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Chapter 3

Author: Yesterday's Sun
Friday night, my roommate dragged me to a graduation season get-together.

"Come on, come on, it's our last one ever. If you don't go now, you might never see half these people again."

I'd meant to say no, but then I reconsidered.

Fine. I'd treat it as a goodbye.

The party was at a karaoke lounge next to campus, a big private room, more than twenty people packed in.

By the time I arrived, Harley and Katy were already sitting together. There was one seat of distance between them, which looked normal enough on the surface.

But I noticed the way Katy's elbow kept brushing his arm, and the way his body leaned toward her without him seeming to notice.

Details like that, the old me would have looked right past. Now, every one of them felt like a crack in the surface.

Someone suggested a round of truth or dare. The bottle spun, and the mood kept climbing.

On the third round, it landed on Katy.

"Truth or dare?"

"Dare!" Katy said with a giggle.

Whoever had proposed the round was already a few drinks in, and he shouted it loud enough for the whole room to hear.

"Dare! Hug whoever you like best right now!"

The room erupted into hooting and cheering.

Katy's face went red. She hesitated for two seconds, then stood and walked toward Harley.

She came at him from behind and wrapped her arms around his neck, her whole body hanging off him, her voice syrupy.

"Ugh, don't blame me, you guys made me do it."

The room froze for a second, and then the cheering exploded.

"No way! Katy and Harley?"

"Seriously? Since when?"

"Wait, isn't Harley dating Anita? What about Anita?"

Every head in the room turned toward me.

The color drained from Harley's face. He shoved Katy off him and looked at me on instinct, his lips moving.

"Anita, it's not what you think."

Katy stumbled back a step, her eyes welling up instantly, standing there looking helpless.

"I'm sorry, I... I had too much to drink."

I watched the whole scene unfold, something ugly churning in my chest. Even knowing the truth already, seeing it play out in front of me still turned my stomach.

Four years. I'd given Harley my best four years, and this was what I got for it. Humiliated in front of everyone.

I set down my glass, stood up sharply, and grabbed my jacket.

"Anita!" Harley rushed over and grabbed my wrist. "Let me explain!"

I wrenched my arm away, with a strength that surprised even me.

"Don't touch me."

My voice was shaking, not from sadness. From fury.

I glanced at Katy once. She was gazing back at me with those tear-filled eyes, pitiful and wounded, her lips parted like she might start crying any second for sympathy.

Disgusting.

I turned and walked out of the room. The second I shoved the door open, dead silence fell behind me, followed immediately by an explosion of whispers.

In the hallway, I heard Harley's footsteps chasing after me.

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