My best friend and I escaped to a mountain town for adventure, but meeting a charming photographer turned our bond into a rivalry. I thought nothing could come between us until everything did..”

That summer felt like stepping into a new chapter, though I didn’t know yet what kind of story it would become. Sara and I had packed up for a week in a small mountain town, chasing a mix of adventure and tranquility. Sara, in her usual chaotic glory, had been the driving force behind the trip.

“Let’s shake up your boring routine, Em,” she’d said, tossing an extra pair of sneakers into her bag. “You’ve got ‘predictable’ written all over you. Time to live a little!”

Sara was the kind of person who could turn a quiet morning into a comedy show. She marched to her own drumbeat—often out of sync with the rest of the world.

Her laugh was a full-bodied cackle that could draw smiles from strangers, and her fashion sense could only be described as “sporty thrift-store chic.” She was a hurricane of life, while I was content being the steady breeze that followed.

When we arrived in town, I expected to play my usual role as her quieter counterpart. That’s how it always was. Sara lit up the room; I observed from the edges.

Then we met Luke.

He was the sort of man who seemed to exist in another era like he’d just stepped out of a classic film. His linen suit hung just right, his shoes were polished without being flashy, and his smile…

“Luke, photographer,” he said, extending a hand. “I’m documenting this town for a gallery project. Mind if I steal a few moments of your time for a portrait? And… maybe dinner.”

He was looking at me. Not Sara. Me. I stumbled over my words, feeling like a deer caught in headlights.

“Oh, um, sure. I mean, why not?”

Sara raised an eyebrow but said nothing. That night, she bailed on our usual evening stroll, claiming a sudden headache.

“Go without me,” she said. I hesitated, sensing something unspoken, but she waved me off.

“Don’t be weird, Em. I’ll just catch up tomorrow.”

As I walked alone through the quiet streets, doubts swirled in my mind. Sara rarely missed out on anything, especially not with me. But I told myself it was nothing.

After all, what could possibly go wrong in our little adventure?

Little did I know, this was just the calm before the storm.

***

The morning felt heavy with anticipation. I slipped into a casual yellow dress, something simple but flattering, and began brushing my hair. My mind kept circling the events of the previous day, wondering if I’d imagined Sara’s unspoken tension. But as I zipped up my sandals, a sharp intake of breath made me look up.

Sara stood by her closet, her back turned to me, carefully slipping into a pale yellow sundress. My jaw nearly dropped.

That wasn’t the Sara I knew who lived in her beloved sneakers and oversized shirts. The sundress clung to her figure in a way that turned heads, and her hair, usually tossed into a haphazard ponytail, cascaded neatly over her shoulders.

“You’re dressing up?” I asked, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

She turned, feigning nonchalance. “Why not? I’ve got plans.”

She smirked and turned back to her reflection, adding a swipe of lip gloss. “Don’t look so surprised. A girl can’t wear jeans every day, you know.”

“Have fun,” I said, grabbing my bag.

Something about her tone gnawed at me, but I decided to let it go.

Outside, the warm morning sun greeted me, and I spotted Luke waiting near the town’s fountain, camera slung around his neck. He waved, and I felt a flutter of excitement in my chest.

But before I could call out to him, Sara’s voice cut through the air behind me.

“Wait up!” she called, jogging to catch up.

Her bright smile contrasted sharply with the glint of something sharper in her eyes.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said, turning to Luke with exaggerated sweetness. “I hope you don’t mind, but she invited me along. Must’ve slipped her mind to tell you.”

I froze, the words catching in my throat.

Invited her along?

I stared at her, dumbfounded, but Luke, ever the gentleman, simply smiled and gestured for her to join.

The day unfolded like a surreal dream I couldn’t wake from. Sara, unrecognizable in her polished demeanor, was the picture of charm.

She had prepared a basket filled with fresh pastries and even arranged a picturesque picnic under the shade of a sprawling tree. She laughed and twirled, effortlessly drawing Luke’s attention.

I tried to insert myself into the conversation, but every attempt fizzled out. By the time we wandered back to town, I felt like an outsider, reduced to the role of a third wheel.

“I need to take a work call,” I muttered, retreating to the hotel.

As I shut the door behind me, my chest tightened with anger and hurt. When Sara returned to the room later, I couldn’t hold back and asked her directly:

“What was that all about? Why did you say you were going on a date with Luke? On my date with Luke!”

“Because I deserve to be happy,” she said coldly. “I liked him the moment I met him. So why should I step aside for you? Like I always step aside for the bigger slice of cake or the better seat on the plane? I’m tired of it.”

Her words hit me like a slap. I was stunned into silence, but she kept going.

“I’m tired of always being second best next to your elegant outfits and polished manners. I want to show that I can be charming too. From now on, I’m different.”

“Sara, you’re incredible just the way you are. Being sporty and fun makes you special.”

But she took my words as an insult.

“So now you’re saying I’m not good enough unless I’m the comic relief, right?” she snapped. “Well, I’m done with that.”

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully.

“Sara, changing who you are won’t make you happy. Strengthening your true self will. Maybe Luke seemed more interested in me because my personality resonates with him, but that doesn’t mean you’re any less. It just means your person hasn’t come along yet. Do you really think you’ll be happy pretending to be someone you’re not, just to keep someone’s attention?”

Her face twisted with frustration, and she exploded.

“You think you’re so perfect, don’t you? Always the queen of everything!” she shouted before slamming the door behind her.

I stood there in despair. My best friend had betrayed me and herself, but the worst part was that she didn’t even realize she was making a mistake. It seemed she was doing everything just to spite me.

But I wasn’t going to back down. I had a plan to show Luke her true self. And soon, the opportunity came.

***

The obstacle course was one of the biggest draws of the town, a rugged event that turned even the most timid participants into muddy warriors. It was the sort of thing Sara came to the city for, that adventure and for the excuse to dive headfirst into chaos.

That’s why her sudden announcement about skipping it for a date with Luke didn’t sit right with me.

“You’re not going to the course?” I asked, watching her pack her bag.

She shrugged, slipping a dress into her suitcase. “Nope. Priorities, Em. Not every day you get a date with a guy like Luke.”

“Right,” I muttered, turning away.

But doubt lingered, gnawing at me until I decided to check for myself.

At the event, the air buzzed with energy—cheers, laughter, and the squelch of mud as competitors tackled the course. Sure enough, there she was.

Sara was in all her glory, swinging across a rope like a gymnast, her laughter echoing over the crowd. Mud streaked her face, but she looked radiant, alive in a way that made me pause.

For a moment, I debated leaving her to it, but a thought struck me.

What would Luke think if he saw this side of her?

The real Sara, not the polished version she’d been presenting. Without hesitating, I dialed his number.

“Luke,” I said. “Sara’s planned a little surprise for you at the obstacle course. You should come by.”

When he arrived, he watched in silence as Sara scaled a wall, then belly-crawled under a net.

“She’s amazing,” he said, snapping photo after photo. “I wonder why she never mentioned this side of herself.”

After the event, Sara spotted us near the finish line. Her eyes narrowed as she marched over, still dripping mud.

“What are you doing here?” she hissed.

“I could ask you the same thing,” I shot back, refusing to back down. “You were supposed to be on a date, remember?”

She turned to Luke, her expression softening, but her words were clipped. “I didn’t think it mattered. Sorry for canceling our date.”

Luke smiled gently. “No need to apologize. Honestly, I think this is incredible.”

“More truthful for you, Em? Fine. I canceled because I prefer this. Happy now?”

Before I could answer, she shoved me lightly, and my foot slipped into the mud. I gasped, grabbing her arm for balance, but she tumbled with me. In seconds, we were a mess of anger and mud, rolling around like kids.

Luke took a step back, chuckling as he raised his camera.

“You two need a moment. Or maybe a lot more. I’ll leave you to it.”

With a grin, he turned and walked off toward the fairgrounds.

As we sat there, covered in mud, Sara’s facade finally cracked. For the first time in days, she seemed like herself again, and despite everything, I couldn’t help but laugh.

***

Back at the hotel, the room was silent except for the soft rustle of the wind. Sara sat by the window, her knees tucked, her face streaked with dried tears. She didn’t look up when I walked in, but the tension in the air was thick.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I thought if I could be someone else for a while, someone would notice… maybe things would be different. But it didn’t feel right.”

“You don’t need to be anyone else,” I said, sitting down. “There’s no one like you.”

“I thought if I tried harder, he’d pick me.”

“Luke’s not your person. He’s not mine either. And that’s okay.”

Her lips quivered, and then a small laugh escaped. “So, what now?”

“Now,” I said, standing, “we raid the bakery, grab some wine, and plan our next adventure.”

Her laughter came easier this time, warm and familiar. As we walked out together, I realized it had never been about Luke. It had always been about us. And we chose each other because nothing could break the bond we shared.

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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: I thought I’d found peace in my new neighborhood, but when my only friend vanished, and everyone pretended nothing happened, I knew this place had secrets—and I wasn’t sure I wanted to uncover them. Read the full story here.

 

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