Sienna
Birthdays were supposed to be special. Mom and Dad had always made sure of that, and they still did. But my boyfriend and my best friend? Their actions consistently told me otherwise. To them, it was just another day.
Even now, as we left the party that had been thrown for my birthday, they behaved as if it was nothing out of the ordinary.
"I think we should go to Vortex tonight," Kelly suggested, her words slurred from too much alcohol. She was clearly too drunk to be clubbing but still brimming with excitement. "It'll be so much fun!"
"Yeah," Ryatt agreed, his energy predictably matching hers. "She's right. We should go."
"Guys, we just finished celebrating my birthday, and it's already late," I interjected, exasperated. "You've both had too much to drink. I think we should call it a night and head home."
Kelly rolled her eyes at me. "Oh, come on, Sienna. Don't be such a bore. Live a little! It won't kill you."
"Yeah, Sia," Ryatt chimed in, giving me that look—the one that said please don't ruin the fun. "It's your birthday, after all! Let's keep the party going!"
Oh, so now my boyfriend remembered it was my birthday? How convenient.
A sigh slipped past my lips, and as always, I gave in. "Fine."
"Finally!" Kelly groaned, stumbling into my car. Since both of them were too drunk to drive, it fell to me—as usual. Sometimes, I felt more like their chauffeur than a friend.
And yet, as I navigated the streets toward Vortex—Kelly and Ryatt's favorite club—I couldn't stop the nagging thought creeping into my mind: Do they even care about me?
The club was alive with pulsing music, flashing lights, and a sea of sweaty bodies grinding against each other. Kelly immediately dragged Ryatt to the bar, their laughter ringing out as they ordered more drinks.
"Ryatt, let's do another round!" Kelly giggled, pulling him closer.
I reached out instinctively, my hand raised to stop him, but he didn't even glance back.
Something heavy settled in my chest as I watched them, a feeling I couldn't quite shake. But I forced myself to move away, leaning against the bar on the opposite side of the room.
I watched strangers laugh, dance, and lose themselves in the night, while I stood there, unmoved and unimpressed. My social battery had long since hit zero, and the allure of the club had faded completely.
Deciding I'd had enough, I resolved to leave. No matter how much Kelly and Ryatt begged, I wouldn't stay a second longer. But as I turned my gaze back to the bar, neither of them was there.
My stomach churned. I scanned the dance floor, my eyes darting over the crowded space. Still no sign of them.
Maybe they went to the bathroom? I thought, though unease had already started to creep up my spine.
Trusting my instincts, I maneuvered through the throng of people toward the restroom. The door creaked as I pushed it open, and what I saw made my breath catch in my throat.
Kelly sat perched on the countertop of the sink, Ryatt standing between her legs. Their lips were locked in a heated kiss, his hands roaming her body while hers fumbled with his belt.
The air left my lungs in a trembling gasp. My grip on the doorknob faltered, and I stumbled back, tears blurring my vision.
The sound of my movement snapped Ryatt's head up, his eyes widening in panic as he spotted me. He quickly pulled away from Kelly, fumbling to zip his pants. Kelly slid off the counter, her face flushed—not from shame, but from the alcohol and adrenaline.
"Sienna, wait—" Ryatt started, his voice frantic.
"It's not what it looks like!" Kelly added, her words a pathetic attempt to salvage the situation.
Without a word, I moved toward Ryatt. My breathing trembled, my heart racing wildly, and every inch of me felt like it was engulfed in flames. I didn't know how to put into words what I felt, but now, catching them like this, everything I'd chosen to ignore came crashing down. A part of me had always seen this coming, but I'd been too afraid to admit it—too terrified that acknowledging it would shatter me completely.
And it finally did.
It ripped a part of me and crushed it. Ruined it. Burned it.
"So this is why, huh? The late replies. The missed dates. The stupid excuses. All those times you were 'too tired' or 'not in the mood.'" My bitter laugh echoed in the room. "God, it's all so obvious now."
"Sia, please—" Ryatt tried again, reaching for me.
I stepped back, my voice rising. "Don't. You. Dare."
"God! Now that I think about it... I always saw it." A bitter chuckle escaped my lips. "Fuck," I hissed, running my fingers through my hair as a heavy breath clawed its way out of me. "I always fucking knew it. You two were definitely way too close to be just friends. Those times when this stupid bitch clung to you, and you said nothing. Those times when the both of you had those perfect little excuses to avoid me at the same time. Fuck. It was so obvious all along." My voice cracked as another trembling breath left me. "I've been so fucking stupid."
Kelly stood silent, while Ryatt's guilt-ridden face stared back at me. That guilt? It didn't faze me. Not one bit.
"How could you, huh?" My voice snapped as I grabbed Ryatt by the collar. "How could you fucking do this?! What have I not done for you, Ryatt? I've tried so hard, all these years—so much that it broke me from the inside out. Yet I kept trying, right up until this moment! Did you not hesitate? Not even once?!"
"Sia—"
"Answer me, you fucking bastard!" I shouted, cutting him off before he could spit out another excuse. "Stop dodging and answer me! When did this start? With that bitch?!"
"Sienna, you can't just call me a bitch," Kelly interjected, her voice as grating as ever, her audacity bigger than life itself. Of course, she had to speak up. Of course, she couldn't read the room.
"We did nothing wro—"
Before she could finish, I cut her off with a slap, the sound sharp and final, echoing louder than any of her excuses ever could.
