Chapter 5

The silence in the room felt heavy, pressing down on my chest as I stood there, staring up at the ceiling. I’d been trying to keep the memories locked away, but they refused to stay buried. Theodore Hawthorne. The boy who’d driven me insane for most of my life—and then disappeared without a word.

I didn’t even know what I was supposed to feel. I’d spent years telling myself I hated him, that I’d moved on. But the moment I caught that familiar scent of his cologne, it was like I’d been thrown back in time. The pit in my stomach, the flutter of something I didn’t want to name—it was all still there. I felt that same pull he’d always had over me, even if I’d never admit it out loud.

My mind wandered back to the early days, back when things were simpler... or at least less messy.

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“Stop it, Theodore! You’re scaring Daphne!”

I shoved him, fists clenched, eyes blazing. Theodore just laughed, brushing his messy dark hair out of his face. He was taller than me, stronger, but I didn’t care. I would’ve taken him on, no hesitation. My little sister Daphne was clinging to my arm, her eyes wide and fearful.

“I wasn’t scaring her,” he said with that stupid, smug grin. “She’s just being a big baby.”

“I’m not a baby!” Daphne piped up, trying to look brave. Even though we were twins, she was so much smaller than me.

“See?” Theodore shrugged, grinning wider. “She’s fine. You’re the one making a big deal out of nothing, Diane.”

That grin drove me nuts. It always did. I shoved him again, harder this time.

“Leave her alone!” I yelled, planting myself between him and Daphne.

He could’ve fought back if he’d wanted to—he was strong enough—but he never did. He’d just laugh, pretend I’d actually hurt him, and let me “win.” It drove me crazy. I didn’t want him to let me win; I wanted him to take me seriously. But of course, he never did.

The three of us were practically always together as playmates. We were inseparable, at least until Daphne started acting… weird. She began clinging to Theodore more, pulling away from me. At first, I thought it was sweet, that they were finally getting along. But then she started giving me these looks, cold and resentful, like I was in her way of having something she so deeply craved.

She’d say things—little hints that I should keep my distance from Theodore. I brushed it off until I overheard her talking to one of her friends about how much she liked him and how she hated that I was always stealing the attention of Theodore away from her. She accused me of stopping Theodore's love for her from blooming.

I felt this uncomfortable twist in my stomach, but more than anything, I felt guilty. I didn’t want to make Daphne unhappy, so I did the only thing I could think of—I distanced myself from Theodore, breaking up our little trio.

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As we grew up, our teasing turned into rivalry. Theodore became more than just the boy who annoyed me—he was my competition in everything. Every class, every test, every sport; we were always neck and neck. It was exhausting, but in a way, I needed it. I needed that push, that drive, even if it came from the boy I couldn’t stand.

I assumed he was just getting back at me for trying to end our friendship, so I accepted it. Our rivalry became part of life.

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“You think you’re better than me?” I snapped, glaring at him from across the classroom. We’d just found out we’d tied for first place on the latest exam. Again.

He leaned back in his chair, giving me that infuriatingly calm smile. “I don’t think. I know.”

I clenched my fists, trying not to blow up. I hated how he could get under my skin so easily.

“Fine. We’ll see who’s better after the next exam,” I muttered, mostly to myself. But, of course, he heard me.

“Looking forward to it,” he smirked.

---

It felt like we were stuck in this endless cycle, where he couldn’t let me have a single thing without trying to take it too. Every time I showed interest in something, suddenly he was interested too. He drove me up the wall.

Still, even with all the competition and tension, he was… well, he was the closest thing I had to a friend. I didn’t exactly have a big social circle. Daphne was the popular one, Theodore had friends everywhere, but me? I was a loner. And in some twisted way, he was my only real companion.

I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. Why was I even thinking about all this? About what we’d been? About who we’d been to each other?

He’d left. That’s all that mattered now.

I remembered that day vividly, just after Daphne had been sent abroad by my father. He had made the decision overnight, no explanation, just packed her off and avoided the subject. He wouldn’t even let me say goodbye.

Before she left, I’d overheard what I thought was a breakup between her and Theodore. Yeah, they had been dating—or at least, that’s what Daphne had always told me. I’d never heard it from Theodore himself, but why would I doubt my own sister?

Daphne was a mess after the breakup. She barely ate, barely spoke. And then she left to go abroad.

Not long after that, Theodore left too. Just vanished, without a goodbye, without a single word. I figured he’d followed her, that he’d abandoned everything, including the scholarship we’d spent the whole year competing for, just to be with her.

Even though I’d pulled away from him, a part of me felt… betrayed. Hurt that he’d chosen her over me. Hurt that he’d just disappeared without a word. It was then that I had to admit to myself that maybe, just maybe, my feelings for him were more complicated than I’d let myself believe.

But it didn’t matter. Not anymore. I’d told myself I was over it, that Theodore Hawthorne was a chapter best forgotten.

And now, I was supposed to get married to him? The universe must really be playing it's cards against me.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. Of all the people my father could’ve chosen, it had to be him.

As much as I wanted to hate him for it, I couldn’t deny I was curious. Curious about why he was here, what had happened to him in the last eight years. And, if I was honest, I couldn’t stop wondering… "Where was Daphne?"

And then there was the question that wouldn’t leave me alone. My father wouldn’t have been able to force Theodore into this—he wasn’t the type to bend to anyone. Which meant… he must have agreed to this engagement. But why?

My father cleared his throat, jolting me out of my thoughts. He was looking at me with a familiar hint of disdain, clearly disapproving of my choice of outfit. I couldn’t blame him; I kind of hated myself for it too. If I’d known it was Theodore, I would’ve made more of an effort, just so I could match up to him.

“Now that you’re here,” my father said, “I’ll leave the two of you to catch up.” He turned to go, but I panicked.

Before he could escape, I grabbed his arm, linking mine with his. “Daddy, there’s really no need for you to leave,” I said, putting on my best 'damsel in distress' voice. No way was I going to be left alone with Theodore.

My father tensed, clearly not used to me calling him “Daddy.” His face flushed, probably from embarrassment.

“Nonsense,” he said, trying to pull his arm free. “I wouldn’t dream of getting in the way.”

I didn't let his arm go “You’re not in the way of anything, I promise,” I insisted, my desperation showing.

“Diane,” he said in that low warning tone, and I had no choice but to let him go.

And just like that, my father abandoned me, leaving me alone with Theodore Hawthorne.

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