Never Just Friends

Finn’s Regret

Finn hadn’t expected to feel so out of place at the town fair. The bright lights and carnival sounds reminded him of easier times, moments when he and Hanna would wander hand in hand, sharing laughs over cotton candy and ridiculous stuffed animals. But now, those memories felt distant, almost unreal.

It was only when he spotted Hanna across the fairgrounds, her laughter ringing out as she leaned into Marco, that a pang of regret hit him harder than he’d anticipated. She was with Marco, her face lit up with a smile he hadn’t seen in weeks. Marco’s hand rested lightly on her back, and the sight made Finn’s heart twist painfully.

Elordi, who was standing beside him, must have noticed because he nudged him lightly. “Dude, you’ve been staring at them for a while now. What’s up?”

Finn tore his gaze away, clenching his fists. “It’s just… hard to see her with him.”

Elordi raised an eyebrow, his expression thoughtful. “Then maybe you need to figure out what you actually want. You’ve been on the fence for weeks, but this isn’t fair to her. Or to you.”

Finn looked down, guilt pooling in his chest. “I thought I was doing the right thing, stepping back. My parents… they’ve been relentless. I thought that letting her go would protect her, but… I feel like I made the biggest mistake of my life.”

Elordi’s gaze softened. “You can’t have it both ways, Finn. If you want her back, you’re going to have to fight for it. But that means you have to be willing to take on whatever comes with it.”

Finn’s eyes drifted back to Hanna and Marco. They were at a shooting booth, Marco standing close behind her, his hand gently guiding hers as she aimed at the targets. She laughed as she missed, and Marco’s voice, warm and steady, encouraged her to try again.

The sight made Finn’s stomach twist with jealousy and something darker—a sense of dread that he couldn’t explain. He knew Marco’s reputation, knew that he wasn’t the ideal person for Hanna. But now, seeing how close they had become, he felt paralyzed, unsure of whether he had the right to interfere.

His thoughts churned as he watched them move to the carousel, Hanna smiling as she climbed onto a painted horse, Marco holding her hand for balance. As the carousel spun, he caught a glimpse of her face, her laughter ringing out, and he felt a sharp pang of longing.

But as Elordi’s words echoed in his mind, he realized that if he didn’t act soon, he might lose her for good.