24th July 2021

"Do you think everything is alright?" Jaxon vibrated with energy as he glanced around the quickly filing room.

"It's perfect," Hazel assured him.

"It'll be a waste of three hours and a buffet if it wasn't," I said, earning myself a glare.

"I'm just going to check on a few things." Jaxon moved off without waiting for a response, and Tye sighed.

"He's been really worked up over this," he said to me.

"I know. He's been more... excitable than usual," I added.

"I'd better go and try to keep his feet on the ground."

We watched Tye head after Jaxon.

"I wish he would relax," Hazel sighed, rubbing her rounded stomach.

"He will...eventually," Tori said, hugging her from behind. "But don't forget this night is about you."

"And you." She was quick to remind him. "I didn't get this way by myself." She chuckled.

"Let's not bring that up with your Nanna around." Tori grimaced whilst I laughed at his uncomfortable expression.

"I'm just going to check on the food." She marched towards the buffet with a determined air.

"Cravings," Me and Tori said at the same time.

It had started slowly; some coleslaw on pizza, nothing crazy. But now we were up to chocolate-covered pickles. The more disgusting the food, the more Hazel seemed to crave it. It had come to something that I could no longer sit opposite her when we ate.

The room filled whilst I chatted with the arriving guests. We were all gathered for a sort of baby shower, though since Hazel didn't have that many girlfriends it was a real mix match of people.

My entire family had come - including my new baby niece - along with Hazel and Jaxon's Nanna and Tori's family. There were a few of Hazel's friends from work, and various orchestra members dotted around as well.

We had easily filled the little bar.

A random girl waving at me made me break into Jaxon's and Tori's conversation.

"Hey isn't that the girl from Tye's beach clean up team?"

What was it? Laura? Leah?

I'd actually become a regular on Tye's beach clean-up crew, but had seen little of her since my performance on the beach back all those months ago. There was something about the beach that just seemed to bring me back to life after a frustrating week.

"Yeah, Leah...she's actually a friend of Hazel's." Jaxon spoke, rushing over his words.

"Since me and Hazel are going to be pretty busy tonight, would you look after her? She doesn't know many people here," Tori asked.

I was reluctant but I couldn't say no. "I guess."

"Perfect. Leah!" Jaxon called over.

I wasn't happy with my new baby sitting duties but I plastered a smile on my face. There was nothing wrong with Leah, but she could be a little insistent the few times Tye paired us up; bombarding me with questions.

"Hey guys, looks great in here," she said, making Jaxon swell with pride.

He - being the over achiever he really was - had spent the last three hours decorating the place in blue and pink streamers. Since Hazel and Tori had never found out about their baby's gender, it was the best colour scheme he could do, despite complaining about how much the two colours clashed.

"Thanks. Why don't you and Sam get some drinks?" he suggested, before becoming engrossed in conversation with Tori and his brother.

I looked between my friends, sensing that something was up but not really understanding what it was. I paused before shrugging it off. If there was something they would tell me.

Maybe it was another surprise for Hazel?

Though the way they had already showered her with gifts left me in no illusion as to how spoiled her child was going to be.

"So how's the soundtrack going?" Leah asked me when we'd finally got our drinks and sat down.

I smiled, thinking of all we'd accomplished over the last few months. "Well, let's just say it's too late for any last-minute alterations."

The film was premiering in a week. Everything was recorded and signed off by the producers. I was actually signed to another project already, but that was show business for you; nothing stayed still for long.

Leah clapped her hands. "That's amazing. I can't wait to watch it and hear your soundtrack. The reviews have been out of this world so far."

And they really had been. There were even talks about awards for the soundtrack and a few of the actors. Tony was beside himself with happiness. He was walking around the office like he was floating two feet off the ground.

"We've been pretty lucky. The story was amazing to begin with so that helps when you have to do the soundtrack."

A good soundtrack could take a rubbish movie and make it stomachable but it could never make it great. But with a great movie and a killer soundtrack, it could propel it to the next level. And that's what the critics were promising.

"Of course, it's a Genny St Clair book, right? Did you actually get to meet her? I hear only her inner team has ever even seen her. She's like this huge secret." Leah's eyes were wide with questions, not that I was surprised. Everyone seemed to want to know about Genny.

Whilst interest in the orchestra was taking off, Genny had shot to fame. Her previous two books were flying off the shelves and the sales for her new book, though only available to preorder, were more than promising.

But it was her air of mystery that had really captured people's interest. Leah was right, only her inner team had ever seen her.

"I've never met her." I was quick to explain, not lying, though not revealing the whole truth.

Leah's face fell before she could control her reaction. "I suppose she didn't have much to do with the movie just being the author."

I shrugged. "I really wouldn't know." That was a lie, and I tried to not let it show on my face. "So how do you know Hazel?" I diverted the subject quickly before she could sniff out my deception. Jaxon was right; I was a terrible liar.

Leah's forehead crinkled. "I don't know Hazel all that much, really. I mean I've met her a few times at the beach." She trailed off lamely.

I frowned, not expecting that answer. Jaxon and Tori's weird behaviour from earlier played through my mind, and I wondered if what they were up to had more to do with Leah than it had to do with Hazel.

I made small talk for another twenty minutes, though I was quickly running out of topics. Her ringing phone proved to be a small reprieve as she disappeared to answer it.

I looked around, noticing how Tori and Jaxon kept their attention away from me, despite the prickling feeling that they'd been watching me and Leah.

Enough was enough. I was going to find out what they were playing at.

There was no time for them to escape, as I dashed over.

"What's going on?" I demanded.

"What? Pshh, nothing's going on." Jaxon spluttered.

"You know you're as good a liar as I am," I snarled whilst Tori hung his head.

"Dude, really?" Tori rung his hands at Jaxon.

"What? I wasn't expecting him to come over." Jaxon defended himself with a scowl. "And I'm not that bad of a liar."

"Yes, you are." Tori and I said in unison.

A delicate tap on my shoulder stopped me from questioning them further. I turned, smoothing my annoyed expression when I realised it was only Leah.

"Hey, Sam, look, can we talk?" She looked so uncomfortable that I couldn't say no.

"Is everything okay?" I asked when we'd stepped away from Jaxon and Tori's prying ears, though I could still see them openly watching us.

She fiddled with her phone. "I've really enjoyed our date, Sam, but I'm really sorry I don't think this is going anywhere."

I stared at her open-mouthed. "I-I...wha..."

"Look it's not you." She was quick to add. "But I'm getting back together with my ex. That was him on the phone and I'm ready to give it another shot. I'm sorry to mess you around. Still friends?"

"...sure," I eventually said.

She hugged me quickly before disappearing out the door. For a few seconds I just stood there, trying to piece together what had just happened.

It was Jaxon and Tori's guilty expressions that finally broke through to me.

"You guys set me up!" I growled, making the nearest heads turn to look at me, but I was beyond that. I was pissed.

Jaxon held his hands up. "Man, we were only trying to help you out."

"I can't believe either of you." I shook my head, stepping around them.

Tori's hand shot out to grip the top of my arm.

I glared up at him. "Let go of me."

"Not until you at least hear us out," he said between gritted teeth.

"Not happening." I tried tugging my hand out of his grasp, but it was no good.

"Sam, we just want you to be happy," Tori reasoned. Jaxon nodded in agreement.

"What makes you think I'm not happy?" I demanded.

"I told you he'd react like this." Jaxon pointed out.

Tori and I scowled at him, not enjoying his commentary.

"Shut it, Jax." Tori sighed. "Sam, we just don't want to see you wasting your life on something that might not be real."

"You're talking about Evie?" I stopped trying to free my arm and just looked up at him, waiting.

He shifted his feet, quavering under my glare. "We just think maybe it's not healthy for you to carry on like this. Bro, you're hung up on a ghost."

I blinked. "What happened to fate bringing us together?" I asked.

Tori let go of my arm and rubbed a hand down his face. "Sam, I don't know what the hell to think. This isn't exactly a normal situation to be in."

"You think I don't know that." I laughed with no feeling. "I know how messed up this is. How messed up I am. But what am I supposed to do?"

"You could move on," Jaxon suggested quietly, his usually exuberant mood subdued.

I scoffed. "What with Leah? Hate to break it to you but she's just left to get back with her ex."

But Jaxon was already shaking his head. "Leah was just someone who was interested. If we had really wanted to push the boat out we would have invited Genny but it's a little far to fly for one night."

"What's Genny got to do with this?" I questioned.

Jaxon and Tori looked between themselves in exasperation.

"We know you two text." Tori pointed out. "Somehow she gets through to you even when she's on the other side of the world."

"We get on," I defended myself.

"How blind can you be? You like her Sam, I can tell." Jaxon was adamant, but I was already shaking my head.

"I love Evie," I said.

Then why did I feel so guilty?

Jaxon put his hand on my shoulder. "I know, but that doesn't mean it's impossible for you to fall again."

I shook him off. "I made a promise to Evie." I had to remember that.

"Even if that promise makes you miserable? Evie would never have wanted that, and you know it," Jaxon argued.

"I don't want to talk about this."

"You never do." Tori countered. "But you have to face the fact that maybe Evie isn't coming back. Maybe she did move on from whatever she was."

"And we're done." I stormed off before they could say something else.

Heads turned in my direction as I left, but it looked as though no one had really paid that much attention to our conversation.

I caught my abuela and Jaxon's Nanna watching me from their corner and I turned away, not wanting them to see how worked up I really was.

I left the bar and just focused on putting one foot in front of the other. I didn't realise where I was heading until I was already there.