False Enemies

Chapter 3

I leaned in closer to the mirror, trying to smooth out the concealer. I haven't slept much last night, tossing and turning in my old bed until the sheets fell off, kicked off by my thrashing legs. I was nervous before today – honest to God nervous – and all the anxiousness was visible in the purple circles under my eyes. I was the kind of a person who had eye bags no matter what – and lack of sleep only made them worse. I've had to put more makeup than usual today to make sure I looked decent.

It was a special day for my parents, after all. I had to present myself somehow.

I turned off the light above the mirror and left the bathroom. I was surprised when Mom first informed me of hers and Dad's plan to renew their wedding vows. They were having their twenty-fifth anniversary this year and together, they have decided that a second wedding was going to be the perfect way to celebrate. I wasn't sure how big of a role played the part of them knowing I was sure to finally come home for something this major, but I guessed it was an important factor. As much as I hated to get on that plane that took me back to Connecticut, I couldn't have possibly said no to my parents. Mom sounded so hopeful when she called to confirm my presence. Even I, with my damaged compassion system and feeling boundaries, wasn't that much of a bitch.

Smoothing down my golden dress, I made my way downstairs, my bare feet making no sound against the wood. My matching golden sandals dangled from my fingers, swaying with every step. We were hosting the party in our house, the ceremony was going to take place in the backyard. When I arrived two days ago, most of the decorating had already been done and I only helped Mom with cooking. There weren't many guests coming, just some of the closest friends and family. Still, there has been a lot to do and I guess both me and my parents were relieved the preparations were almost over.

I paused in the kitchen's doorway, sliding the sandals onto my feet. I could hear a conversation coming from here on my walk down the stairs but the moment I appeared, everything quieted down. Finishing fastening the tiny straps, I straightened and looked up.

Chills ran down my spine when my eyes locked with a pair of hazel ones.

Andy – Andrew Dawson, the girl I once called my best friend – stood behind the counter, staring at me. Her parents named her like a boy because they've been convinced they were having a son up until the moment she was born. They've gotten so used to the name Andrew that it stayed, leaving Andy stuck with a man's name and a whole lot of frustration boiling inside of her. I've known her all the way since kindergarten and saw how often she would get teased about her name.

We met in front of the kindergarten's principal's office while our Moms were having the talk on how I punched a boy in the face after he'd made fun of Andy's name. I didn't hit hard enough to make his nose bleed. Andrew did, stepping in after me and finishing up the work. We both nearly got kicked out then. Have been friends ever since.

And now, fifteen years later, we were standing in my kitchen, looking at each other like we were strangers.

I cleared my throat. "Hi."

Andy held my gaze for a moment longer before dropping it to the stuffed eggs she was arranging on a platter. "Hi."

And that was it. Neither of us was going to say anything else. Andy was pissed, I could hear it in her voice, see it in every line of her body – all the way from her tense shoulders to how jerky her movements were when she decorated the eggs with little pieces of smoked salmon.

Not that I expected anything else from her. She had every right to be pissed. I knew she would be. One didn't promise her best friend forever just to leave for the other end of the country without a word of notice.