Strings of Fate: The First Loop

CHAPTER 38

Maybe life is like that, woven from the threads of pain and joy, inseparable and entangled. One cannot exist without the other. The cracks in the jar are what let the light in. The silence between the words is where meaning lives.

And so I carry it all.... the ache and the hope, the memories and the moments yet to come... quietly, like a secret strength.

I slid back into our corner, the noise of the lunchroom wrapping around me like a warm, chaotic blanket. My mind still clung to that fleeting image of Olive... the way she looked at me, like some secret was hidden behind that smirk. It scraped at something raw inside me, a reminder that the past wasn’t done with me yet.

Before I could settle, a small group of students approached, their faces bright with excitement.
“Hey, we’re going to vote for you as prom queen! Can we get a picture with you?” one of them asked, phone held out like a trophy. I posed for a selfie with them for a moment.

I glanced over at Inez, my eyes narrowing playfully.
“Tell me you didn’t...”

Inez threw up her hands with a guilty grin.
“I had to, B. I’m sorry! The applications were right there on the table, and well… I did what needed to be done.”

I sighed, the corners of my mouth twitching into a reluctant smile.
“I don’t know what to do with you…”

Corey nudged her, eyes sparkling.
“Well, the three of us can go pick outfits together. You know, to help you prepare for your inevitable coronation.”

Inez bounced in her seat.
“Ooooh, that sounds fun!”

I smiled despite myself.
“Fine. But only if I get to skip the bow.”

Inez gasped dramatically.
“Blasphemy! The bow is iconic.”

Corey rolled her eyes but laughed.
“Betty’s got a point. Maybe just one bow per outfit. No overdosing.”

The three of us burst into laughter, the sound threading through the noisy cafeteria.

“So, what are we thinking?” Inez asked, leaning forward conspiratorially. “Classic ball gown? Or something wild and unexpected?”

“Something wild, definitely,” Corey said with a grin. “Maybe with sequins. I want to sparkle like I’m radioactive.”

I nodded, feeling the familiar flutter of excitement. “Maybe a little retro. I’m thinking 90s vibes... slip dresses and chokers.”

“Perfect,” Inez said, eyes gleaming. “And we can raid the vintage shops downtown. The hunt makes it better.”

For a moment, the weight of everything else... the fights, the awkward silences, the complicated pieces of us... faded away.

Just three friends, plotting a night that promised laughter, light, and maybe even a little magic.

After class, I slipped into the driver’s seat of my Toyota Vios and closed the door with a soft thud. For a moment, I just sat there, phone in hand, the screen lit up with James’s name and a text that simply read:
"Practice ran long. Call me later? 🏀❤️"

I smiled faintly. Earlier, I only managed to peek through the glass panels of the gym, catching a glimpse of him mid-laugh, sweat on his brow, waving at me like a goof with a flying kiss. I returned it in secret, hidden behind the corner of a water dispenser. It was funny, how love can make you brave in such quiet, ridiculous ways.

The drive to my dad’s workplace wasn’t long, a stretch of road shaded by acacia trees, their branches drooping like tired arms over the dusty sidewalks. The mechanic shop stood where it always had, with its peeling red signage and the smell of grease clinging to the air like second skin. The clang of tools and a faint radio buzz served as its soundtrack.