The Ethernet Betrayal

Jordan's thumbs hammered the controller while Marcus sat on the edge of his bed, spiraling the ethernet cable around his hand like a snake. Friday night. Halo. Their ritual since seventh grade.

"Bro, you gotta clutch this," Marcus said, not looking up from the tangled black cord. "If we lose our ranked streak, I'm actually gonna lose it."

Jordan's phone lit up with a notification from Maya: *Did Marcus tell you?*

"Tell me what?" Jordan typed back, pausing the game.

"That he's going to Taylor's party instead of your birthday thing tomorrow."

Jordan's stomach dropped. Marcus had been hyping Jordan's birthday bash for weeks. They'd planned it together – pizza, gaming tournament, the whole vibe.

"That's bull," Jordan said, voice tight. Marcus finally looked up, all wide-eyed innocence.

"What?"

"Maya just texted me. Taylor's party? Tomorrow? Same time as my thing?"

Marcus stared at his shoes. The cable kept spinning, faster now. "Bro, it's not like that –"

"Then what's it like?"

"Taylor's basically offering me a spot on the varsity team if I show. His dad knows the coach. This is my future, Jordan."

"Your future?" Jordan laughed bitterly. "We've been planning this for weeks. You literally helped me pick the invitations. And now some rando party is more important?"

Marcus stood up, cable still knotted around his fist. "You don't get it. This isn't just some party –"

"I get it perfectly." Jordan unplugged the controller. "I get that our friendship means less than some networking opportunity with people who'll forget your name by Monday."

"Jordan, come on –"

"Nah. You do you, Marcus. Really." Jordan pointed at the door. "But don't act like we're still friends after this."

The silence stretched between them, thick and awful. Marcus's phone buzzed – Taylor, probably.

"Fine," Marcus said, grabbing his jacket. "I'll catch you later."

"Don't bother," Jordan called after him.

The door clicked shut. Jordan sat alone with the paused game screen, the blue light washing over empty space. Some birthday.

Outside, a car engine started. Jordan didn't look out the window. Some things you just had to let go of, even when they hurt like hell.

The next group chat notification pinged – the boys asking if Jordan was still down for tomorrow's party.

Jordan typed back: *More than ever.*

True friends didn't need to be asked twice.