Song: "Fading Away" by Lisa Cimorelli

**

Heather woke up feeling empty. Nonetheless, she got up to get ready for school. She dabbed face powder over the two layers of foundation and concealer she had to apply around her eye the next day. She touched the swollen area of skin, wincing in pain. To her, yesterday's events almost felt like a dream. She almost couldn't tell if it had happened or not. She looked at herself in the mirror. I hope this is as bad as it's going to get. She walked downstairs and grabbed a banana out of the marble fruit basket in the center of the counter.

"Are you seriously eating that when I spent the whole morning making the family a gourmet meal?" her mother asked.

"I don't see a gourmet meal," she replied exhaustedly.

"It's on the table, genius."

Heather glared at her before looking at the fancy set up on the dining table. There were assorted fruits on a silver plate and waffles and bacon on another plate. She walked past it and started eating her banana.

"Aren't you going to eat that?"

"No, I'm not that hungry."

Her mom scoffed dramatically. "Well, you could've at least eaten some fruit! See? This is why your brothers and sisters are favored! They actually appreciate what I do for them!"

Without another word, Heather grabbed her backpack off the hanger by the front door and left the house. I can't wait until I'm moved out! She texted Courtney as she stormed down the sidewalk to her bus stop.

Courtney: Uh oh, what did your mom do this time?☹️

Heather: She got mad at me because I wasn't hungry! She's the most self-absorbed, overdramatic person ever!!

Courtney: That's such a weird thing to get mad at

Heather: I know!! And she straight up told me to my face that my siblings are better than me!

Courtney: Oh no, Heath. I'm so sorry😔♥️

Heather: I'm so glad I'm moving out with Chandler soon. Even with my stupid part-time job now, I wouldn't be able to make enough money to move out anytime soon!

Courtney: I'm glad you're getting to move out! Your parents don't deserve you!

Heather: They so don't!

Courtney: I've gtg, Duncan just got in my car. Will I see you at lunch?💕

Heather: Yeah💕

Heather stopped to wait for the bus. Her mom's contact appeared on her screen as her phone vibrated with a call from her. She ignored her and put her on mute.

**

"Yes!! Finally did it!" Geoff cheered after many attempts to slingshot an olive into his mouth off his spoon.

"Finally," Bridgette groaned. "He's been trying for days."

"And he wonders why he got kicked out of his Algebra class," Courtney deadpanned.

Heather sat next to Courtney with her bagged lunch. "Hey, babe." Courtney smiled.

"Hey." She smiled back, pulling her subway sandwich out.

"Are you feeling any better?"

"Yeah, a little."

"That's good!" She rubbed her shoulder.

"What's up?" Geoff asked.

"None of your business, doofus!" Heather snapped.

"Whoa whoa whoa, chill." He held his hands up.

"It's private," Courtney told him.

"Alright, 's cool."

Courtney looked at Heather's face and pursed her lips. "Um, Heather? Your left eye looks kinda swollen." She gasped. "And is that a bruise?!" Heather froze for a moment. Oh no, oh no! She frantically unzipped her backpack and took out her pink makeup bag. She quickly patted more face powder on the discolored area. "Heather," Courtney began. "What happened?"

"I—I fell down the stairs last night. It's fine. I'm fine."

Courtney furrowed her eyebrows. "How did you manage to hit that side of your face?"

"I honestly have no idea. I guess that's just how my body turned." Heather shrugged, shutting her mini makeup mirror. Gwen looked at her with her eyes narrowed.

"Well, it looks pretty bad. No offense." Courtney cringed.

"Gee, thanks." Heather rolled her eyes. "As if I didn't already know that."

"Sorry! I just wasn't sure if you knew how bad it was. Like, I can still see some swelling even with the makeup reapplied."

"That's because you're sitting right next to me."

"No, I can kind of see it too," Gwen commented. "And—that doesn't look like a fall."

"Ok, fall expert," Heather said. "What does it look like to you?"

"If I'm being honest, it looks like someone punched you and gave you a black eye."

Is it that obvious? She laughed. "Well, that didn't happen. Obviously. Courtney, tell Gwen she's delusional."

"Um—Heather, she's right. It does look like someone hit you." Heather looked around. Duncan and Geoff nodded in agreement.

"Sorry, but it does," Bridgette said.

"So—you guys don't believe me when I said I fell?" Heather asked.

"Well—we didn't exactly say that." Courtney frowned.

"We just want to look out for you," Bridgette said gently.

"You guys don't need to look out for me because I'm fine!" Heather bit the inside of her cheek.

"Alright, Heath." Courtney gave her a halfhearted smile. She looked at Gwen. Gwen shrugged with a frown, shaking her head.

**

Alejandro noticed something was off about Heather when she sat at her desk. She looked like she had hardly gotten any sleep, and she was anxiously looking at herself in her phone camera. When he passed out the notes for the day, he made sure to walk by Heather's desk extra slow. Instead of rolling her eyes or scoffing at him like she usually did, she kept her gaze on the floor as if ashamed of something. It took everything in him not to call her up to his desk and ask her what was wrong. Unfortunately, he had to wait until the lesson was over. He sat through a long hour of the professor's lecture. He tried and tried to listen, but all he could think about was Heather. He kept glancing at her. She wasn't taking any notes, and he knew she cared about learning. This wasn't like her.

"Nos vemos mañana!"

Alejandro blinked, coming out of his thoughts. The class got up. "Alejandro, did you finish grading last night's assignments?" The professor asked.

"¿Qué? Oh! Uh—I'm almost done, ma'am."

"Alejandro, you've already had a whole evening yesterday and this morning."

"Apologies. I will get them done before the next class!"

"Alright. I'm counting on you, señor."

"Got it!" Alejandro smiled as she walked away, then let out a relieved breath. Mi Dios, I need to focus on my duties as an asistente de profesora! Then he remembered Heather. But first, I need to talk to her! He got up, but she was already out the door. Mierda! He ran after her, but it was too late. She was lost in the crowd of students. I could text her, but I'm not allowed to make personal texts on my tutoring number! Ugh!

He sat back down to start on his work. She looked so sad. That's not a good look on her. He frowned, not able to concentrate on grading at all now. Why am I letting this bother me? I hardly know her. He groaned, rubbing his forehead. She is beautiful. Probably the most gorgeous woman I've ever seen. Maybe I need an exercise break before grading, he decided. That'll get my mind off of her.

**

"And she called my siblings more favorable than me just because I wouldn't eat her stupid breakfast! I wasn't even that hungry! Like, geez, lady! Get a life!" Heather complained to Chandler after school as they sat on his couch watching tv.

"Right? She needs to shut up." Chandler wrapped an arm around her. "All she does is hurt you."

"Literally. She can't even give me one compliment!"

"Where's your dad in all this?"

"You know! He's on a business trip every other week! He doesn't give a shit about our family, which I don't blame him for! It's sucky!"

Chandler shook his head in disgust. "That's awful. If I ever become a dad, my wife and my kids will be my top priority."

"You mean wife and kid? There's no way I'm having more than one." Heather laughed.

"But they'll be lonely without siblings." He stroked her face.

"Or they'll be more mentally stable without siblings. You've seen the way my siblings act."

"Yes, I know. But not all siblings are like that."

"You have no room to speak, Mr. only child." Heather teased.

"Hey, I have a lot of cousins. So yeah, I know what sibling drama looks like." Chandler smirked.

"They're so annoying, though." She laid across his lap and intertwined her hand with his. "And do you really wanna raise more than one kid?"

"I'm more than willing to." He rubbed her legs.

"Hmm. I don't know, we'll see." She smiled playfully, kissing his hand.

"You were right, Heather. I love laying here with you and talking," Chandler admitted. "I'm sorry for not listening when you suggested we do that more. I feel so close to you like this." He gently ran his fingers through her hair.

"It's ok. I just wanted it to be like it was before."

"Yeah. Life gets so busy." He rubbed her hand. "But I'm not worried for our future because I know once we move in, we'll be together forever. Nothing could separate us."

Heather looked up at him adoringly. "It'll just be you and me. I won't have to see my parents anymore or my annoying siblings."

"Exactly. It'll just be the love between us and then the love for our children." He pecked her lips.

"Chandler, when are you thinking of having kids?"

"I say a year after marriage is the best time."

Heather's jaw dropped. "Babe, we're eighteen!"

"I know, but we're almost nineteen, so by the time we get married, we'll almost be twenty. Therefore, almost twenty-one when we have our first baby."

"I don't think I'll be ready for that yet. We'll still be in school. I think we need to have nice, stable careers before then."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Chandler cracked up. "We'll see, shall we?" He tickled her ribs.

"Stop it!" Heather giggled, pulling his face down to hers for a kiss. "Mmm," she hummed against his lips. "I can't wait to be married to you."

"Me neither, beautiful. You'll just be mine. All mine."

"I already am yours, dork." She stuck out her tongue.

"I know, but it'll be more official." He played with the ring on her finger. "And more permanent."

"Have I ever told you how much I love you?" Heather ran her hands up and down his arms.

"All the time. And I love you all the time." Chandler squinted and ever-so-gently brushed his thumb under her left eye. "Does that hurt?"

"It's—it's a little sore," she mumbled, averting her eyes downwards.

"Heather, look at me," he said tenderly. She looked into his dark brown eyes. "I will never put my hands on you like that again. That was too much. You were making me angry, but you don't deserve that." He softly kissed the bruise. "God, I feel like a monster."

"Chandler, you're not a monster." Heather pulled him onto her chest in a hug. "I forgive you for that."

"Oh, thank goodness! That's all I've wanted since yesterday! I don't think I could've gone on without your forgiveness."

"Shh, no more apologies. It's annoying." Heather teased.

"Alright, whatever you say," he chuckled.