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AMELIA

“You have everything all packed, anak?” my mom calls out from the living room as I finish packing my suitcase.

After graduating college last year with my marketing degree, I landed a full-time job offer in San Francisco as a social media analyst. I’ve been staying at my parents’ house while I was working but after some time, I realized I miss Los Angeles way too much and needed to move back.

I asked one of my best friends, Maya, who works at a PR agency if they had an opening, and luck was on my side for once because a position opened up last month.

She put in a good word for me, and next thing you know I got a phone call a few weeks later for a virtual interview, it went well, and now I’m packing up all my things to start over.

“Yeah!” I grunt, rolling my High School Musical luggage into the hallway with one hand, holding my hoodie in the other. “Remind me why I didn’t buy a new suitcase? This is so embarrassing.”

My dad meets me at my doorway, laughing as he takes the suitcase from my hands. “Embarrassing? Come on, you love that old thing.”

I stare at him, slipping the hoodie over my head. “Yeah, when I was thirteen.”

“Because you said, and I quote ‘I’m only taking one flight, I don’t need to buy a whole new one’,” my mom mimics me in a high pitch tone, poking her head out, using dramatic air quotes.

“Okay well, I regret saying that,” I deadpan. “You should’ve forced me like a normal parent.”

An hour later, my parents drop me off at the airport, pulling me to the side of the entrance.

“Call us as soon as you land,” my dad instructs.

My mom exhales a deep breath, pulling us all into one big hug. “We’ll miss you so much.”

“I’ll see you soon.” I chuckle, hugging them even tighter. “Love you guys.”

After that heartwarming goodbye, I do a little wave and roll my suitcase inside, heading toward the check-in as I mentally brace myself for TSA.

“Take your laptops and electronics out of the bag!” the man blares and it echoes all around. There is no reason why we should be getting yelled at this early in the morning.

As I wait in the long line, I can’t help but smile thinking about my best friends. Even though it’s only been a year, it feels like ten. I haven’t gone this long without seeing them, especially Caleb.

He was drafted to his dream team, the LA Vipers, right after college. Football kept him super busy, and that was around the time I moved away, so we haven’t kept in touch all that much. We’ve been texting and calling, but the responses between us slowed...eventually faded.

The one person I don’t miss and most definitely am not looking forward to seeing is my ex-boyfriend Jared. He was supposed to visit me last year but I found out he had cheated on me three days prior to me moving.

What an asshole.

After we had dinner one night, I waited for him to get out of the shower. I crawled into bed and his phone lit up on the nightstand.

Now I know what you’re thinking…don’t check his phone if you trust him, right?

Well, I wasn’t going to look at first but the screen stayed on long enough for my eyes to move on their own accord. I couldn’t help myself after that. When I picked up his phone, my heart started to pound in my ears, throbbing.

He texted her four hours ago that he was at dinner with me. Her reply is still engraved into my brain.

Hurry up with her and come over later. I know she doesn’t make you feel as good as I do.

I scrolled up a few messages, and there was another…

I miss you, when are you coming over?

I kept scrolling for what felt like hours. All the messages went back and forth for an entire month.

An entire month of pure lies and disrespect.

It felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice-cold water over my head, washing away the reality I once knew. I physically couldn’t move, couldn’t cry. I just sat there, tears streaming down my cheeks. Completely numb.

It’s funny how I always saw him as my life jacket, the one who’d keep me afloat. But in the end, he was the one who made me sink instead.

The last thing I remember was yelling “fuck you”, grabbing all my things and storming out.

Was our relationship a little rocky that year? Yes. But that’s no excuse for what he did to me, when he could’ve talked to me instead of going behind my back. I thought he would have the decency to respect me even a little, but I was wrong.

That year away from everyone helped me move on faster, even though it still hurts to think about. We were together since freshman year of college, four years of my life, down the drain in a matter of seconds.

After going through TSA easily, I grab my luggage off the ramp, slipping my shoes back on, zigzagging through the crowded airport to find my terminal.

My phone dings, and I fish it out of my pocket, seeing a text from the group chat named:

BADDEST BITCHES

All thanks to Maya.

Tia

Have a safe flight, noon right?

Yes, please don’t be late.

Tia

I’m driving, not Maya.

Maya

I was late one time and that was in college, relax. I’m a mature woman.

We only graduated a year ago.

Maya

Exactly. I’ve grown a lot since then.

After boarding the plane, I gathered my curls into a loose bun and half an hour later after our flight took off, my stomach was filled with ginger ale and pretzels.

Perfect flight combo.

It lands at exactly twelve fifteen and the chime from the seatbelt sign goes off. I wait for everyone to stand up before even attempting to get off because I’m not exactly in the mood to have my body smashed between people.

Los Angeles airport is packed, as expected and I maneuver my way through, hastily walking over to the pickup area, dragging my suitcase behind me, getting a few stares. I spot their grey Mazda right away.

“Oh Gabriella,” Maya singsongs from outside the window, my cheeks instantly flushing.

“Must you be so loud?” I let out a tight laugh, rolling my luggage across the graveled ground.

“I’ve missed you!” She jogs over, pulling me into a crushing hug.

“Missed you too. It feels so good to be back.”

Tia calls out from the driver's seat, popping the trunk. “Ah, hey!”

I place my luggage into the trunk and slide into the backseat. “Hey! So what are our plans later, I know you guys already have them.”

“You’d be correct.” Maya grins, peering over her seat, looking directly at me. “Wear something hot.”

Night out it is.

Later that night, the club is packed with sweaty bodies swaying on the dance floor as I sip my champagne, chatting with a guy I met at the bar. He’s pretty cute. Blonde buzz cut, amber eyes, and a scar slashing through his left eyebrow.

“Wanna go back to my place?” he smirks, flashing me a look that screams fuckboy. “We could have a real good time.”

You know, I used to be a hopeless romantic until Jared shattered that. Now, it feels like I’m cursed because every guy I could possibly see myself getting to know ruins it the second he opens his mouth.

We’ve been talking for only ten minutes, if that, and he’s already asking me to hookup?

“I’d rather stay here.” I force out a chuckle, sipping my drink again to avoid eye contact.

He slides his hand across the bar table, resting it on mine. The sudden contact makes me want to retreat.

“Why, you got a boyfriend?” he asks, cocking a brow.

My gaze lowers down to his hand and my body stiffens.

Tan line. On his ring finger. Oh come on, how unoriginal.

I hate men.

This is exactly why I don’t bother trying anymore. It’s always the same thing. I don’t know if I’ll ever find a man who actually knows the concept of love and commitment.

Am I being pessimistic? Yes. Will I change? Probably not.

I don’t understand. What’s the point of being in a relationship if all you’re going to do is cheat anyway? You might as well stay single instead of making others suffer with your poor choices. I’ve had enough.

I jerk my hand back from underneath his as if it were burning my flesh and grab my phone off the table. “I’m sure your wife won’t be too happy about that.” Emphasis on the word wife.

I don’t normally like confrontation but this guy is testing my patience.

His eyes go round and he quickly shoves his hands into his pockets, like I haven’t already seen the tan line. He rises from his seat, stepping closer and I don’t move. “I know what it looks like, and?—”

“So you’re not a cheating asshole who has a wife back at home then?” I cut him off, my arms folding across my chest, a sharp edge to my voice.

He deflates, shoulders sagging. “She… um,” he splutters, rubbing the nape of his neck like he’s trying to gather some more courage to lie to me again. “I plan on divorcing her soon.”

That’s the most cliche sentence I’ve ever heard in my life.

I roll my eyes and turn on my heels, not bothering to listen to his lame excuse as I head back toward the girls.

“Blondie was a no go.” I shake my head, slipping back into the booth, resting my head against the plush.

Turning, Maya’s eyes turn violent as she scans the bar like she could punch someone, her long jet-black hair flowing over her shoulders. She wore dark kohl liner, accentuating her almond shaped hazel eyes, paired with a burgundy mini dress. “Do I have to kill him?”

“No but I’m sure his wife will one day.” I lift my left hand, tapping on my ring finger. “Married.”

“He was ugly anyways,” Tia scoffs, grabbing her glass of water, because she’s our designated driver for tonight.

I snicker, leaning forward and resting my chin in my hand. “I just don’t get men.”

Tia scoffs, brushing her wispy bangs out of her face. “They’re the worst.”

“Except Amir,” Maya and I say in unison as we snap our gaze to her.

She looks at us over the rim of her glass, hiding her smile.

Amir is her high school sweetheart turned fiancé. Tia and I have known him since sophomore year of high school when he joined our honors English class.

They’re officially getting married later in September. Destination wedding in the Bahamas.

He’s an amazing man but I’ll forever hate him for being related to my ex.

Oh, did I forget to mention that?

Yeah. Jared and Amir are cousins. Lucky me. Now I’m stuck with him.

My mom keeps insisting I bring a date to the wedding, but that’s simply not happening. I’m so over the disappointment that comes with men and I don’t have the energy in me anymore to entertain it.

I thought I could handle it, but after tonight? It’s just too draining. I’ll stick to the occasional flirting when I’m in the mood. Anything even remotely close to serious? Off the freaking table.

“Is he meeting us here or back at the house later?” I ask.

She glances at me, hesitant. “I was going to invite him and Caleb, but I didn’t want them to intrude.”

“No, no, it’s totally fine!” I wave her off.

I love hanging around those guys, it always feels like we’re all back in school again.

She nods, reaching into her clutch. “I’ll text them.”

Looks like I’ll be seeing Caleb sooner than I thought.