"Mom, how did you find out about the course?" I narrowed my eyes at her, placing both palm on my hips as soon as she walked inside the kitchen that night.

Looking like a deer in the middle of a street, she froze. "Why?" If looks could kill, my mom would be laying on the floor right now. She smiled sheepishly. "Luke might have mentioned it." She raised a palm as I was opening my mouth to complain endlessly. "But I didn't know that Chris was taking it!"

I rolled my eyes, knowing full-well how annoying she felt whenever I did it. I ignored her glare. "Well, turns out, that he is. And he's not happy to see me there." I crossed my arms. "Neither am I."

Mom took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose before reopening them again. "And you were saying something about how childish your sisters were acting?"

Haley protested immediately. She'd been ignoring us as she read on her tablet by the kitchen table. "Hey!" We both turned to her. Her brown eyes narrowed at me. Mom raised an eyebrow as she glanced at me. See?

I fought the urge to roll my eyes again. "Mom, seriously. I'm going to see the guy every day for the rest of the summer!" I raised my hands trying to explain how big this whole thing was.

The chair screeched as my sister pulled it back. "I'd say seeing Chris every day is not the worst thing." Her eyes were blazing as she grabbed her tablet. "You're lucky to get to spend time with him. Especially since you were such a bitch to him!"

My eyes were wide as Mom's voice tone turned stern. "Haley! That's enough. You can't talk to your sister like that." Haley's jaw was clenched as she glared at me with full force. "I expect an apology." Mom admonished her.

Haley didn't roll her eyes, even though we all knew she wanted to. I bit my bottom lip. "Sorry," she muttered in a tone that let me know she was not sorry at all. Then, she stomped away without pushing the chair back to the table.

"What was that?" I turned to Mom as the same time she breathed out slowly. Averting her eyes, she turned away from me and started to get busy with dinner. She took out a chopping board and went to the fridge to get some veggies for the salad. I followed her every move as I waited for an answer. "Mom?" I pressed on as she took out the lettuce and tomatoes.

She rinsed the tomatoes and started to chop them as she answered me. "Luke is a good friend of us." She glanced at me. "But you already knew that." She turned to the chopping table adding, "So, he comes by every once in a while, for dinner."

My mouth was completely open as I gaped at my mother. "With Chris?" My tone was skeptical.

What kind of person would come over for dinner at his ex-girlfriend's house?

Mom's hand froze half-way through the second tomato. My stomach sank. Apparently, my family was best friends with my ex-boyfriend. Just peachy.

In all those times where we talked, not once they thought about mentioning this little detail. How could they not tell me that my freaking ex-boyfriend comes over for dinner?

Her eyes were sympathetic as she placed the knife on the counter. "He didn't come at first." My blood was starting to boil as she trailed carefully. "During November, Haley fell of her bike. Remember that we told you?" I pursed my lips. I did remember. "Well, we didn't say that Chris came to her rescue, but he carried her home and then brought her bike, too. It was the first time we saw him ever since you two broke up." Mom flicked away from her eyes a few strays that had loosened from her tight ponytail. "Luke had mentioned that he wasn't doing great at first. And he didn't look like himself when he placed Haley on the couch. Nevertheless, he stayed with her as I patched her up and he ended up staying for dinner and playing cards with your sisters. After that, he started to come whenever we invited Luke. Your sisters enjoy playing with him, he's great with them."

I always knew he had a soft spot for my sisters. However, after hearing all of this, I couldn't help but feel betrayed by my own family because they hadn't told me anything about this.

Plus, deep-down, I felt bitter at the fact that my eleven-year-old sister seemed to have a special bond with my ex-boyfriend. I took a deep breath trying not to snap at my mother. "When were you planning to tell me this? When you invited Luke and Chris came too?"

Mom's blue eyes were soft as she tilted her head. "I thought you were over him."

"I am!" I rolled my eyes, my heart pounding, growing loud in my ears. "The fact that I haven't dated anyone since has nothing to do with him! It's not like I compare every guy to him! Because that would be completely pathetic, right?" I blurted out furious with myself because that's exactly what's been happening. I just hadn't admitted it to anyone. Not even myself.

Why the hell have they kept this all away from me?

Mom stepped closer to me, trying to give me a hug, but I raised both palms, taking a step back. My eyes were brimming with tears as I lowered my head. "I'm not hungry, Mom. I'm meeting Cassie and Anne. I'll be back later." Hurt flashed through Mom's blue eyes as I stepped back but I didn't care. I was mad at everything and everyone. Especially at myself.

I hadn't really stopped thinking about him and for the first time in months, I'd just confessed it to my mother, who deliberately hadn't told me about the fact that Chris was close to them.

Freaking awesome.

I left my house an hour before I'd planned to meet my friends, wanting, needing, to put space between my family and I.

This didn't feel like my home anymore. Even my old room was different. The walls were painted in a cheesy pink and there were boy-band's posters all over the room. I hated it.

Four days back from California, and I so want to go back.

To top it all, I hadn't chosen the stupid subject for the darn Photography class and I needed to email it to Michael before midnight. I rolled my eyes. I still had time, though. Even If I didn't have a clue what to say.

We'd agreed to meet in a coffee shop downtown, closer to Anne's job. She didn't have a car and we all thought it would be easier for everyone. Plopping down in one of the couches, I leaned on the table in front of me wanting to bang my head against it.

"Rough day?" said a girl's voice before setting a menu in front of my nose.

I looked up to see the blond girl from my Photography class staring down at me. She had a black apron with the coffee's logo and a tag with her name. I sat up. "You're in my class."

Her lips tugged up on an easy smile. "I'm Caitlin," she said gesturing to her tag. She pulled out a chair and took a seat despite the fact that she was clearly at work. "So, have you come up with your theme for the class?" she leaned on the table, cupping her face with both her hands.

She oozed confidence, something that I should learn a thing or two. "I'm not sure yet. You?"

Her eyes glinted mischievously. "Michael said that it had to be something that we're passionate about, right?" I nodded, feeling wary, her eyes were glinting mischievously before dropping the bomb. "Men." Her easy grin turned into a sly smile as she sat up.

Men? How can that be a subject? I blinked at her. "Seriously?"

She bobbed her head, her eyes gleaming with pride. "Boys bring out the most passionate side of me." She winked before standing up and it I cracked me up. She's a naughty girl, and damn proud of it, too. "What can I get for you?" she asked in a sweet tone, all business-like.

I instantly liked her, she seemed like fun. "Uhm...I'd like a cappuccino and a slice of the best cake you have."

She clicked her tongue. "Nice choice. I'll bring you the triple-chocolate mud cake, okay?"

"It was nice talking to you," I added hurriedly before she walked to the counter. She beamed at me before turning away to get my order.

Luckily for me, Cassie and Anne showed up just as Caitlin was leaving my coffee on the table. I introduced her to them and she left for a moment to give them time to think about what they wanted to get. They both went for a cappuccino like me and a donut for Anne. Cass didn't get anything else. "I'm sort of in a diet," she murmured when I raised an eyebrow. She had a sweet tooth like myself.

Anne snorted. "You're getting the bride's syndrome." She flattened her black pencil skirt looking quite like a know-it-all. Since I messaged them that I was going to be earlier than appointed, she hadn't changed out of her work uniform. It was weird to see her without her ripped jeans and colorful tank tops. Her red-hair was pulled up on a tight bun on the back of her head.

"What's that?" I asked despite the fact that Cass was rolling her eyes and crossing her arms, clearly annoyed.

Anne's green eyes glanced at our friend before she turned to me. "Every girl turns into a bridezilla from the moment they get engaged." Cassie groaned at that. Anne raised a palm to stop whatever was about to come out of her mouth. "It is true. They all want to lose weight, get fixated on reading Bride's magazine and start fussing around with anyone who might have to do anything with their wedding." She huffed. "I see it all the time, trust me."

"I am not a darn bridezilla," Cassie muttered angrily.

Anne looked at her. She raised both eyebrows. "I'm seeing all the signs, Cass. Besides, isn't your wedding like a year apart?"

Cassie glared at her and puffed out her chest. Raising both palms, she gave up. "Fine! I'll get a stupid cinnamon roll! Happy?" She got up and walked to the counter where Caitlin was talking with another coworker. Anne and I cracked up at the same time.

After we all had downed half of our coffee and stopped teasing Cassie about her bridezilla's tendencies, I told them about my day. They both listened in the only way best-friends could, nodding and making a gasping sound at the right time. That was Anne, Cass was quiet all the time. I guessed she knew about it all along. By the end of my rant I found myself glaring at her.

"You knew didn't you?" my tone was bitter as I leaned back on my seat.

Cassie's blue eyes were soft. "I'm sorry, but I didn't feel like it was my place to tell you." I pinched the bridge of my nose. Shit. She's right. Of course she is. "Besides—" she tilted her head, "—you sort of blocked Chris out of your life. You never talked about him and I assumed you didn't want to hear from him." She crossed her arms, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Until now."

I always felt that I had left my heart in Boston, but my mind was in California, where it was meant to be. Then again, Berkeley University was everything I'd ever dreamed of. I wasn't big on the partying scheme, but I wasn't a loner either. I did have a fair social life.

Though, in order to do that, I had blocked Chris out of my life.

It felt much easier to leave him in Boston while I concentrated in California. Of course, I missed him like crazy in the first months. Then, life sort of found its way and I was more worried about balancing my classes and work than anything else. Dating was out of the question, especially since I couldn't find anyone who I felt chemistry with. I'm a true believer in sparks.

Anne was quiet listening to Cass. We'd emailed and had the occasional chat on messenger, but we had never been as close as Cassie and I. "I still can't imagine Chris sitting with your family without you. I mean, that has got to be awkward, right?" she murmured before blowing over the rim of her mug.

Unless he truly moved on. Which he had the right to. I'd broke up with him, didn't I? My stomach tightened.

Exhaling, I shook my head. "The thing is that being back home, doesn't feel like home, you know?" I stared at my half-empty mug. "I did block him out. And I thought I'd moved on. I mean, I have." My brows furrowed as my heart sank. "Yet being back here...I'm having all this mixed-emotions that I shouldn't have."

Anne huffed. "And that's why I don't date. Relationships just screw things up." Cassie slapped her on the arm. "Ouch! I'm just stating facts, here!" She muttered defensively.

Shaking her head, Cass leaned over to grab my hand. "Everything feels different, huh?"

My eyes brimmed with tears as I locked eyes with her. "I never felt at home with Aunt Sophie, but then I come back here and I don't feel at home, either." I snorted, rubbing my eyes with my other hand. "And I'm too freaking emotional, see?" I gestured to my eyes.

She squeezed my hand. "We're here for you, Farah."

"And we rock," Anne added as she held my other hand too. A strangled chuckle left my lips. "We should have met on a bar. I could use a drink right now," she added beaming at me.

"That makes two of us," I sniffed as my face cracked in a half-smile.

God, I missed my friends. 

Thank you for reading me! :)