He Texted, I Ghosted—Then He Proposed

Author: Thomas Marquez

Chapter 2: Birthday Ultimatums and Silent Wars

He can’t be serious, right? I was so freaked out I ran to the dorm window to check downstairs, heart thudding like I was in a horror movie. As if Carter would actually show up with a baseball bat.

There were only a few people below—just a handful of girls—so I finally relaxed. No Carter lurking with a bat, thank God.

Then I got excited. So this guy really does care about me!

I replied at once: "I was busy just now."

"It’s not any of those people you mentioned."

Carter replied almost instantly.

He said, "Then who is it?"

"Don’t tell me you made someone up just for truth or dare."

"Your social circle isn’t that big—I’d know."

His wild guesses actually made me laugh out loud. I could picture his face, all scrunched up, overthinking everything. Wow, someone’s in a mood.

"You know him. He’s in your gaming club."

He sent a flood of exclamation emojis. The guy was losing it.

Then: "No freaking way!"

"Wow, going for someone right under my nose, huh?"

I kept teasing him, refusing to say the name, just to drive him nuts. I could almost hear him pacing in his dorm room, probably pulling at his hair tie.

Meanwhile, I scrolled through his earlier messages, laughing as I went, and said: "The guy I like knows my favorite snacks. Always brings me hot cocoa when I’m sick."

"No one ever dares to bully me when he’s around."

Carter went quiet for a while before typing again.

"You’re making stuff up. Who else has done that besides me?"

"In our club… let me think…"

"No, Savannah, in our club, the only one you ever interact with is my clueless roommate."

"Wait, could it be him?"

"No way, no way, what’s he got that I don’t? Is he richer, better looking, knows you better?"

"I do NOT approve of this match!"

He was even getting all pouty about it. I could practically see his dramatic eye roll through the screen.

"How can you like someone and not tell me?"

I seized the chance to ask him back.

"What about you? Who do you like? You’ve never told me either."

"If I have to tell you, it’s only fair you tell me too."

"Let’s swap. You tell me who you like, and I’ll tell you who I’m confessing to, deal?"

I always knew Carter liked someone, but he’d never told me. He always wore a little hair tie on his wrist, almost like he wanted people to ask about it. I used to tease him about it, but he’d just smirk and say it was a secret.

Sure enough, he went silent.

I knew it.

"If you don’t want to tell me… forget it."

Suddenly he replied, panicked.

"No, it’s not that I don’t want to."

"In a couple of days, at your birthday party, I’ll tell you in person. Something like this can’t be rushed."

What, is he trying to kill me with suspense?

He’s being so careful about revealing who he likes—who is this girl that’s got him so serious? I started picturing random faces, my mind running wild.

I started overthinking, and didn’t reply.

Carter noticed and sent several more messages.

"What’s wrong? Are you that desperate to know? Just two more days. Wait for me."

"I promise I’ll tell you first thing."

"Savannah, why aren’t you replying?"

"We’re still going to the library tomorrow, right? I’ll go prep the stuff I need to study."

Just looking at our chat annoyed me, so I shot back:

"Not going. I’ll only talk to you after you tell me at my birthday party who you like."

Hmph, if he really isn’t lying, if he really likes someone else, I’m done with him. No way am I going to be the backup plan.

I’m not about to put all my eggs in one basket.

Besides that linebacker, the other options aren’t so bad!

After that, I ignored all of Carter’s messages. I muted his notifications and tried to focus on my game, but my thoughts kept drifting back to him.

I barely slept that night.

In my dreams, Carter was chasing me around the library all night—I woke up exhausted, like I’d been drained by a vampire. The sun was barely up, and I already felt like I’d run a marathon.

And all I could see in my head was his face pressed up close, shouting, "I like someone! I like someone!"

Damn it, who even wants to know that!

Yeah, Carter Hayes is a total vampire. A thousand-year-old bloodsucker. One that came just to suck the life out of me.

Sunday’s my birthday, and I’d planned to go to the library with Carter and order my cake afterward. That was our tradition, ever since high school.

Never mind, I can order it myself.

We’ve been childhood friends since before college—every birthday party, we always planned together. There’s a bakery downtown we always went to, the one with the neon cupcake sign in the window.

We’ve come here every year. The owner knows us well. When she saw I was alone, she looked surprised.

"Hey, Savannah, how come you’re by yourself today? Where’s Carter? Haha, aren’t you two always joined at the hip?"

Yeah, well, not anymore. He’s moved on, I guess. I tried to sound casual, but my voice came out brittle.

"He’s gone. I came by myself."

The owner took one look at my face and just grinned.

"Haha, you young folks and your spats are hilarious."

"Alright, so which cake do you want? Same hotel as last year?"

I pointed at a cake so green it practically glowed. It was ridiculous, almost radioactive-looking, but I didn’t care.

"This one. And same hotel as before, please."

She stared at the cake for a while.

"You’re not joking?"

I replied, "Nope."

She said, "Alright, you can change your mind before I start tomorrow, but I’ll reserve it for now."

I gave her a weak smile, then left, forcing a grin that didn’t reach my eyes. The bell above the bakery door jingled as I walked out, echoing in the empty street.

All day, I kept my phone on silent, didn’t even feel like posting. I scrolled aimlessly, but nothing could distract me.

Only after I got back to the dorm, cleaned up, and lay in bed did I lazily check my phone.

Sure enough.

99+ messages.

All from one person.

A frantic Carter: "…"

"Savannah, you’re really ignoring me?"

"I’ll tell you tomorrow, I swear—first thing when I see you at your party."

"Ahhhh, are you mad at me?"

"No way, you’re really not replying."

"Venmo $52.00."

"You don’t even care about money now?"