"It feels so good to be back."
[Sarah, Chloe, and Lucy; the three inseparable musketeers, tumbled out of the airport and straight into a cab.]
The ride was pure chaos: all three of us chanting, laughing too loudly, and practically deafening the poor driver with our joy. We didn't care, though. We were finally back home, reunited, and wrapped in the kind of excitement that makes the air itself seem to sparkle.
I don't live with my parents. Nope, independence is my middle name. I live alone in my house, though sometimes Chloe and Lucy crash with me.
Honestly, it feels less like independence and more like freeloading, especially since my elder brother is the one really doing well. He's rich, like ridiculously rich, and me? Well, let's just say I'm here to spend his money. That's all. Oh, and apart from my little "normal" home, the three of us have another shelter in the world, our separate rooms tucked away in Nexara's stronghold.
But that's a different kind of story.
Coming back to Los Angeles felt incredible. I had only been away for two months, but it felt like years, as though time had stretched and twisted itself while I was gone.
We finally pulled up to my house. After unloading our luggage and paying the cab driver, who sped off as if escaping three lunatics, I stood still for a moment. My eyes traced the duplex flat I had left behind for summer. It wasn't huge, but it was elegant, its structure balanced in a way that made it look quietly rich, like it knew it didn't need to boast.
"Aww, how I've missed this place," I whispered under my breath.
We walked along the small pathway lined with lawns so green they looked painted, grass blades dancing like they were happy to see me back. The air smelled fresh, cool, like nature itself was offering a welcome-home hug.
Up the short flight of stairs we went, dragging suitcases, until the front door swung open. The interior was still tidy, thanks to Lucy, who had decided to stay here while I was away.
The house's layout was simple: a short passage leading into the sitting room. We stepped inside, giggling and wheeling our bags: when suddenly, it happened.
The lights went out.
One second we were laughing, and the next we were swallowed by a heavy, suffocating darkness.
"Oh my God," I muttered. At first I brushed it off. Power outages happen, right? Maybe the whole street or even the entire city lost electricity. But then it hit me, it was broad daylight. Even so, I couldn't see a single thing. Nothing.
That's when panic started nibbling at me. Maybe a demon had slipped through the rift…
And right on cue, Lucy screamed.
Her scream wasn't ordinary. It was sharp, raw, a noise that ripped through the dark and crawled under my skin. Shivers raced down my spine.
"Lucy!....OMG.... Lucy!" I shouted, spinning around, squinting into the pitch-black. "Talk to me, where are you?"
No answer.
Then Chloe screamed too.
"SARAAAAAH!"
"No, no, no, Chloe! Talk to me, what's happening?" My heart hammered against my ribs. I felt tears pushing against my eyelids, my body trembling.
"Oh my God, oh my God," I cried. I could feel it, definitely something had taken them, something that would come for me next.
I forced myself forward, trailing my fingertips along the wall, stumbling through the blackness I knew too well. The only reason I didn't collapse in sheer terror was because I already knew the house's layout. With each step, I whispered, just one more turn, just a little further.
I emerged from the corridor, made the careful right turn, and...
"SURPRISE!!!"
The word detonated around me, and I screamed at the top of my lungs, a shriek that could've woken the dead.
"AAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!"
What followed was an explosion of laughter, thunderous and unrestrained.
"Oh my God, we got her!" someone shouted.
"Look at her face!" another chimed in, laughter making the words wobble.
The lights blazed back on, burning into my closed eyes. When I finally peeked them open, my jaw dropped.
Almost all my high school friends were crammed inside my sitting room. Birthday hats perched on their heads. Behind them stretched a rainbow-colored ribbon with the boldest letters I'd ever seen:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH.
My heart, which had been galloping wildly a moment ago, slowed into a warm, steady beat. A smile tugged at my lips, reluctant at first, but then unstoppable.
It had all been planned. Chloe and Lucy hadn't disappeared, they were standing right there, doubled over with hysterical laughter at how dramatically I had reacted.
Chloe sauntered toward me, grinning like a cat. "Oh girl, we really got you."
I laughed too, though I muttered back, "You guys shouldn't have done that. What if I'd turned into my Nexara self? You know they're not supposed to see that side of me."
Truth be told, I had almost unleashed my powers in panic. And our powers is something that we were supposed to keep hidden, including the demons, so that the world would not know and feel very much safe.
"Don't worry, girl...." Chloe began, but she was cut off by Lucy, who emerged from the kitchen balancing a giant three-tier cake.
Cheers erupted. My whole house vibrated with it.
The cake was beautiful... frosting dripping like melting clouds, with a single candle perched at the top like a king on his throne. As Lucy carried it into the center, everyone broke into song.
"Happy birthday to you…"
My smile spread so wide I thought my cheeks might split. The happiness bubbling inside me spilled over, infecting everyone else. Smiles, laughter, cheers—it was everywhere.
Lucy placed the cake in front of me. "Make a wish, baby girl."
"Yeah, make a wish!" the crowd chorused.
"Say you wish to marry me!" a guy in the back yelled, and the whole room roared with laughter, some adding dramatic uuuuuuuuuuuuuuu noises like we were in a cheesy soap opera.
I chuckled shyly, eyes sweeping across the sea of familiar faces. I hadn't expected this. Not even close.
Turning to the cake, I whispered, "I wish for the happiest year ever… for me and for all my friends."
Applause and whistles erupted as I blew out the flame, sealing the promise in smoke.
"Yeah, it'll have our wedding too!" the same guy bellowed again, and once more the crowd cracked up.
I laughed along, cheeks burning pink. My face... my beautiful face... glowed, and I knew everyone could see it.
And yes, I said it: my beautiful face. Because it wasn't a mistake... I am beautiful. Very much beautiful, and maybe you haven't see how guys often look at me, or come towards me, but well you better don't, cause you might get jealous.
Afterward, friends came up one by one, showering me with gifts and hugs. and also...
"The birthday girl!" came that same booming voice.
I turned and laughed softly. "Sam."
He bowed dramatically, making me giggle. As though i was some princess... mph... maybe I was.
"At your service, ma'am." He teased "Eighteen today, huh? Officially a grown-ass woman."
"Mm-hmm," I replied, sipping from my glass.
"You know, you should've wished to marry me. Now that you're legal, it could've worked out." He winked.
I teased back, "Well, maybe it still will."
Chloe and Lucy, standing beside me like twin bodyguards, burst out laughing.
"Nice try, Sam," Chloe said.
Sam grinned. "It ain't gon' work, Right?" he added, swaggering off.
I chuckled yet again. Sam was a funny guy, not just funny but also cute and black, and that his personality got girl around him always.
More people came. Bearing more gifts. The room buzzing with joy, until my heart stopped.
Because in through the corridor walked the one person I never wanted to see.
Noah.
"Oh no," I whispered.
"What?" Chloe asked, though she was busy eyeing Kelvin, who had unbuttoned his shirt and was flexing his abs like he was auditioning for a cologne commercial. Chloe's stare turned into full-on let me rub my hands on that chest mode.
"Chloe!" I snapped, yanking her back to reality.
She stammered, "Yeah... the cup, right?"
"What cup?!" I hissed.
"What the hell is wrong with you, I didn't say anything about a cup were have your mind being"
Chloe brushed her hand across her face.
"you didn't say cup…. right …what were you saying then"
Lucy, catching where Chloe's eyes had been, chuckled under her breath.
Grinding my teeth, I leaned in. "You invited him?"
"Invited who?" they both asked. Their eyes sharp on me laddened with curiosity.
"Noah." I replied through gritted teeth, my voice was low, and sharp.
Their eyes widened. "Oh no."
Our voices now dropped down into a crispy whisper... well we were fully on gossip mode.
"We didn't invite him," Lucy defended. "Maybe he just heard and decided to come."
"Alright" I replied taking a deep breath, as I thought of how to dismiss him.
But it was too late, Noah was already walking toward me, a flower clutched in his hand, that deep, melodic voice ready to unravel me.
"Hey guys… em, girls," he said. That very much lady attracting smile on his face.
I snapped back, "Hi," refusing to even look at him.
Chloe faked an excuse. "Uh, I think Kelvin called me.... come on, Lucy."
"No," Lucy muttered. "I'm not leaving my girl with him."
Well that was Lucy being raw as she always is, she doesn't give a damn if she hurts your feeling with her words, since she will still tell you the hot truth. And now... her knowing how Noah broke my heart, she wasn't willing to leave me with him.
I shot her a pleading look; which said, Please give us just a moment.
She sighed, gave Noah a death glare, then left with Chloe, though she pointed two fingers at her eyes, then at him, mouthing I'm watching you.
Now it was just me and Noah.
"Fair. I deserve that," he said quietly. Glaring at Lucy as they disappear into the crowd.
"You deserve more than that," I shot back, sipping my drink.
He looked down, guilt heavy on his face. "Sarah, you know I love you, don't you?"
I chuckled bitterly. This guy is unbelievable.
"I… I… I got you this." He held out the flower.
For a moment I wanted to slap it right out of his hand. Instead, something made me take it silently, though my glare said everything.
Finally, he whispered, "I'm sorry."
The words pierced me, sharp and cruel. Is he being serious right now... like he is sorry.. oh man.
"Hell yeah you are," I snapped. My voice broke, so I took a deep breath, forcing myself calm. I wasn't going to let him ruin my birthday.
But he went on. Something I saw as a mere ranting.
"I'm sorry for what I did. I never meant to hurt you." He added, His face as sorry as his words.
But I didn't care, I flung my hair away from my face as I let it all out.
"Is that what you tell yourself every morning? That you love me but never meant to hurt me?" My tone was icy. "Well, guess what, there's no need to apologize. Because this" I pointed between us, "...is not happening. Not ever again. Go be with Lola. You two deserve each other."
I tossed the flower into the trash and walked away.
Tears stung my eyes, begging to fall, but I held them back. Still, the ache reminded me of everything, of how this messy, painful relationship even began.
It all started with…