The Boyfriend Experiment

It was nighttime, and Maya was alone in her room, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. She needed a distraction, something fun. So, she picked up her phone and texted Sally and Luna.

Maya: Emergency sleepover. My place. Bring snacks.

Within thirty minutes, her best friends were sprawled on her bed, surrounded by open bags of chips and scattered beauty products.

"So, what's the emergency?" Luna asked, stuffing popcorn into her mouth.

"I need a new boyfriend," Maya declared, twirling a lock of her golden-brown hair.

Sally and Luna exchanged knowing looks. "Obviously," Sally said. "But, uh, why the rush?"

"He has to be better than Vic," Maya said, determination flashing in her hazel eyes. "No—he has to be the best."

Luna smirked. "Then we need data. Bring out the yearbook!"

They flipped through the pages, analyzing each boy like it was a high-stakes business deal. After careful consideration, they narrowed it down to four names: Mark, Johnny, Azar, and Zeke—the best-looking, most powerful guys in school.

"Perfect." Maya grinned. "Now, we test them."

The next few days were a whirlwind. Maya spent time with each boy, letting them try to impress her. They took her to expensive cafés, walked her to class, showered her with compliments. To them, it was the best thing ever. To Maya? A nightmare.

She sat through the same predictable conversations, the same overconfidence, the same charming smiles that reminded her too much of him—Vic.

By the end of the week, she was exhausted.

"This is hopeless," Maya sighed as she flopped onto a chair in an empty classroom. Sally and Luna sat beside her, comparing notes.

"Mark talks about himself too much," Luna said.

"Johnny flirts with everyone," Sally added.

"Azar is a walking red flag," Maya muttered.

"And Zeke… I mean, he's nice," Luna offered.

"But he's basically Vic in a different font," Maya finished.

They fell into silence. The search had led to a dead end.

Just then, the classroom door opened.

Eddie walked in, expecting the room to be empty. The second he spotted them, he froze.

Maya raised a brow.

Eddie sighed, turned around, and walked right back out.

And just like that—Maya had an idea.

A wicked grin spread across her lips. "I know exactly who I want."

Sally and Luna perked up. "Who?!"

Maya leaned forward, her voice dripping with amusement. "I've been doing this all wrong. If I go for a pretty boy, it'll end the same way—drama, cheating, heartbreak. They're all the same. Superficial. Self-centered."

She smirked. "This time, I'm choosing someone different. Someone with qualities I don't usually go for."

Luna frowned. "What does that mean?"

Maya's eyes gleamed. "I need a nerd."

Sally nearly choked on her drink. "A what?!"

"A nerd," Maya repeated. "Smart, loyal, safe."

Luna and Sally looked at each other, then back at her. "You're serious?"

Maya crossed her arms. "Of course."

Luna groaned. "But nerds are so… you know… nerdy."

Sally sighed. "Fine. But who?"

Maya smirked. "That's what we're going to find out."

And just like that, the search began.

Got it! I'll make the transitions smoother so the events flow naturally without feeling choppy. Here's the revised version with a seamless flow and natural pacing:

Maya lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing. It had been a long, exhausting day, and no matter how much she tried to shake the feeling, there was an emptiness gnawing at her. She needed something new, something exciting—something to make her forget.

Without thinking twice, she grabbed her phone and fired off a text.

Maya: Emergency sleepover. My place. Bring snacks.

Thirty minutes later, Sally and Luna were sprawled across her bed, surrounded by open bags of chips, half-empty soda cans, and an explosion of beauty products. The room smelled like strawberry lip gloss and caramel popcorn.

Luna, lazily flipping through a fashion magazine, raised a brow. "So, what's the emergency? You suddenly realized life is boring without Vic?"

Maya scoffed, rolling onto her stomach. "Don't flatter him. If anything, life is better. But…" She twirled a golden-brown strand of hair around her finger, her hazel eyes flashing mischievously. "I need a new boyfriend."

Sally nearly choked on her drink. "Excuse me?"

Luna sat up, intrigued. "It's been, what? Two minutes since your last breakup?"

Maya waved a dismissive hand. "It's not about time. It's about status. If I'm going to move on, I need someone better than Vic." She popped a grape into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. "No—he has to be the best."

Sally exchanged a look with Luna. "Oh boy. Here we go."

Luna grinned. "Then we need data. Bring out the yearbook!"

With dramatic enthusiasm, they flipped open the book, running their fingers over glossy pictures of their classmates. They analyzed each boy like it was a high-stakes business deal, scrutinizing every detail as if their decision could change the course of history.

"Him?" Sally pointed.

"Too short," Luna said.

"What about this one?"

"Too quiet," Maya dismissed, flipping to the next page.

The process went on until they narrowed it down to four names: Mark, Johnny, Azar, and Zeke—the best-looking, most powerful guys in school.

Maya leaned back against the pillows, a satisfied grin on her lips. "Perfect."

Sally smirked. "And now what? We summon them like Pokémon?"

"No." Maya's grin widened. "We test them."

And so, the next few days became a whirlwind of attention. Maya let each boy try to impress her, giving them the chance to prove they were worthy.

Mark took her to an expensive café, talking endlessly about his future as if he were already a billionaire. Johnny practically worshipped her, showering her with compliments that felt more rehearsed than genuine. Azar was charming but had a reputation that made even Maya wary. And Zeke? He was smart, confident, and sweet—but something about him reminded her too much of Vic.

To them, it was a dream come true. To Maya? A nightmare.

By the end of the week, she was exhausted.

She slumped into a chair in an empty classroom, sighing dramatically as Sally and Luna sat beside her, comparing notes like they were running an investigation.

"Mark talks about himself too much," Luna said, flipping through her mental checklist.

"Johnny flirts with literally everything that moves," Sally added.

"Azar is a walking red flag," Maya muttered, rubbing her temples.

"And Zeke…" Luna hesitated. "I mean, he's nice."

"But he's basically Vic in a different font," Maya finished.

A heavy silence settled over them. The search had led to a dead end.

"This is hopeless," she groaned, staring up at the ceiling.

The air in the room grew still as the three of them sat there, lost in thought. The plan had seemed foolproof—find the best, get the best. But the best turned out to be just as disappointing as the worst.

The door creaked open.

Maya barely registered it until a familiar presence entered the room. Eddie.

He adjusted his glasses, looking mildly annoyed, clearly expecting the classroom to be empty. The second he saw them, he froze.

Maya raised a brow.

Eddie let out a heavy sigh. Without saying a word, he turned around and walked right back out.

Her lips curled into a smirk.

Something clicked.

A slow, wicked grin spread across her face. "I know exactly who I want."

Sally and Luna snapped their heads toward her. "Who?!"

Maya leaned forward, her voice dripping with amusement. "I've been doing this all wrong. If I go for a pretty boy, it'll end the same way—drama, cheating, heartbreak. They're all the same. Superficial. Self-centered." She tapped her nails against the desk, thinking. "This time, I need someone different. Someone with qualities I don't usually go for."

Luna narrowed her eyes. "What does that mean?"

Maya's smirk widened. "I need a nerd."

Silence.

Then—

Sally choked on her drink. "A what?!"

"A nerd," Maya repeated, crossing her arms. "Smart. Loyal. Safe."

Luna and Sally exchanged a long, confused look.

"You're serious?" Luna asked.

"Dead serious."

Luna groaned, rubbing her temples. "But nerds are so… you know… nerdy."

Maya rolled her eyes. "Exactly! That's the point. No more heartbreak. No more games. Just stability."

Sally squinted at her. "So, let me get this straight. You—Maya, the heartbreaker, the most sought-after girl in school—are going to date a nerd?"

Maya flipped her hair over her shoulder, smiling. "Yes."

Sally blinked. "I feel like I'm hallucinating."

Luna sighed. "Fine. But who?"

Maya tapped her fingers on the desk, thinking.

Eddie's face flashed in her mind. The way he avoided her. The way he challenged her. The way he was completely unimpressed by her when every other guy in school practically tripped over themselves for her attention.

She bit her lip, her smirk deepening.

"That's what we're going to find out."

And just like that, the search began