Hey everyone!! I hope you're doing well. (:
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"Are you sure this is the best idea?" Jo asked as I stared at the millions of messages between Luke and I about our date this afternoon from a burner phone she had lent me. 

"What about it?" I shrugged. "I'm just going on one date with a guy I might like."

"I don't know," She said, looking off to the side of her bed, "I may have acted like it didn't matter last night, but I was tired. Kristina, I mean it when I say Hero really doesn't like this guy. You could hurt someone's feelings."

God. Why did my best friend always have to have a good point? 

"What about your feelings?" I retorted. "Niall and Hero worked together to make you look like a joke."

"They may have," Josephine admitted, "but I've made my own peace with what happened. I really did like him, but one day he'll realize what he did was wrong and hopefully he'll treat his next girlfriend better. Hero on the other hand... he has his reasons why he does what he does. It's normal for him." 

Wait. Jo didn't know about what happened to him at a young age, did she? 

"You shouldn't waste your breath either." Josephine went on. "Let it go. You don't need to get back at him, or whatever."

"He did a lot of things with and to me," I said, "I can't let it go. There are just some things people shouldn't get away with." 

Jo sighed, knowing she lost this fight.  

"Fine. Where is Luke taking you anyway?"

"Some glitzy place," I replied looking down at the texts, "he told me to find something fancy to wear, but... well... you know what I own."

"What are you going to do about it?"

I sighed. "I may have to stop by the fraternity and ask someone for help."

Josephine raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you worried that his ex will be there? If I remember correctly, she didn't take too kindly to thinking you and Luke were... in relations..."

"I guess I'll have to be stealthy." I paused, trying to jut my bottom lip in a sympathetic frown. "Do you think you could...?"

"Do you need a ride?" Jo asked, sounding unenthusiastic. 

I nodded silently, causing her to force a smile I knew was fake. I felt bad for all the times I demanded rides from her.

At this point, she was my private chauffeur.

On top of all this, her parents were now helping me with the payments of my dorm fee. 

I was the worst best friend ever. 

"Come on," Josephine said, immediately grabbing her keys. 

I wasn't sure what to expect when we got to the fraternity house, but calmness wasn't one thing. The lawn looked freshly cut and the neighborhood was as silent as could be.

Josephine followed me as I made my way to the front door and knocked. 
Much to my relief, Ellie hadn't answered. A random girl in a crop-top and denim shorts greeted me excitedly. 

"Hey, I was wondering if I could speak to Annie?"

"Yeah, sure," The girl closed the door for a brief moment, shrieking Annie's name, then opened it once more, presenting her.

"Here you go."

After she ran off and we were all left alone, Annie smiled. 

"Hey, what's up?"

"I need to ask a favor," I begged. "I have a date tonight and I don't have anything to wear."

Annie peeked around the door to make sure no one was listening. 

"Is it true you're going out with Luke?"

I gasped. "How...?"

"Oh!" Annie giggled. "Everyone on campus has heard about it. Usually, when Luke is excited about something, he lets everyone know. No judgment here."

At once Annie grabbed ahold of my arm, pulling me inside. 

"Is Ellie here?" I hissed as we were led up a flight of stairs. 

"Heavens, no. She went out for a coffee."

When we finally entered a large bedroom with lots of posters and pop music playing on the radio, I eyed a closet that was set wide open. My eyes caught onto a few sparkling scraps shimmering from a corner. 

"So what are you looking for?" Annie asked, fingering a few hangers.

"Something flashy." I said.

As Annie flicked through all her clothes, Josephine's phone buzzed in my pants pocket. Thinking the worst of who it could be, I eyed the unknown number, picking up. 

"Hello?" I answered, causing Josephine to look. 

"Is.... this... Kristina...?" A feeble, but familiar voice asked. 

"This is she." I replied, utterly confused. 

"I'm sorry about last time." The obvious woman from the other end said. "I'm much more stable now. I'm so glad to talk to my daughter-" 

"Mother?" I interrupted, taken aback. Why did she sound so weird? 

"Yes. It's me. We never really met. But your father wants to see you."

I instantly remembered the dead-beat my mother referred to. 

"Who the hell is this?" I demanded. "How the hell do you know about my father? You are not my mother!" 

"No, you don't understand!" The woman tried to argue. "There's a lot of things-"

"Look." I snapped. "My parents have a lot of money. I don't know if you were paid by my sperm donor to contact me, but I will give you a chance to leave me alone. If you don't I can promise you'll be in trouble. Goodbye." 

Pressing down on the end button, I stood in the middle of the room, nearly running out of breath. I felt furious, unable to control my anger. The mention of my father enraged me.
 
How dare he, after all this time, contact me. What was the difference now? 
Whatever he wanted, he wasn't going to get it. 

"Are you alright?" Jo asked, approaching me apprehensively. 

I saw Annie look at me with pity.

I shook my head, not wanting to think about the call. 

"Yeah. It's nothing. Someone just called me on your phone."

"That's strange." Jo said.

Yes. It was strange indeed.

What do you all think about everyone contacting Kristina on a whim?

Weird right??

Love you all