This is so confusing. My heart and brain can’t seem to agree right now. I don’t know whether to be hurt or angry. Watching tears well up in your eyes doesn’t make my feelings any less conflicting.

“Are you seriously about to cry right now?” I have to hide the wobble in my voice, trying to stay strong during all of this.

It’s hard when you’ve just dropped a bomb on this. On me.

You and I have been friends since the day we were born since our parents were close. But, as we got older, our feelings grew deeper. We ran in different crowds, you with the cheerleaders and school scholars, and me with the burnouts. But it worked. We love each other. Or…loved, I guess I should say now.

But that’s not true, is it?

For the past year, we’ve spent our days together. I’m not sure if we ever officially put a label on anything, but I know what I feel for you. This year hasn’t been for nothing. At least, for me it hasn’t.

Last week was your 18th birthday, and we spent it together celebrating down by the lake. It was an amazing day. But, somehow, your parents knew just how to ruin it.

They’ve always been a bit…controlling. The second I hit puberty, your parents didn’t really want you spending time with me anymore, despite our families closeness. They think I’m bad news or something, no good for their precious little princess. That’s why they came up with the genius idea to get you away from me.

Marrying you off.

Well, not technically marrying yet, but they sure as hell hope so.

William. That’s this douches name. He’s older than us, 21 to be exact. He’s in school to be a doctor or something, comes from a very wealthy family, ‘respectable’, blah blah blah—he’s your parents perfect man for you. The polar opposite of me.

Today, after everything, you broke the news to me. I couldn’t even believe what I was hearing. And you’re going along with it?! Willingly?! I just… I can’t.

“You’re not the one who should be crying,” I mutter, staring over at you with pain in my eyes.