You'll get over him. Just breathe.*
Suddenly, Liam's eyes scanned the crowd. He spotted me. Instantly, his face lit up, and he hoisted his arm high in the air, waving frantically.
"Hey, Aaron! Over here!" his voice boomed across the courtyard, cutting right through the afternoon chaos.
Linna turned around, her bright green eyes finding me too, and she offered a friendly, welcoming wave. They both looked so effortless. So perfect.
I forced my muscles to cooperate, plastering on the easy, supportive smile I'd been practicing for weeks. I stepped away from the wall, though every step toward them felt like walking through wet cement.
"There he is," Liam grinned as I finally reached the bike racks. He reached out, grabbing my shoulder and shaking it playfully in that familiar, heavy way that always made my pulse spike.
"Where have you been hiding? We've been standing out here freezing our faces off."
"I had to grab my science binder from my locker," I lied smoothly, adjusting my backpack. "The traffic by the stairs was brutal."
"Tell me about it," Linna chimed in, shivering slightly in her denim jacket. "It's like a stampede up there. But listen, Liam and I were just talking about the history presentation."
"Yeah, Aaron," Liam said, turning his full attention to me, his hand still resting casually on my shoulder. "I was telling Linna about that awesome idea you had for the poster board. The medieval castle layout? With the fold-out sections?"
"Oh. Right. The castle," I murmured. My throat felt incredibly dry. It was ironic, really, that a castle was our project.
"I think it's brilliant," Linna said, her tone sweet and genuinely enthusiastic. "Seriously, Aaron. We were thinking we could all go to the diner down the street, grab a booth, and start sketching it out. What do you think?"
I looked from her bright smile to Liam's expectant face. He nudged my shoulder, his dark eyes sparkling. "Come on, man. My treat on the cheese fries. You can't say no to cheese fries."
"I don't know, guys," I hesitated, a heavy wave of exhaustion washing over me. Watching them interact up close, seeing the easy rhythm they were already developing, felt like a slow torture. "I have a ton of homework tonight."
"Oh, come on, Aaron, don't be a buzzkill," Liam teased, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. He leaned in a little closer, crowding my space the way he always did. "History is due on Friday. Plus, the diner has the good milkshakes today. Chocolate-banana. Your favorite."
The fact that he remembered my favorite milkshake flavor sent a sharp, agonizing pang straight through my chest. He was standing right next to me, completely oblivious to the fact that his casual proximity felt like electricity under my skin. He was treating me like his brother, his partner-in-crime, completely unaware of the internal warfare raging inside me.
"Yeah, Aaron, please come!" Linna added, wrapping her scarf a little tighter around her neck. "We really need your creative brain for the drawings. Liam's stick figures look like deformed spiders."
"Hey! My spiders have character," Liam protested, feigning offense and throwing his hands up.
Linna giggled, nudging his arm. "They have something, alright. But it's definitely not historical accuracy."
I watched the brief, playful exchange, feeling completely adrift in a fog of uncertainty. I was standing right next to the person who anchored my entire universe, yet I had never felt further away. I was permanently relegated to the margins of a story that didn't belong to me.
"Alright, fine," I said, forcing a chuckle that felt completely hollow in my mouth. "But only if we actually get the sketching done. I'm not getting a C on this project because you two are arguing about spider drawings."
"Yes! Victory!" Liam cheered, clapping me on the back before unlocking his bike. "Lead the way, Captain Castle."
I smiled and started walking beside them, adjusting my grip on my backpack straps, holding my truth tight against my ribs right where it belonged.