Page 36 of Lonely Hearts Day

“I didn’t—” I started to say but she was already lunging toward me.

Micah caught her around the waist. “Babe, she means nothing to me. It’s you.”

She shoved his chest. “I hate you!”

“Please don’t hate me. You’re my world.”

And then she was kissing him, and I was still stuck in the closet, forced to watch.

I pushed by them. Jack was standing behind the couch his arms crossed, his brow dipped. Unable to control myself, I flipped him off and left the party. And then the tears came.

Year 4

(Seniors)

Chapter 14

“Scarlett! What time is your party tonight?” She was the fifth person who had asked me that question so far and I had only walked from my car to my locker.

“I’m not having one,” I responded.

“Why?” the girl asked, obviously disappointed. How could I explain to her in one sentence or less everything that had happened over the last year? I couldn’t. It was too much. It was everything.

The day after last years’ party, Jack and Sage had walked around school hand in hand. Giving their love a second chance. Apparently, eight years of friendship didn’t deserve a second chance, though, because he didn’t text me after I flipped him off. I didn’t text him either. Because he was the one in the wrong. He’d shut me in a closet with Micah. He’d kissed the girl next to me rather than me. He was a total jerk.

He was angry over Micah! He had thought I was changing allegiances and wanted to date or kiss or do something with his mortal enemy? He didn’t know me at all. It was such a petty, unfounded thing to break off an eight-year friendship over, and just thinking about it made my blood boil. Or it had in the beginning. My anger was more of a simmer now, just hanging out in the background of my life.

Maybe if one of us had swallowed our pride in the weeks that followed, we could’ve smoothed things over. But neither of us had. And time passed. He broke up with Sage after a couple months. Still no text from him. I got accepted to the college we’d been talking about for years. Still no text from me. And now here we were, having not spoken for an entire year.

Even just thinking about it made my eyes sting.

I’d hung out with the drama club girls at lunch. I’d actually gotten close with Laney, Troy’s girlfriend. We’d do sleepovers and movie nights. We’d talk about school work and graduating. She couldn’t read my mind. Maybe best friends weren’t supposed to be able to do that.

“But Troy is!” I called to the girl asking about the party, and opened my locker. “Go to his!” Troy had decided to take over my tradition this year, and he was going to do an excellent job.

“Hey,” Laney said now, leaning her shoulder against the closed locker next to mine.

“Hi,” I said with a smile.

“What was that about?” she asked, nodding toward the retreating girl.

“I was telling her about Troy’s party. I should’ve told her it was co-ed.” Troy’s definition of co-ed—a party with both couples and singles. Micah and Cassidy had graduated last year, so there was no longer any competition. Not that there would be even if they hadn’t. As soon as Micah left for college, he’d dumped Cassidy. I kind of felt bad for her, but the news hadn’t surprised me at all. It was very Micah of him.

Laney gave a little chuckle, then sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and chewed on it, her nervous habit, before saying, “I have news for you, and I don’t know if I should tell you or not.”

“Is it bad news or good news?”

“I don’t know.”

I shut my locker. “Will I hear it whether you tell me or not?”

“You’ll find out for sure.”

“Then I’d rather hear it from you.”

“Troy invited Jack to the party.”

My heart stuttered in my chest and I swallowed hard. I knew Jack and Troy still hung out, but he avoided talking about it when I was around. Of course he invited Jack. Why would I think he’d choose me over him?