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Excluded and Uninvited
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Clarice and Kyle both followed the same travel vlogger. I didn’t think anything of the situation since the three of us had been friends since high school. The strange thing was that they had a private group chat that didn’t include me. I only found out because Kyle accidentally sent a message in our group chat. “I got us a table reservation at that restaurant for Sunday. Don’t be late.” It took less than a second before the text was deleted. I asked, “What restaurant? Let’s go together.” Kyle typed back, “Oops. Wrong chat. I’m having dinner with a colleague.” Clarice stayed silent throughout. It took some time, but I started connecting the dots. Whenever the three of us had something planned, one of them would cancel at the last minute. Previously, Clarice said she’d get the tickets for the music festival, but somehow, she could only secure two. Those went to her and Kyle. During our last camping trip, Kyle said that he only managed to borrow two sets of gear. When I offered to rent my own, Kyle brushed me off, saying that it was just too much of a hassle and that there was always a next time. That same weekend, Kyle and Clarice posted photos from that exact campsite, twenty minutes apart. For six months, I convinced myself that I was just unlucky. Looking back now, I realized that I had been singled out. So I left the group chat. No explanations. No accusations. I muted notifications from travel apps, ticketing apps, and restaurant bookings. Then, I booked a solo trip to Lake Tahoe, a ticket with no refund and no amendment allowed.
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Excluded and Uninvited Chapter 11
I said, “You were just as cruel every time you left me behind.” Stella approached and asked softly, “Shall we go before we miss the sunset?” I nodded. “Come on.” Clarice no longer stood in my way. For once, it was quiet behind me. There was no explanation. Clarice didn’t ask me to stay. The wind rustled through the pages of the ruined journal. It felt as though the final page had finally been turned.…I stayed in Lake Tahoe for a month. As I was halfway through my new journal, Lucy asked, “So you’re not going back to Brynwood?” I replied, “Nope.” After quitting my job in the big city, I put out a few resumes for remote positions. One travel media company reached out shortly, saying they’d love for me to try a content planning role after reviewing my compiled itineraries and journal photos. On the day of the interview, Stella helped set up my laptop. She asked, “Are you nervous?” I remarked, “A little.” “You’re a pro at making travel guides. Why be ner
Excluded and Uninvited Chapter 10
Stella burst into giggles. Kyle grimaced hard. Clarice didn’t seem upset, though. She simply looked at me, the light in her eyes dimming. Reality probably hit her that I was moving onto new photos, new friends, and a new journey. None of these had any place for her. … Clarice didn’t leave Tahoe right away. She checked into the hotel next door and sent things to the cabin lodge every day. The items ranged from flowers, medicine, hot tea, and breakfast. I returned every single one of them. Lucy clicked her tongue. “A late attempt at being thoughtful is worse than a coupon.” I grinned. “At least a couple saves you money.” Stella sat right by us, editing photos. She chimed in. “Hers just cost you your sanity.” I nodded. “That’s true.’ That afternoon, Clarice stopped me right outside the cabin lodge. She held out the restored travel journal. “I paid to get a rush job.” Her voice was low. “Whatever could be saved has been restored.”I took the journal from
Excluded and Uninvited Chapter 9
I looked back at Clarice. “Don’t give me more reasons to hate you, Clarice.” Her fingers stiffened. I yanked my hand free As the door swung shut, I saw Clarice standing in the wind, looking as though it finally registered that I was never coming back. …The next morning, Kyle showed up too. Dressed in white, Kyle wheeled his suitcase and stood in front of the lodge, his eyes swollen as if he had been crying all night. “James, let’s have a talk.” Clarice approached from the side, her expression more dreadful than his. “What are you doing here?” Kyle met her gaze. “Why shouldn’t I be here if you are?” Standing on the steps, I just found the whole thing absurd. In the past, Clarice and Kyle wouldn’t take me along on their trips. Yet, here they were, coming to me one after another. Kyle took a few steps toward me. “James, I know you blame me, but you can’t take Clarice away from me.” I broke into a grin. “When was she ever yours?” His jaw locked. “That’s not wh
Excluded and Uninvited Chapter 8
The only difference was that I wouldn’t be part of their world anymore. … On my third day there, I met a travel vlogger by Lake Tahoe. She was the very travel influencer both Clarice and Kyle happened to follow. Quieter in person, Stella Bloom crouched by the curb to fix her camera tripod. Lucy introduced us. “Stella’s a regular here. She makes a living shooting landscapes.”Stella looked up and smiled. “James Brew?” I was taken by surprise. “You know me?” “You were out in the yard yesterday, writing in your journal. You ended up in one of my time-lapse videos,” she said. “Don’t worry. I never got your face.”I bobbed my head. “Thank you.” Her eyes caught the book in my hand. “You take writing very seriously.” “It’s just a habit of mine.” “A slower pace of life suits you,” Stella uttered. “I’m heading out to an empty pier today to shoot the sunset. Want to come along?” I hesitated. From the side, Lucy chuckled. “Relax. She’s not going to abduct you, but if sh
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