Chapter 3 Jealousy Unleashed

The bonfire crackled, flames dancing high as the warmth pushed back the cool evening breeze. Music thumped from a speaker nearby, and clusters of their friends laughed and talked around the fire. It should've been a fun night - but Mia couldn't focus on anything except Alex.

He wasn't alone.

The blonde girl from school - Tessa, Mia remembered - was practically glued to his side. She laughed at everything Alex said, twirling her hair around her finger like she was starring in some cheesy rom-com.

Mia tried not to care. She sat closer to Ethan, pretending to be fascinated by his stories. She laughed at his jokes, even when they weren't funny. But no matter how hard she tried, her gaze kept drifting back to Alex.

Then she caught him looking at her too - right when Ethan leaned in a little closer. Alex's expression darkened. He whispered something to Tessa, and the next thing Mia knew, they were walking straight toward her.

"Hey," Alex greeted flatly, his arm draped lazily over Tessa's shoulders.

"That's it?" Mia shot back. "That's all you've got to say?"

"What's your problem?" Alex's voice was sharp now.

"My problem?" She scoffed. "You've been acting like I don't exist, and now you're suddenly best friends with her?"

"Oh, so you can hang out with Ethan all you want, but I can't talk to someone else?"

"That's different!"

"How?" Alex challenged.

"Because..." Mia's breath hitched. "Because I don't care about Ethan the way I care about you!"

Her voice was louder than she'd meant it to be, and suddenly everything seemed quieter - like the entire bonfire had paused.

"What?" Alex's voice softened, like he wasn't sure he'd heard her right.

"I... I don't know," Mia stammered, her heart pounding.

"No," Alex said, stepping closer. "Say it again."

"I like you," Mia admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "And seeing you with someone else just..."

"Drives you crazy?" Alex finished.

"Yeah," she muttered.

"Well... now you know how I've been feeling for weeks," Alex said with a weak smile.