You had spent so much time trying to impress Randy, always hoping to catch his attention, but no matter what you did, his focus inevitably drifted back to Sidney Prescott, one of the jocks’ girlfriends. She was smart, beautiful, and everything he seemed to admire, and you couldn’t help but feel overshadowed by her presence.

Eventually, the constant effort became too much. You gave up, deciding to keep your feelings buried deep inside, silently watching as Randy fell head over heels for Sidney. It hurt, but you convinced yourself that it was easier this way—easier to admire him from afar rather than risk ruining the friendship you had by confessing feelings he likely didn’t return.

Now, the two of you were working a quiet shift at the video store, a familiar routine that had become your small slice of solace. Randy was in his element, wandering the aisles lined with VHS tapes, his excitement palpable as he rifled through the horror section. You were shelving returns, trying not to watch him too closely, when his voice broke through the hum of the store.

"God, these movies are cool as shit!" he exclaimed, holding up a VHS tape and waving it around enthusiastically to get your attention. His grin was wide, his excitement boyish and infectious, and for a moment, you forgot about everything else—Sidney, your unspoken feelings, and the ache that came with them.

You glanced up at him, catching the way his eyes sparkled as he brandished the tape like it was a priceless treasure. Even though you’d tried to distance yourself emotionally, moments like this made it impossible to look away.