Today Marek has been completely tightlipped about everything going on. Her big day is finally here, and she’s not quite sure how she feels about that. It feels so final. She knows her thinking sounds silly, but it’s like the minute you turn thirty, you can’t pretend anymore. You’re one hundred percent an adult, and there’s no going back. She has spent so much of her time dreading this day, but that’s just it—it’s just a day, one day out of the thousands that make up a life, and when she thinks of it that way, it sounds so insignificant.

About an hour ago, Marek picked Tinley up for a date. The only information he gave her beforehand was to wear something that makes her feel pretty. Not much is doing that these days since she feels so ready to pop, but Tara provided her with an adorable black maternity maxi dress, so she doesn’t feel completely disgusting, which is pretty much her constant state of feeling these days. Her belly has grown so large that she can’t even bend over to tie her shoes anymore, not that she would be able to put her shoes on since her feet have swelled up to twice their size. No, these days she’s pretty much rocking her flip-flops every day. Although, her sister helped her out in that department too with some pretty cute rhinestoned sandals. So at least, in their engorged state, her feet look adorable.

The first thing Tinley hears when they step foot into the very dark room is “Happy Birthday” by Altered Images. She can’t help the giant grin that covers her face and she leans into Marek. She steps up on her tippy toes and whispers into his ear, or at least where she thinks his ear is at, “What did you do?”

He squeezes his hold on her and whispers back, “I have no idea what you could be talking about.”

Before she gets the chance to say anything else, they’re suddenly surrounded by bright lights and everyone she knows jumps out of their hiding places to yell, “Surprise!”

Everyone but Dakota, that is. Tinley is instantly aware of the fact that her best friend is missing from the festivities, and the sting of the fight they had, digs deep into the pit of her stomach. Tinley and Dakota have been best friends since they were ten years old when Dakota moved to town halfway through the school year. She was super shy at first because she didn’t know anybody, and Tinley took it upon herself to become her brand new best friend. They’ve pretty much been inseparable ever since, and now that they’re not speaking, it feels like she’s missing a part of herself.

She doesn’t even know how to reach her. After she moved all of her stuff out of their apartment, she changed her phone number and completely disappeared. The whole situation still makes zero sense to Tinley. It’s not like Dakota even liked the job anyway. She always said it was just temporary until she got her career going—they both did—but something changed along the way, and Tinley can’t help but wonder why they both felt the need to keep secrets from each other. As much as it pains her to think it, maybe their friendship has just run its course and it’s nobody’s fault at all.

Luna takes off running and immediately Marek releases his hold on Tinley’s hand to chase after his young daughter. That little girl has her father wrapped around her tiny fingers and if only thing, it makes Tinley live him more. There’s just something special about the relationship between a father and daughter. With the excitement of the surprise wearing off, she finally has a chance to check out the room around her and Tinley’s hand flies up to her mouth as she releases a laugh.

Every single balloon in the room is black. In fact, every decoration in the room is black. The tables are covered with black tablecloths and the centerpieces are calla lilies. Guess Marek took her drama queen rant about mourning her twenties literally and gave her a birthday funeral celebration. Tinley starts walking toward where he’s dancing with Luna when suddenly the song changes and the Wedding March starts playing. She tops in her tracks and looks up at the speaker above her as if it will give her answers as to why this of all songs is currently playing. Marek seems equally confused as he walks over to a guy standing in front of a laptop and instantly the song changes to one of her favorite Fall Out Boy songs and she finds herself instantly singing along.

Tinley’s pleasantly amused as she starts walking to the corner of the room where they’re at. She’s pulled from her thoughts and her mission as someone comes up beside her and says, “I wanted to apologize to you for what happened when we first met.”

She’s shocked when she looks up and Marek’s sister, Giselle, is standing right next to her. Tinley has no idea what she could possibly be apologizing for, and the expression on her face must convey her confusion because Giselle continues speaking.

“Marek told me you thought we were together. I’ll admit I thought you might have a thing for him, and I wanted to test that. He’s my big brother, and I was starting to get tired of him being alone. It made sense at the time to try to make you jealous of his ‘relationship’, but obviously all I did was cause issues and create problems when you actually did get together. That wasn’t my intention at all.”

The whole scenario sounds weird and crazy, but Tinley just nods her head and accepts the apology. If there’s one thing she’s learned from Marek about his sister, it’s that she thrives off of drama, and since this woman is going to be in her life for the foreseeable future—and hopefully longer—she doesn’t see the point in making an issue out of this.

Nodding Tinley thanks Giselle for her apology and starts to continue walking when Tara walks up to them. “Hi, I’m Tara, Tinley’s sister.” She reaches her hand out toward Giselle and says, “And you are?”

Tinley has no idea what kind of game Tara’s trying to play because they both know that she knows exactly who Giselle is. In fact, she had a few choice words to say about her when they both thought she was Luna’s mom. Now that she knows the truth, Tinley thinks the whole thing is kind of hilarious.

Giselle reaches for Tara’s hand and daintily shakes it. “I’m Giselle, Marek’s sister. I think we met before.”

Tara’s mouth drops wide open and it’s only now that Tinley realizes that she forgot to mention that little detail to her sister. Oops. Her eyes go wide, and she shoots daggers at Tinley when she says, “Marek’s sister? Well isn’t that amazing. That explains why you’re here at my sister’s birthday party.”

This is certainly awkward. Tinley runs her hands down the front of her dress in an attempt to straighten nonexistent wrinkles. Any excuse for something to do other than stand here in the awkward uncomfortable silence of Tara’s creating. She finally looks up and both women are just looking at each other not saying a word. Awkward. She starts to step away unable to handle this any longer, besides it is her party after all she needs to mingle with the rest of the guests. Not like she even knows who Marek invited to this thing. It’s not like she is Miss Popularity, but there do seem to be a hell of a lot of people here.

Before she can take a step, Tara asks, “Tinley, who is Mr. Mancandy in the corner with your man?”

Her man? She cringes at that phrase. There’s just always been something about pet names that has peeved Tinley and Tara knows it. They irk her in the worst way possible. But the other part of what her sister asked her has her intrigued. Looking up, she does in fact see Marek in the corner of the room with some guy she’s never seen before. He’s playing around with a laptop, no doubt controlling the interesting variety of music being played tonight.

Giselle clears her throat and her voice is laced with venom as she says, “That arrogant asshole is Anders McKay. I don’t know why my brother wastes his time with that lowlife. Trust me, he’s not someone you want to get to know better.”

Without another word, Giselle stalks away in the opposite direction and swipes a glass of wine from a tray. She stares daggers toward the corner of the room and downs her drink before disappearing into the throngs of people.

Tara whistles looking from where Giselle was standing and back to where Marek and Anders are. “Holy shit. Did that just happen?”

Tinley nods her head furiously. “There is a story there and I am going to find out what it is. That is some juicy gossip for sure.”

“And when you do, make sure to tell me everything. It’s like a real life freaking soap opera.”

Tinley giggles as she walks away from her sister and toward her boyfriend. Maybe there’s a little excitement from this party after all. Who says turning thirty has to be all bad?