Wall

not of anxiety on Holden' s brow smoothed out, replaced by a look of dazed, u

rd feeling foreign on my tongue. "That'

She leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "Could you do me a huge favor and keep thi

ce, nodding in agreement. He was going to be a father. With her

ay up my throat. "Aren' t you... scared?

ase. I can just take a semester or two off. My family will be thrilled. They' ve been want

m. He was looking at me now, but his eyes were pleading on Fab

ire body felt tight, coiled like a spring. I was the keeper of their

y as fast as my trembling legs would carry me. I didn' t look back, but I could feel Holden' s

wn the wall, my body finally giving out. The tears came, silent and agonizing.

ad screamed. He' s a father

years of shared history, of inside jokes and secret p

cker of irritation crossing her face. She turned to

tly, her hand on his arm

ng his head as if to cle

or getting your mom that special tea from abroad? I know you said she didn

ourse not. Don' t be silly. It was a good excuse. Thank you." He glanced one last

, hard determination settled in her heart. She knew I was in love with Holden. It was pathetica

y phone buzzed with

re going shopping downtown. You

hrough me. The last thing I wanted to do was spend

houlder. "It' s good to get out. And it' s importan

d. "Okay, Mom." Her face softened with a pang o

carbon copies of her in their designer clothes and bored expressions, floated fro

e girls chattered on, their conversation

ine!" one of them, a blonde nam

throat. "Holden gave it to me last night," she said, her v

n had never given me jewelry.

ace lit up. "It' s him!" she squealed

my overpriced latte, but her words were like tiny daggers. "Oh, that

wants to meet me," she announced to the tabl

parents!" Tiffany shrieked. "Th

en silence of my mind. I would probably be asked to be a bridesmaid

rs. King sometime, Chloe. I' m sure she' d love to see you." It was a power play, a way o

s," I said, my voice tight. "Bu

be sure to tell her. Maybe next time Holden can host you himself."

fident, and from a world of wealth and influence I could only imagine. What di

er appointment. I was about to gather my things and head

ffee flew through the air and la