Rules of Attraction

02

Serena's POV

The strum of my guitar filled the living room as I practiced for the school concert. Music had always been my escape, a way to express emotions I couldn't put into words. But today, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change.

Reagan was sprawled on the couch, flipping through his notebook filled with lacrosse plays. It was comforting to have him here, his presence steady and reassuring. Yet, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of uncertainty as I thought about Rule #7: Never let anything come between our friendship.

"Hey, Reagan," I began hesitantly, setting my guitar aside. "Do you ever wonder what will happen if one of us breaks a rule?"

He looked up, surprise flickering in his blue eyes. "Why do you ask? We've never had a problem with the rules before."

I shrugged, avoiding his gaze. "I don't know. I guess I'm just worried about the future. We're growing up, and things are changing. What if...what if one day we can't follow the rules anymore?"

Reagan sat up, setting his notebook aside. "Serena, the rules are there to protect our friendship. As long as we stick to them, we'll be fine. Besides, we've got each other's backs, remember?"

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, you're right. I guess I'm just overthinking."

Before Reagan could respond, my phone buzzed on the coffee table. I glanced at the screen and saw a text from my boyfriend, Alex.

"Is that Alex?" Reagan asked, his tone casual but his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Yeah, he's just checking in," I replied, typing a quick response. Alex was great, but sometimes I felt like he didn't quite understand my bond with Reagan.

Reagan leaned back, his expression unreadable. "You two seem pretty serious."

"We are," I said, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. "He's really supportive of my music, and he makes me happy."

"That's good," Reagan said, though his voice lacked enthusiasm. "As long as you're happy."

An awkward silence settled between us, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. I knew Reagan and Alex didn't exactly get along, but I didn't want to choose between my best friend and my boyfriend.

"Hey, do you want to take a break and grab some coffee?" I suggested, hoping to lighten the mood.

Reagan's face brightened. "Sure, that sounds great."

We grabbed our things and headed out, the sun shining brightly as we walked to our favorite cafe. The familiar route and our easy conversation helped ease the tension from earlier.

As we sat down with our drinks, I noticed Reagan's thoughtful expression. "What's on your mind?" I asked.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I've been thinking about college applications. Lacrosse scholarships, academic goals...it's all a lot to handle."

I reached across the table and squeezed his hand. "You'll do great, Reagan. You're one of the smartest and most hardworking people I know."

"Thanks, Serena. It means a lot coming from you," he said, smiling.

We spent the rest of the afternoon chatting and laughing, the earlier tension forgotten. But as we walked back to my house, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was shifting between us.

When we arrived, I saw Alex waiting on my porch. He waved, a broad smile on his face. "Hey, Serena! Ready for our date?"

Reagan stiffened beside me, but I quickly squeezed his arm. "Thanks for today, Reagan. I'll see you later, okay?"

He nodded, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "Yeah, see you later."

As I walked towards Alex, I glanced back at Reagan. His figure receded into the distance, and I couldn't help but wonder how much longer we could keep following the rules.

Reagan's POV

I watched Serena walk away with Alex, my chest tightening with an unfamiliar emotion. Was it jealousy? Frustration? I couldn't tell. All I knew was that seeing them together felt like a punch to the gut.

Rule #7 echoed in my mind: Never let anything come between our friendship.

I had always believed in our rules, but now, for the first time, I questioned if they were enough. Serena was happy with Alex, and I wanted to be happy for her. But I couldn't deny the growing unease in my heart.

As I walked home, I resolved to focus on my goals – lacrosse, academics, my future. But deep down, I knew that no matter how hard I tried, my feelings for Serena were changing. And I had no idea how to navigate the complexities that lay ahead.

That evening, I sat in my room, staring at the list of rules pinned on my bulletin board. Seven rules to protect our friendship. Seven rules that had always kept us safe.

But now, those same rules felt like they were binding us, holding us back from something deeper. And for the first time, I wondered if breaking one of them might be inevitable.