Caden

Two.

Their first date happened the following Friday. It wasn't anything spectacular, just dinner and a movie, but they seemed to hit it off.

Anthony wanted her to call him Tony and Caden thought it was cute that he called her pet names like "babe" and "sugar."

They had a fun time at dinner. Like when Anthony made fun of her for ordering chicken strips off the kids menu, and he teased her for being "as short as a hobbit," even though she was 5'6".

Luckily for Caden, they had a similar taste in movies, because Anthony insisted on seeing the latest Marvel movie. He bought a large popcorn and gave her the M&Ms she wanted.

It was a good night.

A smile was glued to her face the entire time she described the date to Nicole. 

"See," Nicole teased from behind her thick calculus textbook and reading glasses. "It was a good thing I dropped that vase."

Caden laughed as she slid bare legs into her pjs. "No it wasn't! You nearly gave me a heart attack that night."

"Nuh-uh thanks to me you've found your Prince Charming. You should be groveling at my feet, missy."

"Groveling?"

"Yes, groveling. I should make you give me a foot massage while I study."

Caden threw a pillow at her friend and it smacked her square in the face.

"I'm not touching your nasty feet!"

Nicole gasped. "My feet are not nasty!"

"Sure, keep telling yourself that."

The night had been good. A good, basic first date. But good to Caden felt spectacular.

*•*•*•*

Anthony asked her to be his girlfriend a few weeks later.

They had gotten closer over those last few weeks. Caden told him her dreams and aspirations. She told him how she wanted nothing more in the world than to help those struggling and in need. She told him her major anxieties and minor worries, from her fear of being alone to her decision about which highlighters to use on her homework. She told him about childhood with a father who battles addiction and a mother who was always pressing her to accomplish more.

She shared every crevice of her complex heart.

In return, he said he loved her.

Caden never doubted his love once, even when his intentions were questionable. It was too late, Snow White had bitten the poisoned apple.

He had gotten down on one knee to ask her to be his girlfriend, and although that seemed a little extra to Caden, she was overwhelmed by his love. It was nearly suffocating.

Their freshman year of college flew by and they were the "it" couple. The couple who everyone sent jealous stares and everyone was betting would get married and have kids together. End of the year exams were rough and everyone was a little stressed.

Caden blamed Anthony's behavior on the stress. It was easier that way.

She noticed he had been acting... strange. He didn't want to hang out with their friends anymore, he was convinced Nicole was a psycho bitch, and he kept rolling his eyes at every word Caden said.

Although she wouldn't admit it to anyone, Caden was sad. He wasn't the same Anthony.

But like every other hardship in her life, she brushed it off and kept moving forward. She was convinced that Anthony was just stressed and sleep deprived. He had never acted like that before. Surely, her loving boyfriend was just going through a hard time and it was her job as a good girlfriend to be there for him.