"But weren't you like, totally obsessed with him?" one of Madison's friends asked.

"Didn't you rip out poor Olive's hair because she asked him to go on a study date with her?" another girl asked.

​​

"Oh my god, do you remember the poem?" laughed one of the boys.

"Marco wasn't anything special," Catherine said coolly. "Just a high school crush. Besides, you all seem to think I'm a different person now. But just because I'm wearing a sundress doesn't mean I've forgotten how to teach you all a lesson, okay? So shut the hell up."

The students fell silent. She had gotten into fights with enough of them for them to know better than to test her. Most of those fights had landed her in the dean's office with suspensions and detentions. She didn't want to fight her old classmates, but she also didn't want to sit around and listen to them talk about Marco.

She took a sip of her tonic water and sighed. The sweet water was lukewarm, and the glass looked smudged and dirty. She put it down on the table and looked around at her classmates. The girls shot her furtive glares, and many whispered among themselves. She knew they were excited to learn that Marco was back on the market. Too bad he's in Africa, she thought.

Throughout her time at school, she'd gotten into fights with at least half the girls in her grade because they had flirted with Marco. Or because she'd thought they were flirting with Marco.

After a few months of hair pulling, scratching, and full-scale punches, a lot of the girls had started to stop and run the other direction whenever they'd seen her coming.

She shook her head to rid herself of the memories and looked at Sophia. She wanted to ask her friend to leave, but Sophia was engrossed in a conversation with two boys and a girl. She was smiling and laughing. Her eyes were bright, and her face looked completely carefree. One of the boys offered to get her another cider, and she agreed without hesitation.

Catherine sighed. If she got up and left alone, she'd look weak and defeated. But she didn't want to stay. She took another sip of the tonic water and reached for her phone in her purse.

"Catherine, what's that on your finger?" Madison's friend asked.

"Wait, you guys still don't know?" Madison asked. "Well, I guess the secret is out of the bag now. Catherine didn't just break up with Marco because we all graduated. She broke up with Marco because she got married."

"What?" the girl shrieked. "You're married? Like married?"

"No way," one of the boys said, looking terribly disappointed.

She sighed and raised her hand, so the huge diamond on her finger twinkled in the light. "It's true," she said with a small smile. "I'm married."

"No way, when?" one of the girls asked.

"So quickly?" added another.

"And so young?" echoed a third.

"Hey, how come we weren't invited to the wedding?" joked one of the guys.

"It all happened so fast," she said vaguely. "But hey, to make up for it, the next round here is on me. Order anything you like, okay?"

A roar of excitement went up among the boys, and half of them stampede toward the bar, filling the place with the sound of scraping chairs, stomping feet, and loud voices. The girls were quieter. They stared at Catherine as if she were some sort of foreign species.

"Well," one finally said. "I can't imagine being married so young—chained to one man for all your life. And just before college? I'd feel totally suffocated."

"I think it's kind of romantic," said another. "You know my parents were high school sweethearts, and they got married right at 19—they couldn't be happier with each other."

"It's one thing to be high school sweethearts," said the first girl, taking a sip of her beer. "But that would mean Marco. How long have you ever known this guy, Catherine?"

"Wait for a second," snickered Madison's friend. "I just realized she's drinking tonic water. Catherine drinking tonic water? Ridiculous right! I think she must be pregnant."

"That would explain the quick marriage," agreed another.

"You guys know I'm right here, right?" Catherine interrupted. "If there's something you want to know, why don't you just ask me?"

"Show us the ring again," said a nice, mousy-haired girl. She flashed Catherine a shy smile, and Catherine found herself flooded with warmth for the girl's kind gesture. She lifted her hand and placed it in the middle of the table. The girls all bent forward to look at the ring.

"Bloody hell, that's a huge rock," said Madison's friend.

"Oh don't you know," Madison sneered. "Her husband is absolutely loaded. The ring is nothing. You should see his estate and his cars. How can a poor boy like Marco even measure up to that?"

"So he's got money, but what about looks," laughed one of the girls.

"You're so shallow, Melissa," Madison said. "What do looks matter compared to a kind heart? He's such a kind man—he almost takes care of her like a daughter."

The girls' eyes got big, and a few were bold enough to snicker.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" one of the girls asked.

"Did you marry your sugar daddy?" another sneered.

"No wonder Marco went abroad so quickly," said another. "He must be devastated."

"He must be heartbroken," said another, pressing her hand over her own heart. "Imagine you date someone, and they suddenly leave you to get married to an old rich man."

"Don't talk about things you know nothing about," Sophia said.

Catherine smiled gratefully at her friend. Sophia looked around the table, her eyes fierce and bright, and the other girls stopped talking. They weren't afraid of Sophia, but they respected and liked her.

"How can I be talking nonsense," Madison said. "Cathy is practically my sister, and I was at the wedding."

Catherine turned to Madison, "That's right, you were there. But you're keeping secrets now too? Would you guys believe that she tried to steal my wedding dress? She's totally obsessed with my husband and thought she could trick him into marrying her."

"I didn't do that," Madison said.

The girls laughed and whispered amongst themselves.

"Hey, listen to me," Madison shouted. "I said I didn't do that, okay? Why would you believe her over me?"

"Admit it, Madison, you're in love with him," Catherine said. "After all, he's only six years older than us and charming and accomplished and handsome."

"Why don't you ask your husband to come?" one of the girls suggested, slurring her words slightly.

"Yes, if he's as charming and handsome as you say, we want to see him," said another.

"Or more like we want to see the old geyser she married," snickered another.

"This isn't his type of event," she said.

"Coward," laughed one of the girls.

"Liar," said another.

"Just invite him in for one quick drink," said a girl. "If he's as hot as you say, we promise to keep our hands off."

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

Dearest Lovies,

Let me greet you all, Happy Valentines Day. Today, I decided to give a mass release as part of this special heart day. I hope everyone will have a great Valentines' celebration with your loved ones.

I knew the past few uploaded chapters for this novel were a bit depressing and frustrating, but let me remind you not to take it to your heart. This one was only a product of my wild imagination and a part of the entertainment, neither a fact at all.

Rest assured, the couple will learn this past event, cherish each other, and build a better relationship. In reality, every dire circumstance teaches us a great lesson. There's no perfect human being, and every mistake we've made will serve us as a stepping stone to grow mature.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! Have a great weekend!

Love lots,

Anna Shannel Lin