001: Binary stars

Evangeline

“Let’s break up. I’m calling off our engagement.”

My brain screeched to a halt. The buzz of excitement in my stomach from just ten minutes ago — seeing the beautiful 100/100 in my Astrobiology test — dissolved like paper in acid.

“W-what?” I echoed; my grip on my food tray tightening so hard my knuckles lost circulation. A short laugh of disbelief punched out of my throat. “Jer…what... what are you talking about?”

Jeremy, my boyfriend of two years and also my fiancé, stared at me with a detached look in his eyes. Granted, he looked terrible. His beautiful face was dull, and he had sunken eyes and dark circles. Even his honey brown eyes that were always so warm had turned dull, the color of mud. His hair was tied back messily, tawny strands falling over his exhausted face.

“You heard me,” he said. His voice was mellow, yet louder then the sounds of the cafeteria all around me. “I’ve been thinking about it for days. Losing sleep too. And I’ve decided it’s the best thing to do for myself.”

“No!” I cried out, momentarily forgetting that we weren’t alone. I took a shaky step towards him, inhaling and trying to smile. It felt stretched. “Jer, please. Let’s…let’s talk about this. Okay. We can go to that cute restaurant down town and —“

“Don’t you get it?!” He snapped, his face twisting in anger. “For goodness sake, I said I’m done! What more do you want to hear from me?!”

A hush fell over the cafeteria.

No. This is bad. Very bad. I can’t draw this kind of attention. I can’t have so many eyes on me.

I swallowed rne bitter link in my throat. “O-okay, I hear you. But this is all so sudden. Did I do anything wrong? I’m really sorry, Jer. But you can’t break up with me! We’re…we’re going to get married!”

My voice came out shrill. Too panicked. People were looking, curious students looking for a new juicy piece of campus gossip to sink their teeth into.

No! I need to leave. I can’t be…

My feet remained rooted in the spot. My eyes turned pleading. “Jer please,” my voice cracked and tears filled my eyes. “I…I can’t…you can’t break up with me,”

There was no anger in his eyes. No malice either. Just a cold look that held no warmth for me. He wasn’t smiling either. Just…staring at me. Unblinking. Like he was done with me.

This was Jeremy. The boy my parents and his parents decided would be my husband. We’ve known each other all our lives. I’ve picked out baby names. I’ve imagined what our first kiss would be like…our first time too. I’ve imagined our wedding, planned it all in detail, down to the brand of champagne that will be served.

The love of my life. The one happiness in my life. My binary star.

He can’t leave me!

A cold feeling washed over me and my stomach turned. I bit down hard on my lip in an attempt to stifle my sobs.

No, Evangeline. Don’t you dare cry here! Uphold the pristine Bramwell reputation! Pull yourself together!

“I can’t do this anymore, Eva. I can’t breathe. I can’t do anything without feeling like I’m drowning.”

“Then we’ll take some space! Some time away from each other—“ the tray slipped out of my hand, clattering to the ground. The food splashed on my shoes, but that was the least of my worries. I grabbed his arms, looking up at him with teary eyes. “I can’t lose you! I can’t! Our parents, they’ll be pissed if we break off!” I tried to use that lined my last resort.

Jeremy looked adamant, firm in his decision.

He shook his head and slowly pulled his hands away. “Goodbye, Eva. I hope we never meet again.” And he turned to leave. I watched his back get further and further away from me.

He’s leaving! He’s actually doing it.

“Jeremy!” I screamed out, unable to keep my composure. Around me; students snickered and laughed. I heard a camera or two click. Someone whispered ‘serves that bitch right.'

None of them mattered. Nothing except the sight of my love walking away from me.

I ran. I ran up to him, grabbed his arm and pulled him back. Tears streamed freely down my face now. I didn’t care how I looked, the Evangeline Bramwell, falling apart in public.

“Please,” I tried one last time.

Jeremy shook me off and kept walking, not even sparing me a glance. “It’s over.”

My whole world shattered, the universe crashing down all my head. It felt like all the stars lost their brightness, plunging me into eternal darkness. The farther away Jeremy got, the darker the corners of my vision got.

My chest tightened. And before I knew it, I was sobbing. Openly. Ugly sounds that came from the deepest parts of me.

A pair of arms wrapped around me. A sweet floral perfume filled my nose, and I felt softness press into my side.

“Let’s go. Eva, let’s go. Now. People are taking videos.” Manon, my best friend whispered urgently.

My feet wouldn’t move. My world just spiraled off orbit. Go where? Where will I go without Jeremy?!

“Hey back off! Turn that camera off! Im talking to you!” Manon’s shouts slowly started to get more distant. My body couldn’t hold up anymore, and I collapsed into her arms.

***

My head whipped to the side with the full strength of my father’s slap.

It knocked me off my feet and sent me flying into the ground. I bit down hard on my tongue till blood flowed into my mouth. Pain exploded in my head and my vision blacked out for two seconds.

Don’t make a noise. Don’t make a noise. Remain quiet. It makes everything easier. Bear it with pride, Evangeline. It's an honour to have the Bramwell name.

This is my fault...all my fault.

“You are a disgrace!” His powerful voice boomed through the four walls of my room. “How dare you, Evangeline! Bring this family shame?! Do you have any idea the blow our PR team just suffered?!”

I got to my feet and hastily lowered to my knees, my head bowed and my entire face stinging. My left eye was blurry, and my left ear rang.

“I’m sorry, father.” I whispered, sinking into myself to make my body smaller. "I'm so sorry."

“Sorry?! Does that fix anything?! Does that erase the countless videos of you crying over a man on the internet?!”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I made a mistake. Please forgive me.”

With my head bowed, I felt the full weight of his angry glare on my head. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think past; don’t make him angrier. Become as small as possible. Keep apologizing.

“Dear, we’re going to be late.” My mother’s cold voice sliced through the air, making me flinch. I braced myself for her tongue lashing, or fist. Whichever came first.

My father sighed. “You’re on thin ice, Evangeline. One more strike and it’s over.”

My heart plummeted to my guts. Against my thoughts, I snapped my head up and met his eyes. “I…I’ve kept my grades up. I’m top of my department, I’m going to intern with NASA in three months. I can’t—”

“Maybe you should have thought about your future before embarrassing yourself.” My mother lashed out. She never raised her voice, but she cut even deeper.

My future?! It’s all I think about! Day in and day out! It's why I'm studying a soul sucking course!

“Please, father. Don’t pull me out of the Astrophysics program! I’m begging you!” I clasped my hands together, hoping the sight of me would soften his heart.

Nothing softens his heart.

“One more strike,” he said coldly. Then he turned to leave.

My mother stayed behind for a few seconds. She snapped her fingers and Alice, my personal nurse, hurried into my room. “Clean her up. Make sure there’s no bruising. She still has school tomorrow.”

“Yes ma’am,”

Her dark eyes filled with disapproval as she stared at me. “Crying over a disowned, useless boy. How stupid.” she clicked her tongue, then turned and left.

My knees gave out from under me and I collapsed to the marble floors.

This can’t be happening. How can my life get so fucked up in one day?!

I can’t let my parents take me out of the Astrophysics department. I’ve done my very best to remain on top, balancing it with training for the company and my social life…and Jeremy.

My tears stung my swollen cheek; making me cry even harder.

“Miss?” Alice called softly. She’s the only one in this house that doesn’t see me as Evangeline Bramwell, heir to the Bramwell empire. “Please, come lay on the bed,”

I nodded, then shakily got up and walked to my bed. My entire body ached, and my neck had a crimp. I’m surprised it didn’t break when my father slapped me. Again.

Alice got to work, her fingers gentle on my face. She’s done this countless of times. For as long as I could remember.

My phone vibrated on the nightstand. Alice fetched it for me. The notification made my blood turn to stardust.

“Notification of FIG320 test results.”

FIG320…the mandatory elective course I have to take for the semester. It’s an Art course, one that’s worlds apart from my major. I had totally forgotten about the test, as that was the only time I attended the class. To me it was insignificant, all I had to do was pass all the tests and be done with it.

I inhaled deeply and opened my portal.

There’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s just an art class. I can calculate the mass of black holes millions of miles away from earth. An art class? That’s going to be a breeze.

I saw the score.

A strangled gasp crawled out of my throat.

Two cold hands closed around my heart and squeezed it hard.

My father’s words echoed in my head; “one more strike and it’s over.”

He’ll kill me! He’ll transfer me to business management before I can get a plea out! He’s going to kill me!

“No…no! No!” I screamed, staring at the grade as if by doing so it would change in value.

This is a nightmare. A terribly vivid nightmare!

There’s no world in existence, no multiverse, that I would ever get a 28/100!

It’s a glitch. It’s not real. It can’t be.

My hand trembled so hard I almost dropped my phone twice. I refreshed the page again. And again. And again.

Yet it remained. Staring into my eyes.

28.