With an uneasy laugh, I try to suppress the uncomfortable silence brewing between us as the entire class stares at us.

Ashely opens and closes her mouth. Anushka starts in high pitched voice, "Let's talk outside." And without waiting for my response, she bolts away, Meilin locks her arm with mine and pulls me along with herself as Ashely follows us. We stop a few paces away from the class' entrance.

"Okay," Anushka says, rubbing her hands together and shifts her weight from one foot to another.

Ashley scratches the side of her nose and Meilin pushes her silky black hair behind an ear.

"You're scaring me, why are you acting as if someone has died?"

The three of them force fake laughter, sharing glances with each other.

"Has someone died?" I ask with urgency.

"No, no." Ashley shakes her head and waves her hand.

My mouth goes dry and I nod. "Okay," I mumble.

"It's about Everly," Meilin says.

Even though we're no longer friends, or better said as she didn't want me around her, the burst of worry leaves a sour taste in my mouth, and my heart thuds in a sluggish way. I inhale sharply, preparing myself for the worst.

"She's pregnant," Anushka announces.

And I relax from the sudden relief, my tense muscles going back to normal. I roll my eyes. "Seriously, what's wrong with you guys! You scared the fuck out of me," I grumble and roll my eyes. Crossing my arms in front of my chest I say, "Good for her." I lift my shoulders with indifference.

"She did a photoshoot, it's all over these famous Instagram news accounts... She's over eight months pregnant." Ashley softly says, her blue eyes never moving from me.

Eight months? She got pregnant in March? I tilt my head to one side.

Hell broke loose on my family in the last week of May and the first half of June. I chew my lip and shrug. She must've known she was pregnant and didn't tell me... but why? We were still friends at that time. I frown and clutch my elbows. "I really don't care what she does."

They share an uneasy glance with each other and I furrow my brows further.

Anushka opens and closes her mouth until suddenly Meilin says, "She's pregnant with Alex's baby."

The ground slips from underneath me and I stagger. "What?" I quaver as I back away from the semi-circle of my friends.

"Gracie," Anushka says, taking a step to me.

"What do you mean with Alex's baby? There are so many guys named Alex out there." I shake my head.

"They did the photoshoot together, Rae. It's the same Alexander Ramirez, your ex." Meilin calmly says.

Ashley shoots her a glare. "We weren't supposed to tell her like that," she hisses.

A breathy laugh stumbles out of me and I hug myself. He got her pregnant eight months ago? But he dumped me only a month and a half ago.

My mouth hangs open as I vacantly stare at the far distance.

A whirlwind of thoughts and emotions consumes me until it all stops. Suddenly everything halts and disappears. The feelings, the thoughts, everything. I go numb.

"Gracie," Anushka's voice brings me back to reality as she wraps her arm around me.

"We wanted to be the ones to tell you, so you wouldn't be alone when you find out," Ashley says.

Absent-minded, I nod, unable to focus on anything.

Worthless and stupid; these two words sum me up so perfectly.

How did I never notice? For how long had this been going on?

Did Olivia know? Why didn't she tell me?

The sickening truth sinks in, they were never truly my friends. They were with me because I was rich and tossed me aside the moment I wasn't.

Yet, I can't cry. No tears well up in my eyes. My heart aches. The life I used to love so much crumbles in front of me once again. All the memories I had from that time are now a bunch of lies.

"Hey-" Brian comes from the other side and stops in front of us, his smile falters as he takes me in and frowns. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I weakly say, nodding, and force a small smile.

He doesn't look convinced but enters the class without another word.

The girls hug me until I have to push them away. "I'm fine, really."

They stare at me as if contemplating if they should argue or not, thankfully they choose not to. The four of us re-enter the class and take our seats in the front row.

At least now I know why everyone was staring at me. For three years, at least once a month, Alex would have shown up here, to pick me up and drive me to the airport, ready for a new adventure and wild experiences. And he was never humble about it either. He took those opportunities to show off his fortune, and perhaps to remind other guys that were interested in me, who they would be going against if they ever wanted to make a move. 

Unfocused and detached, I take out my textbook and pens. My mind replays all the times, Everly, Olivia along with Alex, and I used to take my cruise to throw parties in the middle of the sea.

When did everything between the two start?

Is that why Alex stopped sleeping with me? Because he was with Everly and didn't want to cheat on her?

I start doodling on the corner of my notebook. His lack of interest in me made me so insecure, I began dieting and hitting the gym, hoping I'd become more attractive for him... guess it wasn't me all along.

But why did Everly do that? She was my best friend.

So many questions with no answers go round in my head. My mouth stays dry as I struggle to keep my posture upright, but it's like gravity has grown ten folds, pulling down my limbs with a force I can't fight.

By the time Wright walks into the class, my brain is as vacant as the black abyss of outer space. The infinite thoughts that clouded it, one by one vanished, leaving me empty and numb.

Wright teaches, and I try but fail at focusing and participating. Somewhere during the class, Anushka writes a small note and passes it to me. 'You okay?'

I read and reread it before giving her a single nod and a half-hearted smile.

Am I though? I have to be. I have to stay strong and fine.

But time slips away and I stay frozen and dazed at one point.

The class ends and I remain deprived of sensations. I notice Wright's lingering gaze on me as I head out of the class but I can't bring myself to care.

I plod away with the three girls tailing me.

"How about we go to your favorite coffee shop?" Ashley offers.

"Or maybe to one of your favorite restaurants?" Meilin suggests.

I hold back a bitter laugh. One of my favorite restaurants? I can't fucking afford to go there anymore.

The surge of anger is refreshing, anything's better than being numb, but I don't reflect it on the girls, they're just trying to help. So I suppress it and force a smile. "I want to go to the library. I need some time alone, but I'm fine trust me."

They frown and exchange worried looks but give in. "We're around here, call us if you need anything," Anushka says and hugs me.

They each embrace me for a moment before we part ways and I head to the library.

I go straight up to the second floor; to a secluded area I found a while ago, and settle behind a desk placed next to a small window near the ceiling.

I place my bag on the chair on my left and cross my arms atop the desk lay my head on my forearms, and gaze outside the window. The brilliant blue of the afternoon is the only thing visible.

The brightness hurts my eyes, but I keep on staring. The color reminds me of the time Alex and I went to his private island to celebrate our two years' anniversary. At that time, the sky was the same color.

Memories rush by me as I remain frozen in time. I try to feel, but I fail. I want to move, but my willpower neglects.

Am I fine?

I must be. If I won't be, there's no one to support me, to help me pull myself together. Perhaps, there never was anyone, but having the illusion of it was comforting.

My entire life has been a lie. My childhood best friend who asked me to be his prom date, who kissed me first, cheated on me, and then dumped me.

I remember it clear as a day, it was the morning of my midterm, Wright's midterm, Alex parked his shiny silver Ferrari before my apartment. As he climbed out of it, I strode outside of the building.

He was wearing a navy blue polo shirt and his preferred black sunglasses. I still feel stupid for how happy I got when I saw him, assuming he has shown up to wish me luck, to tell me we're going to work on our problems.

But how wrong I was.

He approached me, and the stupid girl I was, I grinned expecting the best.

"I can't anymore." That's how he started. Stupid, I know right.

I was stunned, at a loss for words.

The silence stretched between us. The wind blew, a gentle caress against his harsh words. He drove his hand through his hair. "You know how my dad is... he doesn't approve of us anymore, Rae. And let's face it, our worlds are miles apart now."

I couldn't point out how only four months ago I was richer than him, that I was a part of this life from the second I was born. How did four months pull our worlds apart and discarded me from their lives? But I stayed quiet.

"You know how it works, you don't hang out with people who are below you... I have a reputation to hold too. And you're family became the talk of the town for a while. I'm sorry, it's too much for me."

My family had gone bankrupt and it was too much for him.

"I'm sorry," he said again.

Thinking about it now, I doubt he was sorry. In fact, he must have been ecstatic to get rid of me.

Through the window, I spy a few dark grey clouds gathering. I sigh but don't move from my spot.

My mind goes blank and I'm embraced by numbness. Seconds, minutes, maybe even hours go by and I stay in the same position.

Until sudden rapping on the desk I've laid my arms and head on, startles me.

My gaze jumps to the source and locks with a pair of dark blue eyes behind black-framed glasses. I straighten myself, not believing what I'm seeing.

"Professor?"

∞ ∞ ∞

So... any thoughts about this chapter? About her ex and her ex bestfriends.

What are your thoughts on the flashback? (I've never done flashbacks like this one before, so I really don't know if it's good or not)

Well, it's pretty obvious, but prepare yourself for an entire chapter Gracie & Wright for the next update =) [which obviously will be uploaded tomorrow]

Thank you so much for reading this chapter, vote if you enjoyed!

Stay safe, lots of love, happy reading ^.^