Falling for my nemesis

Two can play this game

"I reckon everyone in Love Valley I am sorry I didn't know how to tell you." Lynne said her eyes were also beginning to water. I took a deep breath and willed myself to calm down. I couldn't afford to make her cry on her special day. She had been the only friend who stayed with me through these turbulent six years; she deserved to be happy.

"The least you could do was give me a warning. What if I had Andrea here with me?"

"I really am sorry,Alexa."

"Come here,witch. It's okay. Next time, do not spring such surprises on me." I said, stretching out my arms for a hug. We held each other in that position for a while.

"Are you sure you would be alright?"

"I would; it's only for a few hours, and I wouldn't have to see his face again. I am over him now; I was only surprised to see him here." I said. I knew I was lying; there was no way I could get over what he did to me.

"I understand. Come,let's go party. I am getting married!" Lynne screamed. I laughed and prayed to God to help me through the next few hours. The thought that he almost kissed me in the elevator irked me, and I was repulsed at myself for not slapping his face or killing him as I had planned all these years. I couldn't tell that to Lynne; it was too shameful.

The party was in full swing now that everyone had eaten, and the ballroom was alive with dancers. I spotted my parents dancing happily in a corner too. Lynne and Ron were dancing too; she was so happy, and it gladdened me.

"Stop gawking," Dylan said to me. I was startled by his voice and brought back to reality.

"I am not gawking."

"Well, you're looking around too much. You look scared, too. Loosen up,here I have this." He pushed a glass of wine into my hands. I drank it gratefully. Dylan is a lifesaver. He wasn't dancing, so he could stay beside me and play bodyguard against Dre Hidalgo.

"I can't help but feel like a fool,Dylan. Everyone in Love Valley knew he was coming, except me. That's unfair." I said.

"Yes, it is unfair, but life isn't fair. Alexa and you must remember that, just like in every other little town,everyone knows everyone in this town. Small talks like this are inevitable."

"Yes,you're right. Thank you, Dylan. What could I have done without you?" I said, and standing up on my toes, I kissed him on the cheek. He grabbed my hands in his and drew closer to me,staring at me with his intense green eyes.

"Perhaps you would let me take you out on a proper date."

"Oh, stop it. I am not in the dating circle now, and you know it." I chuckled nervously.

"You're a beautiful woman,Alexa. You must always remember that. The man who has you would be a lucky chap. I would gladly spend my life trying to be that man." Dylan said. I laughed, even though I knew he meant it. Dylan has been in love with me since we were in Junior high, but I never reciprocated it. He was handsome—a real blondie—and I knew more than a dozen girls who wanted him, but instead he chased me. We have always had our circle, Lynne, Dylan, and I, and I didn't think it appropriate to date within the circle. That was before Andrea; now I don't think it's appropriate to date anyone.

"Really, thank you, Dylan." I said, but he wasn't looking at me anymore. He was looking past my head with an ugly scowl on his face. My heart sank.

"Alexa, I need you to calm down. Dre's coming. He has a woman with him." He warned me. My head snapped involuntarily at his last sentence, and I looked behind me. My mouth hung open as I stared at the beautiful woman walking beside him. She had hair just as dark as his, and her figure was like something out of a fitness magazine, with slender hips and a tiny waist. Her hips swayed effortlessly as she walked. I felt fat immediately,with my larger hips and fuller breasts. I wasn't always like this; giving birth to Andrea turned me this way.

"Hello,Alexa. We meet again." He said he came up to us once.

Again?" Dylan cut in

"And you are?" Dre asked him, lifting a perfectly arched eyebrow. Dylan simply ignored him. I hated his pride and guts. I held my breath as both men stared each other down. The air was thick with tension until the woman with him coughed.

"Meet my fiancée, Querida. She has just flown in from Spain to meet my family. We would be getting married soon." He said. It took me a minute to process this bit of information, after which I realized my mouth was hanging agape.

"Oh,why, congratulations,Querida. You're a very lucky woman, I must say." My voice was heavily laced with sarcasm, but she didn't catch it.

"Si, thank you." She replied with a smile. God,she was beautiful and flawless. She spoke English with a Spanish accent.

"You remember Dylan from school? He was a class ahead of Lynne and me, but we have always been friends. He was on your football team." I blurted out anything to distract myself from the painful discovery before my eyes.

"Yes,. I think I do. I thought he looked familiar. It must have been one of the juniors who carried the water coolers for us." Dre said it as proudly as always. Querida laughed at his dry joke. I was mad with rage for Dylan and myself.

"Well, I am glad to introduce him to you as my boyfriend. Perhaps one day in the near future, we will send you our wedding invitation too." I said,standing on my toes again, that I kissed Dylan on the lips this time. A surprised Dylan made the best of it and pulled me in for a long kiss. When we broke the kiss, Dre no longer had the smirk on his face. It has been replaced with something akin to annoyance. Surprisingly,it pleased me.

"I am glad for you both then. Querida and I must retire our suites now so we can be well rested before the ceremony tomorrow." Dre said.

"Dylan and I should retire home too. Tomorrow will be a long day. It was nice meeting you, Querida. You're one lucky woman. I hope to get the invitation soon." I said. I knew I was talking too much, but the look on Dre's face was priceless.

"Goodnight." He said it tightly and pulled his woman away. I watched him retreat and wanted to give a victorious shout, but the look on Dylan's face told me to shut up.

"I am sorry, Dylan." I said it immediately. "I shouldn't have done that."

"Yet you did. Why were you trying to make him jealous?"

"I wasn't!"

"Do you still feel anything for him,Alexa? Tell me the truth."

"I hate him. I want revenge."

"Then take revenge on him."

"How do I do that? Can't you see him, Dylan? He's so happy. He's even getting married while I am here, stuck with a baby."

"You aren't stuck, Alexa, unless you want to be and Andrea is a blessing. I can help you take revenge on Dre Hidalgo."