Faith

Prologue

"Happy birthday Em!"

I was woken up by the deafening screams of two people. Sitting upright with a jolt I rubbed my eyes to see who the intruders were. I already knew who they could be but as their became clear in front of me, I knew I was right. Sarah and Sean stood in front of me, laughing their heads off.

"How about a little warning next time?" I said. I looked to the watch on the bedside table. It flashed "12:05 A.M" on the screen.

"It was a surprise Em," Sean said jumping on the bed beside me. "A 'thank you' would be nice," he said, trying to make a puppy-dog face.

"Eww, stop," I said laughing. "And thank you. Both of you."

"So where is your 'boyfriend'?" Sarah asked, putting special emphasis on the word boyfriend. Sarah and Sean were siblings who had been my friends since the day I started working for 'Elite' magazine. Sarah had not been the biggest fan of Lucas from the day she met him.

"He had work," I said defending him.

"Did he call?" Sarah asked.

I hesitated. Lucas hadn't called to wish me, and I did not want Sarah to know that. Things are bitter between them as it is and I did not want to make it worse. Plus I knew it wasn't his fault for not calling. I knew he must have been busy. He had to be.

"Well, yes," I said lying.

"Really?" Sean pipped in. I gave him a glare. "Yes really," I said sternly.

"Has anyone ever told you before that you are a terrible liar?" Sarah asked with a dissapointed look on her face.

I was unable to answer. "He must be really busy Sarah," I finally said timidly.

"I don't understand why you let him treat you this way," Sarah said. Because I am madly in love with him and I cannot imagine my life without him I thought.

"Can we talk about this sometime else please?" I said. Trying to make Sarah understand that Lucas is not the jerk she believes him to be. "How did you guys get inside anyway?" I said looking at Sean.

"You gave us a key. Remember?"

"I am pretty sure I did not Sean."

"Adam gave us the key Em," Sarah said. "Speaking of which you need to get dressed."

"Why?" I said surprised.

"You are not going to go to Mackenzie's like this are you?" Sean said pointing at my stripped pyjamas. I knew this was a bad idea the minute Sean said it. Mackenzie's at midnight can never be a good idea.

"What? Now?" I said. "No way. I have to be in office by eight tomorrow."

"Come on Em. It is your birthday. Can't you forget about work just for one day?" Sean whined. I thought over what he said for a minute. He was right. I was always working and it is my birthday today. I deserve to have some fun.

"Come on," Sarah said. "Stop thinking. Adam and Beth are waiting."

"Fine," I said smiling. "Give me 15 minutes. How bad can it be?"