Chapter 3
The background was an airport VIP lounge.
The caption read: [Thanks for the ticket, Brian. You always treat me the best.]
I hadn't said anything.
I didn't say anything then.
And I didn't want to say anything now.
"So what?" Brian quickly composed his face, even looking a bit defensive. "Emily hasn't been back in years. What's wrong with booking her a decent flight?
"It's only one thousand. It's not like I can't pay you back.
"Stella, when did you get so calculating?"
Calculating, huh?
I nodded.
"You're right," I said. "I really should be calculating.
"The renovation cost 150 thousand dollars in total, and I paid 70 thousand.
"Ten thousand dollars of that went to buy your first love a plane ticket.
"Consider the rest charity."
Brian's face changed. "What the—"
"Oh, right," I interrupted him. "The 30 thousand dollars you borrowed from me last month, saying your company needed cash flow.
"I kept the transfer records.
"Pay it back within three days.
"Any later, and I'll start charging interest at the standard bank rate."
Brian was completely lost for words.
He just stared at me.
"Stella." His Adam's apple bobbed. "Are you serious?"
"Does it look like I'm joking?" I shot back.
The wail of an ambulance siren echoed in the distance.
It was getting closer.
Red and blue lights flashed, pulling up to the street corner.
Brian's phone rang again.
Emily again.
He looked at the screen, then at me, his fingers clenching.
"Emily needs to go to the hospital," he said, his voice tense. "I'm heading over there first.
"We'll talk about this tomorrow. I'll come find you tomorrow."
He turned to leave.
"Brian," I called out, stopping him.
He turned back.
I opened my phone's contacts right in front of him.
I found the name Brian Harper.
Blocked.
Deleted.
Then I opened my social media.
Unfriended.
"Don't bother coming to find me," I said. "I'm moving out tomorrow."
He opened his mouth, as if to say something.
But the ambulance siren grew more frantic.
He gave me one last look.
There was anger, confusion, and maybe even a touch of panic in his eyes.
Then he turned and ran.
He took off toward where the ambulance had stopped, not once looking back.
He didn't even look back.
I stood there, watching his figure fade into the neon glow.
Until a new text message popped up.
The message was brief.
["Ms. Stella Thompson, your initial screening for the Mars Colonization Volunteer Program has been approved.
[Please bring your ID and relevant documents to Conference Room 3 at the NASA Administration Building tomorrow at 9:00 AM for your final interview.]
I just kept staring at the message for ages.
Then, I slowly locked the screen.
I looked up.
Above me, the city sky glowed a deep red, painted by the neon lights.
I couldn't see the stars.
But I knew they were always there.
*****
The key slid into the lock and turned.
As the door opened, the living room lights spilled out.
Along with my mother's raised voice.
"She wouldn't dare!" she shouted. "Throwing away a seven-year relationship just like that? Who does she think she is?
"What did Brian ever do wrong by her?"
I stood in the entryway, not taking off my shoes.
My dad was sitting on the sofa, frowning. When he saw me, he shot me a look, signaling me to hurry inside.
I didn't move.
My mom got up from the couch, phone still glued to her ear.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Harper. I will definitely get to the bottom of this," she said. "It's just Stella throwing a little tantrum.
"I know Brian. He's a good kid. Kind, and good to everyone.
"Emily? Isn't she just an old classmate of Brian's? She just got back and has nowhere to go. What's wrong with giving her a hand?
"Stella is just too narrow-minded."
I turned and headed for my room.
"Stella!" my mom yelled out. "Come over here!"
I stopped in my tracks.
"Brian's mom just called me!" she snapped. "Said you blocked his number? And that the engagement party is off?
"Are you out of your mind?"
My dad stood up and pulled her arm. "Calm down. Let her explain."
"Explain what?" My mom shook off his hand. "She pulls a shameful stunt like this and I'm not supposed to ask?
"Brian is quite a catch. Young, successful, running a booming business.
"She's lucky he even wants her.
"And what does she do? Bails at the final hour!"
She marched right up to me, her finger practically jabbing my nose. "Tell me, what exactly is your problem?"
I looked at her face, red with anger.
She looked somewhat like me.
But her eyes were different.
When she looked at me, there was always scrutiny, calculation, and a trace of impatience that screamed, "Can you just not embarrass me?"
"He wanted to keep Emily Summers company," I said.
"So what?" My mom's voice pitched even higher. "Let him! She's just an old classmate. What kind of trouble could she cause?
"Can't you be a little more open-minded?
"Men have to socialize and network. A little harmless mingling is completely normal.
"Do you have to make a mountain out of a molehill?"
A molehill?
I nodded. "You're right. It's a molehill.
"So I'm not making a big deal out of it anymore."
"I'm letting it go.
"Let him keep her company. He can keep her company for the rest of his life for all I care."
My mom froze. "Stella, did you take the wrong meds today?
"Do you realize you're twenty-five now?
"You wasted seven years with Brian. If you break up now, you're damaged goods.
"Who's going to want you after this?"
Damaged goods.
The words rolled off my mother's tongue so effortlessly.
As if I wasn't a person. Just an item waiting to be sold.
With a tag that read: [Opened box. Clearance item.]
"Mom," I heard my own voice say, very softly. "In your eyes, do I have any value besides marrying Brian?"
Her eyes flickered. "Stop trying to change the subject!
"I'm asking you, are you still getting engaged or not?
"No," I said.
Mom opened her mouth to say something.
"Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Thompson," a voice came from the doorway.
We all turned to look.
Brian stood there, holding an expensive bottle of scotch and a bouquet of flowers.
His suit was a bit wrinkled. His face wore a perfectly measured expression of exhaustion and apology.
"Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Thompson." He walked in and set the gifts on the coffee table. "I'm so sorry to intrude this late."
My mom's face instantly changed, and she plastered on a smile. "Oh, Brian, what are you doing here?
"Come, sit down."
"Is Stella being unreasonable again? Did she cause you trouble?"
Brian glanced at me. "Mrs. Thompson, please don't blame Stella.
"It's my fault. I didn't handle things with Emily well, and it made Stella misunderstand."
He walked up to me and reached out, trying to take my hand.
I pulled away.
His hand froze mid-air, but his smile stayed put. "Stella, can we talk this through?
"I've got Emily's situation handled. I hired a private nurse for her and contacted a realtor to find her an apartment.
"I won't have to worry about her anymore.
"The engagement party is still on. I already squared it away with the venue."
He spoke so smoothly, so naturally.
As if the person who said postpone it at the bar a few hours ago wasn't him.
"Brian," I said.
"Yeah?" he replied.
"Was Emily badly hurt from the fall?"
He paused. "A sprained ankle. It's a bit swollen, but it's been treated."