Prologue

Life has a funny way of showing you what you need. You don't always know it at the time, but later, when you look back, it's as clear as the sky on a bright summer day.

I never expected Ethan. I mean, how could I? I had my friends, my routine, my life all figured out. And then there he was, standing in front of me as my new seatmate in middle school, with that cocky grin of his. It was clear from the first moment that we'd clash. And clash we did. In fact, I thought I hated him.

He was too confident, too competitive, too everything that I wasn't supposed to like. And yet, somehow, he wormed his way into my life. I never thought I'd end up being close to him, let alone best friends. But here I am, thinking back on the days we spent laughing, fighting, and growing up together. It's funny how things work out.

This is the story of how a rivalry turned into something else. How I went from despising Ethan to caring about him more than I thought possible. How I learned that sometimes, it takes a little discomfort to figure out who belongs in your life..