Stay.
I should have said that word out loud, but I didn’t. Ares had left for Midnight, and even though I should be glad he’s gone... I’m not at peace; all I felt was heavy regret for not telling him to stay.
But now wasn’t the time to linger in those feelings. I have been drowning for the past few days I have been here, constantly stuck in my head. It’s time to live.
I climbed up the last flight of stairs, clenching my purse tightly as I eyed the school entrance, others swimming in between laughter and giggles.
Here we go.
I fixed my off-shoulder midi dress properly and stepped into the entrance, greeted by loud music. The sight of the lockers and the long hallways teleported me back to the days I hurried through, laughed with friends, and searched my locker before the next class.
I smiled as I walked to the table where the name tags were lined up. I said my name and was given mine.
I was in the middle of pinning it to my dress when I heard my name called by a very familiar voice.
"Catherine Lane?"
I swirled to Anna Parker, beaming when she saw me fully.
"OMG!" She came for a hug. "So good to see you!"
"Me too, and look at you!" I emphasized her round stomach.
She rubbed it and gave a pose. "My fourth one."
"You’re joking!"
"That’s what I told her." Lisa Foster stepped forward, arms folded, with a bored look.
"Oh, look, your boredom hasn’t been lifted yet," I remarked.
She rolled her eyes. "Get over here."
I giggled as we embraced.
"We thought you weren’t gonna make it!" Anna whined.
"What? I wouldn’t miss this for the world."
"Are you sure about that?" Lisa interjected. "You’re secretary to Ares King in Midnight, aren’t you?"
"How did you—"
"Are you?" Anna urged. "Wait... that name sounds familiar."
"I recently got a job at Midnight Times," Lisa said.
"OMG! You did? Congratulations!" Anna praised. "You finally hit the jackpot!"
"That’s great!"
Lisa raised an eyebrow. "You’re quite popular in Midnight, Cat."
"Really?"
"Um, we should go inside now, we’re causing a line!" I said hastily as I led them in.
When we stepped into the hall, the decorations really took us back to prom days. I figured that was the theme, even the music too!
"Wow!" I exclaimed. "Did we step through a time portal or something?"
"I think we did!" Anna squealed in excitement and scurried down the stairs.
"Carefully!" I yelled. "Does having a fourth one come with superpowers because I really need to know how she can pull that off in heels."
"Tell me about it? Maybe we’ll know when we get fat," Lisa said as we came down the stairs.
"Get fat?"
"Trust me, growing a human in you will do that. But I guess you should know that too..."
"W-What do you mean?"
She rolled her eyes. "Where’s your ring, Mrs. King?"
She knows.
"You have only been in Midnight since when?"
"This week, as a reporter, it wasn’t hard to recognize you from the papers. You really look good without your glasses."
"T-Thanks," I replied nervously, awaiting the swamp of questions.
"I’m guessing you don’t want anyone to know you’re married to a billionaire, which I get."
"That means a lot."
"It’s okay, I’m sure not everyone would wanna be in the spotlight."
"Totally," I nodded.
"Guys!" Anna called us, already pumping some moves on the dance floor.
Lisa and I looked at each other and giggled. A man came behind Anna and kissed her cheek.
"Is that...?"
"Yesss..." Lisa replied.
I smiled, eyeing the way he placed a hand on her round stomach and murmured something to her ear, earning a giggle.
"Anna Parker got the gem," Lisa said.
"She did..." I said softly, blinking away. "I need a drink."
I hurried to the table for one, trying to erase the feeling eating away at me, but I can’t.
I feel so stupid envying my friend like that but I can’t help it. I used to tell Anna how I wanted to get married to the love of my life and have children of my own, but I guess she beat me to it, and she’s currently living my dream.
I halted, eyeing the table filled with nothing but punch. "Seriously?"
"Welcome back to prom." A guy gestured, raising his plastic cup, before leaving.
He was probably looking for something stronger.
I sighed, filling my cup, and I chugged the entire thing at once, before coughing.
"Easy there, Cry-therine, there’s more than enough for everybody."
I moved my eyes to Candice, brushing her blonde hair over her shoulder in heavy curls.
"Candice."
"Look at you, still with the glasses, but how much you have changed. You’re rocking those heels."
"And you?" I remarked. "Are you still a bitch?"
She gasped. "That mouth is still as sharp as ever. Really... I’m not here for trouble."
"Of course you’re not."
"I was looking forward to seeing you and how far you have gone."
"Are you checking to see if my life is better off than yours? It’s usually the other way around, isn’t it? Here to gloat?"
She grinned like I had read her mind. "What else?" She flashed me her ring with a big rock on it.
Figures.
"Happily married for three years now, and you? Jumping towards the next fresh meat that isn’t Tom? I really thought you two were gonna end up together and start making babies or something. That was your fantasy, wasn’t it?"
Gosh! She hasn’t changed one bit.
I chuckled, and she was a bit taken aback by the sound.
"What about a successful career? Did you hit that jackpot too?"
"I’m married to a successful man. That makes me one too."
Another thing that hasn’t changed, just how she kept moving with popular guys just to make herself stand out.
"I’m very happy for you..." I turned to leave.
"What about you?! Are you still trapped on that farm? I knew you weren’t ever gonna get far, no matter how much you tried."