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MidReal Story
Her Best Friend's Secret Baby
Scenario:A woman named Ashley, desperate to find love by any means necessary, is painfully unaware that her BFF, Nathan, is in love with her, and is perfect for her.
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Ashley
She is a hopeless romantic who yearns for love. She is desperate,optimistic,and selfcritical. After a string of failed relationships,she resolves to find a partner through unconventional means,such as speed dating and online profiles. Her best friend Nathan accompanies her on these adventures,unknowingly to her. Despite her efforts,she remains singlehearted. Her friendship with Nathan deepens over time,but she fails to recognize his feelings for her.
Nathan
He is Ashley's best friend and confidant. He is supportive,patient,and caring. Nathan accompanies Ashley on her quest for love,setting up speed dates and checking out potential partners without her knowledge. He shows genuine affection towards Ashley but remains silent about his feelings due to her need for a romantic partner. His actions suggest deeper emotions towards Ashley,though she remains oblivious to his feelings and potential suitability as a partner.
I was willing to do whatever it took to find my partner in life.
Even if that meant going on a string of unsuccessful dates with men who were nothing like what I wanted.
I’d rather take my chances and hope for the best, than not try at all.
There was only one problem.
My BFF Nathan didn’t seem to understand that.
He thought I should be pickier.
More patient.
But I’d been patient for years, and it had gotten me nowhere.
I sighed as I stared at another bad match.
This guy was a total creep.
He’d spent the entire evening touching my arm and making me feel uncomfortable.
It was clear he was interested, but there was no way I was interested in him.
Nathan had set up the speed dates, but I had no idea how he’d found this particular guy.
He was definitely not my type.
And even if he had been, there was no spark between us whatsoever.
"Have you ever been in love?" he asked as the night drew to a close.
I hesitated, unsure of how to answer.
I wanted to be honest, but I didn’t want to scare him off either.
"I’ve been close," I said finally.
He nodded, seeming to accept my answer.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, glancing down at my phone under the table.
The restaurant’s closing time was 10:45 PM, and it was already 10:30.
Fifteen more minutes of this torture and I could leave.
I faked a yawn, stretching my arms over my head and moving my arm away from his grasp.
He leaned closer, his breath hot against my ear.
"Want to grab a drink somewhere else?" he asked.
My stomach churned at the thought.
I pulled out my phone, now fully visible on the table, and pretended to read a message.
"Oh no," I said, standing up abruptly.
"I’m so sorry, but I have an emergency at work. I have to go."
He looked disappointed, but he didn’t protest as I gathered my purse and jacket.
"Okay," he said, standing up as well.
"I guess I’ll see you around."
I nodded, hoping that wouldn’t be the case.
I quickly walked out of the restaurant and down the street, glancing over my shoulder to make sure he wasn’t following me.
The streets were dimly lit and eerily quiet, making me feel even more anxious.
I pulled out my phone again, my hands shaking as I tried to type out a message.
I almost dropped the phone on the sidewalk, catching it just in time.
"Need to talk," I typed out quickly to Nathan.
"Meet at Joe’s?"
I hit send and waited anxiously for his response.
After a few minutes, I ducked into a convenience store to wait.
I pretended to browse the magazines while keeping an eye on the door.
Finally, my phone pinged with a response from Nathan.
"Already there," he wrote.
"Got your usual ready."
I let out a long breath and headed back out onto the street.
I hurried down three more blocks, my heels clicking against the pavement as I kept glancing over my shoulder.
The neon sign of Joe’s Bar came into view, and I quickened my pace.
Through the window, I could see Nathan sitting in our usual corner booth, two drinks already on the table.
I pushed through the heavy wooden door and made my way over to him.
The smell of beer and peanuts filled my nose, and I could hear the sound of a jukebox playing in the background.
Nathan looked up as I approached, concern etched on his face.
"Hey," he said, standing up to greet me.
"What happened?"
I slid into the booth across from him, grateful for the worn leather seat and the gin and tonic he’d ordered for me.
"I think it's time I start trusting my own instincts."
I slump against the sticky vinyl booth, avoiding Nathan’s concerned gaze as I take a sip of my drink.
The gin burns my throat, but I welcome the sensation - anything to wash away the lingering discomfort from that awful date.
Nathan leans forward, his half-finished beer forgotten on the table.
I can see the questions in his eyes, but he waits for me to start.
The jukebox switches to a slow love song, and I wince at the familiar tune.
It’s one of those sappy ballads that always makes me cringe.
I glance around the bar, taking in the dim lighting and the murmur of conversations.
A happy couple at the bar catches my eye - they're laughing, completely lost in each other.
My chest tightens as I watch them, their happiness a stark contrast to my own disappointment.
I stare into my half-empty glass, the ice cubes clinking as my hand trembles slightly.
Nathan hasn't pushed me to talk, but his patient silence and the way he keeps glancing at me shows he's worried.
The couple at the bar erupts in laughter again, making me wince.
I drain the rest of my drink and push the glass away, finally meeting Nathan's eyes.
His familiar face, with that concerned furrow between his brows, gives me the courage to speak.
"That guy wouldn't stop touching me," I whisper, my voice barely audible over the jukebox.
Nathan's expression darkens, and he leans in closer.
"Did he hurt you?" he asks, his voice low and steady, but I can hear the anger simmering beneath.
I shake my head, grateful for his support.
"No, but it was so creepy," I continue, describing the guy's behavior and how uncomfortable he made me feel.
Nathan's jaw clenches as I talk, his grip on his beer bottle tightening.
His eyes stay fixed on me, filled with a mix of concern and something else I can't quite read.
I finish my story, and Nathan remains silent for a moment before speaking.
"You should have called me," he says, his voice soft but firm.
"I don't like the idea of you walking alone at night."
I shrug, feeling a bit guilty for not reaching out to him sooner.
"I didn't want to bother you," I admit, looking down at my hands.
Nathan reaches across the table and squeezes my hand gently.
"You're never a bother," he says, his voice filled with warmth.
"Next time, call me. I'll come get you."
The touch of his hand sends a shiver down my spine, and I quickly pull away, not wanting to misinterpret his intentions.
"Thanks," I say, glancing down at my phone as it buzzes with a notification from the dating app.
Nathan's eyes follow my gaze, and I can sense his curiosity.
I swipe through the potential matches, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach.
I delete the app, deciding I deserve better.
I stare at my empty glass, and Nathan flags down a server for refills.
A new waitress approaches our booth, her bright smile and friendly demeanor a welcome change from the earlier tension.
Her nametag reads "Sarah," and she beams at us as she sets down our drinks.
"You two make such a sweet couple!" she exclaims, her voice bubbly.
I freeze, caught off guard by her assumption.
Nathan's face reddens, and he stammers out a correction.
"We're not... we're just friends."
But Sarah doesn't seem to hear him.
She continues gushing about how she's been watching us all evening and loves seeing young love blossom.
I laugh awkwardly, trying to break the tension.
"Sorry, we're just friends," I explain again, hoping she'll understand.
Sarah looks genuinely confused, glancing between us with a furrowed brow.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she says, her voice filled with disappointment.
"I could have sworn you two were meant to be."
She takes our drink orders and walks away, leaving an uncomfortable silence in her wake.
I stare at my fresh drink, the ice cubes clinking softly as I twirl the glass in my hand.
Nathan shifts in his seat, his fingers drumming a nervous rhythm on the tabletop.
The jukebox switches to another slow song, and the dim lights cast a warm glow over the bar.
I glance up to find Nathan looking at me with an expression I've never seen before.
His usual confidence seems to have vanished, replaced by uncertainty.
He opens his mouth to speak, but hesitates, his eyes searching mine for something.
I feel a knot form in my stomach as I wait for him to break the silence.
The tension between us is palpable, heavy with unspoken words.
Finally, he speaks, his voice low and gentle.
"Do you think... maybe Sarah was right?" he asks, his voice barely audible over the music.
I furrow my brow, confusion washing over me.
"Right about what?"
I ask, my voice soft and uncertain. Nathan's eyes lock onto mine, filled with a mix of vulnerability and longing.
"Do you think we could be more than friends?"
His words catch me off guard, sending a wave of emotions crashing through me.
I look away, trying to process my feelings.
The idea of us being more than friends had never crossed my mind before.
But now that it's been planted there, I can't shake it off so easily.
The thought of it sends a flutter through my chest, making it hard to breathe.
I turn back to face him, searching for answers in his eyes.
But before I can say anything, my phone buzzes on the table with an incoming text message.
I jump at the sudden noise, knocking over my drink in the process.
The liquid spills onto the table and drips down onto our laps. "Oh no," I gasp, reaching for a napkin to clean up the mess.
Nathan quickly grabs a stack of napkins from the dispenser and hands them to me.
"I'm so sorry," I mutter as I try to soak up the spillage.
But before I can finish cleaning up, my phone buzzes again with another message from an unknown number.
Nathan glances at the screen, curiosity piqued.
"Is it him?" he asks, his voice tense with concern.
I shake my head, feeling a chill run down my spine.
I stare at the screen, my hands shaking so badly that I end up dropping more napkins into the spill.
Nathan leans over, trying to read the messages.
Three texts flash up on the screen: "Had fun tonight," "Why'd you leave so fast?" and "I know where you went."
My heart races as I realize who it must be from.
Nathan's eyes darken as he reads the messages, his earlier question about being more than friends completely forgotten.
The bar suddenly feels too warm, suffocating.
He grabs my phone before I can react, his fingers flying across the screen as he types out a response.
"Let's meet."
I stare at the screen, watching as he types out the words.
I sit frozen, my mouth hanging open as Nathan takes charge.
He types out a quick message, telling the creepy date to meet us outside.
I watch in horror as he sends the text, my mind racing with questions.
What is he doing?
Why is he putting us in danger like this?
But before I can ask any of those questions, Nathan grabs my hand and pulls me out of the booth.
"Come on," he says, his voice firm and commanding.
"We need to get out of here."
I stumble after him, my legs shaking beneath me.
My hands tremble as I gather my things from the table, trying to keep up with Nathan's fast pace.
We walk quickly through the bar, weaving past patrons and servers alike.
The music and laughter seem to fade into the background as we make our way towards the exit. The cool night air hits us like a slap in the face as we step outside.
Nathan keeps a firm grip on my arm, guiding me down the street towards his apartment.
We walk in silence, our footsteps echoing off the buildings around us.
The darkness seems to swallow us whole, making it feel like we're the only two people left in the world.
Finally, we reach his apartment building and he leads me inside.
He locks the door behind us, checking the windows to make sure they're secure.
Only then does he turn to face me, his eyes softening with concern.
"Are you okay?" he asks gently, taking my hand in his.
I nod mutely, still trying to process everything that just happened.
