Part 2: The Girl Behind HimThe 500th Journey

Jane hurried over as well.

She timidly stayed behind Marcus and tugged at his sleeve. "Yvette, please don't misunderstand. Marcus and the others are graduating tomorrow, so our club decided to have dinner and play Truth or Dare.

"I lost, and my punishment was to kiss one of the guys who was there. Marcus only helped me because he was trying to get me out of it. He was reluctant to do it, too."

Reluctant?

I looked at the candle arrangement on the ground, and then at the roses everyone around us was holding. I almost laughed right then and there.

"What kind of dare just happened to require a whole bunch of candles arranged all over the ground?"

Marcus' expression darkened. He hated it when I got confrontational like this.

"Yvette, can you stop making a big deal out of everything? I already told you it was just a game. The candles were left over from another guy's confession. We only borrowed them for the game. Do you really have to make a scene in front of everyone and ruin the mood for all of us?"

I tightened my grip on the little metal box. Its sharp edge dug painfully into my palm, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart.

I'd accidentally broken Marcus' favorite model four years ago. He didn't get upset. Instead, he'd immediately grabbed my hand, anxiously checking to see whether any shards of glass had cut me.

"A model can always be replaced," he said then. "But if anything ever happens to you, Evie, I'd be heartbroken."

Yet, here I was, standing in front of him in a wedding dress, having traveled over 600 miles just to see him. And what did I get? I got a face full of him kissing another girl.

Even worse, he blamed me for being unreasonable instead of offering me a single explanation or showing the slightest concern for how I felt.

I let out a bitter laugh and tossed the metal box into the trash can beside me. "Sorry for intruding. You guys continue."

I turned to leave, but Marcus grabbed me by the wrist. "Yvette Solano, what are you throwing a tantrum about now?"

Then, he noticed the metal box inside the trash can. He froze for a moment, and his tone softened. "All right. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken part in a game like that. I should've known better. You must be exhausted after coming all this way. Let's get something to eat first, okay?"

As he spoke, he casually took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. Every one of his actions screamed that he wanted to cover up my wedding dress.

Marcus put an arm around me and led me forward a couple of steps before suddenly stopping. He turned around and looked at Jane with reluctance. "Jane, you should head back and get some rest."

However, Jane had already followed us over as if it was a given. Then, she pouted and whined without a hint of shame the second she heard Marcus' words. "No. I'm hungry too. Marcus, you're playing favorites. I want something good to eat, too!"

Marcus didn't say anything. He simply lifted his chin slightly in my direction. Jane followed his gaze and glanced at me before immediately pouting. "In that case, you owe me a meal. You have to make it up to me next time, okay?"

Marcus sighed helplessly and eventually gave in. "Alright, fine. You go back now."

As I watched the two of them exchange those effortless, familiar words, I suddenly found it all meaningless and laughable.

After all, seeing them together made it seem as though I were the outsider instead.