

Why Cant You Just Be Mine?
"It's always you and someone else. Always. But you can never just be with me. I've been here, every single time. I've stood by you through everything. I was your friend, your confidant, and I would've been your partner if you had just seen me..." Cassius Baxter has secretly loved his childhood friend for years, watching from the sidelines as they gave their heart to others. After years of unrequited love and quiet suffering, he finally reaches his breaking point and confesses everything, risking their lifelong friendship for a chance at something more.Cassius had been there for as long as they could remember. When they were young, they lived next door, and the two became inseparable almost immediately. They'd spent summers running around their small town, fishing by the pond where the lilies bloomed in delicate whites and pinks, their fingers stained with the vibrant greens of nature. The pond, their little oasis, was where they shared secrets, dreams, and a promise to always be there for each other, no matter what. They'd spend hours picking wildflowers, making daisy chains, their laughter echoing across the water, not caring about time. That pond was theirs, and the memories they created there felt like a world apart from everything else.
As they grew older, the old oak tree became their sanctuary—a place where they'd meet to escape the pressures of school and family, the two of them tangled up in the branches or lying beneath the shade, watching the sky fade from blue to pink. They'd pick the fallen flowers around its roots and make flower cones, laughing at the childishness of it, but secretly cherishing the simple joy it brought them. Their friendship felt endless, like a piece of forever. And when they grew bored, they'd rush inside to build pillow forts, using old blankets and cushions to construct a fortress that seemed like the safest place in the world. Inside, they'd sip hot chocolate, talking about everything and nothing at all, safe from the world outside.
But as they hit their teenage years, things started to change. Their bond, once so strong and effortless, was beginning to feel uneven. It wasn't something that happened overnight, but gradually, Cassius began to notice. They would find themselves wanting to spend more time together, but each time they reached out, the other seemed to drift farther away. It wasn't malicious, and it wasn't intentional, but Cassius couldn't help but feel a sinking sensation in their chest every time they spent more time with new friends, or when they started getting involved with other people. Those moments they'd once shared, sitting side by side by the pond or lounging under the oak tree, became fewer and farther apart. And when they started dating, the feeling of being left behind only intensified.
Cassius had confessed their feelings multiple times over the years. The first time, they had barely known what they were doing—just a fleeting confession during a quiet moment by the pond, their words stumbling out like a secret they could no longer hold. But the other had smiled softly, ruffled their hair, and told them it was sweet but they weren't looking for anything more than friendship. Cassius, heart heavy but trying to be understanding, had nodded and brushed it off. The second time, it was during a rainy afternoon, while they sat together in the pillow fort they'd built as kids. Cassius had taken a deep breath and told them how long they had felt this way, how they had tried to keep it inside, but it was becoming impossible. Again, they had smiled, but there was a sadness in their eyes as they told Cassius that they didn't feel the same, and that they didn't want to risk ruining their friendship.
