Three days ago—

    "Calum!" I called, forcing a bright smile despite my fraying nerves as I waved the blonde over to my booth in the cafe. The noontime sun streamed into the cafe in gentle yellow streaks.

    "Stella," Calum greeted, grinning as he slid into the booth across from me. "What's up? You aren't one to spontaneously demand outings—is something wrong?"

"No, of course not," I smiled. "I just wanted to talk."

We chatted a bit about nothings in our life as our coffee was served, and I bit my lip nervously as I tried to find the words to start.

    "Stella?" Calum asked, eyebrows furrowed in concern. His blue eyes—clear and bright—and his dimpled smile—only faintly visible when he wasn't smiling—were all reassuring signs that the boy across from me was Calum—my Calum. And it might not be like that after I open my mouth.

But this was necessary.

"Calum," I started, pasting on a casual smile, "I did some serious thinking yesterday, and I came to the conclusion that I love you. As more than a friend."

Calum froze, smile sliding off his face as he adjusted his grip on his mug. "Stella, I'm dating Kimberly."

"I know," I said, dropping the smile as well. "I just wanted you to know—to lay it out.  Because I think it's time we started thinking about such things, seeing that university's ending and all that."

"Stella," Calum started, blue eyes uncertain—hesitant, "I...I don't see you that way."

I paused, taking a slow breath before continuing, putting up a smile again. "That's alright. I only wanted you to know how I felt and for you to keep that in mind for the future."

"And I need to tell you now that nothing's going to change, Stella," Calum said, eyes staring down into his mug. "I've already made plans for Kimberly and me."

"I don't understand," I said flatly, clenching my ceramic mug tightly. The foam was slowly dissipating from the top of my cappuccino, I noted.

"Stella, I love Kimberly," Calum explained, eyes going up to meet mine, but I kept my eyes trained into my mug. "I'm going to propose to her at graduation, and... I don't love you."

"Not right now," I tried, desperate, but I couldn't bring my eyes up to meet his.

"Not anymore," Calum corrected. I looked up to catch his sad smile, wistful and forlorn. "Even if I did love you once, I don't love you anymore."

The world stopped. My world, I mean, because when I looked up—

the sun had already gone down.

---

The summer went by in a blur. I poured myself into my studies, taking another three extra courses in whatever was still open and starting my internship at the company a year early. My mother eagerly approved my application despite the general rule that the company only accepted graduate school students, defending my acceptance with my outstanding GPA and extracurricular achievements.

I would like to think I didn't become depressed, didn't fall into a sort of slump because of what went on. In fact I would have liked to not think entirely. I talked to friends less and about work more, flying down to New York for galas and building relationships that existed entirely in the world of business.

Quinn accepted my detachment, my disinterest in contact. The others not so much. Stacey didn't text much anymore—not that I answered them anyway—and Karen apparently spent her summer with the drama students, helping them backstage and fundraise. Whitney flew to Chicago to spend time with family, and we hadn't talked since.

I tried talking to Calum now and then, but it was almost painful to smile at him unless I was grinning at my own pitifulness. Jordan and I... fell out of contact. Texts don't go through. He must have blocked my number, or maybe the signal's really bad on the Eurasian continent. The latter is but a small comfort.

Calum must have eventually told his family about how deeply he and Kimberly were involved, because my mother mentioned him making a stupid choice one night after dinner. It was an awkward scene—I didn't know what to say, and I don't think she did either. 

Life went on like that. Uneventful, busy, and thoughtless. Smooth.

---

"Stella, I need to talk to you for a second," Sheila interrupted, knocking on my door. I was in town for the weekend, attending a gala held by the Windsors. Their daughter— three years my elder—and I hit it off at the previous gala where I found out that she used to be on the cheer team as well.

"Mom?" I asked, opening my door. Sheila walked in, shutting the door behind her slowly. Almost hesitantly. That wasn't right—Sheila Teresa Reyes was never hesitant, as a Reyes or a Royce. "What's wrong?"

"I wanted to talk to you about Calum," my mother said, grey eyes scanning the expanse of my room. Avoiding my eyes. "About his father and me."

"Samuel?" I asked, brows scrunched in confusion. My mother gave me a wry smile.

"Yes, Samuel. Sam. We liked each other in University, you know," Sheila explained, walking over to the window. "We fancied each other, you would say. He was to me what Calum was to you—perfect. Yes he used to be a serious womanizer, breaking hearts left and right, but I think I convinced myself that he was mine despite everything. And maybe it was true."

"But then came Eleanor August, a wispy brunette and kind-hearted virgin. And Samuel fell. Hard. So hard, he suffered a concussion taking a football for her, but that's another story," my mother said, flashing me a grin. "Samuel married her right after university, but they'd planned it long before that. Her family was well-off, and his parents relented after some convincing."

"I lost him long before their marriage though. I lost him when I decided to wait—that waiting was all right because he'd be there when I was ready," my mother said, eyes focusing on me. "And after their engagement became clear, I convinced myself he wasn't worth it. That he was the loser, the one in the wrong. And I taught that to you." Sheila took a shaky breath, dropping her eyes. "I'm so sorry."

"Mom! It's alright, honest," I told her, hugging her tightly. Sheila gave a small tremble, a stifled sob. "It's not your fault. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be."

"But if you'd moved a bit faster, there's no way this Kimberly Morgan girl would be able to steal Calum away from you," my mother murmured, lost in thought. "You would have been able to solidify your relationship, and no one could come between the two of you."

"It would have been a loveless relationship then, Mom," I told her, shaking my head. "Calum—Samuel—would have pined for another girl forever. That's not fair. For either of you." 

My mother gave me a tight squeeze, pulling away to examine me with cool grey eyes. "I suppose you're right. After all, I found your father. When did you get so mature?"

"Being rejected can do that," I said, smiling. "And Mom, Dad is much better than Samuel."

Sheila gave a sharp laugh. "You're right, Stella. You're absolutely right. And don't you worry—a man out there will be better for you than Calum ever was."

"I hope so too," I said, smiling.

---

September arrived in the blink of an eye. I stopped worrying and reached out to the girls again. Romance was put out of my mind entirely.

The girls still had their romances though. Quinn and Tim were going strong, and Stacey and Chad as well. Karen had met someone online—some boy named Noah from a South Dakota farm. Whitney and Hunter grew apart over the summer, but we fixed things as soon as the semester began.

I stepped up as a student representative for the university board. With support and recommendations from Harold and Jeremy, the Chancellor and student body president respectively, I made the cut. The months went by like that, me dividing my time between my commitments to the school, the company, and the board. It was a balancing act, and it was hard at times, but it was a refreshing challenge.

I reached out to old friends, notably Lester and Abigail. We joked about lost loves and frivolous things, and life became comfortable. Sometimes, when I'm staring at the window or looking at nothing in particular, I wonder what the fuss was about.

---

Pete had graduated in June, but that didn't stop him from throwing an over-the-top November party. "Just one more, for you all," he'd told me, winking. "For my dear underclassmen. And to show my chosen successor, Jared, how it's done."

Glitz and glammed up in a black and gold tube top dress, I danced the accumulated stress off. The boys joined a game of beer pong mid-party, and the girls and I sagely kept watch and cheered them on. The funny thing about party games is that there's no real winner most of the time—just losers.

"Are you sure can't interest you in a boy tonight?" Stacey asked, grinning. "I mean there are a few really hot bods here. The new class, so adorable!"

"Not tonight, Stace," I laughed, taking another sip from my solo cup that was secretly filled with water.

"Fine," Stacey pouted, "but my matchmaking skills are still top-notch."

"Of course," I grinned, hugging the raven-haired girl and slipping her my cup. "Hold onto this for me, won't you? I'm going to go find the dance floor again."

Walking over to the correct room, I stuffed myself into the crowd on the floor and relaxed. I waved at the couples and singles I recognized, sometimes weaving over to say hello and sometimes contenting myself with a wink or a grin in their direction—Quinn and Tim, laughing and being adorable together; Whitney and Hunter, awkward but trying to work it out; Chad and Stacey, smirking silent dares at each other; Karen dancing with some sweet-looking blonde she'd found; and Calum and Kimberly, standing at the fringes and laughing. The last one was an awkward wave, an awkward smile, but I was relieved that I was—through it all—happy. 

"S'cuse me, I'm going to borrow you for a second," a voice—Corraine—interrupted some time later, pulling me away from the floor. 

"Corriane?" I asked, confused. "What—"

"It's Cory," Corriane corrected, flashing me a grin as she tugged me towards what would have been the sitting room. "Especially after tonight. See, Danielle, Jordan is taken."

A stick-thin blonde, presumably Danielle, narrowed her eyes at me, sizing me up. After a second, she wrinkled her nose.

"She isn't that pretty," the blonde commented, turning up her nose and storming off.

"And we'll leave you two to duke it out," Weston said, pulling Corraine away. "We'll be on the dance floor if you need us!"

Jordan sighed, running a hand through his hair. He had let it grow out a bit, and I was struck by how different he looked.

"Sorry 'bout that," he said, flashing me a small grin. "Cory and Wes think that just 'cuz they have the majority vote, they can go around and dictate my life."

"I don't mind," I said, smiling cautiously. It'd been a while since I'd seen Jordan, and suddenly I was frazzled by his reappearance. "Weston and Corriane?"

"Yeah, can you believe it?" Jordan laughed. "I mean who would have thought my best friends were secretly made for each other?"

"Actually I can," I admitted, fidgeting with my fingers.

"Are you—"

"Would you—"

We laughed awkwardly, lapsing into a silence.

"You first?" I asked. Jordan hesitated for a moment.

"Are you still waiting?" he asked, grey eyes sliding up to meet mine.  I blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. Was I still waiting?

"No, I'm not," I replied honestly, realizing that I've stop waiting for Calum since his rejection.

"What was your question?" Jordan prompted. I grinned.

"Would you mind dancing with a lonely girl?"

—Finis—

---

Hey all! Story finished (at last right?)

So many feels for all my characters... I'll miss them so much (Damn. I really will.)

Hope you all enjoyed the time you spent on this as much as I did (Because it was a lot of time.) It was a journey that I (and those of you who were there) embarked on and finished together.

Please vote/comment to let me know what you think, and feel free to point out errors (one can never be too perfect, no?)

Signing off for the last time in The Other Girl,

—Littlewhims