Chapter one: The Night That Should Have Been Mine

Prom was supposed to be the highlight of every girl’s existence, a night of slow dances, whispered confessions of love, and promises that felt like forever and true. The night where everything came together perfectly, from the dress, the music, the love and ending the night with a cliche kiss.

For me, it was the night I realized I had no one.

The entrance to Lumière was pure luxury, I could see couples through the glass doors, leaning into each other, sharing laughter over plates of steaming pasta, the rich scent of roasted garlic and butter lingering in the air.

The restaurant better be worth it because it took weeks to get a reservation here.

I was second guessing entering but my fingers curled tighter around the edges of my dress for some sort of moral support. The red fabric clung to my skin, the deep V showing more than I was comfortable with. I never wore red. It was loud, bold, attention seeking.

But I had worn it tonight because Alex once said it was his favorite color. I was a stupid girl who had spent hours getting ready, forcing myself to smile in the mirror, reminding myself that tonight was different. That even after everything, I still had them. Alex and Lily, the two people I had trusted most, who had been going down and dirty on eachother behind my back.

And yet I was still willing to have dinner with them, because they were all I had. I slid into my seat, eyes going down to my phone as I typed.

Me: Where are you?

Read at 8:27 PM. No reply. I swallowed hard. He saw it. He just… wasn’t answering, so I switched to Lily’s chat, my heart already sinking.

Me: Lily, are you coming?

The three dots popped up. I exhaled in relief and then her sorry excuse for a reply came.

Lily: Something came up.

That was it, the disappointment was finally settling in, but it wasn't as if the didn't knew I hsd something planned.

My throat tightened, I was at the brink of tears but I still held on to hope. Maybe they were running late. Maybe Alex was planning a surprise, making up for everything. After all, this wasn’t just any night. In addition to prom, was my birthday. The one day I wanted to feel important where I let myself believe that, despite everything, I mattered.

I had booked the picturing the three of us laughing over dinner, celebrating like we always had, and laughing at the expensive food. Even after I caught them together, after I saw with my own eyes what they had done, I was willing to sit down with them because they were all I had and I was ready to forgive them. I just needed them to show up.

“Miss?”

I looked up, meeting the pitiful gaze of the waiter. He shifted uncomfortably, his eyes going to the empty table, I could tell that he didn't want to have this conversation with me. “We’re closing soon.”

I nodded trying to hide my embarrassment as my throat went dry. “Just… I’ll take a bottle of wine.”

He hesitated before nodding and walking away.

I heard familiar voices from the next table I immediately recognised it from group of girls from school.

One of them, whose name I can't recall, caught my eye and quickly looked away almost pitifully. Another girl whispered something in her ear, and they both glanced in my direction before lowering their voices.

I knew that look, it was the one people gave you when they felt sorry for you but didn’t want to get involved.

They went almost silent but I was still able to gear their conversations.

“…She really didn’t know? Imagine getting betrayed by your best friend and boyfriend”

“…God, I would die of embarrassment.”

“…They didn’t even try to hide it, I mean I won't blame Alex, Lily is hot and Sophie reminds me of my little sister.”

"... And I bet she's waiting for them, poor girl..."

I couldn't listen anymore, so I reached for my phone again pretending to make a call.

I felt like a complete idiot, everyone knew except me. I involuntarily went to the chat that I sent to Alex that he never replied to, then to nights when Lily canceled on me but was seen leaving his apartment. Excuses that never made sense.

And then, the final blow was a new message from an unknown number. It was a blurry picture from tonight.

It showed Lily. Alex. His hands on her waist. Her in the dress she swore she hated, the one he must have picked for her.

I felt sick to my stomach. They weren’t just together. They were celebrating prom and each other.

The waiter returned, setting the bottle down gently. “Would you like a glass?”

I shook my head, I didn’t need a glass, what I needed to get the hell out of here.

Grabbing the bottle, I stood, ignoring the way the room blurred and the pitifully glances from those girls. I had spent the entire night waiting for something that was never coming.

This was supposed to be my night and they took that away from me. I stepped outside into the cold night air, made me shiver, I hated this dress. My heels clicked against the pavement as I walked forward without a destination.

I wasn’t going home.

I was going to the nearest club, and I was going to drown every ounce of pain in this bottle until I couldn’t remember my own damn name.

And for the first time in my life, I didn’t care what happened next.