A few days after Max's visit, Grace felt like she was starting to regain a sense of control over her life. She still hadn't fully made up her mind about Adrian—her heart ached with the memories of their time together, but the walls she'd built around herself were still high. Max's presence had been a comfort, and for the first time in ages, she didn't feel so alone. He had always been the one person who could make her laugh and bring out the parts of her that Adrian, in his own way, had never understood.
Meanwhile, Adrian's patience was beginning to wear thin. He had been spending days outside Grace's apartment, hoping she would eventually come to him and open her heart. But when he learned that Max had been spending time with Grace—suddenly reappearing in her life after all these years—he couldn't ignore the sense of jealousy that was building up inside him.
Adrian had always been a man used to getting what he wanted. In the past, he had never faced much resistance when pursuing someone or something. But Grace was different. She was unpredictable, and her emotions weren't something he could control. As the days passed, Adrian couldn't help but feel the familiar pang of insecurity whenever he thought of her with Max.
He wasn't sure what exactly had shifted between them, but something about the way Grace spoke about Max made him feel as though he was losing his place in her life. Grace, despite her quiet demeanor, had always been his safe space—the one person who accepted him as he was, flaws and all. But now, with Max's sudden reappearance, it was like that space was being slowly taken away.
Adrian tried to keep his composure, reminding himself that Grace needed time. But it was becoming harder with each passing day. The jealousy festered, twisting into something sharper, more possessive. He wanted to be the one to heal her heart, to make things right between them. But Max… he seemed to be getting closer to her, and that was something Adrian couldn't easily ignore.
It wasn't until one evening, when Adrian found himself walking past Grace's apartment, that his patience finally snapped. He had been trying to give her space, but the sight that greeted him—Max standing at her door, laughing and talking to her like they had never been apart—was too much. The smile on Grace's face, the relaxed way she seemed to be talking to him, struck Adrian like a blow to the chest.
His heart raced with anger and something far more complex, a deep, gnawing jealousy that he couldn't shake. Without thinking, he knocked on the door.
Grace's face brightened when she saw him, but the tension in her expression was immediate. "Adrian," she said, her voice gentle but guarded. "What are you doing here?"
Max, noticing the shift in the atmosphere, stood up, his smile faltering slightly. "Hey, man," he said casually, trying to keep things friendly, but there was an underlying tension now in the air.
Adrian's gaze flickered to Max and then back to Grace. He could feel his grip tightening on his emotions, trying not to let the jealousy show, but it was impossible. "I came to see you," Adrian said, his tone tight. "I thought we could talk."
Max glanced at Grace for a moment, sensing the unspoken tension. "I'll leave you two to it," he said, his voice easy, but there was a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "Good to see you again, Grace. Take care of yourself."
As Max stepped out the door, Adrian's eyes followed him, his jealousy flaring even more. When the door closed, he turned back to Grace, unable to contain the frustration anymore.
"Why is he always here, Grace?" Adrian's voice was low, almost a growl. "Why is he the one you turn to? He's just—"
"Max is my friend," Grace interrupted, her voice firm. "He's been there for me when I needed someone. I don't need to explain myself to you, Adrian."
Her words stung more than Adrian expected, but he couldn't back down now. The jealousy was overwhelming him, clouding his judgment. "I don't like him being so close to you, Grace," he admitted, his voice shaking with raw emotion. "I'm the one who's been here for you. Not him. He doesn't get to waltz back into your life like nothing happened."
Grace's eyes softened, but there was a hard edge to her voice when she spoke. "You don't get to dictate who I spend my time with, Adrian. If you want me to trust you again, you need to stop acting like this. I don't need you to fight over me. I need you to show me that you can be the person I need you to be—someone who respects me, who respects my choices."
Adrian took a step back, the weight of her words sinking in. The jealousy, the possessiveness—it had all clouded his mind. He had been so focused on Max, on protecting what he thought was his, that he had failed to see what really mattered: Grace's trust. And if he wanted to rebuild their relationship, he needed to prove to her that he could give her the space she needed—not just for her own healing, but for their relationship to heal as well.
He swallowed hard, his anger dissipating, replaced by a deep, aching vulnerability. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I shouldn't have said that. I know Max is important to you. I just… I guess I'm scared. I don't want to lose you, Grace."
Grace looked at him, her expression unreadable for a moment, before she sighed softly. "I'm scared too, Adrian," she admitted. "But we both need to stop trying to control everything. I need to know that we can move forward, not based on fear, but on trust."
Adrian nodded slowly, his heart aching with the weight of her words. He had a long road ahead of him, but he was willing to fight for her. He couldn't afford to let jealousy tear them apart—not when he knew deep down that he loved her, and that was the one thing he needed to hold onto.
Max and Grace met in college, on the first day of their freshman year. It was a large university, filled with ambitious students and bright minds. Grace, though intelligent, was quiet and reserved. She had a deep passion for literature and a dream of becoming an author, but she often kept her dreams to herself, afraid of being judged or dismissed by others. Max, on the other hand, was the opposite—outgoing, charismatic, and someone who could walk into a room and instantly make people laugh. Despite his confident demeanor, Max had his own struggles. Beneath the easy smile, he was grappling with family pressure to succeed in a career he didn't want, and he often felt isolated despite being surrounded by people.
They crossed paths one afternoon in the university library, both reaching for the same book on the top shelf. Grace, always polite and shy, apologized, trying to back away and let Max have the book. But Max, with his usual charm, smiled at her.
"Hey, no need to apologize. It's a great read, I think you'd love it too," he said, pulling the book down and handing it to her.
Grace was taken aback by how easy he made conversation, and though she was naturally reserved, something about his friendliness made her open up just a little bit more than usual. "You read this one too?" she asked, already feeling like they had something in common.
Max chuckled. "Yeah, it's one of my favorites. But hey, if you're a fan of novels with a twist, I can recommend a few others. I've got a whole collection back in my dorm."
And from that moment on, their friendship blossomed. They began meeting regularly to study, sharing insights about their courses and discussing the books they loved. Max's extroverted nature balanced Grace's introverted one, and together, they made an unstoppable team. When Grace struggled with a difficult paper or a challenging class, Max was there to encourage her, to remind her that she was capable, even when she doubted herself.
But Grace was more than just a quiet student to Max. She became his confidante. He would sit with her late into the evening, talking about everything from his family's high expectations to his growing sense of dissatisfaction with the path he was being pushed down. Max's parents were successful business owners, and the pressure on him to follow in their footsteps weighed heavily on his shoulders. He would share his frustrations with Grace, feeling safe in the knowledge that she would listen without judgment.
One night, Max admitted something to Grace that he had never told anyone else. "I don't want to do what they want me to do. I don't even know what I want, Grace. I just know that I want to live my life for me, not for them."
Grace had looked at him with understanding in her eyes, as if she too had experienced that feeling of wanting to be free from the expectations of others. "Max, you don't have to have everything figured out. No one does. But whatever you choose to do, just make sure it's what makes you happy, not anyone else."
It was those words that stayed with Max, reminding him that it was okay to be uncertain and to carve out his own path.
But while they had always supported each other, their friendship wasn't without its challenges. Max, being the more outgoing and charming one, often found himself surrounded by friends, while Grace, despite her deep intellect and kindness, often retreated into the background. There were moments when Grace felt invisible, especially when Max was the center of attention, and Max could sense this. He made it his mission to remind Grace how special she was, often pulling her into the group or making sure she knew her voice mattered.
One of the most memorable moments in their college years happened during a talent show that Grace had almost backed out of. She had been writing poetry for years but had never shared it with anyone. Max had known about her secret passion and had encouraged her to perform a piece, despite her fear.
"Grace, you've got this," he said, when she hesitated. "You're the most talented person I know. You just need to trust yourself."
Grace had agreed reluctantly, and with Max's unwavering support, she stood before an audience for the first time, reading a piece of her poetry. The applause that followed made her heart soar, and it was Max who stood in the front row, grinning ear to ear, cheering her on louder than anyone else.
But it wasn't just in moments of success that they helped each other. During the times when Grace felt lost—when her insecurities or the weight of family expectations became too much—Max was there to remind her of her worth. And when Max felt like he was suffocating under his parents' expectations, Grace would be the calm in his storm, offering a listening ear, helping him sort through his emotions, and reminding him that he didn't have to be anyone but himself.
In their final year of college, just before graduation, Max made Grace a promise, one that stuck with her long after their time together. He told her, "No matter what happens, we'll always be friends. You're one of the few people who has ever truly seen me for who I am—and I'm not letting that go."
Max's words had meant the world to Grace, as she had often felt like people only valued her for what she could offer or for how quiet and obedient she was. But Max didn't care about any of that. He valued her for her mind, her heart, and her friendship.