𝙱𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊 𝚁𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝? | Jenna Ortega

friends | j.o

Jenna and I had been friends forever.

A friendship that seemed destined to last forever, full of laughter, adventures, and confidences. We knew everything about each other and complemented each other in ways that no one else could understand.

But lately, the way I looked at Jenna had changed.

I noticed that my heart raced faster when she laughed at my jokes, and my stomach filled with butterflies every time our eyes met. My feelings for her had become deeper, more complex, more romantic. However, I had never found the courage to tell her. The fear of ruining our friendship, of losing her, held me back every time I tried to speak.

My distraction began when I started dating Luca.

He was kind, caring, and made me feel special.

But he wasn't Jenna.

He could never be.

Despite Luca being a great guy, I often found myself thinking about how it would be if Jenna were holding my hand, smiling at me from across the table. Her laughter didn't have the same effect, and her hugs didn't bring the same comfort. Every date with Luca made me wish Jenna were in his place.

Jenna, on the other hand, seemed more and more distant, and it hurt.

And I especially didn't understand why.

At first, I thought it was just a period of stress or fatigue from work on the set, but over time, I noticed she avoided our meetings, found excuses not to go out with me, and, when she did, she was always distracted, lost in her thoughts.

I tried to talk to her, to understand what was happening, but she would smile and change the subject, reassuring me that everything was fine.

But I knew it wasn't true.

I sighed and rubbed my eyes, trying to ease the fatigue. It was midnight and I had to finish a report I had neglected all week. The papers scattered on the desk and the computer full of data reminded me that I had to get it done. As I tried to focus, my phone suddenly rang, interrupting the silence.

I looked up from the screen, surprised by the late-night call. With a distracted movement, I picked up the phone and saw that it was Emma calling me.

"Hey, Emma?" I answered, trying to hide my exhaustion. "Do you need something?"

The background music was so loud that I had difficulty hearing Emma's voice. "You need to come here," she murmured, worried. "Jenna is beside herself. She's drunk too much and I'm afraid she might go into alcohol poisoning."

My heart began to race. "Where are you?" I asked, searching for my car keys on the desk.

"At George's house," Emma replied, distressed.

"I'll see you there in five minutes," I said, ending the call.

---

I finally arrived at George's house

The party was in full swing and the sounds of laughter, music and conversation could be heard even before I opened the door. The air was warm and vibrant and the soft light from the colored lamps filtered through the windows, creating plays of light on the walls and floor.

I pushed open the door and made my way through the crowded hallway, dodging the people dancing and chatting animatedly. The music was loud, a pressing melody that filled every corner of the house and vibrated in my feet. I pushed through the crowd, trying to keep pace despite the chaos that surrounded me.

Finally, among the indistinct figures and smiling faces, I saw Emma. Her expression was a mix of frustration and concern and her eyes were searching for me anxiously. When our eyes met, a sigh of relief escaped her lips.