[ WP ] The pain of second place

The kiss was a big one. Casey put a lot behind it, whatever it was that she needed. Love, a start to sex, maybe even just to feel someone's lips on hers. But it was a kiss. No denying that. The kind that could break a stranger's heart that they were n't the one being kissed like that. It took John a moment to realize what was going on, but the moment he did, he kissed back. He waited for this for a long time, and dammit did he deserve it. 
 
 Yet, there was another part of him that hurt. Though he never showed it, he knew that Kyle deserved her even more. He dedicated a playlist to her. Thought about her constantly. Tried on more than one occasion to get her to at least notice he thought of her as more than just a friend. Yet, in the end, Casey always chose someone else. 
 
 But not this time, Kyle decided. Enlisting John and a bunch of his other friends to help him, Kyle put together something most romantics like himself only ever dreamed of doing: that huge display of affection, with banners, balloons, hell there was even talk of doves, except the university dining hall probably would n't like that. And it was perfect. The blue and green banners ( Casey's favorite colors ), matching balloons, Ryan was even standing outside the picture window with his green parakeet, though mostly for his own entertainment. 
 
 They were adding more balloons when Kyle got a text. Casey was on her way. His heart skipped a beat. He told them they could stop and rushed off to meet her. And when she saw what Kyle had set up, she moved straight to the guy standing front and center beneath the'I love you, Casey' banner, which was, by the largest fluke Kyle had ever overlooked, John. He watched, as his heart was ground to dust by the girl he loved and his closest male friend. 
 
 My name's Kyle, nice to meet you.
