With every choice, I chose you, Joanne, my light,
Through every storm, I knew you'd be my right.
Paxton sat at his desk, staring at his phone screen as the messages from Amy scrolled endlessly in the group chat. Her words were sharp, layered with accusations and subtle barbs aimed at Joanne. Each one left a sour taste in his mouth. Amy had always been opinionated, but now her opinions seemed driven by something darker—an underlying bitterness that he couldn't ignore anymore.
Joanne's name appeared on his phone in a different chat. He stared at her last message from days ago: a polite, distant response that didn't carry the warmth he used to find in her texts. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. He was losing her, and Amy was the reason why.
Paxton couldn't let that happen.
Later that evening, Amy barged into his room without knocking, her expression a mix of exasperation and self-righteousness.
"Are you seriously still thinking about her?" she asked, throwing her hands in the air. "I mean, come on, Paxton. She's not worth it."
Paxton leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Amy, enough. You've been saying that for weeks now. Don't you think I can decide for myself?"
Amy scoffed. "Oh, sure. Because you've been doing such a great job at that. Joanne's using you, Pax. She doesn't care about you. She just wants to keep you around for attention."
Her words hit like small, sharp daggers, but this time, Paxton didn't falter. He was tired of letting Amy's opinions dictate his choices.
"Stop it," he said firmly, his voice cutting through her rant. Amy blinked, startled by his tone. "You don't know her like I do. Joanne isn't like that. And honestly? I'm starting to wonder why you're so obsessed with tearing her down."
Amy's face twisted in indignation. "I'm trying to protect you! She's bad news, and you're too blind to see it."
"No," Paxton said, his voice rising slightly. "You're not protecting me. You're sabotaging me. I don't know what your problem with Joanne is, but I'm done letting you control this."
The words hung in the air, heavy and final. Amy stared at him, her mouth opening and closing as if searching for a retort. When none came, she spun on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
The next morning, Paxton sat outside the campus library, his phone in hand. His thumb hovered over Joanne's name in his contacts. After a moment of hesitation, he pressed the call button.
It rang twice before she picked up. "Hello?"
"Joanne, it's me," Paxton said, his voice softer than usual. "Can we talk? In person?"
There was a long pause on the other end. Paxton's heart raced as he waited for her response. Finally, she sighed. "Alright. Where?"
"Coffeehouse by the quad?" he suggested.
"Fine," she replied, her tone guarded. "I'll be there in twenty."
Joanne arrived exactly twenty minutes later, her expression unreadable. She slid into the seat across from Paxton, her hands clasped tightly around her coffee cup.
"What do you want to talk about?" she asked, skipping pleasantries.
Paxton took a deep breath. "I want to apologize."
Her eyebrows rose in surprise, but she didn't interrupt.
"I know I've been... distant," he continued. "And I know Amy's been making things worse. I should've stood up to her sooner. I should've stood up for you."
Joanne's eyes softened, but her walls were still firmly in place. "Why didn't you?" she asked quietly.
Paxton hesitated, his gaze dropping to the table. "Because she's my best friend. She's been there for me through everything, and I thought... I thought she was looking out for me. But I was wrong. She wasn't looking out for me—she was trying to control me. And I let her."
Joanne nodded slowly, her grip on her cup loosening. "That's a good start," she said. "But actions speak louder than words, Paxton. I need to know that you're serious about this. About us."
Over the next few weeks, Paxton made a conscious effort to rebuild what had been broken. He distanced himself from Amy, choosing instead to spend more time with Joanne. It wasn't easy—Amy's bitterness only grew, and she didn't hesitate to make her displeasure known. But Paxton didn't waver.
Joanne, too, began to let her guard down, bit by bit. One evening, as they walked through the park together, she opened up in a way she hadn't before.
"I've been scared," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Scared of getting too close to you. Scared of what Amy might do. Scared that... that I'm not enough."
Paxton stopped walking, turning to face her. "Joanne, you're more than enough. I don't care what Amy thinks or says. I see you for who you are, and I'm not going anywhere."
Tears welled up in Joanne's eyes, but she smiled—a small, tentative smile that spoke of hope. "I want to believe you," she said. "I really do."
Amy wasn't one to give up easily. Her attempts to undermine Joanne became increasingly desperate, culminating in an elaborate lie designed to drive a wedge between her and Paxton. But this time, Paxton saw through her.
"You're lying," he said bluntly when she confronted him with her fabricated story. "I don't know why you're doing this, Amy, but it stops now. I won't let you ruin this for me."
Amy's face crumbled, her anger giving way to hurt. "I'm your best friend, Paxton," she said, her voice breaking. "I've always been there for you. Why are you choosing her over me?"
"Because I love her," Paxton said, his voice steady. "And if you really cared about me, you'd want me to be happy—even if that means being with Joanne."
Amy didn't respond. She turned and walked away, leaving Paxton feeling both relieved and saddened. He knew their friendship would never be the same, but he also knew he'd made the right choice.
With Amy's interference finally behind them, Paxton and Joanne began to build a new foundation for their relationship—one based on honesty, trust, and mutual respect.
One evening, as they sat together on a bench overlooking the city, Joanne leaned her head on Paxton's shoulder.
"I'm glad you didn't give up on me," she said softly.
"I never will," he replied, wrapping an arm around her. "You're worth it."
For the first time in months, Joanne felt a sense of peace. They still had a long way to go, but for the first time, the path ahead seemed clear. Together, they could face whatever challenges came their way.