Chapter 2

Grandma paused her sewing. "Andrew, Lottie isn't feeling well. Don't push her."

Andrew quickly changed his tone. "I'm not pushing her. Everyone's going tonight. If she doesn't, people are going to think I did something to upset her."

I smiled. "If you're so worried about what people think, you shouldn't have come over in the first place."

His face darkened. "Are you going or not?"

"No."

"Fine," he said, picking up the bag of medicine and setting it back down on the table. "Here's your medicine. And don't go chasing after Melissa if you hear she's coming."

He walked to the door, then suddenly turned back. "Charlotte, Melissa isn't like you. She's sensitive. Don't do anything to embarrass her tonight."

I held the orange slice, juice sticking to my fingertips. "Don't worry. I won't be there."

Andrew left.

Grandma closed the door and turned to me. "Lottie, did you and Andrew have a fight?"

I handed her the orange. "No."

Grandma didn't buy it. "You've been trailing after him since you were little. You'd panic when he frowns. But today, it's like you're a whole new person."

I lowered my head and threaded the needle for her. "Grandma, I'm done running after him."

Grandma looked at me for a long time, then sighed. "Maybe that's for the best. He has been spoiled rotten. He's used to everyone handing him whatever he wants, and you were always the first in line to do it."

My phone lit up.

A message popped up from an unknown number. [Charlotte, I reserved a private room. Andrew told me you're sick, but I saved you a seat anyway. If you don't come, he'll be disappointed.]

It was signed at the bottom: Melissa.

She had always been like this in my previous life.

A few sweet, seemingly innocent words, and somehow I would end up looking like the villain.

I deleted the message and set my phone back on the table.

Grandma asked, "Who was that?"

"Someone who messed up their reservation," I replied.

Grandma smiled and picked up her needle and thread, going back to sewing the cuff of my school uniform.

*****

Later that evening, I heard a commotion downstairs.

I went over to the window and saw Andrew helping Melissa out of the car, surrounded by a crowd of classmates who were all teasing and cheering them on.

Melissa was dressed in a white dress, holding a bouquet of red roses in her arms.

In my previous life, I'd run through three whole streets to get that bouquet for her.

But this time, Andrew bought them for her himself.

Great. I didn't have to play the supporting role in his love story anymore.

I pulled the curtains shut. As I turned around, the doorbell rang again.

Grandma went to answer it.

Eric Shaw, the class president, was standing at the door, looking awkward. "Charlotte, Andrew wants you to come downstairs. Melissa's cake is a mess, and he said you know how to make buttercream flowers."

I glanced at the crooked cake box in Eric's hands. "And?"

Eric rubbed the back of his neck. "Everyone's waiting. Andrew says if you don't come, you're deliberately making Melissa look bad."

Grandma's face fell.

I took the apron off the kitchen hook, then hung it right back up. "Go tell him, whoever ruined it should fix it."

Eric stayed put, his voice dropping. "Charlotte, Melissa's in tears."

I looked at him. "So what? Does crying make buttercream flowers magically pop up?"

Eric was left speechless.

Someone yelled from downstairs, "Eric, what's taking you so long to bring her down?"

I walked to the door, took the cake box from Eric, and opened it in front of him.

The buttercream had collapsed halfway, and the red jam had streaked down in ugly lines.

I said, "This cake is beyond saving."

Eric let out a sigh of relief. "Then you should tell Andrew yourself."

I snapped the lid back on and shoved the box into his hands. "What? He doesn't understand human language?"

Eric's face turned red as he clutched the cake and hurried downstairs.

Grandma slammed the door and muttered, "What a bunch of jerks. They only remember you when you are useless."

I helped Grandma sit down and poured her a glass of water.

The noise downstairs was getting louder and louder.

Before long, Andrew called me from a different number. I picked up.

He was barely holding back his anger. "Charlotte, are you happy now? Melissa's crying so hard her makeup's a mess."

"Congratulations, now you've seen her without makeup," I replied.

"Don't give me that attitude. You know how important today is for her."

"That's why I didn't go."

Someone in the background said, "Andrew, let it go. She's sick."

Andrew's voice turned hard. "Charlotte, come downstairs and apologize right now, and we'll drop it."

I asked, "Apologize for what?"

"You could've helped her, but you wanted to watch Melissa get embarrassed."

I stared at the sliver of light coming through the curtains. "Andrew, from now on, whatever happens between you and Melissa, don't drag me into it."

He snorted. "Drop the act. Isn't this your way of making me come over and baby you?"

I hung up.

Grandma was sitting on the couch when she suddenly said, "Lottie, would you like to change your college applications?"

I turned to look at her. Grandma took off her reading glasses and slowly wiped the lenses. "Let's choose somewhere far away. The farther, the more peace you'll get."

*****

On the day I went back to school to have the school counselor review my finalized application essays, Andrew was waiting for me, blocking the office building entrance.

Melissa was right behind him, with a couple of classmates following her.

As soon as I stepped into the building, I heard Melissa whisper, "Andrew, let it go. Charlotte probably didn't mean it."

Andrew saw me and immediately reached out to stop me. "Charlotte, after everything you pulled yesterday, the least you can do is apologize to Melissa today."