Chapter Twenty Three: Searching For a Date

Cara’s school attendance was nearly flawless—she rarely missed a class, and when she did, it was never a cause for concern. Her grades were solid enough that she could slack off a bit without facing any major consequences. Missing the acquaintance party wouldn’t affect her performance at all, at least, that’s what she tried to convince herself as the event loomed closer. After all, she had far more pressing things to think about. Or at least, that’s what she wanted to believe.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Jean’s voice broke through her musings, her tone teasing. "Wait, don’t tell me you’re not interested in coming to the party? I thought you’d be more excited about it.”

“Hmm, I’d be interested if you tell me who your date is first.” Cara grinned, raising an eyebrow. For as long as they’d been friends, Cara couldn’t recall a single moment when Jean had ever mentioned a boyfriend. Maybe her love life was a secret, even from her best friend. Despite the five-year age gap, Cara figured Jean had to have someone by now.

Jean paused for a moment, her smile widening. “I’ll introduce him to you soon. Don’t get too excited,” she teased.

Cara’s eyes widened. “Thank God, finally! You’re letting me in on your dating life. I’m not just a girl anymore; I’m a grown-up who can handle some relationship talk from my best friend.”

Jean burst out laughing, clearly enjoying the teasing exchange. “Of course you are. You could have a boyfriend too, you know. I’d love to see you with a ‘normal’ guy.”

Cara felt her heart flutter at the thought. Could she have a ‘normal’ boyfriend? What did that even mean? She’d never been in a serious relationship before, not with anyone who truly held her interest. Her mind wandered as she thought about the possible options. Who could her date for the party be? Vince? Will? Those were the only two guys who had shown any interest in her recently.

“How about the guy in the library? The one you’ve been dreaming about? Or maybe that playmate of yours I haven’t met yet? When will you introduce him to me? I’m really curious about him.” Jean’s teasing grin widened.

Jean didn’t know Will—Cara’s childhood friend—because they hadn’t crossed paths until Cara started attending therapy sessions with Jean’s mom. Will’s family had moved away before Cara and Jean met. Cara’s memories of Will had faded until recently, when the dreams had started again.

Her subconscious had begun to piece together the puzzle, realizing that the boy in her dreams—the mysterious yet familiar figure—was Will, the same boy from the childhood photo he had shown her. Yet, there was still so much she didn’t comprehend. She had heard vague mentions of an accident, a traumatic event from her past that remained shrouded in fog. Jean had brought it up once, but never fully explained what had happened. Cara couldn’t shake the persistent feeling that something crucial was missing, something that could finally make sense of the strange and unsettling dreams that had been haunting her for weeks.

“Hey Jean, can you please tell me the truth? What happened to me a long time ago? The accident… You said something about it once, but you didn’t explain.” Cara’s voice was quieter now, almost hesitant as she brought up the sensitive topic.

Jean didn’t immediately respond. Instead, she grinned, clearly trying to divert the conversation. “Patience, dear! I promise I’ll tell you when I’m not driving my new baby,” she said, referring to the brand-new Lamborghini sports car she’d been so excited about. “You’re stressing me out with all these unpredictable questions.”

Cara sighed, feeling frustrated but resigned. She knew Jean would reveal the truth when the time was right. For now, she’d have to be patient. She decided to let the matter drop for the moment and redirected her attention back to the upcoming party.

“Fine. When will I meet your date?” Cara grinned, trying to lighten the mood.

"Later, dear, be patient, okay?" Jean responded, leaving Cara's question unanswered once again. As she drove, Cara's mind wandered back to the man from her dreams—someone who resembled Vince. He had always been the most mysterious person she’d ever known, much like her best friend, always giving vague answers to her questions without ever providing clear explanations.

As they arrived at school, they parted ways, heading to their separate destinations. Cara made her way to the library before her first class. On her way there, she spotted a familiar face leaning against the wall, angrily talking on the phone. When Vince saw her approach, he immediately ended the call.

“Hey, can you be my date for the party?” The abruptness of the question caught Cara off guard. The guy had been scowling and swearing just moments ago, and now here he was, asking her out. Was he really that forward?

“You broke up with your girlfriend and now you want me to be your date? How rude,” Cara replied, not quite able to resist teasing him. She couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed by his sudden approach, especially after overhearing his heated conversation earlier.

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” he said quickly, scratching his head and giving her a sheepish smile. “I heard about the acquaintance party next week. We’re supposed to go with a date to earn some bonus points for a class. I need those points to pass, so that’s why I was so upset earlier. I was talking to one of my classmates about it.” He shrugged, as if asking for her help, his gaze now softening as he waited for her response.

Cara felt a flicker of doubt. Was he really asking her out for academic reasons? Or was there more to it? But as she stood there, something about his charm made her rethink her initial reaction. She’d be going to the party anyway, and having an immediate date wasn’t the worst idea. Plus, there was something magnetic about him that made her feel oddly at ease.

“So, what’s your answer?” he asked again, almost reading her mind. His question came with a hint of playfulness, and Cara found herself feeling both nervous and excited.

“Well,” she paused, weighing her options, “I still don’t have a date for the party, and I need to go… So, I’ll say yes.” She smiled, feeling a little giddy at the unexpected turn of events.