Chapter 1: We’re Engaged

STACY

“Are you coming for the party tonight? They say it's going to be the biggest one of the semester!” Nika chimes excitedly as she scrolls through her phone. Her gaze shifts, and her frown dips. “Oh right, you don't do parties.”

“Exactly!” I reply as I shove the last textbook down my backpack. “But you guys should have fun though!”

She tugs at my arm, her lips set in a cute pout. “Come on, just this once.” I shake my head, taking the lead as we walk out of the lecture hall. “This is our college year—you don’t want to spend 90% of it studying and shit!”

“Well, I would prefer to have a great GPA at the end of the term than go to an alcohol-filled orgy.”

“It’s not like that.” She slaps her hand on her waist, blocking my path. I give her a stare. “Okay, maybe it is like that.” I roll my eyes and continue walking. She catches up to me.

“But come on, you don’t want to be that lowly nerd who graduates, gets a job, and lives her 30s as a lonely virgin who spends her nights downing popcorn and watching romcoms while fantasizing about the life she could’ve had if she’d been a little loose.”

“Oddly specific.”

“Exactly, and you don’t want that to be you, so you have to come!”

I know she’s not going to get off my back if I don’t agree, so I say, “I’ll think about it.”

She punches the air as though she'd just won the lottery and I can’t stop the small smile that makes its way to my lips.

This is Nika.

Bright, joyful, and always with a positive outlook on life—my complete opposite, actually. I can’t remember the last time I was this bright. Maybe I was… I just can’t remember.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to have your dress prepared just in case,” she says, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Why? What’s wrong with my clothes?” I look down at the perfectly knitted pink sweater and white shorts I’m wearing. “I look great, don’t I?”

She musters an awkward smile. “Yes… if you want to attend a book club meeting.” She throws her arm around my shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ll have your dress delivered before 9 PM!” I nod slowly as we finally reach the parking lot.

“NIKA!” Troy, her stepbrother, calls, his voice thick with irritation. He stands by the open door of what happens to be his Bentley. Nika rolls her eyes.

“I forgot I was going with this idiot,” she mumbles, releasing me from her hold. “I’ll be right there, jackass!”

She turns to me, blowing a kiss, which I catch and place against my chest. “See you at 9 PM.”

I still don’t know if I’m going, but I nod anyway. She finally walks back to the car. They start bickering about something I can’t make out. I stifle a low chuckle as I make my way home.

After going through the treacherous roads, I finally arrive home. I pull the door open, releasing an exhausted sigh as I slip my shoes off. “I’m home!” I call out, but I don’t get any response.

Slowly, my legs drag against the carpet as I try to ignore the thoughts creeping into my mind.

It wasn’t happening.

Not again.

I draw in a breath, shutting my eyes as I try to calm my nerves. “I’m home!” I say louder this time, but once again, the silence that answers is deafening.

Adrenaline courses through my blood as I bolt into the living room, but it’s bare—Mother usually sits here when I come back… no, maybe she’s in the kitchen.

I can’t smell anything, but I still try to believe she’s in there, probably washing the dishes.

Yeah, she’s washing them.

My feet move fast, but my heart beats faster as the empty kitchen welcomes me.

I check the room—

Empty.

Where is she?

Sweat dampens my palms as I slip my phone from my bag, dialing her number.

“Please pick up,” I mumble, biting what’s left of my fingernails—but it goes straight to voicemail.

I dial again. Still voicemail.

My throat dries, my skin pales as memories from that night render themselves crystal clear in my mind.

I’m in high school.

Blood.

Lots of it.

It’s on Dad—it’s all over Mum too. But Mum’s fine, she’s still breathing, but she’s crying. They were robbed, she says. Dad fought, but didn’t win, she says.

I’ve lost Dad.

I can’t lose Mum too.

No.

No.

The sound of metal clicking makes my eyes snap open. I grab the nearest object, looking for somewhere to hide—then the door opens.

It’s Mum.

My chest feels lighter as I run into her arms.

I don’t know when the tears started falling. “Oh! Baby, you’re home.” She exclaims but my sobs fade out her voice.

“I was so worried. I thought—I thought you…” She cups my face, looking into my eyes. Her gaze softens as she slowly plants a kiss on my forehead.

“Nothing will ever happen to me.”

“But you never know. We didn’t expect it to happen to Dad, did we?” She shushes me, pulling me into her arms. She doesn’t let go until my breathing steadies and I stop sobbing.

She leads me to the couch and sits me down, grabbing a bottle of water, which I gulp down immediately, letting the cool sensation soothe my nerves.

“I’m sorry for worrying you,” she begins, taking my hand in hers. “It won’t happen again.”

“I know,” I say, but I’m still curious. “Where did you go? And why was your phone off?”

She adjusts in her seat, clearing her throat subtly. “You know I never want to lie to you, right?”

“Yes, I do.” I don’t like where this is going, but I stay quiet, letting her continue. “Is everything okay? Wait—what if we’re…” My eyes widen. “Are we in debt?”

“No! No!” She waves her hands. “Gosh, Stace, you always think so negatively.”

“Well, it’s because my mother just gave me a heart attack and is now hesitating to tell me what’s going on!”

She sighs, playing with her fingers. At that moment, her phone chimes. The screen lights up.

My eyes catch the words:

I love you. Have a good night [Heart Emoji]

I snatch her phone before she can reach it.

“Stacy! Stacy, wait!”

My lips press tighter as I scroll through the messages.

I can’t wait for our wedding.

Have you told your daughter yet?

She’ll be so happy for us.

I love you so much, darling.

My stomach twists, and suddenly I feel lightheaded. I stumble back, crashing into a small table and gripping it for support.

Mum takes her phone back, her face pale.

“You’re dating someone?” My voice is low, barely recognizable.

“I can explain—it’s not what you think—”

“Then what is it? A random coworker just happened to send you ‘I love you’ on a freaking Friday night?” I snap, my knuckles turning white as my nails dig into my skin.

I just now notice she was wearing one her fancy dresses, one of the one's dad bought for her.

“Tell me it isn’t true.”

“Stacy, I—”

“Tell me it isn’t true, Mum!”

Her face falls, her lips tightening as silence hangs heavily between us. The tension is so thick it feels like I could slice through it.

“I love him and…” she hesitates, then finally says, “We’re engaged.”