Chapter 8 Chapter 8 : Doesn't This Scene Look Familiar ? Three days later was the 60th birthday party for our old high school homeroom teacher , Mr. Jenkins . The class president had called early on to get a headcount , telling everyone who could make it to come . I said I would . * Given my current situation , this would probably be the last time I'd see these classmates and teachers . I had to go . * Mr. Jenkins had worked diligently at Harmony City Secondary School for thirty years , sending a new class off to top universities every three years . He'd taught Hayden Hughes , and he'd taught me . I got stuck in a bit of traffic , so I was a few minutes late when I arrived . A waitress opened the door to the private room , and I smiled apologetically at everyone . " Sorry , guys . Traffic was a nightmare . I'm a little late . " The room was packed , but the moment they saw me , it went completely silent . The class president froze , looking super awkward . " Aubrey , didn't you see the text I sent you ? " I pulled out my phone and saw that he had , in fact , sent me a text : [ Aubrey , maybe you should sit this one out today . I'll catch up with you some other time . ] I was a little confused . But when I saw the two people sitting on the sofa , it all clicked . Isabelle Pearson was half - draped over Hayden Hughes's back, grinning like a mischievous little kitten getting into trouble . Hayden was leaning forward , a doting smile on his lips , whispering something to her while his hand rested protectively on her back . I could read his lips . He was saying , " Careful , don't fall . " The class president walked over , blocking my view . He looked at me apologetically , " When I was asking around , Hayden said he wasn't coming , so that's why I invited you . I have no idea why he suddenly showed up today , so I immediately sent you that text ... " I just smiled . " Why can't I be here if he is ? We're all here to see Mr. Jenkins . Are you playing favorites now ? " His expression soured even more . " Are you really gonna feel okay watching those two all over each other ? Why don't you just go? I'll make an excuse to Mr. Jenkins for you . " Caroline Howard , my best friend from high school , came over and grabbed my arm . " Come on , let's go . I'll take you shopping . " 1/4 Chapter 8 I stopped her . " Babe , did you save me a seat ? I wanna sit with you . " Caroline frowned . " What are you doing ? Are you trying to torture yourself ? " " It's a happy occasion . Let's not talk about torture and stuff . Don't be a downer and ruin it for Mr. Jenkins . " I walked around them and went to greet Mr. Jenkins first . " Mr. Jenkins , congratulations ! Our hardest - working teacher is finally getting a well - deserved retirement . This is just a little something for you . I hope you like it . " Even at sixty , the old man was full of life . He laughed heartily as he took the gift . " Little Aubrey ! " " The one and only . " "Wow , look at you ! Prettier every time I see you ! I still remember how much you struggled with math ... gave me such a headache . So , when you went off to college in the Capital City , you didn't fail calculus , did you ? " I pouted . " You really underestimate me , don't you ? Not only did I not fail , I even got a scholarship ! " " Well , that's true . With Hayden tutoring you , there was no way you could've failed ! " " Ahem ! " Someone coughed twice , cutting Mr. Jenkins off . All eyes turned to Hayden on the sofa . the sofa . I looked over too . He didn't have ! particular expression on his face , just a slight frown as he turned his head to Isabelle . " Don't drink that . Drink some water . " Isabelle wasn't happy about it . " I can take it . " " No , " Hayden said , his face stern . " You need to drink some water . " " Why are you always so obsessed with making me drink water ? I'm not a cactus in the desert . I'm not that dehydrated . " " Just listen to me . " The atmosphere in the room turned cold again . * Doesn't this scene look familiar ? * It wasn't just me . Everyone in the room , except for Hayden and Isabelle , felt the exact same way . For three years in high school , he had always coaxed me into drinking water just like that . To get me to drink water once , he even called me " sis " in front of the entire class . * ... He spoiled me so rotten back then , I thought I could get away with anything . I took his love for granted and dared to make the most outrageous demands . * 2/4 Chapter 8 * I made a bet with him : if he dared to call me " sis " just once in front of everyone , I would drink my entire water bottle . * * But before the words were even out of my mouth , he'd given in . " Sis , my one and only sis , I'm begging you , please just drink it. " * * He didn't care about the weird looks everyone was giving him . * * But whether they were surprised , speechless , confused , or grinning like idiots because their favorite ship was sailing , everyone eventually just shook their heads and sighed , " Hayden's a total goner . " Caroline squeezed the hand that was hanging by my side , pulling me back to reality . She started pulling me away . " Aubrey , let's go sit over there . " She was trying to lead me to the corner farthest away from Hayden . " It's fine , really . " I smiled and called out to Hayden . " Fancy seeing you here , Hayden . Came to see Mr. Jenkins , too ? " Hayden didn't even look up . " Yeah , " he grunted . I said , " Don't forget to keep Saturday free . You need to bring Isabelle home for dinner . " The mention of Isabelle finally earned me a glance from him . He gave a slight nod . " Got it . " Isabelle , on the other hand , seemed a little tense around me . She sat up straight , no longer fooling around with Hayden , and explained , " Aubrey , it was my idea to come with Hayden today . I've never met any of his friends or classmates , and I wanted to get to know the people from his past . " N As she said it , she seemed to realize how it sounded and stuck her tongue out apologetically . After three years of this drama , even though Hayden had protected Isabelle well and mostly kept her away from me and his parents , I had too many mutual friends with him . It was inevitable that Isabelle would find out some things about our past . Because of that , she'd once pulled a disappearing act , leaving Hayden a letter saying she didn't want to be the third party in our relationship before running back to her family's little fishing hamlet . But , I mean ... * I don't know if I should call her naive or just dumb . If she disappeared , of course the first place Hayden would look was that fishing hamlet ! * In the end , it only took Hayden a few hours to find her . Isabelle was a beautiful , tragic mess of tears , and Hayden's heart broke for her . Their relationship only got stronger after that . Now , Isabelle was still acting guilty and reserved in front of me .. 3/4 Chapter 8 Hayden took her hand and said in a soft voice , " Even if you hadn't asked today , I was planning on bringing you to meet them . Oh , and I haven't properly introduced you all . This is Isabelle Pearson , my fiancée . " My head snapped up . * Fiancée ? * I forced down the shock rising in my chest and pretended to be calm . " Hayden , are you and Isabelle planning on getting married ? " " Yeah . I already proposed , and she said yes . " " You proposed ? When ? " " Last Saturday . " * That was the day we had dinner at the Hughes ' house . The day it all ended so badly . * Isabelle desperately tried to pull her hand out of Hayden's , frantically explaining to me , " Aubrey , please don't get the wrong idea . I told him not to mention this in front of you . I don't know what's gotten into him today ... " But Hayden just held her hand second thoughts ? " ghter . " Why can't I mention it ? You're already wearing my ring . What , having Isabelle quickly hid her hand behind her back , looking down , a little embarrassed . 4/4