Friendships are complicated things. Sophie and I weren’t the storybook best friends who did everything together. Our bond was built on a shaky foundation of high school rivalry—we competed for grades, sports, and even attention. But somewhere along the way, we found common ground. By college, she was the one I trusted with everything, the one who always had my back.
Or so I assumed.
When Sophie called me a few weeks ago, her voice bubbled with excitement. “Oakley! Ryan and I are throwing a little engagement party,” she said, pausing dramatically. “It’s a surprise announcement. No one else knows yet, not even Ryan. So, I need your help.”
“Of course, Sophie,” I said, genuinely happy for her. “Congratulations, bestie!” Ryan was sweet and lovely, and Sophie deserved someone who treated her well and always put her first.
“But it’s not a big thing,” she added quickly. “I want a cozy, intimate vibe, you know? Just our closest people. You’re so good at planning. Can you handle the event?”
I didn’t hesitate; I actually loved planning events. “Absolutely,” I said. “Just tell me what you need.”
Over the next few weeks, I noticed Sophie’s usual chatter had a strange edge. She was jumpy and dismissive whenever I pressed her for details. “I don’t want to jinx it,” she’d say with a nervous laugh.
“Jinx what?” I asked. “Everything is already planned. I just need to finalize the cake order. It’s all going to be perfect.”
“You can’t be too careful,” she replied wryly.
I figured it was just pre-party jitters. She’d always been a little dramatic, which I thought was part of her charm. I didn’t question it further.
By Friday night, I had spent hours arranging pink and gold balloons, fairy lights, and floral centerpieces. Sophie’s backyard looked like a scene from a romantic movie. She squealed when she saw the setup. “It’s exactly how I imagined it! Thank you, Oak. You’ve made it perfect.”
When Saturday arrived, I loaded the last box of heart-shaped balloons into my car, excited for Sophie’s big reveal to Ryan. He had been away for work and was supposed to walk into the surprise engagement. I could already picture his stunned face, the joy in Sophie’s eyes, and the warmth of celebrating.
But when I stepped into the event hall, my excitement curdled into something cold and heavy.
Jason, my ex-boyfriend, stood in the center of the living room, surrounded by all the decorations I had arranged. He wore a suit and held a small, velvet ring box. His grin spread wide—the same grin that once charmed me and now made my stomach churn.
“Surprise!” Sophie chirped, rushing toward me with a wide smile. “Jason has been planning this for weeks! And we thought, who better to help with the decorations than you? Isn’t it romantic?”
I stared at her, the pieces slowly clicking into place. This wasn’t Sophie and Ryan’s engagement party. This was Jason’s proposal to me. I had unknowingly helped decorate and cater the entire event.
“What the hell is this?” I managed to whisper, my voice shaking.
Jason stepped closer, that familiar confidence oozing from him. “I know I messed up,” he began, acknowledging the understatement of the century. “But I’ve changed, Oakley. You’re the only one for me. And I want to spend the rest of my life proving it.”
My mind reeled. Jason, who had cheated on me with a coworker, forced me into questioning my worth, and dumped me with a single text—now thought this public spectacle would erase it all?
I turned to Sophie, desperate for an explanation. “You knew what he did to me,” I said, my voice breaking. “You knew, Sophie.”
She shrugged, smiling as if she hadn’t just betrayed me. “Everyone makes mistakes. Besides, he’s serious now. He’s ready to commit, Oak. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted? Isn’t that what matters?”
The air seemed to leave my lungs. Sophie had always been impulsive, but this was an entirely new level of betrayal.
“You thought this was okay?” I asked.
“It’s a grand gesture, Oakley!” she said brightly. “I think you’ll thank me one day.”
I had barely noticed my parents until my mom stepped forward. Her voice was soft, pleading. “Jason explained everything, Oak. He made a mistake, but he’s trying to make it right. Don’t be so stubborn, sweetheart. You’re not getting any younger.”
I felt the walls close in. My humiliation, my anger… it was all secondary to the suffocating realization that the people I trusted most were siding with him.
Just as I turned to leave, Noah walked in carrying the cake box I’d asked him to bring. Seeing him made me feel better. He paused, scanning the room, his brows knitting in confusion. His gaze landed on me, tear-streaked and trembling.
“What’s going on?” he asked, his voice steady but firm.
Jason puffed up his chest. “I’m proposing to Oakley, Noah. You don’t have an issue with that, do you?”
Noah’s eyes darted back to me. “Do you want this?” he asked softly.
I shook my head, unable to speak.
“Then let’s go,” Noah said without hesitation. He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door. The cool night air hit my face like a lifeline.
We drove in silence for a while until I finally told Noah everything. He just listened. Noah had been around for years, but I hadn’t been fully open about Jason. Over the following months, our friendship became more intimate. He became a rock. He never pushed or pried; he simply was. When the time was right, our relationship deepened into something more, starting with a romantic picnic in a parking lot. Noah reminded me that love wasn’t supposed to hurt or feel like an uphill battle.
As for Sophie? Months passed—months of me cutting her out, deleting her texts, and dodging her calls. I thought I had moved on.
Then, one chilly afternoon, she showed up at the café where I was meeting Noah. The bell above the door jingled as she stepped inside, her smile faltering when she saw me. I froze, mid-sip of my latte.
“Oakley! I was hoping I’d run into you!” she approached with hesitant steps.
“What do you want, Sophie?” I didn’t return her smile.
“I’ve missed you. I know you’re mad, but I hate how things ended. I just want to explain.”
“Explain what, Sophie? That you thought it was a good idea to ambush me with the guy who destroyed me? That you cared so little about my feelings you turned my pain into a romantic gesture for Jason?”
“It wasn’t like that,” she said quickly. “I was trying to help you. You and Jason… there was so much love there. I just thought if he could show you he was serious, you’d see it too.”
“Serious? He broke me, and you knew that.”
“People change! He wanted to make things right. I thought you’d be happy! You used to love him, Oakley! How was I supposed to know you’d react like that?”
My jaw dropped. “React like that? You mean like a normal person who doesn’t want to be blindsided by their abusive ex in front of their family and friends?”
“You’re blowing this out of proportion, Oakley. Like you always do. I wanted you to be happy like me.”
I stared at her, the full weight of her words hitting me. “No, you were trying to force me into the life you thought I should want. You’ve never cared about what I actually feel, Sophie. It’s always been about you.”
“That’s not true,” she said.
“It is. Now, please leave.”
Just then, the bells above the door jingled again, and Noah walked in, beaming.
“That’s my cue to leave,” Sophie huffed.
“I assume that wasn’t an apology, was it?” Noah asked.
“No,” I said with a small, bitter laugh. “But that’s okay. I don’t need her apology anymore.”
