Boston Boys

Pathetic People

The bells and chimes of the arcade faded into the background as Chris stepped outside, shoving his hands into the pockets of his worn-out hoodie. The faint sound of laughter and winning cheers echoed behind him, but Chris wasn't paying attention. No, his mind was already drifting, leaving behind the moments he had shared with Madyson, the girl who dared to breach the walls he had carefully constructed around himself.

"Didn't think you'd turn out to be such a... jerk, Chris," Madyson murmured, her disappointment palpable.
She had thought that perhaps they were forging something real as they battled through games and had genuine conversations, but reality hit hard.
Chris flashed a half-smirk, the kind that twisted his features in a way that screamed smugness.

"Just how I am, Mady. Get used to it," he replied dismissively, turning on his heel and walking away. The sweet moments they shared felt like vapor now, dissolved in the cold air of his arrogance. Madyson watched him go, frustration gnawing at her insides.

Meanwhile, Haley sat in the driver's seat of Haley's car, me passenger, trying to ignore the swirling mess in my stomach.
My thoughts were tangled with the events of the night, while Haley tapped angrily at the steering wheel.

"Can you believe him?" Madyson spat, her brow furrowed in anger. "After everything was going great, he just turns back into a complete ass."

"They're all the same, aren't they?" I said, attempting to be nonchalant at this point. But before I could finish, my eyes caught movement outside. The Sturniolo boys hung around the entrance, their casual apparent even from a distance.

Then, two girls approached them, their laughter echoing in the night air. My heart dropped.
The girls started draping themselves over Chris and Matt, their flirtations loud.

"I thought you and Matt were hitting it off," I pondered aloud, glancing sideways toward her. She was staring, wide-eyed and fuming—the flicker of hope extinguished in an instant.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" Haley said, her voice rising with anger. "This is just pathetic."

I watched, my heart racing, as one of the girls leaned in and kissed Chris. He accepted it casually, like a trophy, and my stomach sank. Matt followed suit, giving into the kiss with the other girl who was leaned up against him, not before plastering a crooked, devil-may-care grin.

"Okay, that's it!" Haley surged forward, throwing the car into drive. The tires screeched as she sped away from the arcade, rage bubbling and pouring out of her every word. "I can't believe this. I was so stupid to think he liked me."

"Haley, wait—" I started, but she was already built up in her fury, focused on the road ahead.

Once we reached our shared home, she stormed inside, slamming the door behind her. I followed, unsure how to console her. Haley was my best friend, and witnessing her anguish felt like watching a fire consume a cherished memory.

"What's wrong with me?" Haley shouted, pacing her living room as if it were a boxing ring. "I thought we had a little bit of something! And there he is, acting like a fool, kissing random girls."

"Haley, you're amazing," I said gently, hoping to ground her storm of emotion. "You deserve someone who sees that. Not some player who can't remember your name in a week."

"Yeah well, clearly Matt isn't the right guy for me," she snapped, before plopping down on the couch, burying her face in her hands. I sat beside her, rubbing her back softly.
"Maybe he just isn't ready," I offered cautiously. "Some guys think they can be charming without any depth."

"Depth? He's not even at the shallow end!" she groaned before sitting up, suddenly serious.

"But you gotta remember, you've spent little time with them, and you guys just met."

Haley scoffed, half-laughing in spite of herself. "He needs a reality check."

Madyson's brow furrowed, momentarily lost in thought before she turned to her friend. "Why don't we just confront him?" she suggested.

Haley considered the thought. Guilt crept in at the edges, but beneath it, excitement bubbled up. "You know what? We should get him back," she said almost hesitantly, gleeful mischief beginning to dance in her eyes.

"And you know I've seen the way you look at Chris. He's just not at all what you imagined him to be. Let's plan something. We'll get dressed up, figure out where they'll be this Friday, and show up looking hot—with other boys!"

Madyson hesitated, glancing at her friend. "Sure, but they might not even care. They hardly know us—we only met them last week."

"Yeah, but there's no chance that God randomly brought both our social media crushes into our lives without a reason. Destiny? Fate? Call it what you want—this is our chance!" Haley declared, her voice firm.
Both girls were caught in the tide of the moment, and once that wave surged through them, there was no stopping it.

As Friday approached, they planned every little detail, excitement building up.

"Makeup and fit have to be flawless," Haley stated as they seated themselves in front of the vanity, palettes laid across the table.

They transformed into the embodiment of confidence, their giggles punctuating the air as they debated on eyeshadow choices and lipstick colors.

Finally, they were ready.