Rejected Once Loved Twice

— Finally! Today it's going to just be perfect. For the day I'd faced thousands of nights, it was one I'd been waiting for when Bryce was finally going to make us official. I had dated him for years now, but it was always behind closed doors, like some forbidden treasure. But not today. Everyone would know today. He said to announce us in front of the whole campus at his party tonight. My room was a chaotic mess with clothes everywhere while I frantically looked for something that would impress Bryce's friends. They were the cool kids on campus. And Bryce just happened to be one of them. Dating him was like stepping into a whole different world—one where it mattered what your dad did, who you knew, or what you wore. "Come on, where is it?" I grumbled, pitching the stack of jeans aside. My heart was racing with excitement and nerves all at once. For me, this was huge—to finally be recognized as Bryce's girlfriend in front of everybody. I pulled the top off the bed and held it up in front of the mirror. It was way too casual. Bryce's parties weren't casual in the least. They were a display of what one had or could attain, worthy of wealth and stature. I needed something that said I belonged there, that I couldn't wait to stand by his side. My nightstand clock seemed to grow louder with each passing second, reminding me how the minutes were slipping out of my hands. I couldn't afford to blow this one. Not now. I went deeper inside my wardrobe as frustration gnawed at me. Why did everything suddenly feel wrong? Why couldn't I find that magic combination that would make Bryce feel proud to introduce me into his world? I turned towards the door, there was a knock, and my best buddy, Sarah, leaned in. "Hey, Lyra, you okay in there?" I smiled as nicely as possible. "Yeah, just trying to find something to wear." Sarah stepped into the room, her brow furrowing as she surveyed the chaos. "It's just a party, Lyra." "It's not just a party," my second best friend and roommate Ava said as she walked into the room. Her face brightened at the thought. "It's Bryce's birthday! And there will be so much food and drinks; let me tell you." Ava always managed to get on the food. I smiled back at them. They were trying to calm me down, but they didn't understand. Not until they figured out that Bryce and I had been dating in secrecy. "I know, I just want everything to go perfect." Sarah nodded her head in understanding. "We will help you find something. You don't have much time left." I glanced at my watch—one minute to spare; Bryce's dorm a few blocks away. Panic swelled through me. "Alright, let's do it," I said, trying to sound decisive. It took the help of Sarah and Ava, flipping through my wardrobe until we finally came up with this sleek black dress that struck just the right chord between being nice and fitting in. We made our way, hurrying out to Bryce's dorm. Music noise reverberated down the corridor as we approached. Other students were just arriving and greeted each other animatedly. I felt relieved that we were still quite early. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. Within minutes, the party was in full swing. The room was overcrowded with students. There was laughter and chatting everywhere. I saw Bryce clear across the room, standing with a group of friends, being congratulated and having his back slapped. I pulled out my phone and texted him, "When are you going to announce us?" I watched him glance down at his phone, then at me. He nodded briefly and slid his phone into his pocket, returning to the conversation. I bit my lip as nerves crept in. What was taking him so long? Ava was dancing her heart out, socializing—mingling; Sarah stuck closer to me, picking on my unease. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Nothing," I lied, forcing a smile. I reached for a drink and gulped it down, trying to steady my nerves. I decided to approach Bryce. Just as I was coming near to him, he turned—or faced me—and quickly shifted to someone else to converse with. Confusion welled inside of me. Why was he avoiding me? I lingered, hoping to find an opening, but he did seem hell-bent on staying away from me. As I faced him when he grappled through a few more people, laboring to move past, I worked up my nerves. "Bryce," I said, planting myself in front of him, "what is going on? Why are you dodging me?" He seemed pretty shocked. "I have no idea," he said, taking my hand. "You need to be patient. I will make the announcement." His touch was warm and reassuring. Briefly, I melted into him, my anxiety fading away. Maybe I was just overreacting. I loved him deeply, and I wanted tonight to be perfect. Ever since we'd had s*x behind the canteen together two weeks ago, my feelings for him only seemed to grow stronger. "Okay," I said, smiling up at him. "I'll give you more time." He squeezed my hand and smiled reassuringly at me before turning back to his friends. I just stood there watching him, wishing he would soon tell everyone that we were together. Minutes passed and still, there was no hint of an announcement. I turned around, but Bryce seemed to be nowhere. Again, my heart started racing; the anxiety bubbled. I needed a moment and some space to collect myself. I walked towards the bathroom to cool off a bit. I went inside and splashed my face with some cold water. The coolness did a bit, but that feeling did not go. Then I looked around, and the slightest quiet sound from that direction came from one of the cubicles. My curiosity got the better of me as I pushed open the door slightly. There, Bryce was putting on a condom, his face flushed and sweating. He wasn't alone. Natasha, the hottest girl in school, was with him. Her skirt was up, and she looked at me with a smirk. "What's happening?" I asked, my voice trembling. Bryce looked up, annoyed. "What does it look like?" he snapped. "Why?" I managed to say, feeling my heart break. The words Bryce said still rang in my ears, sharp, final. "Just leave, Lyra. You and me, we're done." I didn't move. The tears were streaming down from my eyes. My perfect day had turned into a nightmare. "Are you just going to stand there?" he snapped again, his voice full of contempt. "Leave. Now." He spoke as if I was trash, something to be thrown away. I turned and fled, and once outside of the dorm, felt my eyes almost blinded by my tears. I ran out of the dorm, not caring, the laughter and music growing faint as I made my way to the school's bar, nearly empty, most students still at Bryce's party. I slid onto a bar-stool at the counter and ordered a whiskey. The burn of the liquor was a small comfort, but my heart still ached. "It's bad for a beautiful lady to be crying all alone in a bar," a voice said. I looked up to see Liam Hemsworth, captain of the soccer team. He was smooth and happened to be one of the few guys on campus whom even Bryce respected. "Mind if I sit?" he asked, his concern in his eyes.