From the beginning, Ellie and Nova have shared a unique bond. Whether they’re co-babysitting a chaotic toddler or splitting a pizza after a long afternoon, their chemistry has always felt… different. Softer. Ellie laughs a little harder at Nova’s jokes. Nova finds excuses to text Ellie about “schedule changes.”

Whether Ellie likes Nova, and whether Nova is “taken” by someone’s “better,” the core issue is the same: unspoken feelings create drama.

If Ellie truly has a crush, she has three options:

Babysitting clubs in YA fiction often serve as microcosms of social hierarchies and ethical development. Here, the club may function as a stage where Ellie constantly compares herself to her crush, leading to:

The phrase itself is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. "My better" implies a hierarchy. This is not a simple crush; it is a crush laced with inferiority, admiration, and quiet desperation.

Why does this trope hit so hard in the BSC universe?