Chapter 2: Family Ties and Scars

"I heard Jenna Scott’s coming to the reunion."

The voices drifted through the half-open classroom door, bouncing off the trophy case in the hallway. There was a giddy, almost predatory edge to them—like middle school all over again.

"Didn’t she always skip these before?"

"Maybe now that Chase and her sister are engaged, she regrets it."

"Regret what? Everyone knows Chase only confessed to her to get back at her sister."

"Besides, she was as big as a house. How could Chase ever like her?"

The laughter was quick, sharp—people talking like I wasn’t even real. I pressed my palm against the cold metal of the door, suddenly aware of every inch of myself, my heart hammering against my ribs.

My hand froze on the door handle.

I could feel the old anxiety crawling up my spine. After eight years, Chase’s confession had become a punchline.

Even my mom used it to humiliate me:

"Look at yourself in the mirror. Chase is handsome, smart, and comes from a good family. How could he possibly like you?"

She always stood with her arms folded, leaning against the kitchen counter, disappointment etched in every line on her face. Her voice was sharp, clipped, as if she were reading out my failures from a list.

"He said he liked you and you actually believed it?"

When I didn’t say anything, she added:

"I’m warning you, stop dreaming."

Her words hung in the air with the faint smell of burnt toast.

"He and your sister are perfect for each other. They’ll get married sooner or later, so just give up."

That was when I finally learned that my sister, Madison, and Chase were together.

Everyone knew—except me.

The realization hit me like ice water, chilling and humiliating. I remember staring at the kitchen tiles, trying not to cry.

But Madison was proud and cold, and Chase was just as proud. They were always fighting, neither willing to back down.

You’d hear their voices echoing through the halls, sharp and competitive, like two lawyers sparring for the last word. Family dinners were battles of passive-aggressive comments and forced smiles.

The day Chase confessed to me, the two of them had just had their worst fight ever.

Chase said he’d rather date a pig than be with Madison.

I could hear the words echoing down the hallway, the kind of cruel overreaction that only really happens in high school. The word ‘pig’ stuck with me for a long, long time.

Madison sneered, "Then go be with Jenna."

She never thought Chase would actually confess to me.

Even more surprising, I actually believed him.

For a month, Chase was incredibly attentive.

He brought me bagels for breakfast, bought me hot chocolate, helped me with my homework.

Sometimes he’d show up with a blueberry bagel and my favorite caramel hot chocolate from that coffee shop on Main Street—little gestures that felt so huge to someone who’d never had them before.

I really believed he liked me.

The day I realized something was wrong, it was a bright Sunday.

I’d finished my homework and was gazing out the window—

It was one of those rare sunny Georgia days when the air is soft and the world feels wide open. I leaned against the window ledge, tracing patterns in the condensation with my finger.

And saw Chase and Madison under the old oak tree, making out like crazy.

The sight was so shocking, so out of place, I felt like I was watching a scene from someone else’s life. The old oak was where we used to eat lunch sometimes—now it belonged to them.

I quietly watched them for a while, then picked up my phone and called Chase.

There was a long pause before he picked up. Under the tree, Chase hurriedly pushed Madison away, trying to act calm as he answered.

"What’s up?"

"Chase," I said, "let’s break up."

My voice barely wavered, but my hands were shaking. I felt lighter and heavier all at once.