Chapter 7
A month before homecoming. Seraphina suddenly started being nice to me.
She came up to me out of nowhere, saying she wanted to clear the air.
That day she was wearing this flowery sundress, looking all sweet and innocent.
“Hey Aurelia, I know you’ve got the wrong idea about me. I really do just see Alistair as like a big brother. I actually have someone I’m into.”
She pulled out her phone and showed me a picture of some guy.
The guy in the photo was this cute, sunny type with a huge smile.
“This is my boyfriend. He goes to the school across town. I didn’t mention him before because I figured you wouldn’t believe me.’
“We’ve been together for two months now. Things are really good.”
When she said it, her eyes lit up like she was genuinely head–over–heels.
I wasn’t totally convinced.
But she really did start keeping her distance from Alistair after that.
235463EE
Stopped hanging around him all the time, quit posting those flirty social media updates.
She’d even avoid us if she saw us in the dining hall.
I thought that was the end of it.
Deep down, I was actually kind of relieved.
Relieved that she finally had her own romance, relieved that she’d finally stop chasing Alistair.
Alistair was relieved too. “See? I told you Seraphina wasn’t like that. She’s got a boyfriend.”
“It was all just a misunderstanding. Let’s not fight about stupid stuff like this anymore.”
He held me close and kissed my forehead.
“You silly girl, were you actually jealous?”
“I wasn’t jealous…” I protested weakly.
出
“Sure you weren’t. You were practically green with envy.” He laughed and pinched my cheek. “I’ll keep my distance from other girls from now on. I’ll only be nice to you, okay?”
In that moment, I really believed him.
Believed the misunderstanding was over, believed we’d be fine, believed Seraphina had actually backed off.
A week before homecoming, Seraphina found me.
“Aurelia, you and Alistair are going to the homecoming show, right?”
She had this sweet smile, like she was just making casual conversation.
22:45
My Childhood Ex Ruined My Face for His Crush? Cute. I Ruined Their Lives
31.6%
Chapter 7
I nodded.
She got all mysterious. “I’m planning something special for the show–I want to make a public confession to my boyfriend. Could you do me a huge
favor?”
“What kind of favor?”
“Well… I want you to hold onto this ring for me, and after my performance, you come up on stage and give it to me. It’ll be more ceremonial that way.”
She put her hands together, looking totally desperate. “Please, Aurelia, I really need your help with this.”
“This is my first real confession ever. I want it to be perfect.”
Looking at her hopeful expression, I hesitated.
Even though we’d had our issues before, if she really did have a boyfriend now, I should probably be the bigger person.
“Okay, fine.”
“Yes! Thank you so much!”
She gave me this quick hug. “You’re the best, Aurelia!”
The hug was brief, but I caught a whiff of her perfume.
It was really strong and kind of overwhelming.
On homecoming day, she came looking for me again.
Four in the afternoon, three hours before the show started.
“Aurelia, I’m so nervous. Could you come backstage with me while I get ready?”
Her hands were actually shaking–she really did look nervous.
I followed her backstage.
It was total chaos back there, with students getting ready for their performances everywhere.
#
She pulled a water bottle out of her bag. “My boyfriend got me this–some fancy imported water that’s supposed to be really expensive. I don’t really like it though. Want to try it?”
The bottle looked really high–end, with nice packaging and everything.
I shook my head. “No thanks.”
I’ve never liked drinking after other people–it’s just a habit I’ve had since I was little.
“Well, let me have Alistair hold onto it for you, just in case you get thirsty later.”
She insisted on stuffing the bottle into Alistair’s bag.
“You’ll definitely get thirsty from all that hosting. This water’s really good–not weird tasting at all.”
Backstage was so loud and crazy, I didn’t really pay attention to that detail.
Looking back now, her smile was really creepy.
I didn’t think much of it at the time.
22:45
My Childhood Ex Ruined My Face for His Crush? Cute. I Ruined Their Lives
33.3%
Chapter 7
Who could have guessed that water bottle would ruin my entire life?
Who could have imagined that someone who seemed to have moved on would plan such a vicious revenge?
Who could have predicted that someone I’d trusted for twenty years would become an accomplice in destroying me?
(0)
(0)
22.45
