001

DANIKA

I freeze the moment I see her. Stephanie. My high school tormentor. She has my sketchbook in her hands. The one with every drawing of Tyler I've ever made, including my confession.

"No..." My voice barely makes it past my throat.

Stephanie's lips curl into a predator's grin. "Well, well, if it isn't Shortcake herself," she purrs, slowly flipping the pages. "You really thought this little crush could stay hidden, huh?"

No...

Please God, my best friend can't find out that I've been in love with him for the past four years.

Not like this. The plan was to confess my feelings tonight.

My heart races in my chest, heat creeping up my neck as my gaze rests on Tyler who is lying in his bed, reading some magazine.

How could he let her touch my bag?!

"Tyler," I croak and my best friend looks up from the magazine in his hands.

My heart sinks as Tyler's beautiful green eyes collide with mine. But they are cold.

So terrifyingly cold.

"Danika," he says, sitting up.

My breathing quickens. He hasn't called me by my name in a long time. He calls me 'Shortcakes.'

Cakes for short. He used to say I'm short and sweet.

Why does this sound like he's mad at me?

"Your sketchbook..." he starts to say, and my chest compresses, tears instantly welling up in my eyes.

He doesn't have to say anything. I can see it on his face. He's rejecting me.

I can vaguely hear Stephanie laughing and talking about how pathetic I look.

My gaze is only fixed on the sketchbook. I must get it out of her hands. So, I dive for it.

Stephanie bellows, yanking it away from my reach. The sharp slice of paper ripping apart makes my heart pound faster.

"Trying to grab it?" she mocks. "Cute. But you'll only hurt yourself."

No...

The pages come crashing down at my feet, and my eyes go wide.

Anger burns in my chest as tears make their way down my cheeks. And without thinking, my fist collides into Stephanie's nose. For the first time in my pathetic life.

She lets out a cry of pain, and Tyler's by my side in an instant, holding my hand.

"Stop it, Danika. It was an accident. You didn't have to hit her," he snaps, and I yank my hand out of his grip.

I feel so betrayed right now.

Tyler is supposed to be on my side. We've known each other since we were kids.

Yet, it's easy for him to support Stephanie, who has been a thorn in my side for the longest time.

He probably doesn't even remember that today's my birthday.

I don't want to think about how much it hurts, afraid that I'll break down into sobs right there.

So I quietly bend down to pick up the fallen pages of my book. Tyler heaves a sigh and crouches beside me.

"Cakes, you are shaking," he tells me, joining me to pick up the pages.

"Leave me alone, Tyler. Go to your guest. I bet she's in an awful amount of pain now," I hiss, tears still streaming down my cheeks.

I'm trying so hard not to break down when Tyler suddenly speaks.

"Wait... what's this?" he asks coldly, and I turn to look at him. My stomach twists when I see it.

He found it.

Dear God, I'm screwed.

Stephanie cackles behind us, moving closer. "Oh my God, I told you! She's in love with you, Tyler! I knew it!"

My cheeks burn as I try to snatch the page back, but Tyler holds it just out of reach. "Is this... true?" His voice is calm, but there's a dangerous tinge beneath it.

I open my mouth, but no sound comes out.

Stephanie leans in, whispering with a wicked grin, "Come on, tell him! I’m sure he’s dying to know. You've been pining over him for four whole years, fatty."

The words hit me like ice water to the face. My heart thunders as I look at Tyler, searching for any trace of the boy I've loved for years.

The one who used to call me Shortcake, the one who always made me feel safe. But the warmth in his eyes is gone. Replaced by... emptiness.

Before I can respond, the door bursts open. A group of Tyler's friends stands there with basketballs in their hands, ready to leave. Their laughter and energy make the moment sting even more.

Tyler folds the page, tucking it into his pocket. "I can't," he says coldly, straightening. "I'm not... I'm not into you that way."

My airways constrict. I stumble backwards, trying to hold myself together, but it's impossible.

Stephanie smirks triumphantly. "Told you so!" she whispers cruelly, leaning in to watch my humiliation.

Tyler walks past me, his friends following.

Stephanie stops by the door with a grin on her face. "Happy nineteenth!" She quips.

Then she slips out after the others, her laughter echoing down the hallway.

I clutch my torn sketchbook to my chest, my glasses blurring from the tears.

Everything feels heavy. I can't even cry properly. I just crouch there, frozen, while the echoes of their laughter burn in my ears.

I loved him. I trusted him. And now... it feels like my heart has been ripped open.

I barely notice the tears streaming down my cheeks as I push past the front door. My feet move on autopilot, carrying me away from the house, away from Tyler, away from Stephanie, and away from the sting of betrayal.

The air outside feels colder than usual, nipping at my skin, making me shiver. My chest feels heavy, my heartbeat a relentless drum in my ears. Every step towards my house seems like a mile.

But suddenly, the hair on the back of my neck rises stiffly.

I turn to look behind me, and that's when I see them.

A pair of cobalt blue eyes with golden rings glinting in the fading light of sundown. My stomach lurches.

I freeze, gripping my bag tighter. The eyes aren't soft. They're predatory. And yet, somehow... they're familiar.

I take a tentative step forward, trying not to panic, but I can feel the eyes following me, unwavering. My pulse races, a shiver running down my spine.

I break into a faster pace, practically running towards the safety of my street. Each step feels like a countdown.

It feels like something bad is about to happen.

Fear clogs my throat, the hair on the back of my neck standing stiffly.

Finally, I reach my house. I hurry past the white picket fence of my foster dad's home, sprinting to the front door.

My hands shake as I fumble with the keys, my eyes darting to the darkened yard behind me. The blue eyes are still there, watching me.

Right before I can open the door, it jerks open, and there stands my foster dad, Matthew Randall.

He blinks at me, his brows deeply furrowed.

"What the hell happened, Dani?" He asks, and I push past him, only finally able to breathe once he shuts the door and turns to face me.

We don't necessarily have the best relationship because he is rarely home.

"I'm going to bed," I murmur, hurrying towards the stairs with my gaze fixed on the floor.

"Dani, wait. I have something to tell you." I freeze at the tension in his voice.

Slowly, I turn to look at him, adjusting my glasses.

"What is it?"

"Tomorrow we will be having dinner with Tyler's family," he says, and my stomach churns with unease.

"W-why?" I stutter.

He sighs. "I'm getting married to Tyler's mother."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My breath catches in my throat, and the room seems to tilt.

"You're—" I manage, my voice trembling.

"Yes," he confirms. "We decided it's time to make things official."

My head swims, disbelief and shock freezing me in place. Tyler's mother... my foster dad... married? And now I'll have to face Tyler every day under the same roof?