“What’s wrong with you?” My brother was looking at me suspiciously, and I was worried that he knew about us.

“What are you talking about? Nothing’s wrong with me.”

“You’re,” he pointed up at my face, “all smiley and shit.”

“I’m just happy, that’s all.” I shrugged my shoulders.

“Uh huh.”

I could have told him the truth. I could have told him that I had just had the best night of my life with his best friend, but I wasn’t that stupid.

“Is it because graduation is tomorrow? Nothing really changes except you don’t have to go to school.” He leaned his head against the back of the couch and changed the channel on the TV.

I hadn’t even thought about graduation until he just mentioned it. I had been so distracted by Parker that I really hadn’t thought about much else. I hadn’t even decided where I was going to go to school. I had received a scholarship to the University of Tennessee and another to the University of Georgia.

But Parker made my decision easy. There was no way that I was going to leave him to go to Georgia. There was nothing that could make me make that decision.

“Yeah. I guess it is.” I thought about the cap and gown that hung in my closet. Mason and Parker would be there to watch me walk across the stage in it. I’m sure my mother would be there somewhere as well if she remembered, but she would probably be late and she would probably be on the arm of some man I didn’t recognize.

I spent the rest of the day getting everything ready for tomorrow. I ironed the soft pink dress that I would wear under my gown, and I laid out my shoes. I pulled out the one piece of jewelry I actually cared about, a simple string of white pearls that belonged to my grandmother. I didn’t really know her well since my mother never took us to visit her, but she left the pearls to me in her will, and somehow, they felt special.

When I looked down at my outfit all laid out, I could feel the excitement bubble inside of me. Even though I wouldn’t be leaving this place, I felt a piece of freedom settle into me that I had never felt before. I didn’t know if it was graduation or Parker.

I lay on the floor and stared up at my ceiling. I had text Parker over an hour ago with no response. I felt a little needy, but I couldn’t stand it. I picked up my cell phone and dialed his number.

As more rings passed, the more anxious I felt. Parker always answered my text or calls. Typically, he was the one reaching out first. I didn’t know why but something about him not answering caused a knot to form in my stomach.

I thought about going to his house, but then I talked myself out of it. I didn’t want to seem like a desperate, needy girlfriend. But was I even his girlfriend?

We hadn’t even told my brother. I had no idea how we would tell him because I was pretty positive on what his reaction would be. But I didn’t care.

Parker was mine whether anyone else liked it or not.

I stood from the floor and tightened my ponytail. I needed to see him. It felt crazy not to see or talk to him after everything we shared last night.

When I pulled up to his house, I shook my head in disbelief. Madison’s car was parked in his driveway. I trusted Parker, I really did, but that nagging feeling from before pulled tighter.

I parked my car behind Madison’s and made my way to the front door. As I raised my hand to knock on the door, I saw him. Sitting across from her. Staring at her. She stood from the couch and moved next to him. Her leg touching his. Her hand reaching out for his much bigger one. When their hands connected and she laid them against her stomach, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. All the air was sucked out of me along with every piece of happiness he had given me over the last few weeks.

I pressed my back against the door to hold myself up. What was he doing? Why was she here?

Tears formed in my eyes, but I prayed that I could keep it together at least until I got to my car.

I didn’t know how long I stood there trying to get myself together. But when the door opened behind my back, I completely lost any composure that I had managed to gain.

The door closed quickly after it opened. I took a deep breath and looked up at Madison who was standing in front of me with her arms crossed.

“What are you doing here, Olivia?” Her voice was snarky and matched her face.

“I should be asking you the same.” I stood from the step, refusing to look up to her.

“Olivia, I like you. I really do.”

I rolled my eyes, and she continued.

“I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“Then why are you with my boyfriend?” I pointed toward the house, and I could see the pity in her eyes.

“Boyfriend? That’s funny. He didn’t mention that and trust me, we’ve talked a lot while the two of you were doing whatever it is that you’ve been doing.”

“I don’t trust you, Madison.” I pushed past her. No idea where I was going.

“Then would you like to feel?” I turned my eyes back to her and stared at her hands wrapped around her flat stomach. “It hasn’t been kicking yet, but I can still feel our baby in there.”

I jolted backward as if I had been kicked. I couldn’t wrap my brain around what she was saying. I couldn’t believe her.

I looked from her to the window, praying that Parker would come outside and tell me this wasn’t true, but the door never opened.

“I’m still early,” Madison continued to talk. “Only a couple of weeks.”

My eyes flew back to hers, and I mentally did the calculations. She had to be further along than that because he had been with me. She covered her mouth with her hand and inhaled sharply. “Oh shit. You didn’t know that we were still sleeping together while you all were hanging out.”

I wanted to put my fist through her face, but I couldn’t punch a pregnant girl no matter how badly I wanted to.

I didn’t say another word to her. I didn’t knock on Parker’s door and demand that he explain himself. Instead, I ran. I ran straight to my car and flew out of his driveway all while Madison watched me. The tears poured from my eyes and clouded my vision as I made my way down the street.

My phone rang from the seat beside me and when I saw Parker’s name light up the screen, I cried harder. I didn’t answer. I couldn’t talk to him.

Instead, I went home, buried myself in my blankets, and prayed that this day was nothing more than a cruel damn joke.