Chapter One

Ladies and gentlemen here are the class of 2011," the Head Councillor of the University announced, and the graduates threw their cap gowns in the air and cheered.

I stood up and clapped, smiling widely as my best friend, Linda, who was standing on the stage with her black gown. Linda had to stay back a year so, she graduated late. She was supposed to graduate the same time as me last year, but something tragic happened in her family, so she was really down and slacked in her work. She finally finished school and can go onto the fashion industry like she always wanted to. She was already been accepted by Kazumi Callan, the owner of some fashion lines for models here in New York City.

I finished my degree, which is journalism, and I was working in the Publishing Magazine Company called Manhattan Publishing Company, where we interview celebrities and ask questions. I was also working in a part-time as a waitress in this restaurant called Bristo, I've worked there since my first year of Uni and I've something loved working there.

Linda walked over in her heels.

"It feels like high school again."

"It sure does." I smiled and hugged her tightly.

"Let's go celebrate at home, I have bottles of Vodka, and we can order take out." She suggested, and gave her a smile in my response.

"But don't you want to spend some time with your dad first?" I asked her and she scowled.

"Honestly, I don't feel like hearing him nag about why I won't go to law school." She sighed as her father walked in and hugged her.

"I'll meet you at home," I told her. She nodded as she silently talked to her dad.

I turned to leave but bumped into someone. I looked up and gasped as I stared up at Storm Delavega.

Storm and I dated for four full years back in high school. He was my high school sweetheart. But at prom, he proposed to me and I panicked and leave him on his knees. I haven't contacted him ever since, but I do check his F******k sometimes, and he found someone else a girl named Trisha.

"S-Storm... What are you doing here?" I asked him nervously.

He still looked the same; perfectly natural tan skin from playing NFL, six foot lean and muscle in the right places. He used to be curly brown hair that used to flip over his forehead is cut into a buzz cut and is a light brown almost blonde hair. His messy hair flopped on top is forehead messily and. His sparkly green eyes still sparkled with amusement.

Storm smiled his pearly whites teeth, looking perfect as ever. "Linda called me," he said.

Damn it Linda.

Storm and Linda were childhood best friends, so that explained why he was here.

"Oh." I smiled and averted my eyes to a girl who came beside him. She was gorgeous. She had a model like thin tall perfect body with sleek long blonde hair and honey eyes and perfect white skin. Not only that, but she stood next to Storm wrapping her arm around his biceps as Storm stared down at her with so much love.

A lump formed in my throat.

"Samantha, meet my fiancée, Trisha." Storm smiled at her as she held out her hand.

"Nice to meet you, Samantha. Storm told me so much about you." Trisha smiled as I shook her hand. I noticed she had an accent.

"It's nice to meet you to. I hint an accent, are you from England?"

"No, I'm from Ireland. Storm and I met in Switzerland when he was playing his game and accidentally threw the football which hit my head." They both laughed.

"I'm really glad I hit you though, I guess fate was telling me something," Storm said as they both stared at each other lovingly.

"Well, it's nice to see you again, Storm and you too, Trisha, it's nice to meet you." I tucked my hair behind my ears.

"We're moving here. Trisha and I decided to stay in Manhattan for a while." Storm wrapped his arm around Trisha's waist.

"That's... great." I bit my lower lips. "Well, I have to go, hopefully I'll see you around." I told them and turned to leave my face, feeling flushed.

Once I got to my apartment, I leaned against the door sliding down and brought my knees up to my chest as I closed my eyes, thinking back to that night five year ago.

Storm wrapped his arm around me tightly as I laid my head down on his broad shoulder. We softly swayed to the music both of our eyes closed as the slow song played.

"I love you," Storm murmured in my ear, and I sighed and smiled, leaned back while staring into his eyes.

"I love you," I said, and he leaned in softly pressed his lips to mines.

He leaned back and let go of me, digged something into his pocket. "Sam, we've been together for a long time. And you are the most wonderful person that's ever been in my life... you've always been there for me when I'm down or going through a tough time. You taught me how to always keep my head up and don't give a fuck about anyone who's always tried to weigh me down, you're like my rock and without you, I'm nothing." He took a shaky breath and my heart raced.

He slowly got down on one knee and the music stopped. Everyone watched, some even had their phones out. "Marie Samantha Fortalejo... will you make me the happiest man on earth by marrying me?" he asked me, his eyes glistening as he stared up at me.

My mouth gaped open as some people chanted say yes. I scanned the crowd seeing Linda, her eyes widened and her mouth hang opened. I looked down at Storm,  his eyes was hopeful and I knew what I did next would shatter his heart. So I left. And I never looked back...

I remembered the next day Storm blowed up my phone and continuously coming to the house to come see me.

I broke out of my thoughts as Linda came in sighing heavily.

"What happened?" I asked her. I stood up and smoothed down my bodycon form fitting cream dress.

"Dad and I had a long talk. And he accepted that I should follow my dreams and that he'll always support me. We finally had a father daughter bonding time and his stupid girlfriend had to interrupt," she ranted, taking out two wine glasses and a bottle of vodka and fruit punch.

Remember when I said that Linda had a family tragedy a year ago? Linda's mother died from cancer. She was so devastated. She went out to parties, got drunk and high, and I had to help her get through this.

"What did she want?" I questioned as she set the glasses on the coffee table.

Linda and I moved into this nice studio during our freshmen year in Uni. The walls were painted a light nude cream color there was two L shaped white sofas, a coffee table and a plasma screen TV. There are some photos of me and Linda and friends and families on the walls.

"I don't know nor do I care." She poured a glass of vodka and the next fruit juice.

"I'm going to call to take-out," I said, then turned on my phone noticing it's dead. I groaned. "Can I use your phone?"

Linda jerked her head to her Prada bag that her dad got her as a Christmas gift. I opened her bag, grabbing her phone then noticed two white cards that had silver designs. "Linds, what's this?" I pulled out the two cards and Linda jumped up a happy smile on her face.

"Kasumi Callan gave me these cards as a gift at the graduation after you left. It's two invitations to her ice ball, and she said I can bring a guest. And my guest is you." She handed me a card.

"It's her and her husband's 30th wedding anniversary, so are you in or not?"

"Sure."