The Hottest Betrayal

Today is really just another day for me. Waking up in an empty house that used to be filled with mom's laughter and dad's cooking, now filled with dust and the echoes of what used to be. I wipe my eyes and cover my head, trying to blink away the sun peaking through my window. I don't want to get up yet, or ever again for that matter. My phone buzzes rapidly under my pillow. [Stacy Mcoy] My aunt's name flashes across the screen. She is a famous author who is stationed in Colorado giving lectures to college students who are working on their own books. She writes thrillers and romances. On top of being one of the #1 bestsellers. She is loaded too. She was almost married when she was young due to a contract my grandparents set up, but she chased school instead. I look up to her for that. “Have you thought about your answer yet?” She hums into the phone. I can hear her fingers typing away on her computer. She offered to let me stay in one of her apartments she had in a different state. “No… not yet” I sigh. “I know you miss your parents, Lotus, I miss them too. Especially my sister. I just don’t trust you being there by yourself with barely any money where I don't have eyes on you, especially since GramGram and PopPop passed just after your parents…. . I have some friends in Boston who could check on you and help you out. I could also give you a card to load a weekly allowance, and set you up in a new school and apartment. "Maybe even some driving lessons.” She tried to sound hopeful. “I never said no… I’m just still thinking. Anyways, it's the last week of the school year so i’ll let you know by Friday. Okay?” With that I ended the call. FLASH BACK I ran into the kitchen smelling the most delicious breakfast. French toast, eggs, and bacon, my favorite. My mom sways her hips to the music while dad finishes plating the food. "Morning, pumpkin!" he grinned. "I was just about to call you, but then your mother over here started talking about wanting another kid." I almost dropped my plate. "EWWW, Dad! Gross! You’re like fifty!" I gagged, dramatically clutching my chest before pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. Mom spun around, immediately swatting my arm. "Lotus Bell Briant! We are not that old!" I burst out laughing, and Dad just smirked like he knew exactly how to get a reaction out of us. We settled at the table, chatting about dreams, goals, and what senior year might look like. Dad placed his hand over Mom’s, launching into the hundredth retelling of how they met and fell in love in college. I rolled my eyes, but deep down, I wanted something like that—something real, something steady. I had a boyfriend, but lately, he had been acting distant. "Me and your dad were thinking," Mom said, pulling me back to reality. "You should invite Mya over for a family movie night tonight. We could make popcorn, maybe grill—it’s been forever since we had one." "Okay, sure," I nodded. "Plus, with all these exams, I desperately need a pick-me-up." I shot Mya a quick text before scarfing down the last bites of breakfast. "Okay, I gotta get to school! Love you guys!" The walk to school was short, familiar—ten minutes of fresh air before stepping into the chaos. The second I spotted Mya, I ran up behind her, covering her eyes with my hands. "Guess who?" She hummed, pretending to think. "Hmmmm… IDK…" I laughed as she turned, but the moment I saw her face, I paused. Her makeup was smudged, cheeks a little flushed. She blinked, realizing I was staring. "I was up all night watching Love Island, then overslept and had to run here," she rushed out, smiling. I squinted. "You, ma’am, have a problem." "Listen—" she pointed dramatically. "Do not judge me. This season is gold." Before I could reply, an arm wrapped around my waist. "You ladies talking about me?" Anthony kissed my forehead before securing his grip around my waist. "As if, Ant Boy," Mya huffed, causing us both to laugh. They had always been like this—he messed with her, she fought back, an endless cycle of nonsense. "Oh, you never responded to my text. My place after school?" I asked. She clapped her hands together. "Yesss, your mom makes the best sweets." "Obviously. How do you think I got my girlfriend here?" Anthony smirked at me. "Ew, that’s cute and gross," Mya and I muttered while looking at each other laughing. “This is why we are best bitches, you get me” I placed one hand on Mya causing us to burst out giggling. I kissed Anthony’s cheek, laughing as we all headed to class. Hours later, I sent my mom a text on the way home. No reply. Tried calling Dad. No answer. Usually, they picked up on the first or third ring—no matter what. Maybe they were just busy. I texted Mya. No response. I hadn’t seen her since fourth period, and she was supposed to walk home with me. A strange feeling settled in my stomach as I turned the corner. Then I saw it. The front door was wide open. My heartbeat stuttered. Slowly, cautiously, I stepped inside. Nothing seemed out of place. Everything was normal. Too normal. See you later. I swallowed, moving toward my parents’ bedroom. Nothing disturbed, nothing shifted. So why did it feel wrong? FLASHBACK OVER They never came back. The cops said that since they left a letter then they must just be busy and that I was the legal age to be left alone. When they didn't come back for the 2 week mark, they searched and searched but came up on a dead end. No cards were used, they had shown up for work, no clothes were packed and they acted as normal as possible. I had been a mess and by the time I had shown up sweaty again all I could do was hug. My teachers understood and sent my work home for me to do, Mya has been supportive, spending nights here and there with me filling me in on all the drama, and Anthony has been just the sweetest. There were some times when he would stay over but nothing even went far because I’m just not ready which he has always understood. When I told my aunt she told me not to panic but I could hear the panic in her voice. That's when she made me that offer. “This might not be a good time but Chealsy is throwing a party this Friday to celebrate entering our senior year, you down” Mya asked over the phone. “ I don't think so. It feels so wrong being out there having fun and my parents are still missing.” I tried to hold back tears. It’s been so quiet and empty since they haven't been home in almost three weeks now. “I understand. Do you want me to come chill with you instead?” “No, you have been such a great best friend this month. Don’t let my problems stop you from going out and having fun. Okay?” I smiled weakly. Friday rolled around before I could blink. I scrolled through my phone watching story after story on Finstagram of all our grades getting ready, arriving, and drinking at the party. I need to get out of this house, all I have done is sit around barely showering or eating aside the time Anthony or Mya came over. I took a hot shower, brushed my hair, did some mascara, and put on blush and lip gloss and let my hair dry in its natural curls. I pulled up to the party and immediately received pity stares with some asking how I have been and hugging me. I pushed through the crowd to find Mya or I was passing the bathroom when the loudest moaning I had ever heard stopped me in my tracks. I was ready to keep walking—until I heard it. "An—Anthony, right there!" My heart dropped. No. It couldn’t be. Before I could even process what was happening, my legs moved on their own, and my hand rested against the door. It creaked open slowly, revealing a sight I never should have seen—my best friend, facing the mirror, lost in the moment, receiving the loudest claps of all. His eyes met mine. For a moment, time froze. Anthony took a second to catch on, but by then, it was too late. Shock overtook him, but not before he finished, leaving a silence colder than the air around us. The music outside was muffled, distant, meaningless compared to the scene searing itself into my memory. Mya shoved Anthony away, her eyes welling with tears “ Lotus! Wait please” she cried up but I could hear, I just ran, ran all the way home. She chased but I picked up the pace. “FAWK Please Lo! Come back I can explain” "Lotus, please," Anthony’s voice was strained, desperate. "It just... happened. We didn’t mean for it to—" I laughed, but it was hollow, sharp. "It just happened?" My gaze flickering between them, disgust curling in her stomach. "That’s the best you’ve got?" Mya stepped forward, her hands trembling. "Lotus, you have to understand—after everything with your parents, we just... we were both lost. It was never supposed to—" I felt the room tilt, my breath catching. Her parents. What was their excuse? But then, something clicked. She thought about all the times Mya showed up with smudged lipstick, the wrinkled clothes, the way she’d avoid answering certain texts. The unexplained disappearances, the way Anthony would suddenly stop responding—always with some excuse. "How long?" The question came out as a whisper, but it sliced through the air like a blade. Anthony swallowed hard. "After... after your parents went missing—" I shook my head before he could finish. "No." My voice was colder now. "It started before that, didn’t it?" Silence. And then—Mya’s guilty expression. The way her eyes darted away. The realization hit me like a truck. "That’s why you never showed up that night." Her voice trembled, but her rage was steady. "The night my parents disappeared. We were supposed to have a family night, and you just never came. You were with him, weren’t you?" Mya opened her mouth, but no words came out. I let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "So that’s it. You’re telling me you wrecked everything because you were ‘lost’? You’re using my parents as your excuse?" "Lotus, it wasn’t like that—" "You’re selfish." My voice as cold as ice now. "Both of you." I couldn’t wait for them to explain, to beg, to come up with more excuses. I turned on her heel and walked away, leaving them standing in the wreckage they created. And for the first time, I didn’t look back. Instead, I called my Aunt“ I’ll move to Boston” .