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Elijah made his stance on my relationship with Kai pretty obvious. He doesn’t like the guy because of how much I’ve suffered because of him, but he doesn’t know him like I do. I still believe deep down, Kai cares for me. He’s just too proud to admit it, and that’s a burden I’ll always carry. Maybe if I was worthy, maybe if I had been enough.
Kai may have broken my heart, but he’d never physically hurt me. He may have fooled me into believing I meant something to him, but I refuse to believe he did this to me on purpose. He just could never admit what he felt and take a chance on what we could have been.
Elijah reaches into the front pocket of his coat, withdrawing a small Tiffany Blue box. I may not be obsessed with materialistic riches, but every girl knows what’s inside of those infamous boxes. Instead of offering it to me, he opens the box himself and pulls out a gorgeous, delicate diamond necklace. It’s simple yet so elegant, something I might have bought for myself if I was into buying expensive jewelry.
Nodding his head, he motions for me to turn and face the mirror, allowing him to slip it over my neck. His fingertips graze my collarbones as he sets the thin strand over them. I reach up to trace the chain the moment he secures it on me and feel a pang of sadness waft over me. My mother had a necklace almost identical to this one she never took off. A gift from my father when they first started dating. A gift she held most dear to her, even if my father probably didn’t even remember he’d gifted it to her.
Closing my eyes to hold back my tears, I take a deep breath. God, I miss her so much. For years I was angry at her and furious she was so weak, resenting she was so selfish and left me here all alone to fend for myself. Then I pitied her. Felt sorry for the woman who preferred to crawl up in her room and hide from her problems. Now, I understand her. It’s not as easy as it sounds to fight the demons within you who fight to be left in control.
I almost let it happen to me and that would have cost me everything.
???
“Stella, you look beautiful.” Behind me, Jade wraps her arms around me, barely able to hold on while her growing belly stands in the way. “Happy Birthday bestie.”
Turning toward her, I lightly squeeze her back, “Thank you Jade.” She looks absolutely gorgeous. That pregnancy glow is no fucking joke. Blond hair gleams down her back and the fitted black maxi dress that falls just under her knee hugs her beautiful belly, carrying my darling niece or nephew. Jade and Sebastian have decided to wait and find out the gender of theirLittle Monster. Beside her, my cousin eyes me warily, taking in my short ivory dress and focusing on the necklace around my neck.
A couple of weeks after graduation, Sebastian stopped by my uncle’s house and walked in on one of our intense arguments. He’d been pressuring me to find a husband, throwing in my face the fool I have made of myself falling for a worthless gangbanging nobody. He’d mocked Kai, but worse made me feel insignificant for not even being able to hold the attention of a fatherless, penniless guy.
Sebastian cornered me after my uncle had dismissed me, asking me what the hell Stephan had been talking about, but I played it off, telling him he was just looking out for my future and wanted me to one day find a suitable husband who could provide for me the same lifestyle he had. Sebastian didn’t seem convinced, but he dropped it, having his own problems to worry about.
Scarlett comes over to join us, handing me a glittery gift bag. “It’s probably nothing compared to the lavish gifts you’re accustomed to Stella,” she says, also looking down at the diamond strand around my neck, “But I saw it and immediately thought of you. Open it.”
Scar’s half smile makes me wince. Equally as gorgeous as Jade, and about 4 weeks ahead in her pregnancy, Scar’s hair shines like the darkest, most expensive of silks contrasting against her deep red dress. I take the bag from her and pull out a framed photo of the three of us, plus a scowling Ruby in the background. It was one of the first photos we took down by the beach earlier this year. We were all so fucking wasted, I only remember because neither one of us could recall taking the photo the next morning.
However, the smiles we all wear, despite Ruby’s scowl, which, if I’m being honest, is the best depiction of her, are genuine and heartfelt. The engraving on the wooden frame is what makes my heart nearly shatter.Friends Come And Go But Family Lasts A Lifetime. Here’s To Friends Who Became Family.
My heart breaks at the loving gesture, making me feel horrible for ignoring them for so long. I should have relied on them, allowed them to piece me back together like they so desperately tried. Instead, I pushed them away, keeping secrets, and lying to them.
“I…” I can’t find the words to say thank you instead staring up at them with eyes full of tears.
“Oh, Stella…” It’s Scarlett’s turn to wrap her arms around me, holding me tightly against her as I try my hardest not to weep. This wasn’t how today was supposed to go. I was supposed to keep it together. “Happy Birthday babe.”
“Thank you Scar, it’s perfect. I love it.”
The rest of our little group has arrived, all eyes watching me, aware that something in me has changed. I didn’t just ignore Scar and Jade, but have hidden away from everyone, including Ruby, in recent weeks. I haven’t heard from Drake since graduation, but if the guilty look he’s giving me has anything to do with it, he knows he fucked up, giving me false hope about Kai’s feelings.
I look back and forth between all of them, and sense Elijah has walked up behind me, placing his arm around my waist. All pairs of eyes move from me down to Elijah's hand and back up to meet his gaze. Quizzical expressions appear on everyone’s face, some even morphing into anger at the placement of his hand. The only two who know who Elijah is, are Ruby and Drake, having met him as Prophet at The Jungle.
Ruby’s gaze quickly turns into a deep scowl directed at Elijah. She’s never been a fan of his, constantly warning me away from him the times we were together at the club. I never understood her hostility toward him since, in my opinion, he was nothing but kind to me in all of our meetings. “Stella, what’s wrong? You look nervous,” Ruby says, stepping forward.
Drake nods, agreeing with his sister. “Yeah, Silver, you look like you’re about to pass out.” His rueful stare shifts toward Elijah. “Who’s this?” he sneers.
Elijah’s fingers squeeze around my waist, letting me know he’s here for me. “Um…” I look back and forth between my friends, unable to form a coherent thought. I don’t know why I imagined this was going to be simple. Panic rises in me, making my heart flutter. I should have taken my pill. Without it, I can't do this. I’m fading away into the darkness, slinking into the furthest corner of my mind. I shouldn’t have agreed to stop taking them. Damn Elijah, I’m one mental breakdown away from being locked in the nearest asylum.
Suddenly, I feel his hot breath against my neck as he whispers to me. “I’ve got you Stella. I’ll always be here for you.”
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and look back up at my friends' curious and worried gazes. “I guess there’s no better time to tell you all since you’re here.” Elijah’s free hand comes up to my shoulder, comforting me. He’s been my rock this past month, nothing romantic, just a friend I’ve been able to rely on to talk to. Everyone else has been so hung up on their own lives and problems. I don’t blame them. I’m actually grateful they’ve been blind to all that’s been happening to me.
“You’re worrying us, Stella?” Jade reaches out to me, but I step back instinctively.
Looking up at Elijah, he nods, giving me the okay. “This is Elijah Pearce, my fiancé. I’m getting married.” I blurt it out before I change my mind, and it's as if the world goes still. An out-of-body experience, where I’m floating around the room watching everything play out in front of me, not able to react. I hear a few gasps, while worried expressions turn confused and angry.
Just as the last word leaves my lips, I feel a cold rush of air and gasp as I look up into the starkest, coldest pair of eyes staring deep into mine.
Kai.
It’s been over a month since the last time I saw him. Since the day he broke my heart and took with him every last piece of me. Elijah’s right hand travels down my back and rests on my lower back, while his left one entwines within my fingers, exposing the diamond ring on my finger. My friends follow my stunned gaze and look toward where Kai stands unmoving.
The room around me shrinks, darkness becomes me, and all I can hear is the loud beating of my heart.
