As a little girl, I always wondered what being in a perfect relationship with someone was like. But then, there was no perfection. My parents divorced before I turned seven, and so did all my relatives and my friend's relatives. I have seen people's relationships break apart for good or no reason. Facebook and Instagram usually showed couples traveling around the world, sharing the best that life could offer them until destiny set them apart.

The same is true for me. Alex is gone. Now that he is gone for a month, I can't sense the pain most people experience after a breakup, even when the words I love you had been exchanged between us in vain. I guess Alex and I are more friends than lovers. The connection wasn't there. And I was happy to be alone.

The fall leaves fall into the ground, marking the end of summer with Alex and I closing the chapter of our boring story.

"We are done," I confided to my friend Nathaniel.

"Until when?" Nathaniel cracked a laugh in disbelief. Gina sat beside him, flipping the channels of Nathaniel's 85-inch TV. Nathaniel's apartment was a mess, and I was not helping to clean it up this time.

"I know, right?" Gina's eyes focused on Nathan's TV. Shows like Criminal Minds, Too Hot to Handle, and The Circle played on the screen. As two girls shared a kiss in the kitchen and another couple slept together in one of the rooms of Too Hot to Handle, Gina quickly changed the channels. "Gross," she spoke out.

I usually didn't pay attention to Gina. I was best friends with Nathaniel, and that was enough for me. But not Gina.

"He'll come back for you," Nathaniel said. I felt he was trying to comfort me when I needed no support. "I'm fine," I said. "Alex is too angry."

"I wish I had a boyfriend who called me every day just like Alex did, Miranda," Gina complained with a baby voice. She flipped the channels one more time to watch. "I think I'll stick with this one," she said when she saw one person alone in each apartment room interacting with others through a screen. "The Circle is the best reality. Ever!"

"That doesn't mean anything," I snap at her. Gina had unrealistic expectations. "Like I said. He was angry all the time."

"At least he cared. Not like my last guy. He said straight out he didn't want to commit."

"He was not you, guy, Gina," Nathaniel reminded her irritatedly. "He said the words. He didn't want to commit. I can't believe you are still talking about him after two years. It wasn't serious."

"I know," her disappointed expression didn't lie.

Nathaniel used to say Gina was as fragile as a doll inside a porcelain glass. That didn't surprise me, considering Nathaniel was the opposite of Gina. Nathaniel was not afraid to take risks of any kind. He cultivated positive ideas with an open mind. Nathaniel dated multiple women all at the same time, and he was okay with that. The girls dumped him as much as he dumped them. But despite engaging in multiple relationships, Nathaniel was kind toward his partners and never talked down about them. He never lied or gave false hope to anyone, either. Everything was discussed in the open. In addition, Nathaniel was compassionate and nurturing, which made other male peers joke around and say Nate had more feminine traits than masculine ones. This was because Nathaniel did not have the protector mentality. Neither was he a handyman nor a strong and competitive male. Instead of sharing sports activities with a bunch of guys, Nathaniel was just fine sitting down with women, chatting and gossiping with them. James once said this was a smart move to get them.

Now, we were all in the same boat. Nathaniel, Gina, and I were single for good. Nathaniel didn't have a backup plan, Gina didn't have a boyfriend or a prospective date, and Alex and I were done.

"Summer is over," Nathaniel said. "Let's make the fall and winter the best of our lives," he cheered with three shots.

"I don't know," Gina said. "I want someone."

"You are just too picky, Gina," Nathaniel said. "Guys, don't stick around for too long because of your neediness, Gina," He spoke. Nathaniel and Gina had been friends for a long time, if not years. They survived the high school together, and Nathaniel said he was the only one who put up with her crap. I could sense the tension growing between them, just like my brother and I when we were little.

"You always invite ugly guys to your party," she complained. But I didn't know Gina enough to judge her. Most of the time I saw her, she was at Nathaniel's gathering parties at his apartment. Nathaniel knew a lot of people in town, and she loved to dive into his circles. Gina didn't miss one party unless her job as a bartender stopped her.

"So...I was invited to a haunted house next tomorrow. My friends and I are going to get a bite at the Gators before checking out this place," Nathaniel added with excitement. "Do you guys want to join me? We must purchase the tickets in advance."

"You know I don't like to spend money," Gina scoffed, pulling the blanket over her. "Are you going to pay my ticket?"

"The hell I am not, Gina! I am not your sugar dad."

"This is why you don't keep any women. I guess I will crush here on the couch," she said. I don't want to drive.

Nathaniel ignored her as I jumped, "I'm in," I told, but more to interrupt their bickering. I grabbed my purse. I had to be up in the morning for an entire hike at Epic Campus.

"I'll pick you up at five, then," Nathaniel said before I left his apartment.

As I was leaving Nathaniel's house, Gina mentioned wanting to get together with me. "Girls only," she winked. Getting together with her sometimes was an opportunity to have a new female friend in town and forget about Alex.

"Don't get too close to her," Nathaniel warned me by the door. She can be a little controlling," Gina continued to lie on his couch with the blanket over her. However, Nathaniel was too drunk when he said the words about Gina. He was usually drunk after any party.

Gina said, "What are you guys whispering about?"

"Nothing," both Nathaniel and I spoke. He had a smile on his face. I smiled back at him. "Don't be mean," I told him.

"Do you think Amy hook up with Easton?" Gina asked from a distance.

"We don't know, but that's possible," Nathaniel said. "A lot of girls like Easton, but Mostly because he is confident and a smart ass. Don't even try with him, Gina."

"Not a chance. He is not my type. Besides, he is a Psych student. He knows how to read women to get to them. I wouldn't fall for his bullshit."