6: Fine

Friday came faster than Camilla thought it would. Calvin had tried and failed to talk her out of her plan for revenge. Everything she needed for the wedding was in her bag. If she had her way, that wedding would end in tears. That was if it even happened.

Camilla’s door opened, and Faye walked into her room wrapped in a blanket like a burrito. Her mouth fell open in shock.

“What is this?” Camilla asked, pointing her makeup brush at the mirror. The past few days had been kinder to Faye. Her friend wasn’t eating as much, but her hygiene had improved. “Why aren’t you dressed yet?” 

Faye sat on the bed, the blanket hiding her frame. Her friend had lost weight in days while her ex partied constantly. His social media posts were proof. Vanya must pay. 

“Cam, I think we should let it go,” Faye whispered. Camilla dropped the brush on the table and turned so she was directly facing her best friend. “We only dated for two years. Some women had it worse.” 

“Are you, are you for real now?” Camilla asked. Vanya was somewhere out there getting ready to tie the knot, and Faye was skipping classes, isolating herself from the world and barely eating. She had moved her classes onlïne, so she didn’t miss them. No way. They would attend that wedding. Taking a deep breath, she said, “If you aren’t going. I am. I already made plans. Vinny couldn’t stop me, and you won’t.”

Tears gathered in Faye’s eyes. She sniffed, and a few rolled down her cheeks. Camilla moved to the bed and wrapped her arm around her friend’s shoulders. This was the main reason she needed to exact revenge. There was something so soothing about hurting the person who made you cry.

“I don’t think it’s worth it, Cam. Let it go.”

“No. You’re tired, and that’s fine,” she cooed. Calvin would be here soon to pick her up. He didn’t trust her. “I’ll handle it.” 

“Don’t do anything crazy, okay?”

“Faye, Crazy is my other name,” Camilla said. “Of course I’ll do something crazy.” 

They laughed, and she hugged Faye tight. Her plan was simple. She had two invites, but in Faye’s absence, she would use only one. It was an afternoon wedding, so she would still have time to celebrate her victory. Shopping and eating out were on the celebratory list.

“When I return from that silly wedding, we will go shopping. Enough with the sulking, okay? He has moved on. You should, too.”

“Hmm,” Faye said. Camilla glared, and Faye revisited her stance. “Must it be shopping?” 

“It can be anything as long as you leave the house. No more sulking over a cheater.”

Faye nodded. “Agreed.” 

Camilla returned to her makeup chair to finish her preparations. Her phone rang as she was rounding up. She stood up to grab it and laughed at her best friend, who had fallen asleep on her bed. Grabbing her bag and phone, she tiptoed out of the room.

Calvin called her a second time. Getting to the living room, she picked up, and he told her, “Tell me you changed your mind.” 

“Nope.” Pushing the strap of her bag up her shoulders, she sat on a couch to fix her sandal heels. It was comfortable enough for her to run in case that was needed. “Where are you? Stop trying to convince me out of this. I told Faye, and I’m telling you. I’m going.” 

“I’m downstairs.” 

On her feet, Camilla stomped her legs on the rug to be sure the shoes fitted perfectly. She texted her best friend, so Faye didn’t have to worry about her when she woke up. Calvin was in his car when she walked out of the building. He honked, and his hand shot out of his vehicle to wave her over.  

Getting inside the car, she stretched her hand to her twin. “Where is the invitation card?” Calvin tried to speak, but she shook her head. “Don’t even try to convince me.” 

“If you get into trouble, I’m not bailing you out.” 

“I won’t.” 

Grumbling, he pulled out two cards and dropped one on her outstretched palm. “Where’s Faye?” 

“She changed her mind,” Camilla replied. 

“You should, too. If she’s not going, and she was the person who was wronged by this Vanya guy, I don’t see what you’re going to do there, Camilla.” After his tirade, the only thing she did was grin. He sighed. “You’re lucky Angel was on your side. If you get into trouble, don’t call me.” 

“Fine. I’ll call KJ. Who’s picking me up?” 

“There will be no need for that. I’ll wait for you outside,” he said. She clicked her tongue, and he scoffed. “Didn’t you say it wouldn’t take time? You’ll go in while I wait outside, do what you need to do, and come back. That’s the only condition, Camilla.” 

“Fine.” 

“I’m serious.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, his forehead breaking into lines. “I didn’t like the story I heard about these guys. None of them were good. Mafia. Drugs. Vanya is not worth this shit, Cam.” 

“Okay, okay, Vinny. Enough. This isn’t one of Hana’s story. It’s real life. I’ll be fine.” 

Her sister-in-law was a writer, a great one, at that. But her brother had to learn to separate real life from fiction. The Vanya she saw that day couldn’t possibly know how to defend himself against another man. He was only good at scaring women.

Calvin turned the key in the ignition. Before they left the parking lot, he said, “I warned you.” 

Yeah, he could keep the warning to himself. Camilla sifted through her bag to be sure the test result was intact. She wouldn’t have to do much or spend time there if the wedding had started. Just breeze in and out of the church and be done with her plans. 

Noises increased and reduced around them as they joined the traffic. She adjusted the ring on her middle finger. It was time for her to show the world once again she was an exceptional actress. Vanya would suffer. 

They arrived at the church, and Calvin had a hard time finding a parking spot. Big brand cars were parked near the entrance, the brands too many for her to remember or pronounce. He stopped behind a black car.

At the door of the church stood two men in suits on each side. They were both wearing sunglasses, hands folded below their bellies. With their glasses, she could still feel their gaze on her. For the first time, she faltered. What if Calvin was right? 

“Do you really want to do this?” Calvin asked.