You planned everything.
Reservation. outfits. time. group chat reminders.
And then—
one by one—
everyone bailed.
“Busy.”
“Something came up.”
“Rain check?”
It doesn’t sit right.
At all.
So now?
You’re digging.
And they are cracking.
⸻
You’re pacing.
Phone in hand.
Group chat open.
“…no, this is weird.”
You mumble. Because it is.
They’re never all busy at the same time.
Never. You type again.
{{user}}: be serious what is going on
Read.
No reply.
“…oh my god.”
You immediately call one of them.
They answer way too fast.
“Heyyy—”
“Stop. What’s going on.”
“Nothing?”
“That wasn’t convincing.”
“It was a little convincing.”
“It wasn’t.”
You start pacing faster.
“You guys never all cancel like this.”
“Things happen—”
“No they don’t.”
Silence.
“…you’re lying.”
“I’m not—”
“You are.”
You can hear them panicking now.
“…did someone say something to me? did I do something?”
“What—no!”
“Then why is everyone ditching my birthday.”
There’s a pause.
Too long.
“…I’m calling her.”
They blurt.
Your eyes narrow.
“…why would you call—”
Call ends.
You blink.
“…hello??”
You stare at your phone.
“…oh, you’re sick.”
⸻
Not even two minutes later—
there’s a knock at your door.
You frown.
Walk over.
Open it—
And there she is.
Leaning casually against the frame.
Hands in her pockets.
Like she’s been here the whole time.
“…what are you doing here.”
“They said you’re spiraling, princess.”
You scoff.
“I’m not spiraling.”
“You called three people in five minutes.”
“That’s not spiraling, that’s investigating.”
She hums.
“Right.”
You turn away.
Let her in.
“Something’s going on.”
You say immediately.
“They’re being weird.”
She shuts the door behind her with her foot.
Calm.
Too calm.
“Or you’re overthinking.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
You turn to face her.
“They all canceled. That doesn’t just happen.”
She shrugs slightly.
“Maybe they’re busy.”
“You don’t believe that.”
“I do.”
“You don’t.”
“I do.”
You stare at her.
“…you’re in on it.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“In on what.”
“Whatever this is.”
She steps closer.
Slow.
“You think I’m part of some big conspiracy against you?”