The quiet of the night wrapped around me as I pushed open the door to my room, the stillness doing nothing to quiet the war waging inside my chest. Isla's smile kept flashing in my mind, the way she looked at Jake like he was the center of her world—like he deserved her. He didn't. Hell, no one did. But especially not him.

I dropped onto my bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to push the frustration out of my system. I knew it was only a matter of time before Isla saw him for what he really was. Jake wasn't the type to stay clean for long—he was bound to screw up, and when he did, she'd be hurt. And I hated knowing it was coming. Knowing I couldn't stop it.

I wanted to tell her. God, I wanted to tell her so badly, but the second I opened my mouth, I'd lose her. She'd hate me for getting in the middle. The thought of her shutting me out? I couldn't risk that. Not yet.

I ran my hands through my hair, my head heavy with the weight of everything. If she ever found out I knew what Jake said, that I'd kept it from her... She'd never forgive me.

"Theo! Dinner's on the table!" Dad's voice boomed from downstairs, pulling me from the spiral of thoughts.

"Coming!" I called back, though I stayed on my bed for a moment longer, my fingers gripping the comforter. I needed to chill. This was killing me, but I couldn't let it show. Not with her, not with anyone.

When I finally dragged myself downstairs, I could already feel Dad's eyes on me as I entered the dining room.

"You alright?" he asked, not pushing, but his voice held that fatherly tone that said he already knew I wasn't.

"Yeah, fine." I sank into the chair, reaching for a plate of whatever Mom had cooked tonight. The smell of pasta filled the room, but my appetite wasn't there. I took a bite anyway, more out of habit than hunger, trying to ignore the looks I was getting from across the table.

Mom didn't say anything, but I could feel her eyes burning a hole into the side of my face. She always knew when something was off, but she wasn't the type to push unless she had to. For now, I was safe.

The conversation around the table faded into the background as I forced myself through dinner, pretending like everything was fine when all I could think about was Isla. Her laugh. Her stupid boyfriend. The way Jake's hands were always all over her, like he had any right to touch her.

After what felt like forever, I excused myself and headed back upstairs, grabbing my phone and flopping onto the bed again. I scrolled through my messages, hoping to distract myself with something mindless when one from Lewis popped up.

Lewis: Yo, what's up with you and Jake? Heard you almost punched him after practice.

I clenched my jaw, rereading the message. Great. Word was already spreading. I wasn't in the mood to hash it out with Lewis, though.

Me: He's a dick.

I didn't have the energy to explain it, not even to Lewis. I tossed my phone aside and lay back, staring up at the ceiling again. I had no idea how long I could keep this up. Watching Isla fall deeper for that asshole, knowing I couldn't do a damn thing about it, was driving me insane.

And the worst part? Tomorrow was the game. The one I'd have to play right alongside Jake, pretending like I didn't want to break his face.

Tomorrow was going to be hell.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling me from the spiral of thoughts. I glanced at it, expecting another message from Lewis, but the name on the screen made my stomach twist.

Isla.

Luna: You awake?

I stared at the message, my fingers hovering over the screen as I debated whether or not to answer. I knew what I wanted to say—everything that had been burning in my chest for weeks. But instead, I typed something safe.

Me: Yeah, what's up?

The typing bubble appeared almost immediately, and I could practically see her pacing, her fingers flying over the screen.

Luna: I asked Jake what happened and he's being off, but he won't talk about it. I don't know what's going on with him.

Of course, it was about Jake. It was always about Jake. I clenched my jaw, trying to rein in the flood of emotions threatening to spill out. She was asking me about the very person who had been the source of my frustration for weeks.

Me: Maybe you should ask him straight up.

There was a long pause before she responded. I could imagine her thinking it over, trying to make sense of Jake's behaviour.

Luna: I tried. He just brushed me off. You don't think he's mad at me, do you?

A wave of anger surged through me, and before I could stop myself, I typed back more than I should've.

Me: Mad at you? Isla, you're not the problem here. He is.

I stared at the message, realizing I'd crossed a line. But it was too late to take it back. The truth was out there now, even if it was only a fraction of everything I wanted to say.

Luna: What do you mean?

My heart pounded as I tried to decide what to say next. I had two choices—keep brushing it off like I'd been doing, or finally say what had been eating away at me for months.

I took a deep breath and typed.

Me: I mean that Jake doesn't treat you the way you deserve to be treated. You know that, right?

This time, her response came quickly.

Luna: Theo, you don't know him like I do. He's different with me.

I let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through my hair. Different with her? Maybe. But it didn't change the fact that I saw the way he acted when she wasn't around. And the things he said...

Me: I know enough. I know he's been talking shit behind your back. Complaining to his friends about things that should stay between the two of you. Is that what you call different?

Silence. My heart raced, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I stared at the screen, waiting for her reply. A minute passed, then two, and my mind spun with every possible outcome of this conversation. Maybe I'd finally done it—crossed the line I couldn't come back from.

But then, my phone buzzed again.

Luna: What are you talking about? What did he say?

I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. I could feel the weight of the truth pressing down on me, but the thought of hurting her, of seeing her heartbroken... I didn't want to be the one responsible for that.

Me: I don't want to hurt you, Isla. But you deserve to know.

There was another long pause before she replied.

Luna: Tell me. Please.

I closed my eyes for a moment, then typed out the truth, my hands shaking as I hit send.

Me: He's been complaining to the team about your boundaries. Saying things like... you're not giving him what he wants, and he's thinking about finding it somewhere else.

I waited, the silence on the other end of the conversation stretching out into an unbearable tension. I could almost feel the hurt radiating from her through the screen. A minute passed, then another, and I started to wonder if she'd ever respond.

But then, her message appeared.

Luna: Why didn't you tell me this sooner?

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening with guilt. I wanted to say that I hadn't wanted to lose her, that I was scared she'd push me away. But all I could manage was the truth.

Me: I didn't want you to get hurt. I didn't want to lose you.

Her response came quicker this time.

Luna: I wouldn't have shut you out, Theo. I thought you knew me better than that.

I stared at the message, feeling the weight of her words settle over me. She was right. I did know her better than that. But the fear of losing her had clouded my judgment, made me doubt everything.

Me: I'm sorry. I should've told you.

There was a long pause before she replied.

Luna: It's not your fault. I just... I need some time to think.

My heart sank as I read her message, knowing that everything was about to change. I'd done the right thing by telling her the truth, but that didn't make it any easier.

Me: Take all the time you need. I'll be here.

The typing bubble appeared again, and her next message hit me harder than I expected.

Luna: Thank you, Theo. For always looking out for me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, feeling the familiar ache settle in my chest. I wanted to say so much more, but I knew now wasn't the time. She needed space, and I had to respect that.

Me: Always, Luna.

With that, the conversation ended, but the weight of everything we'd said hung heavy in the air. I tossed my phone aside and lay back on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, wondering how long it would take to finally confess my feelings for my best friend. 

The things that girl does to me.