The Unrequited Love Triangle

Emma and Lucy had been best friends since kindergarten. They did everything together, from playing dress-up to sharing secrets. They knew each other better than anyone else in the world. But when they met Max, everything changed.

Max was a transfer student who joined their class in high school. He was charming, funny, and had a way of making everyone feel special. Emma and Lucy both found themselves drawn to him. They started hanging out with him more often, going to movies, playing video games, and just talking for hours on end.

At first, they didn't think much of it. They were just friends, after all. But as they got to know Max better, they both began to develop feelings for him. It started out as a tiny spark, something they could ignore, but soon it grew into a full-blown flame.

Emma and Lucy didn't talk about it at first. They were afraid of ruining their friendship or hurting each other. But eventually, it became too hard to keep it a secret. They confided in each other, and to their surprise, they both had the same confession: they were in love with Max.

They tried to ignore their feelings, but it was impossible. Max was always there, making their hearts race and their stomachs flip. They both wanted to tell him how they felt, but they didn't know how he would react.

One day, Max asked Emma to meet him after school. She was nervous but excited. Maybe this was her chance to tell him how she felt. When she arrived at the coffee shop, Max was already there, waiting for her.

"Emma, I have to tell you something," he said, looking serious. "I've been thinking about it for a while, and I've come to realize that I have feelings for someone."

Emma's heart sank. She knew what was coming.

"It's Lucy," Max continued. "I don't know how to tell her, but I just had to tell someone."

Emma was devastated. She had hoped that Max would choose her, but she couldn't be angry at him. She knew how much Lucy meant to him.

She went home that day feeling empty and alone. Lucy could tell that something was wrong, and Emma eventually broke down and told her what had happened. Lucy was shocked but understanding. She had been struggling with her own feelings for Max, but now she knew that he didn't feel the same way.

They both tried to move on, but it was hard. Every time they saw Max, their hearts ached. They tried to avoid him, but he was always around. Eventually, they graduated and went their separate ways, but the pain never truly went away.

Years later, Emma and Lucy met up for coffee. They talked about their lives, their jobs, and their families, but they never mentioned Max. It was still too painful.

As they were leaving, Lucy turned to Emma and said, "You know, I never told you this, but I always felt a little jealous of you."

Emma was confused. "Jealous? Why?"

"Because you were the one he chose to tell his feelings to. You were the one he trusted. And even though it didn't work out, I always envied that."

Emma felt tears prick at her eyes. She had never thought of it that way.

"Lucy, I was always jealous of you too," she admitted. "You were the one he really loved. And even though it hurt, I was happy for you."

They hugged each other tightly, tears streaming down their faces. They both knew that their friendship was stronger than any crush or heartbreak.