Prologue: Harbinger

O L I V I A

I bit the end of my pen as I stared at the screens in front of me. I had almost finished debugging the code but it kept reiterating the same error. Probably just a damned semicolon somewhere. I stared harder, scrolled down, and stared a bit more. I bit on the pen more harshly in frustration when I came up empty.

"That's my pen, Liv," I heard Brian say. I ignored him, scanning the document further. "Liv?"

"She's in the zone," Jane told him. "You won't get an answer out of her till she is finished."

"She's murdering my favorite pen in cold blood!" He protested.

"You should've thought of that before you gave her that. You've known her for-"

"Ha!" I muttered, tuning them out. I dropped the pen from my mouth and it clattered on my desk. Now I knew what was wrong. Apparently, you can't just use the variable without declaring it in the first place. Eh, who would've thought? I added the variable declaration, saved, pressed F5, and voila! Compiled with zero errors. "Now that's what I'm talking out baby." I swiveled in my chair, suddenly joyous. Two pairs of inquisitive and questioning eyes met mine.

"Shut up," I told them.

"Nobody said anything," Brian deadpanned.

"Yeah, but you're thinking it so loud it's annoying." I rolled my eyes with a half smile. "I know I'm crazy, you don't have to tell that every few hours."

"Hun," he humphed. "Are you done with that program?"

I looked at him blankly.

"Yeah, you are." He faced his screens. "Email me your progress. You too, Jane. I need to send our reports for this week by this evening."

"Aye aye, boss." She gave him a mock salute he didn't see. I chuckled.

I wordlessly got back to work. I had a lot of things to do. I had just finished debugging the program I had been working on for a week along with other things. My desk board was still full of post-it notes goading me to pick up more pending tasks. Work was endless.

I sighed deeply and saved my program. I pushed it to the cloud and switched the tabs to where my mail was open. I deftly typed out my week's progress in a new draft and CCed Jane, quickly sending it to Brian.

"Check your inbox," I told him, not moving my eyes from the screens.

"That was fast." Brian hummed approvingly when his desktop pinged with the notification just as I finished speaking. "Jane, I'm still waiting for yours."

"Oh, shut it," she replied. Anyone could hear the light scowl in her words. "I'm on it."

Brian just exhaled loudly. I pressed my lips together to hold in a laugh.

My phone chimed with a notification. I ignored it, plucking the post-it with my finished task and throwing it in the dustbin under my desk. I chose a new task and tacked it where the old one was.

My phone chimed again. And again. And again.

Who had suddenly remembered that I was alive?

"Who's that?" Jane asked curiously. She was aware of how little life the three people occupying the room had.

"I'd like to know that too," I muttered, picking up my phone which had still not shut up. I unlocked it and quickly scanned the notifications. I had apparently been added to a new WhatsApp group titled 'Surprise'. I felt my eyebrows pucker as I went through the description.

"Got yourself a new boyfriend, did you Liv?" Brian asked teasingly.

"Don't be ridiculous, Brian." Jane shook her head. "She is frowning."

"Might be a lover's spat." I saw him shrug in the periphery of my vision.

"With a new boyfriend?" I looked up to see Jane roll her eyes. "Only you would think that. You don't know anything about girls or relationships, do you?"

"I know enough," Brian huffed.

"Tell that to your lonely single ass," she scoffed.

He rolled his eyes at the jab. "Like you know much!"

"Of course I do!"

"Yeah?" He challenged. "Where's your boyfriend then?"

"You-" she sputtered, turning red. "You infuriating piece of shit."

Brian laughed. "Clever response," he mocked. "I'm impressed."

"You're a dick."

Brian shrugged carelessly. Jane opened her mouth to spew out a new insult but I interrupted before it escalated.

"As amusing it is to watch almost thirty-year-olds bicker like sophomores," I said, eyeing the pair with as much amusement in my eyes as I could muster. "How is this relevant?"

When I got embarrassed expressions in answer, I proceeded to continue.

"That is my high school friends," I told them, looking down at the live moving chat on my phone. I skim-read through the latest messages. "They're planning a reunion because one of our batchmates is flying back to the USA for a few days."

At their slightly confused and curious looks, I elaborated, "Aarti. She is an Indian, but her family is settled in New York. She had moved to India after high school to study medicine. She's visiting for a few weeks before returning there for her post-graduation program. She won't be coming back for another three or so years once she leaves and hence all of them want to have a reunion now."

Brian and Jane exchanged a look. "That doesn't make sense at all," they expressed simultaneously.

"I'm aware," I replied dryly. I bought my eyes down on my phone to notice the group name had changed from 'Surprise!' to 'Surprise - Batch of 20XX Reunion this August!" The group was buzzing with activity and people had already started RSVPing.

For God's sake, the date and venue had not even been announced yet!

As if on queue, Lena Holmes sent a bloody big message in. While I struggled to remember her, I examined it and quickly deduced that she had planned all this along with her husband and Aarti a long time ago. The venue and dates were mentioned. My mouth dropped open.

"Liv are you even lis- what? What is it?" Jane tried to look over my shoulder. Her eyes landed on the words on my screen and her mouth formed an 'o' identical to mine as it sunk in.

"What the fuck?" She uttered.

"What?" Brian asked despite his evident reluctance.

I threw him my phone and he caught it and read the text that had rendered me and Jane speechless. He looked up with wide eyes mirroring ours.

"You're going," he stated. "I don't fucking care what you have to say, you are going."

I didn't reply.

"C'mon Liv, everyone seems to be coming," he said. He passed me the phone back. "The beach will be good for you."

Tempting. I would be crazy if I didn't find it tempting.

But.

I shook my head. "No."

"What?" Jane exclaimed. "Have you fucking lost it?"

"You know I'm not a people person," I said.

"Yeah, but they're your people!"

"No," I chuckled, "They're not."

"Weren't you like a cheerleader?" Brian asked with a smirk.

I narrowed my eyes at him in a challenge and a warning. "I was. So?"

"So, everyone is your 'people'," he said with air quotes around the last word.

Jane laughed. "Or maybe it was her who was everyone's person."

I glared at them. "Neither."

"You're crazy," Jane declared. "I give up."

"I've got important work to attend to," Brian added. "I still think you should go, but it's up to you."

"Good," I huffed, getting back to the thousands of tasks I had at hand.

* * * * *

Griffin and I were sitting together in the living room of our apartment with his boyfriend George. Samantha had joined us through discord and we were all just sitting and chatting together. I was cautious and less involved than usual that day. I knew Sam and Griff knew about the reunion because seen them in the group.

Not to mention, a while after that I'd also spotted their RSVPs.

Traitors.

"So you're coming, right?" Samantha asked, proving me right. I assumed that the pleasantries were over.

"Isn't it too early to do this?" I deflected. "It's barely been six years."

"Didn't you see the group? Aarti will be in town then!" She told me patiently.

"I didn't even know her that well," I said, shrugging with nonchalance.

I saw her patience slip through her fingers gradually. "It's our reunion," she enunciated, donning a creepy smile that I loved to elicit from her. "And I am stoked. Now, are you coming?"

I pressed my lips together to keep a laugh from bursting out. "Tell your face that."

"Liv!" She hissed.

I chuckled. "Hmm, maybe."

"What the hell?" Griffin hit me on the shoulder, joining the party. Yeah, why don't you, bitch? "You have to!"

"What's the point?" I questioned, lolling my head back and staring at the ceiling. "It's just a stupid reunion."

I heard both of them gasp dramatically.

"Stupid? It's our high school reunion, bitch!" Sam screeched. I imagined she would jump out of the frigging laptop to strangle me for saying such obscene words if it were in her power.

"Everyone has RSVPed but us," Griffin added helpfully.

"You are coming," Sam declared. "We'll drag you there if we have to."

I closed my eyes with a groan. "But-"

"No buts," she snapped. "You. Are. Coming."

I sat up with a whine, making a strangled noise at the back of my throat. I walked up to George who was watching the drama unfold from the loveseat and sat down on his lap. He welcomed me with an amused smile, letting me curl up to him. Griffin glared at me and I stuck a tongue out at him, smiling cheekily.

"Help me out, here, G," I complained, wrapping my arms around his neck. He laughed, knowing exactly what I was doing. He played along, patting my head with brotherly love.

Griffin's eyes followed his hands. His eyebrows came together and his lips formed a pout. His eyes paused at my teasing face and then finally settled on my arms.

"Okay, that's enough," Griffin protested. "Hands off my man, young lady."

"I'm good," I said lazily. George chuckled.

That's why he's my favorite. Ha!

"Sorry, Liv. I think you should go to this thing too," he said.

You just got yourself demoted, you insolent mortal.

I gasped. "You too, Georgie?"

He winced at the nickname. "Please don't call me that."

"Please don't make me go," I bargained.

He looked at Griffin for help, but the easily-made-jealous Griffin was distracted. I smirked internally.

"Fine," George sighed in defeat. "I won't get myself involved in this."

"I love you!" I kissed his cheek. I lowered my voice and spoke in his ear, "How red is he?"

"Tomato," he replied, matching my tone. "Actually, scratch that. It's chili."

I laughed. "Ah, I think that's enough torture for today."

He released me and I quickly climbed off him. Griffin was quick to replace me, which was hilarious because he was bigger than G, who didn't complain at all. I smiled, grabbing my phone and snapping a picture. They looked adorable.

"Just because you incapacitated one and manipulated the other, don't think you're getting out of this." Sam scowled at me. "I am still alive."

Pity.

"I'd never." I placed a hand over my heart. She glared and I grinned mischievously again.

"It's in LA, you idiot." Sam rubbed her forehead tiredly.

"I know," I replied. "I'm in the group, remember?"

"So you know that Lena's husband owns the four-star resort they have organized it in? And that they're giving us flat fifty off?"

"Lena Holmes, right?" I asked. "What was her maiden name? Or is that it? I can't remember her."

Sam sighed deeply. "Lena Smith. She was on the cheer squad, Liv. Brown eyes, blonde hair."

"Ahh, I do remember!" I nodded. "She briefly had a fling with Josh, right?"

"It was a summer thing," she dismissed.

I hummed. "I see. When did she get married?"

"Last summer," Griffin rejoined the conversation. I truly thought he wouldn't recover this fast. Maybe I was using George's bi nature against him way too often. Hun. I made a mental note to figure out another chink in his armor that would disable him out of a conversation for a few minutes in a crucial situation like now. And soon.

"Ah, the honeymoon phase." I grimaced, returning to our conversation.

"Shut up," Sam reprimanded. "It will be cute."

"Meh." I inspected my unruly nails. "I'm still not coming."

"Why?"

I was tempted to say, cuz I don't want to, but knowing the people around me that wouldn't do me much good.

"Because." I paused, trying to phrase it right. I opened my mouth hesitatingly. "I read that invite. It says bring your partners."

"So?"

"I don't want to third wheel," I said. "Or rain on those lovey-dovey couples' parades with my cross mood. You know I hate romance. It makes me sick."

Griffin pinched my arm brutally.

When did he even get up?

"Fuck you!" I cursed, jumping away and rubbing the sore spot. "That hurt, you knucklehead."

"Olive, I love you, but just because your ass has been single for like forever doesn't mean that you keep shading us couples."

"I'm not shading you," I defended.

"I hate romance. It makes me sick," he mimicked.

I rolled my eyes. "That's not how I sound."

"You can't stand couples," he deadpanned, not taking the bait.

"False. I hang out with you guys all the time."

He raised an eyebrow. "You try to get out of it every time you can."

"Well, excuse me for giving you your space." I threw my hands up in exasperation.

"We haven't hung out together properly since George and I started dating," he articulated. "It's either me or him. Rarely all three of us together."

"We went out for dinner last week." I bit my lip nervously.

"Only because you were out of excuses," George spoke. I looked at him with a look that said, 'not you too' and he lifted a shoulder sheepishly. I squirmed the urge to say 'it's okay'. The damage couldn't be reversed.

"Stop ganging up on me," I protested instead.

"They're not ganging up on you, Liv," Sam inputted. "They care about you. I do, too. Sweetie, just talk to us."

I scrunched up my nose."Are you seriously using the mommy voice on me right now?"

"You're acting like a kid." She raised an eyebrow. "So, yes."

"You guys make it sound like I have a problem." I rolled my eyes heavenward.

"You were the most romantic person I knew in High School," Griffin said.

"I was a lot of other things," I countered. "I don't see you bringing those up."

"We're talking about this." He narrowed his eyes at me. "I miss my best friend."

"Things were different in high school," I said. "And you don't have to miss me. I'm right here. I'll always be there whenever you need me."

"I know you are," he said. "You were the first to know about me being gay for a reason."

I laughed. "Griff, love, I knew you were gay way before that."

"Whatever," he grumbled, probably remembering how him 'coming out' to me went.

"Also, you still need to tell your parents that I'm not your girlfriend," I reminded him, grabbing my chance and changing the topic.

"I'll tell them," he said vaguely, successfully getting distracted. "Soon."

"They love you, Griff." I frowned. Maybe I shouldn't have bought it up. "This will not change things. They're not like that."

"I know, I'm just scared," he admitted. George patted his shoulder comfortingly.

"Don't be," I said softly. "You are still you."

"I know. But I don't want risk to lose them," he voiced. Looking at the fear and uncertainty on his face, I sorely regretted changing the topic.

A silence fell over the room.

"You'll be fine, babe." George kissed Griff. I turned away back to Sam, giving them a moment.

"What are you cooking tonight?" I asked her quietly to make conversation.

"Spaghetti and meatballs," she said.

"Yum." I sighed. "I'm probably having fruit loops."

"That's breakfast." She glowered.

"Tell my lazy ass that. The guys are going on a date."

"Oops." She wrinkled her nose almost sympathetically.

I deflated. "I know."

"You know," she began hesitatingly. "Kaison can't make it if that is what is holding you back." Still trying to convince me, I see. I won't lie, though. I knew he wasn't coming. He hasn't RSVPed. "He has a game."

"Hmm?" I traced patterns on the tabletop. "I thought you said everyone but us had RSVPed."

She ignored my comment. "Will you come?"

"I'll think about it." I shrugged non-committally.

"Olive," Griff called. Apparently, George's kisses had some magical healing powers in them because Griffin seemed back to normal. While I loved that he was no longer depressed, I didn't particularly like how he was steering the conversation to what seemed to be leading me to my impending doom. "Back to you."

I nodded innocently. "Fruit loops."

"Hun?" He questioned, puckering his brows. "Never mind," he shook his head, "We are talking about you."

"No, we're talking about dinner," I said patiently.

"Liv," Sam scolded.

"Nice try, missy." Griffin glared.

I deflated, chagrined.

"I hate you guys," I mumbled like a child in timeout.

"We can live with that, honestly," Griffin said airily.

"I feel so cherished," I said sarcastically.

"No harm done, then."

I glared at him.

"You're coming," he said. "And that is final."

I pursed my lips in defeat. It didn't look like I was getting out of that thing, at least right then.

Well, we have some time. I'm sure I can still get out of it.

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

A/N: Heyy! If you're new here, welcome to this story! If not, welcome back!

I have put a lot of effort to edit this and rewrite the start to make this story more interesting. Better than it had been before. I hope you guys will like it.

Let me know your thoughts, I wanna hear them!

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QOTD: What is your favorite childhood memory?

Until next time!

All my love,
Vaish.