Chapter one
My Rival, My Roommate
Best friend?
Favorite rival?
Or maybe... just your favorite pain in the ass?
Ethan and Alex had been friends since they were in diapers.
But by the time they reached their final year of elementary school, things started to change.
Ethan became more of a troublemaker, while Alex became quieter.
Or, more accurately... less confident.
Ethan had always been the kind of guy who stole the spotlight without even trying.
He made everyone laugh.
He was that golden boy every girl had a crush on.
And, of course, he was always the most popular guy in the room.
Then came middle school.
Teachers were constantly scolding Ethan and comparing him to Alex.
"Why can't you be more like Alex?"
Alex was the good kid.
He listened.
He behaved.
He was polite, kind, and friendly.
And for some reason, that really started to get on Ethan's nerves.
Somehow...
Ethan became jealous of Alex.
And Alex?
Well, he was just a thirteen-year-old boy.
He fell in love with a girl named Christina.
And because he still believed Ethan was his best friend, he told him.
Two weeks later...
Ethan announced to the entire school that Christina was his girlfriend.
And just like that, they became enemies.
Enemies?
Yeah.
Well...
They still cared about each other.
Sort of.
By high school, things had only gotten worse.
It was supposed to be an ordinary day.
Just like any other day.
Or...
No.
Definitely not like any other day.
Ethan, the captain of the basketball team, had been hanging out with his friends.
Alex, meanwhile, was sitting alone in an empty classroom.
Ethan arrived late.
The teacher immediately started lecturing him.
Then came the sentence that pushed Ethan's last nerve.
"Why can't you be more like Alex? He's been here since before I even arrived."
Ethan said nothing.
Not a word.
But something inside him twisted.
Jealousy.
Again.
Then, later that day, in the cafeteria...
Ethan saw his girlfriend talking to Alex.
That was it.
He had had enough.
He walked straight toward them, grabbed his girlfriend by the wrist, and pulled her away.
But that wasn't nearly as rough as what he did to Alex.
One second, Alex was standing there.
The next, Ethan had him on the ground, throwing punch after punch at his face.
Even the blood covering Alex's nose wasn't enough to make him stop.
By the end of the day, Ethan was sitting in the principal's office.
And he got suspended for two weeks.
And then, somehow...
Ethan managed to get into a pretty good university.
The exact same university Alex attended.
But Alex was no longer that shy little boy.
He was still kind.
Still friendly.
Still the same Alex, in some ways.
But he wasn't shy anymore.
And he wasn't obsessed with studying either.
Then, thanks to a few unfortunate university arrangements...
They ended up sharing the same room.
Roommates.
---
The room was quiet.
Ethan was lying on his bed, shirtless and wearing nothing but a pair of boxers, scrolling through his phone.
Across the room, Alex sat on his own bed, reading a book.
By the way...
Ethan and Alex hadn't spoken to each other in over five months.
Not a single word.
Finally, Ethan let out a loud sigh.
He put his phone down and sat on the edge of his bed, staring at Alex.
Alex didn't react.
Not even a little.
Ethan waited.
Nothing.
"Why are you so quiet?! Are you mute or something?"
Alex finished reading the sentence.
Or maybe the entire page, judging by the way Ethan saw it.
Then, slowly, he lifted his eyes toward him.
"Why would I talk to you?"
Ethan paused.
For a second, he seemed like he didn't know what to say.
Or maybe...
Just maybe...
Alex had a point.
"Because we're roommates," Ethan finally said. "And I'm not going to sit here and watch you act like some nerd while reading a book. What's it even about? How to Ignore Handsome Guys?"
Alex cleared his throat.
"It's called How to Ignore Idiots."
Silence.
A very long, very uncomfortable silence.
Then Ethan stood up.
"Listen, you asshole! I'm trying to have a normal conversation with you. Let's forget everything that happened before and start over."
Alex thought about it for a moment.
Then he looked at him.
"What about the girl I loved and you stole from me?"
Ethan's expression changed slightly.
"Or all the beatings you gave me every week in high school?"
Ethan looked away.
"And the midnight messages you sent me just to insult me?"
Ethan ran a hand through his hair.
"Teenage phase."
"You're not a teenager."
"I know. That's why I'm trying to have a mature conversation with you."
"You're not mature."
Ethan's eyes widened.
"Then what am I?!"
Alex stared at him.
"You..."
A pause.
"You're nothing."
---
Eventually, they managed to become half-friends again.
It didn't last long.
During their second year of university, they decided to rent a house near campus together.
And then...
A new girl transferred to their university.
Her name was Brittany.
She was beautiful, sweet, and just a little bit arrogant.
Soft fair skin.
Crystal-blue eyes.
Full red lips.
And a figure that seemed to be everyone's idea of perfection.
Basically...
She was every guy's dream girl.
And that's when Ethan and Alex discovered something that could ruin their already complicated relationship.
They liked the same girl.
Ethan was the first to text her.
Ethan:
"You're the captain of the university cheerleading squad, right? Then you better learn how to scream my name during your cheers."
A few minutes later, she replied.
Brittany:
"I'll start practicing, Captain."
The reply was sarcastic.
But it was enough to make Ethan grin at his phone like an idiot.
At the exact same time...
Alex was texting her too.
Alex:
"I'm always here if you need help, beautiful. I'm free whenever you need help with any difficult subject."
Her reply came shortly after.
Brittany:
"Thank you. I appreciate that. I might need help with math soon."
Alex stared at the message with a stupid smile on his face.
Then he looked up.
And his eyes met Ethan's.
Ethan was still smiling.
"Why are you smiling?"
Alex didn't even hesitate.
"I'm talking to the queen bee of the university."
Ethan's eyes widened.
"You mean Brittany?"
"Yes?"
"Holy shit!"
Ethan suddenly looked horrified.
"Is she playing me?!"
Alex frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Ethan immediately threw his phone at him.
Alex caught it.
He read the messages.
Then his expression darkened."I think she is."
____________________________________End.
I hope you like it. It's my first work, and I'm very hesitant and afraid I won't get any support. I have other stories written on different topics, but I've decided not to publish them until I find some support..
I'd love for someone to rate my story. Thank you. I'd also love to know who your favorite character is right now. And what do you think of Alex, Ethan, and Brittany?
🥺🥺See you.
