Beatrice looks a bit shocked that Xavier called me 'babe'. She gives me an ugly look, as she leans forward to hold Xavier's hand. If I had any doubt about her love of Xavier before, the expression on her face confirms it.

"Hi Beatrice.", I say with a forced smile. "It's nice to see you again. You look good." Obviously, I am lying, because it is not good to see her again. Unfortunately though, she does look good. She is wearing a gorgeous pale blue dress which makes her blue eyes look even bluer, and her blond her is curled to perfection, falling in waves beneath her shoulder blades. Her makeup is light and professional, and as much as I hate to say it, she looks stunning.

"Candy right?", she asks in her light, airy voice and I nod. "It's so nice to see you again. I've been reading about you in the news. You're so popular right now."

We look at each other for a while as her comment settles – we both know that she is talking about the pictures.

"Anyhow", she continues, "I was here shopping for the fundraiser, and coincidentally, I ran into Xavier.", here she looks at Xavier with an adoring gaze, and I can't help but roll my eyes. She is so in love with him, it's a little disgusting to watch.

Wait a minute.

Did she say that she is attending the fundraiser?

Like the fundraiser that Xavier and I are attending?

I catch a wicked glimpse in her eyes, and Jordan must have noticed it to, thank God, because he jumps in at that moment.

"Oh, Candy and I were just looking for a dress that she will wear to the fundraiser. She's Xavier's date you know."

Beatrice looks him over, her baby blue eyes hardening for a moment, before the soft mask slipped back into place. Turning her eyes back to Xavier's, she gives a soft smile.

"well, since we're both here for the same thing, maybe we can shop together. I need another woman's opinion."

I am just about to tell her what I think of that idea when Xavier speaks up.

"I think that's a wonderful idea Beatrice", he says. I try to give him the look but he is totally avoiding my eyes right now. Jerk.

Beatrice drags me away from Xavier, and soon we are walking around while she picks out dresses. I am far too scared to even look at the price tags on what she is picking out.

"Don't you see anything that you like, Candy?", she asks, turning back at me as she gestures to my empty hands. I pick out a silver strapless dress with a low cut bodice, and a sparkling red one. After Beatrice has picked two more dresses, she drags me to the dressing room.

"Which dress do you think looks better?", she asks, holding up a blue evening gown in her left hand and a black dress in her right.

"Umm – "

"I think the blue one is nice", she continues, then turns to me. "The silver dress will fit you so well. I think it brings out your smile. You must be so anxious about meeting Xavier's parents."

She drops the dresses than moves closer to me. "I've met Xavier's parents tons of times. I always bring roses to his mother – she loves them. Of course I know it must be difficult for you, especially since you and Xavier won't last long."

My ears perk up at this. "What do you mean?", I ask, my voice cool.

"Don't you know? I thought you were smart. Xavier and I are going to be the hottest item when we get engaged. I know that you know that I love him. It's quite obvious really."

"Not obvious enough since he doesn't know", I force myself to speak even though my head is reeling.

Beatrice looks at me as if I am confused, then laughs her gorgeous laugh. "Didn't he tell you that we were an item."

The look of shock on my face must answer her question, because she continues. "Xavier and I have history."

"Well that's all that it is ever going to be.", I say smugly.

Suddenly, Beatrice's face loses all its softness, as she lunges at me, grabbing my hair. "Look you whore, Xavier is mine and I'm not letting you get in the way. He loves me, I love him, and we're going to get married. He's not in your class and once you meet his parents, they'll spot it and tell you off."

Just as suddenly, Beatrice's face changes back to its normal soft form. "I'm just trying to help you Candy. You may think he loves you, but he's just playing you."

"That's not what he said last night.", I smirk saucily and Beatrice rolls her eyes.

"Don't be stupid", she says slowly, as if explain a difficult concept to an idiotic child. "Of course Xavier has sex with other women. It's natural for a man, and I am willing to give him time to – explore. However, I am the one for him, and he knows it."

"You're pathetic", I spit, causing her to laugh again.

"You are pathetic. Only someone as pathetic as you would still be with a man who has a track record of using girls. At least I have accepted the truth."

I have nothing to say. Beatrice too, seems to be done and she keeps on holding clothes up to her chest before she finally decides on one.

"Ok, I think this is the one", she smiles. "Let's go back. Xavier is probably waiting for us."

Just as we are stepping out of the dressing room, Beatrice turns to me. "You look a lot like Vera. Maybe you should ask Xavier why he is dating you."

As we walk to where we left Xavier and Jordan, my mind is in a whirl, and I can't muster the energy to even look at Beatrice, who is smiling like she has won the lottery. Finally, we arrive at the spot to see Xavier and Jordan.

Jordan runs up to me and hugs me "Are you ok, or does she need to leave here in a coffin?", he whispers in my ear, and I shake my head, mouthing 'Tell you later'.

"You know", Jordan says, turning to Asher, "I think I'll take Candy to my place. We have a lot of catching up to do, and I think that I should do her makeup and hair before your big event tonight."

Xavier looks uncertain, almost like he wants to protest, but Beatrice grabs his arm.

"Let them go Xavier. We also have a lot of catching up to do, and I'd love to have some alone time with you."

Xavier smiles at her. "Sure. I'll give Candy my card so that we can pay for her dress. You know the venue right? It's my parents' house. I'll send it to you."

He hands me his card, then leans over and gives me a kiss on the lips. I look over to see Beatrice's reaction, but she is cool and collected.

Together, they walk away, and I can't help but notice how right they seem together. Two gorgeous individuals – the ideal power couple.

"Ok", Jordan says, putting his arm around me. "Spill the tea."

***

"Well, Beatrice may be a snobbish rich kid, but she has some fine taste in clothing.", Jordan says, holding up the silver dress, while Linda nods in approval.

I refused to tell Jordan anything about Beatrice until we got to his place, so we paid for the dress and set off to his apartment, where he and Linda were living together. Obviously, their relationship had gotten serious, but it still shocked me a little to have her in Jordan's apartment.

Once we arrived, I sat them both down and gave them all the details. Linda knew a lot about Beatrice since she often visited Xavier on certain occasions at the office.

It's late in the evening now, and Jordan is doing my makeup. He has already styled my normally untamable hair into a classy style, with my usually unruly curls falling neatly below my neck.

I look in the mirror, and I can't help but notice what a good job Jordan has done – I look like a model.

Linda smiles then tosses me the dress. "Go on. Change."

Within five minutes, I have paired the dress with some white heels, and I am glamorous and ready to party.

Jordan nods with a smile. "Let me drop you off then.", he says, getting his car keys before placing a kiss on Linda's lips.

"Not yet", Linda says, running to a drawer, before pulling out a pair of diamond tear drop shaped earrings, and a matching necklace. She places them in my hands.

"These would look really good on you", she smiles, as I stare in wonder.

"Well don't just stand there like a tired sardine", she smirks. "Put them on and get going."

Moving to the front of the mirror, I put on the jewelry, and Linda was right – it complements my dress so well.

Jordan beams at Linda, gives her another kiss, then we make our way to the car.

***

We arrive late. It is mostly my fault since I made Jordan pull over at a flower shop to buy a bouquet of roses for Xavier's mother.

When I arrive at Xavier's parents' mansion, the party is in full swing already, and I am a nervous wreck.

"Relax", Jordan says, stroking my hair. "You're stunning and you're going to make a good impression on your future parents-in-law."

I swat his arm playfully as I get out of the car.

"Remember to call me if you need anything.", he yells as he pulls out of the driveway.

"Taking a deep breath, holding the bouquet of roses in my right hand, and my purse in my left, I enter the mansion.

Instantly, my breath hitches. The place is beautiful, with people dancing, laughing, talking and smiling. I look around for Xavier, and I find him deeply engrossed in a corner with a pretty woman who looks like she is in her fifties, and an older man. These must be Xavier's parents.

Taking a deep breath, I head in their direction. Xavier sees me first, and grabs me, pulling me into a tight hug.

"Mom, Dad, this is Candace Greene."

"Please call me Candy", I say with a smile.

Xavier's parents are a regal looking couple. His mom is around average height with white blond hair streaked with gray and green blue eyes – she looks like a female version of Asher. His dad is tall and has the air of a man who was in the military. Both are staring at me in shock and horror.

"Candy", Xavier's mom says. "you're wearing the same dress as Beatrice."

I am confused at her statement, but at that moment, Beatrice waltzes in with two glasses of champagne, and I gasp – she is wearing the exact same dress that I am.

"Oh, Candy – I didn't know that you were going to copy my dress", she says before I can even get over my shock. Her voice is quiet and hurt, and Xavier's parents rush over to her.

Xavier stress at me in shock, and I know that there is no way that I can explain that she is the one who copied my dress. My confidence is waning.

"I have something for you Mrs Reyes", I say, and I thrust the bouquet of roses into her hand. In hindsight, that was a terrible idea.

Xavier's mother's eyes begin to swell up. Her nose turns red and puffy, and she starts to sneeze uncontrollably.

"You – achoo – brat", she screams/sneezes at me.

Xavier pulls me away from his mother. "Why did you give her roses.", he whisper-shouts. "She's allergic to them."

I stare at him. "But Beatrice told me to. I didn't know that – "

"How couldn't you know?", he asks, still keeping his voice low. "Her allergies are all over the internet."

We watch as Beatrice calms his mother down, taking her upstairs.

Suddenly the band strikes up a tune, and Xavier pulls me onto the dance floor.

"I'm really sorry about your mom', I apologize, and he strokes my hair.

"Why did you copy Beatrice's dress?", he asks me, and I groan.

"I didn't copy her dress, Xavier. She copied me."

"But she bought her dress first. You have to admit that it does look like you are the one copying her."

I try to explain, but he cuts me off.

"Look, I know that you don't like Beatrice, but there is no need to villainize her. First you say that she copies your dress, then she told you to bring roses even though she knows my mom is allergic to them? It sounds so incredulous."

"What happened, between you and Beatrice in the past?"

Xavier frowns a bit. "We used to be... friends with benefits. But it was a long time ago."

"And you say that she doesn't love you?"

Xavier looks totally frustrated now

"Candy, if you're going to have an issue with every girl I've had sex with, we're going to have to move to a new state." he yells at me. "Stop being so freaking possessive. You expect me to stop hanging out with my best friend for years because you feel insecure about her?"

His words hit me in the gut. I never expected him to throw his past relationships at me like that. And I never expected him to call me insecure.

The song ends at that moment, and Xavier releases me. "I'm going to the kitchen to get a drink."

He walks over to a door, and I wouldn't have followed, but then, I saw Beatrice walking over to the same door. Throwing caution to the winds, I follow them and listen outside.

At first there is nothing, then:

"I don't know why she hates me", Beatrice's quiet voice says, and she sounds like she is truly in pain.

"Well, she has reason to, given our past relationship," this is Xavier's voice.

I hear a gasp from Beatrice. "You told her? Why? She'll be gone by next week right?"

"It's more serious than that with her.", Xavier says, and I feel my heart give a leap of joy. "With her, I don't know Beatrice, it's just different."

There is silence then:

"Is it because she looks like Vera?"

I wait, holding my breath as I wait for him to deny it, but he says nothing.

I open the door a crack, and I see Beatrice and Xavier holding hands over the counter. Bile threatens to rise in my throat, but I push it down.

I can't do this – I can't be here.

As I move away, I ear Beatrice's voice saying "You know she'll never fit in right?"

I flee.

Once safely outside, I call Jordan and tell him to please pick me up. He arrives in fifteen minutes. Once he sees me, he hugs me and I cannot control the tears streaming down my face.

"Shh", he coos. "I've got you Candy"

"Thank you for coming" I hiccup into his chest and he pulls me closer.

Eventually, I calm down and he takes me to the car, taking us to his apartment. I drift off to sleep.

We arrive at his house in thirty minutes due to the traffic. As we step out, I notice that Jordan's phone is ringing, but he doesn't answer it.

"Is it him?", I ask and he nods.

"He's been calling me nonstop. I only picked up once to tell him that he had monumentally messed up."

Oh.

I feel horrible and guilty now.

Jordan takes me into a room in his apartment, shoving off a worried Linda. I tell him that I am not in the mood to eat, and he hands me a Mars bar. I love how well he knows me. My phone starts ringing, and I know that it is him, but I refuse to pick up. Instead I turn off the phone.

I don't sleep much, twisting and turning until it is dawn. Jordan knocks on the door to drop by with some breakfast in bed, but I don't touch it. Luckily there is a tv in my room, so I am kept well entertained. Linda knocks to tell me that she is off to work.

Then there is a different knock. A quiet hesitant one. I know instantly that it is him.

"Candace, can I come in?", he pleads.

I don't say anything. He tries the door, and it opens easily. I didn't lock it.

"Please. Let me talk to you, then I 'll leave"

Xavier comes in and sits by the foot of my bed. He looks lost and broken. Something is wrong.

"You were right. I was so stupid and you were right."

"Xavier – I over reacted and I shouldn't have left so suddenly..."

"Beatrice says she's in love with me."

My breathing stops.

"After I realized that you left, we started drinking, then she started crying and she...she confessed and then..." he breaks off.

"Then what Xavier? THEN WHAT?", I yell hysterically.

"We kissed. I don't know why, I just felt like at least I could do something right."

I stare at him. "Did you do more than kiss?"

Xavier shakes his head. "It got pretty far before I had the sense to stop.", he admits.

"Candy please, I should have listened to you. I love you..."

"No", I say, putting my hands over my ears. "Get out. Go away from my room. GET OUT XAVIER." I am yelling so loudly that Jordan comes into the room, and he forces Xavier to leave.

"I'm so sorry Candy. I love you. I love you so much and I should never have hurt you"

But I don't hear it, neither do I feel the impact of his words. I feel like my heart has been smashed repeatedly with a hammer.