I Was Left Out So I Chose The Overseas Job

Camille's POV: "I'm sorry. I was the one who wanted to wear a princess gown. If you're upset, we'll go change into gowns like yours. Will that make you happy?" As Vanessa Bellamy spoke, her smile faded, and she looked wounded. "No!" Before I could answer, Darren Ridley had answered for me. "This is your favorite princess gown." Felix Abbott chimed in, "Exactly. Darren spent $100,000 having it custom-made for you. You're our princess tonight. You're not taking it off." Spencer Keene nodded. "Don't feel guilty. You haven't done anything wrong." Watching them take such care with her feelings—it hurt. Darren had spent 2 weeks designing that gown, often staying up past midnight. I'd thought it was my birthday present. "Besides, Camille already has depression. That's practically the same as being crazy. The hospital gown suits her." At Felix's words, Vanessa let out a laugh. "You've got a point." The others relaxed when she laughed, then joined in. I couldn't laugh. I could only stand there, humiliated. After my mother died, I'd developed depression. I often felt like I didn't belong anywhere, and I was afraid to leave the house. That was why Darren had come up with this idea. "We'll all wear psychiatric hospital gowns with you on Halloween. We'll fight this thing by making it ridiculous. Come on out. We'll be right beside you." Now they'd broken their word again. They promised to be there for me, but whenever it mattered, Vanessa came first. Darren pulled me aside. "I told you I forgot to tell you. It wasn't on purpose. Why are you still sulking? Since when did you get so petty?" Felix scolded me too. "Vanessa's finally having a good time. Don't ruin it for her." "It took us forever to cheer her up," Spencer said. "Watch yourself. Don't upset her again." I took a deep breath. Vanessa's feelings always came first. They'd never been there for me when I needed them. Vanessa sneezed, and all three immediately rushed to put their jackets around her. My fingertips were red from the cold. I stood there, clutching the hem of my hospital gown. My phone chimed. Dad had sent two messages. Dad: If you want to come, come. Dad: I'll book your flight. I replied. Camille: Okay. The four of them had already disappeared into the crowd. Vanessa rested her hand on Darren's, with Felix and Spencer following behind. They made a striking group, and people stared. I trailed 10 feet behind them. In my hospital gown, I looked as though I belonged to a different world. No one asked how I was doing. No one waited. Only when we reached a giant jack-o'-lantern did Darren look for me in the crowd and pull me over.