THREE

Once I shut the door, I could hear my Dad crying, which made me sigh a bit from his exaggerating sensitivity to things that make him cry. On my eighteen birthday, he called, making the whole dinner party awkward. I was surprised Effie didn't mind; she seemed calm when my Dad would whimper each time he asked her a question.

Sometimes he does that, like when pregnant women are emotional because it is crazy. I wonder if I get pregnant and act like that. I'll completely understand the challenges of a new mother. I know Athena, Effie's older sister, and she's only two months pregnant, and a bit of her belly is showing. I'm so excited for her; she is carrying a child with her boyfriend, Rex, whom she loves very much. I know Effie and Ares, their brother, can't wait for their niece or nephew to arrive.

Effie has told me they are combining the houses into one, so it would be easier than just walking from house to house. I mean, they were practically going to be a family soon. Hence Effie is also dating a Wolfe. Why not combine the homes. They went through all the paperwork and signed by Odin, who paid for everything. Since he became part of their lives, Odin is willing to spoil them rotten after missing so many years. Daddy Wayne is helping them renovate with payment. But he did it for free because I'm Effie's best friend.

I hopped into my Camry car and turned on the ignition and the heater because it fucking cold, and my hands were frozen. Let my phone connect with Bluetooth and play my songs on the playlist. A blast of Cardi B's song played, and I drove out of the driveway heading for school.

While as I drove, I began to think of that event that happened with Effie and Kareem. I went to his place because I wanted to call off the wedding after seeing the love between Effie and Logan. I liked that too and maybe convinced Liam to come to his sense. I worked my ass off to please him, but I'm just a booty-call or rebound girl. He and I only did it once, and he regretted having sex with me. I felt like my whole dream world broke into pieces. Liam shattered my heart, but I wasn't giving up. My Dad told me I got to fight for what I believe in and can't waste another day, another week, another month, or another year for him because Liam is essential to me, and if he has some issues, then he and I could work things out.

At Kareem's home, I told him to shove it - not literally, but I told him I wanted to marry for love. Then when he declared his love for me, I was stunned. Kareem is a handsome man with a law degree who can get all the women he wants, and what he wanted was me. The first time I met Kareem was when my grandparents Vishal and Seema Haasan showed up at my doorsteps claiming to be my biological mother's parents and announced the news that had shocked my dads and me. Like someone hit a home run. They told me I'm engaged because it was a wish that my birth mother wanted - marry me off to some guy who I don't even know.

I was a little nervous, and he wasn't. I saw on his face he didn't want this marriage to happen. He's twenty-two, and I just turned eighteen. It's not a big difference, but the major problem here is that he and I barely know each other. His parents and my grandparents were thrilled to have us be wed because it would bring the Naval and Haasan to be successful in business. The Naval family is a trading company in Mumbai, India, whereas my grandparents run a farm filled with plants, herbs, and livestock in the countryside of India that has been going for a long time. So, combining two families and their businesses will make them productive.

Kareem and I would go on dates; he would sometimes visit me at home and have dinner there with my dads. At first, he was okay with me having two dads, but his attitude towards them tells me differently that this guy isn't the one. I thought to be with Kareem and getting to know him would kick my mind off of Liam. Half of the time, it works, and the other half - I don't know. He who all I think about, even when I'm with Kareem.

It was hard to tell him I didn't want to marry him, and as soon as I let go, he made a declaration, and I walked out of the house. I drove to L.A., and he followed me to Odin's house and tried to bring me back and convince me that he loved me. Then Liam saw me in distress of pushing Kareem away; he did it for me and started hitting the guy. And let me tell you, it was mortifying. I watched as the guy I love beat the hell out of Kareem.

It became awkward between Liam and me when it was all over because of what Odin said. How could the old man tell Kareem I was already engaged. I was initially confused, but I was still confused once Odin explained it. Since Kareem left, he had probably told my grandparents about it.

I'm starting to think the storm will be coming soon.

Walking the halls of the school had my head towards my locker. I stop to see my best friend making out with her boyfriend. I only smile and shake my head.

Effie's and my locker are close, so that we would walk to classes together.

Aphrodite Reid, or we call her Effie, she and I became friends since we became partners in our drama class with Mrs. Bloomfield. She was in her P.E uniform because her clothes were drenched. It seems that Paris was out at it again. Everyone in school knows how Paris Blake treated her, and it made my stomach hurt to have a person bully another person who survived a car accident at such a young age.

I remembered when I was six, my dads were looking through the newspaper, and I had just come out of my room wrestling my pink fairy princess costume Dad Nicky made for me, and the look on their faces was in shock. I asked them why are they sad then Dad told me that a couple and their child my age were in a car accident; the parents died, but the child survived, and that child was Effie.

I have known her since grade school, and ever since that accident, she has changed. I couldn't approach her or say anything to console her because other kids were bullying her more than they did with me. They switch targets, and I felt terrible.

Bad.

I pinned the combination, opened my locker, and started taking out my history textbook while doing other things I needed for the next class. I saw the two couple next to me, who has been the talk of the school now. Since Heather's psychotic breakdown, other students thought she and her family had moved to Europe permanently. That's the coverup story Odin had told her not to let people get suspicious. Her friends have not contacted her since.

I shift my gaze at Paris and her posey as they walk by. Effie and Logan surprisingly did not say a word but pulled on a small smile at Effie.

Huh?

I watch Paris and the others behind her walk away down the hallway.

Why did she smile? Did Effie talk to her or something?

Have they become friends now that Effie is the new Queen Bee?

People have started talking to her regularly and not ghosting her like they usually do because of Heather and Paris.