Love Rectangled

Prologue

Three Years Ago

"Choose. It's Ivy or me." I stood with crossed arms in front of my friends, tapping my foot impatiently in our small treehouse.

We had built this treehouse together with the help of Noah's dad a few years ago. We used to play here all the time, had countless sleepovers, and spent hours crying and complaining about our parents' rules and strictness. This treehouse was our escape from the real world—a world where everyone eventually had to make a choice.

"I don't get why we have to choose. Can't we all be friends like before?" Noah pleaded, his glossy green eyes begging me to stop.

"No, Noah, we can't." I refused to give in and turned my head, scanning the rest of my friends.

Kevin stood beside me. Ivy and Vanessa were in front, glaring, while Noah looked back and forth between us like a lost puppy. I glanced at Jax, who sat quietly in the corner, head hanging low.

"Who are you going to choose, Jax?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

Please choose me.

I’d had a crush on Jax for the longest time. I wanted him to choose me—not Ivy. Noah, Jax, and I had been friends since we were in diapers. Our mothers were close, and that’s how our friendship began. We did everything together—went to the same school, played together, even spent every holiday side by side.

Then came Ivy.

She transferred to our school in middle school and ended up sitting next to me in class. We started talking, and eventually became friends. I introduced her to Jax and Noah.

Then Kevin and Vanessa joined our circle. We were a tight-knit group—inseparable. People even envied our friendship. But things began to change when I found out Jax liked Ivy.

A few months ago, he came to my house and said he had something important to tell me. I got excited, thinking maybe he’d finally realized his feelings for me and was going to confess. But instead, he told me how much he liked Ivy—and that he was scared to ask her out.

I was devastated and got jealous. After that, things between Ivy and me started to fall apart.

I didn’t understand. Why did he like her when I was the one who had always been there?

I even talked to Ivy about it. First, I asked her how she felt about Jax. She told me he was just a friend. So I told her that he liked her and wanted to ask her out. I also told her how much I liked him. I asked her to tell him she wasn’t interested—so I could have a chance.

But no. She refused and I didn’t understand why, especially since she claimed she didn’t like him.

After that, we fought constantly—over every little thing. She used her charm on Jax, and he fell for it. He always took her side, and it made me furious. I’d had enough. It was the last day of junior high and summer break was starting. So, I gathered everyone in the treehouse and asked them to choose between us.

I knew it was selfish and awful, but I couldn’t handle the fact that my crush—who was also my best friend—liked someone else. It was confusing and painful, especially at fourteen.

"What are you all waiting for?!" I snapped, my voice echoing in the treehouse.

It’s a simple task. Choose her or me!