written for a short story contest in which all stories submitted had to be less than 300 words long, 2026. did not win.
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Oh god. She's with Brian, isn't she?
I mean, I'm not mad. How could I ever be mad at Alyssa? She's smart, she's talented, she has those eyes, those wonderful eyes, those beautiful eyes - wait, back to the point. Why's she with Brian? She has to know that guy's with a different girl each week.
I don't know how he does it, but for some reason they're always around him, telling him how much they care for him. Makes me sick. Why does he have to hog all the attention, especially now? And I could've sworn Alyssa said a few months back he was really antisocial, why does she suddenly want to be with him? I call blackmail. Or mind control.
So, I walk over. I have to show Alyssa and the rest how it really is around here, show her she could be dating someone so much better. Someone like, I don't know, me.
Brian notices me as I come up and says: "Derek, why are you here?" I pity him. He has no idea what's coming.
I stare right in Brian's face and say "Hey, I'm happy that you found a girl who you think will be exactly like your mom."
Hell yeah. That's a good one. Perfectly shows him what it's all about.
Wait, why's everybody looking at me like that? It isn't awe, it's more like... disgust? Even Alyssa looks like she just saw a dead cat. What did i-
Wait, crap, Brian's mom died last month of cancer.
I try to rack my brain for an apology, something to show I didn't mean it, but I barely have time to think of anything before I sense the distinct feeling of Brian's fist impacting my face.