Lily

“Get up, Cinderella. You’re going to the party whether you like it or not.”

I groaned, burrowing deeper into my blanket fortress. “No.”

“Yes,” Sarah said, yanking the covers off me with zero remorse. “It’s been a year, Lily. A year of sulking, moping, and being zero fun. You need to live a little.”

“I’m living just fine,” I muttered, glaring at her. “I have coffee, books, and peace. What else do I need?”

“Coffee doesn’t flirt with you, books don’t hold your hand, and peace doesn’t buy you drinks,” she shot back, hands on her hips. She was wearing her signature look—tight leather pants, a cropped jacket, and combat boots that looked like they could crush a man's ego. “You’re coming, and that’s final.”

“I don’t even know these people,” I said, though we both knew it was a weak excuse.

“Good! That means no awkward reunions and no one asking where you’ve been.” She pointed a perfectly manicured nail at me. “This is a party, not a therapy session. You’re going to dress up, get out, and maybe—just maybe—find a hot guy to distract you from that... necklace you keep clutching like it’s your lifeline.”

I instinctively touched Callan’s necklace, feeling its smooth surface against my fingertips. “It’s not—”

“It so is,” she interrupted, rolling her eyes. “But fine. Baby steps. You don’t have to marry anyone tonight. Just talk to someone who doesn’t have the last name Netflix.”

I gave her a deadpan look. “I hate you.”

“No, you love me,” she said with a smirk, grabbing my wrist and dragging me out of bed. “Now, go shower. You’re not going to ruin my reputation by showing up looking like you’ve been living in a cave for a year.”

As she shoved me toward the bathroom, I couldn’t help but laugh despite myself. Sarah had that effect on people. Bold, brash, and entirely too nosy, but impossible not to love.

**********************************

I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of my crisp white shirt. My jeans hugged me just right, casual but not too casual—exactly what Sarah had bullied me into.

The necklace caught the light, its stone cool against my skin. I touched it lightly, a pang of longing tightening my chest. Callan.

"Lily, you look lovely," Mom said from the doorway, beaming. She stepped inside and smoothed a stray strand of my hair. "It’s so good to see you going out again. Like old times."

I forced a smile. "Thanks, Mom."

Noah peeked in, his eyes lighting up. "Are you going on a date?"

"No," I said quickly, pulling him into a hug. "Just a party with Sarah."

"Are there going to be boys?" he asked, his tone suspicious.

I laughed, ruffling his hair. "Maybe. But none that can compare to you, squirt."

He grinned, puffing up his chest like he’d just won a battle. "Good. Because if they’re mean to you, I’ll punch them."

"That’s the spirit," Sarah chimed in, appearing behind him like the chaos demon she was. "You ready, Lil?"

"Ready as I’ll ever be," I muttered.

"Perfect.."

*********************************

The party was loud—too loud. Music blared from hidden speakers, and the hum of laughter and chatter filled the air. People milled around with drinks in hand, the scent of perfume and cologne mixing into a heady cocktail.

Sarah, ever the social butterfly, immediately disappeared into the crowd, leaving me standing awkwardly by the door.

“Lily!” a voice called out. I turned to see a group of familiar faces—college friends I hadn’t seen in over year by.

They rushed over, hugging me and bombarding me with questions.
“Where have you been?”
“We missed you so much!”
“What happened to you?”

“I’ll tell you later,” I said, forcing a smile. “Long story.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw him. Leo. The golden boy of our college days i used to had crush on him, standing by the bar like he owned the place. He was still ridiculously good-looking—chiseled jawline, perfect smile, hair that looked like it belonged in a shampoo commercial.

He noticed me and walked over, his grin widening. “Lily? Is that really you?”

“Hey, Leo,” I said, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me.

“Wow, you look... amazing,” he said, his eyes raking over me in a way that should’ve made me blush.

But all I could think about was Callan.He was charming, as always, but my mind kept drifting. Leo was handsome, sure, but he lacked… Callan's aura. That quiet strength, the way his presence could fill a room without him saying a word.The way he’d looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.

Leo leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. “I thought about you, you know. When you disappeared. I even tried to find out where you went.”

“That’s sweet,” I said, my smile tight.

Sarah suddenly appeared at my side, her eyes flicking between me and Leo like she was watching a live soap opera. “Oh, look who’s here—the campus heartthrob,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Nice to see you too, Sarah,” Leo said smoothly, unfazed.

“Careful, Leo,” Sarah said with a wicked grin. “Lily’s not the same girl you used to know. She’s been through some serious stuff.”

“Really?” Leo asked, his interest piqued.

“Really,” Sarah said, looping an arm around my shoulders. “So, if you’re here to flirt, you better bring your A-game. She’s got standards now.”

I groaned. “Sarah, stop.”

“What? I’m just saying the truth,” she said innocently, but the gleam in her eye told me she was enjoying this far too much.

Leo chuckled, his eyes never leaving mine. “Well, I’d love to catch up sometime, Lily. Maybe over coffee?”

I hesitated, glancing down at the necklace around my neck. “Maybe,” I said softly, but my heart wasn’t in it.

“Good,” he said, his grin widening. “Because I’ve been waiting for a chance to catch up with you.”

Sarah raised an eyebrow at me, her expression saying Go for it.

We talked for a while, catching up on mundane details about life and college. But even as I laughed along, I couldn’t shake the weight on my chest. Callan’s necklace rested heavily against my skin, a reminder that no one—not Leo, not anyone in this room—could ever compare to him.

And I hated how much I missed him.