Chapter 2: Out of the Friendzone, Into the Fire

Natalie looked at me, eyes flickering with guilt, lips trembling as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t. Maybe she thought I’d blow up. Maybe she was scared I wouldn’t care.

"Alex, are you mad?"

I was silent for a moment, staring at the box in my hand like it was radioactive, then handed it back to her.

"Keep it. Don’t lose it when you two need it."

She panicked, shaking her head as she tucked the box away. "How could I use this with someone else? It was just a game, a punishment for losing. Alex, you have to believe me."

[I can’t! Girl, wake up! Why are you apologizing? Your true love is right there waiting for you!]

[Don’t waste time apologizing to the second-string boyfriend. Just give the main guy a hint and he’d give you his life, silly girl, turn back now!]

The comments were wailing, like a reality show audience that already knows who’s getting voted off. They wanted drama, and here I was, the designated villain—so-called evil second-string boyfriend, Natalie the lead, and everyone’s just waiting for me to get out of the way so their OTP can finally be together.

I sneered to myself—but only on the inside. *So this is my role? Just the plot device to make everyone else look better.*

I just sat quietly on the couch, flipping my lighter open and shut, one cigarette after another filling the air with that stale, sweet smell that always reminded me of late-night Waffle House parking lots.

"You carry something this private around. Did it never occur to you I’d feel bad if I saw it?"

Natalie froze, guilt flickering across her face like a glitch in a livestream.

She immediately threw herself at me, arms wrapping tight around my shoulders, looking crushed. "It’s my fault this time, I didn’t think about your feelings, Alex, I’m sorry, I’ll be careful next time…"

She coaxed me for a long time, voice soft, fingers tracing nervous circles on my arm, as if she could erase the whole awkward scene if she just tried hard enough.

Then she wanted to go out and buy movie tickets to make it up to me. Like a peace offering, or maybe a way to hit reset on the day.

The comments popped up in rapid succession, relentless and gleeful.

[Go, girl! You’ll just happen to run into the main guy who also wants to see Foxfire 2.]

[The last two tickets will be given to the lead by the main guy, she’ll feel guilty and remember his kindness~]

[Only the main guy gives Natalie the best of everything.]

Part of me wanted to say yes, just to pretend everything was fine. The other part wanted to ask her if she’d ever let Derek see her this flustered.

Suddenly, I grabbed her hand, maybe a little harder than I meant to, but I just couldn’t take the thought of her drifting away.

Natalie turned back, blinking. "What is it, Alex?"

"I’ll go with you."

Natalie blinked again, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she looked at our hands, then at me—like she was seeing me in a new light for half a second.

"Okay, let’s go together. Let’s buy tickets for today and watch it together~"

As expected, the comments lined up to curse me again, like it was their job.

I just closed my eyes, inhaling slow, letting the nicotine calm my nerves. *No point reading any more of that garbage.*

When it comes to Natalie, I can’t say I love her to death, or that I couldn’t let go. But I’m the stubborn type.

Someone I already dislike is circling around my girlfriend, getting closer and closer, ready to push me out. It’s like we’re both at the free throw line and she’s the prize, and I’m about to get benched.

How could this kind of showdown not get your blood pumping? Even in the South, even if you tell yourself you’re above jealousy, it gets under your skin.