Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Lily’s POV.

I sank into the soft cushions of the living room sofa, stretching my aching back toward the ceiling. The math homework lay scattered across the coffee table, half-finished equations and scribbled notes mocking me.

“Seriously, what kind of cursed person spends their birthday solving math equations?” I muttered, staring up at the ceiling like the answer was up there.

Maybe the universe would drop a cute boy through my roof and finally end this dry streak of lonely birthdays.

I sighed, rolling onto my side and hugging a pillow. “Happy birthday, Lily,” I whispered to myself. “Hope you and your imaginary boyfriend have a blast tonight.”

Mark was out of the country. Sonia has been acting as the President of Secret Plans Incorporated lately. And me? I had me, my books, and a half-eaten chocolate bar.

Dreams? I had those too.

Like kissing your crush after blowing out candles on a cake he got you.

I blushed at the thought. Joe. Always Joe.

Even after he’d stomped all over my heart, the fantasy refused to leave. He was just… lodged in there, like a stubborn splinter.

I reached for my pen to finish the last question when…

BANG! BANG! BANG!

I jumped. “What in the…”

The front door flew open even though I was certain I had locked it.

“Are you seriously doing homework right now?” Sonia barked as she stomped in with a full frown.

I blinked at her. “How did you… You broke into my house?.”

“I used the spare key under your mat. You’re predictable.”

“I was just finishing…”

“You are not finishing anything,” she snapped, pulling me off the couch by my arm. “You’re coming with me.”

“What… Sonia!” I squealed. “I look like a gremlin. I haven’t showered. What’s happening?”

She ignored me completely and dragged me to my room like some furious fairy godmother.

“We have exactly one hour to make you sparkle,” she announced, already rummaging through my closet.

I grabbed my blanket and wrapped it around myself like a defensive burrito. “Sparkle? No. I like being dull. It’s safe.”

“You’ll like being hot better.”

Before I could argue, she shoved the red dinner gown into my arms.

“You bought this,” she said, raising her brow.

“Tonight, we’re finally wearing it.”

“There’s nowhere to go!” I protested.

“There is. Just trust me.”

I stared at the gown. The satin shimmered under the light. It was beautiful. A little too beautiful for pizza night and ice cream, which made it even more confusing.

Still, I found myself showered, dolled up, and wearing it thirty minutes later.

Sonia stood back and examined me. “Wow. You’re…like…pretty, pretty. Not just ‘cute’ pretty. But like ‘I can ruin lives’ pretty.”

I flushed. “Sonia, stop.”

“Perfect!” she announced. “Now, shoes.”

We raced through my closet until she emerged with a pair of stripy black heels. My breath hitched.

“Put them on,” she said.

I wobbled a bit as I buckled the straps, feeling like a real-life Cinderella. Sonia clapped and handed me a small clutch.

“Isn’t this too much for pizza?”. I asked, eyeing myself in the mirror.

“No. You need to know that if Joe walks past you tonight and doesn’t collapse, he’s legally blind.”

I rolled my eyes but secretly grinned.

As we headed towards the door and opened it, Sonia suddenly gasped.

“Wait.”

“What now?”

She pointed at the floor. “Is that…?”

A bouquet of roses sat neatly by the doorstep. I picked it up, my heart doing that weird flutter-thing again.

“No card,” Sonia said, peeking over my shoulder.

“Not even a clue,” I muttered, sniffing them gently. They smelled divine.

Sonia smirked. “They’re for you,” she whispered.

“Your secret admirer.”

“Who would even…”

“Nope, don’t think. Just vibe. Let’s go.”

She led me to her parents' car, and we drove the three blocks to Mark’s house.

When we pulled up at Mark’s house, I almost choked.

There were cars everywhere. Lights twinkled from the backyard. Music drifted through the air.

“Sonia…” I started.

“Come on,” she said, dragging me again. “You’re going to love this.”

We walked around to the side of the house and…

“SURPRISE!!!”

I screamed. Like actually screamed. Like, hands-flying-to-my-face level scream.

Mark stood in front of a crowd of our classmates, grinning like a proud idiot. Sonia beamed beside me.

“Happy Birthday, Lily,” Mark said, stepping forward.

“You…what…how…” I stammered.

“I may have pulled some strings,” he said, shrugging. “And Sonia threatened my life if I didn’t help.”

“You guys planned this?”

“For weeks,” Sonia said. “Do you know how hard it is to keep secrets from you?”

I blinked at him, stunned. “You bought me the roses?”

He nodded, cheeks pink. I thought I saw a hint of confusion, but he answered immediately. “Yeah…yeah, I wanted to… I wanted you to know how special you are.”

I blinked back sudden tears. “You guys… I don’t even know what to say.”

“Say nothing,” Mark said. “Eat cake.”

The evening flew by in the best blur of my life.

There were games, dancing, more cake than anyone needed, and even a karaoke battle where Sonia butchered a Taylor Swift song.

“I’m crying because of her voice,” someone whispered. “Not the emotion, just the voice.”

But it was perfect.

Near the end, I stood under the fairy lights in Mark’s backyard, holding my second slice of cake when Mark walked over. The crowd slowly began to quiet down.

“Lily,” he said.

“Yeah?” I turned.

Then he knelt.

Gasps.

“MARK!” I yelped.

“Calm down, not proposing marriage,” he said with a small laugh. “Just…asking something important.”

I froze.

He looked up at me, his blue eyes so sincere that it hurt.

“I’ve liked you for a long time now. I’ve kept it quiet because you were always looking somewhere else.”

I swallowed.

“But I couldn’t let today pass without telling you. You make everything brighter, Lily. You’re funny and sweet, and you’ve got this quiet strength I’ve always admired. So…”

He pulled out a small velvet box…not with a ring, but a delicate bracelet.

“If you’ll let me… I’d love to be your boyfriend.”

The crowd murmured. A few people aww'd.

And my heart… my heart was beating so fast I couldn’t hear myself think.

I opened my mouth to answer…

But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him.

Joe.

Standing behind the crowd.

Watching.

And he looked… hurt.