Elowyn "Winnie" Smith met Ben when she was 4 years old. They've been best friends since they were 6. After her dad died when she was 13, he was the only person she wanted to talk to. He should know everything about her, shouldn't he? But he doesn't, and Elowyn is slowly drowning in the weight of her secrets. He doesn't know how bad things have gotten at home, or about the crewpy guy who won't leave her alone. And he definitely doesn't know how much her heart aches for him. But he would never want her, he's captain of the soccer team and could have any girl he wants. She's the girl he sees as a sister, he's even known her since before she went to speech therapy for her stutter. So why can't she shake this feeling, even though she knows it's so wrong? . The way I feel about him is serious, like could-end-our-friendship serious. But he deserves a girl like Gloria who's perfect and pretty. My eyes draw upwards to study his side profile and I smile, feeling lucky to have him at least as a friend even though I'll never have him the way I need. . Tropes: friends to lovers, childhood friends, golden boy, shy girl x popular boy, only one bed, secret crush Triggers: mental illness, depression, sa