Jamie sat at the back of the lecture hall, doodling absentmindedly in his notebook. The professor's voice faded into the background as Jamie’s eyes wandered across the room, eventually landing on him—Chris Evans, the most popular guy in their class.

Chris had it all: the effortless smile, the charm, and a presence that seemed to command attention without even trying. Jamie couldn’t help but stare. He’d always admired Chris from afar, but lately, his admiration had turned into something more.

“Hey, you coming to the study group later?” his friend, Jules, nudged him.

Jamie blinked, snapping out of his trance. “Huh? Oh… no, I’ve got a paper to finish,” he lied.

Jules raised an eyebrow, following Jamie's gaze to where Chris sat, casually chatting with his friends. "Right… a paper," she smirked. "Or are you just staring at your secret crush again?"

Jamie blushed and quickly looked away, shoving his notebook into his backpack. “Shut up,” he muttered.

Jules chuckled. “You know, if you spent half as much time actually talking to Chris as you do staring at him, you might get somewhere.”

Jamie scoffed. "Yeah, right. Like he’d ever notice me."

As if on cue, Chris glanced in their direction, his blue eyes locking with Jamie’s for a split second. Jamie’s heart skipped a beat, but before he could even process it, Chris turned back to his conversation, laughing at something his friend said.

"See? He doesn’t even know I exist," Jamie mumbled, sinking into his seat.

Jules sighed and gave him a sympathetic pat on the back. “You never know, Jamie. People can surprise you.”

Jamie didn’t respond. His eyes drifted back to Chris, but this time, they were drawn to the girl sitting next to him—**Heather**. She was beautiful in a way that made Jamie feel painfully inadequate. Her long, wavy brown hair framed her face perfectly, and her soft laughter filled the room like music. She leaned closer to Chris, playfully shoving him as he teased her about something.

"Of course, she's perfect," Jamie thought bitterly.

Heather was everything Jamie wasn’t: confident, radiant, feminine. The way Chris smiled at her, the way his eyes sparkled when he talked to her—it hurt in a way Jamie hadn’t expected. He wanted to hate her, but how could he? She was too... perfect.

"I want her hair," Jamie thought as he watched Heather flick a strand over her shoulder. "I want to wear what she wears. I want to smell like her perfume. Do everything like her. Maybe then Chris would notice me."

Jamie snapped out of his thoughts when Jules spoke up again.

"Hey, Jamie, earth to Jamie? You okay?"

He forced a smile, though the lump in his throat made it hard to speak. "Yeah, I’m fine. Just… distracted."

Jules studied him for a moment, then leaned in with a teasing smile. "Distracted by Chris or Heather?"

Jamie felt his face heat up again. "Neither," he lied, avoiding her gaze.

Jules rolled her eyes but didn't press further. The lecture was almost over, and Jamie couldn't be more relieved. As the professor wrapped up, everyone began packing up their things. Jamie watched as Chris stood, effortlessly slinging his bag over his shoulder. Heather was right beside him, her hand brushing against his arm.

Jamie swallowed hard. He wished he could be Heather for just one day. He wished he could know what it felt like to have Chris look at him the way he looked at her.

As the students began filing out of the room, Jamie hung back, his eyes still on Chris and Heather. Just as they were about to leave, Heather turned and locked eyes with Jamie. She gave him a small, polite smile—nothing more than a friendly gesture—but it felt like a punch to the gut.

"Come on, let’s go," Jules said, tugging Jamie's arm.

Jamie followed her out of the room, his heart heavy with the weight of his unspoken feelings. He glanced back one last time to see Chris and Heather walking away together, laughing as if they didn’t have a care in the world.

"I'll never be her," Jamie thought, the realization sinking in. "And he’ll never look at me the way he looks at her."

But deep down, Jamie knew that his feelings for Chris were only part of the story. Because for some reason, he couldn’t stop thinking about Heather, too. Not just as Chris’s girlfriend, but as someone he wanted to be closer to. Someone he wanted to understand.

The next few days felt like a blur. Jamie couldn’t stop thinking about that brief smile Heather gave him. It wasn’t anything special, but it felt like she had acknowledged his existence—something Chris never seemed to do. As much as he wanted to deny it, Heather had started to take up just as much space in his mind as Chris.

He sat at the library, attempting to focus on his assignments, but all he could think about was Chris’s easy laughter and the way Heather seemed to fit perfectly beside him.

“Jamie, are you listening?” Jules’ voice cut through his thoughts.

“Huh?” Jamie looked up, blinking.

Jules sighed dramatically. “You’ve been spacing out all day. What’s going on?”

Jamie bit his lip. He wanted to tell her, but how could he explain this weird, confusing mess in his head?

“I… I don’t know,” he muttered, leaning back in his chair. “It’s just… Chris and Heather.”

“Chris and Heather?” Jules raised an eyebrow. “As in both of them?”

Jamie looked down at his hands, fidgeting with the strap of his backpack. “Yeah… I guess.”

Jules leaned in, curious. “Wait, are you… interested in Heather now?”

Jamie’s face flushed. “No! I mean… I don’t know. It’s not like that.”

Jules smirked. “Mmhmm, sure. Tell me what it’s like, then.”

Jamie groaned. “It’s just… she’s so perfect, you know? Like, everything about her. The way she dresses, her hair, even the way she talks. It’s like… I don’t know.”

“You want to be her,” Jules finished for him, her smirk fading into something more serious.

Jamie blinked. “I… I guess, yeah. But it’s more than that. I want to know why Chris likes her so much. What makes her so special?”

Jules tilted her head. “You’re sure it’s just Chris you’re into?”

Jamie opened his mouth to argue, but stopped. Was it just about Chris anymore? Or was there something about Heather that was drawing him in, too?

“I don’t know,” Jamie admitted softly. “I’m just… confused.”

Jules nodded slowly. “Well, I don’t blame you. I mean, Heather’s pretty cool. I’ve talked to her a couple of times. She’s actually really sweet, if you get to know her.”

Jamie blinked. “You’ve talked to her?”

“Yeah, in our psych class,” Jules said, casually flipping through her textbook. “She’s not as untouchable as she seems, you know. You should say hi to her sometime.”

Jamie stared at Jules, his mind racing. Could he really just… talk to Heather? The thought made his heart pound. What would he even say?

As if the universe had heard his thoughts, a familiar laugh echoed through the library. Jamie froze. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

Heather.

She was walking towards one of the tables, Chris right beside her. They were laughing about something, and Jamie’s stomach twisted into knots. They looked so happy together, so effortlessly perfect.

Jules nudged him. “There’s your chance. Go talk to her.”

Jamie’s eyes widened. “What? No way. Are you crazy?”

Jules rolled her eyes. “Come on, what’s the worst that could happen? You’ve been obsessing over her for days. Just go say something.”

Jamie shook his head, his palms already sweating at the thought. “I can’t. I’ll look like an idiot.”

Before he could protest any further, Jules stood up and called out, “Heather!”

Jamie’s heart dropped to his stomach. He glared at Jules, but it was too late.

Heather turned towards them, a bright smile on her face. “Oh, hey! What’s up?” she said as she walked over, Chris trailing behind her.

Jamie could feel his pulse in his throat. He was not ready for this.

Jules smiled casually. “Just wanted to introduce you to my friend Jamie. I think you two have seen each other in class.”

Jamie shot Jules a death glare, but managed a shaky smile as Heather’s eyes landed on him.

“Oh, hi! Jamie, right?” Heather smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Y-yeah, that’s me,” Jamie stammered, feeling like a complete idiot.

Chris was standing beside Heather, looking just as perfect up close as he did from afar. His presence made Jamie’s heart race, but for the first time, it wasn’t just Chris who was making him nervous.

Heather’s smile widened. “I’ve seen you around. You sit near the back, right?”

Jamie nodded, feeling his cheeks burn. “Yeah, that’s me. The, uh… back row guy.”

Heather laughed, and it was such a beautiful sound that Jamie felt his heart skip a beat. “Well, next time, come say hi! We’re always looking for new study buddies.”

Chris smiled at Jamie then, and for a moment, Jamie forgot how to breathe. “Yeah, man, we could use another brain in the group. You down?”

Jamie stared at Chris, barely processing his words. Study? With them? Together?

“I… uh… yeah. Sure. Sounds great,” Jamie managed to say, though his voice came out higher than he intended.

Heather beamed. “Awesome! We usually study at the coffee shop near campus. You should join us next time.”

Chris nudged Heather playfully. “Just so you know, she takes studying super seriously. She’ll drill you with questions.”

Heather rolled her eyes but laughed. “It’s called being prepared, Chris.”

Jamie watched them banter, feeling like an outsider in their world. But instead of the jealousy he expected to feel, there was something else—something warmer. He wasn’t just envious of Heather anymore. He was drawn to her, in a way he hadn’t been before.

“Anyway, we should get back to work,” Heather said, waving as she and Chris walked back to their table. “See you around, Jamie!”

Jamie watched them go, his heart still pounding in his chest. When they were out of earshot, he turned to Jules, who had the biggest smirk on her face.

“What the hell was that?” Jamie hissed.

“You’re welcome,” Jules said with a wink. “Now you’ve got an in. Don’t waste it.”

Jamie sighed, running a hand through his hair. He couldn’t believe what had just happened. Not only had he talked to Heather, but he’d somehow managed to get invited to study with her and Chris.

As he sat back down, his thoughts were a mess. His feelings for Chris hadn’t changed, but now there was something new—something unexpected.

Heather.

Jamie sat on his bed, staring at his reflection in the small mirror above his desk. His fingers ran through his hair absentmindedly as he replayed the conversation with Heather and Chris over and over in his head.

“I’ve seen you around… come say hi next time.”

Her words echoed, and for some reason, they felt like a challenge. It wasn’t just that Heather was the girl Chris liked—it was that she was everything Jamie wasn’t. She was confident, effortless, perfect.

“I want to be her,” Jamie muttered to himself. He hesitated for a moment, the weight of the thought hitting him like a wave.

His phone buzzed beside him, snapping him back to reality. It was a message from Jules.

Jules: You okay? Still alive after your little run-in with Chris and Heather?

Jamie smirked and quickly typed back.

Jamie: Barely.

Jules: Lol. Well, what’s your plan? You’re officially in their group now, right?

Jamie sighed, running a hand through his hair again. What *was* his plan?

Jamie: I don’t know. I just want to… I don’t know. Be her, I guess.

Jules: BE her? What does that even mean?

Jamie paused, unsure how to explain the strange thoughts swirling in his mind.

Jamie: You know… like, dress like her. Be more like her. Maybe if I understand why Chris loves her, I’ll… get it.

Jules: Uh, dude, this is getting weird.

Jamie rolled his eyes.

Jamie: You wouldn’t get it.

Jules: No, YOU don’t get it. You’re obsessing over both of them, and it’s gonna drive you insane.

Jamie stared at her last message, knowing she was right. But even so, he couldn’t help it. There was something about Heather that had taken root in his mind, and he couldn’t shake it.

The next morning, Jamie stood in front of his closet, scanning through his usual collection of clothes. T-shirts, hoodies, ripped jeans. He sighed. Nothing he owned screamed “Heather.” He wanted something more… feminine, but not too obvious. Something that would make Chris notice him in a different way, without outright imitating her. Or maybe he did want to imitate her.

After some time, he settled on a loose cream-colored sweater, not unlike something Heather would wear, paired with jeans that were a little tighter than usual. He styled his hair, sweeping it over to one side in a way that felt more deliberate than his usual messy look.

Standing in front of the mirror, he studied his reflection. For the first time, he didn’t feel like himself—and that was exactly what he wanted. He didn’t want to feel like Jamie right now. He wanted to feel like Heather, the girl Chris adored.

Satisfied with his appearance, Jamie grabbed his bag and headed out. As he walked to class, he kept his head down, feeling self-conscious. Was this too much? Would people notice? Would Chris notice?

---

At lunch, Jamie spotted Heather and Chris at their usual spot outside under the big oak tree. They were sitting close, laughing about something, and Jamie felt that familiar tightness in his chest. It was jealousy—but not just for Chris. He wanted to be *both* of them. He wanted to know what it felt like to be Chris, the guy everyone admired. And he wanted to know what it felt like to be Heather, the girl everyone loved.

“Hey! Jamie!” Heather’s voice called out, snapping him out of his thoughts.

He looked up, trying to act casual as he approached them. “Hey.”

Heather smiled warmly. “You should’ve sat with us earlier. We missed our new study buddy.”

Jamie chuckled awkwardly, sitting down on the grass beside them. “Yeah, I was, uh… busy.”

Chris grinned. “Too busy to hang out with us? That’s cold, man.”

Jamie’s heart skipped a beat at Chris’s teasing, but he forced himself to focus. He glanced at Heather, who was sitting close to Chris, her fingers occasionally brushing his arm as they talked. The way they were together—it was so natural. So easy.

Jamie bit his lip. “I like your sweater,” he said, motioning to Heather’s soft, pastel green top. It looked cozy, like something he could see himself wearing.

“Thanks!” Heather beamed. “I actually thrifted it last week. You should check out that shop near the campus café. They have some great stuff.”

Jamie nodded, filing away the information. Maybe he could stop by there later, see if he could find something similar.

Heather’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen. “Oh, shoot. I forgot I have to meet with my group for a project. I’ll catch you guys later?”

Chris waved her off. “Yeah, no worries. Good luck.”

As Heather stood up, Jamie found himself staring at her, noticing every little detail—the way her hair fell over her shoulder, the soft smell of her perfume that lingered in the air.

When she left, Jamie was alone with Chris. His heart pounded, but he forced himself to stay calm.

“So, you and Heather… you guys seem close,” Jamie said, trying to sound casual.

Chris shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. She’s cool. We’ve been hanging out a lot lately.”

Always cool? Just cool?

Jamie nodded, his throat feeling tight. “Do you… like her?”

Chris blinked, taken aback by the question. “What? No, it’s not like that. She’s just a friend.”

A wave of relief washed over Jamie, but it was quickly followed by confusion. If Chris didn’t like Heather, then why was Jaime, no he so obsessed with her? Why did he feel this strange pull toward her?

Chris studied Jamie for a moment, then grinned. “Wait… do you like her?”

Jamie’s eyes widened. “What? No! I mean, she’s great, but… no, it’s not like that.”

Chris laughed, shaking his head. “Man, you had me worried for a second. I thought I was about to lose my study buddy to a crush.”

Jamie forced a laugh, though his stomach twisted. If only Chris knew how complicated things really were.

---

That afternoon, Jamie wandered into the thrift store Heather had mentioned, his mind still spinning. As he sifted through racks of clothes, he found himself searching for things that reminded him of her—soft sweaters, delicate blouses, even a pair of shoes that looked like something she’d wear.

He picked out a few pieces, holding them up to himself in the mirror. For a moment, he imagined what it would be like to wear them, to be her. Maybe if he dressed like Heather, acted like her, he’d finally understand why she had such a hold on him—and on Chris.

As Jamie left the store with a bag full of new clothes, he felt a strange mix of excitement and fear. He was changing, becoming someone new. But he wasn’t sure if it was for Chris… or for himself.