Marcy was looking forward to the perfect, uncomplicated senior year... but Fate had other plans.
Right now life seemed like a dream: the hottest boyfriend, the best girlfriend and her parents had just bought her the coolest car. Okay, so it was fifteen years old and a little battered and rusty in places, but was hers. It represented freedom. The chance to go wherever she wanted, whenever she wanted.
So long as she respected curfew, of course.
And got good grades.
And visited her Great Aunt Esme every Sunday afternoon.
There were quite a few conditions on this freedom, all things considered. Otherwise the keys got confiscated and it was back to being driven around by her parents again.
But still, nothing could dampen Marcy's spirits. It was the last week of summer break and she should have felt sad about the vacation ending. Instead she was excited about her final year of high school. It was the last year she would get to spend with all her friends before many of them moved away to college in different parts of the country.
Marcy had been working at a local coffee shop over the summer, and she was driving there now. Katy Perry was playing on the radio and she sang along, feeling her life was absolutely, flawlessly perfect.
Except that everything was about to come crashing down around her.
Quite literally.
Her shift started off OK. Ben, the cute gay guy who managed the café, was in a good mood. Things were busy enough for the time to pass quickly, but there wasn't such an overwhelming rush that customers got rude and demanding.
"You'll have to let me know what hours you're available for when term starts. You're a good worker, Marcy, I'd hate to lose you," Ben said.
Coming from Ben this was high praise. He was usually very flippant and fake—critical about her work.
"I'll have a lot of study, but maybe a couple of shifts a week?" she suggested, and went to serve a super—hot customer who had just come up to the counter. Marcy wasn't looking at guys for herself, but her best friend Addy was single, and it never hurt to play matchmaker.
He had black hair and green eyes. Definitely a college guy, maybe even a graduate. Probably not Addy's kind of guy unfortunately, as she preferred blond surfer types.
"What can I get you today?" she asked him. He ordered a coffee and went off to a table.
"He's new around here," Ben said when the customer had gone. "He's not a face I'd forget. Or a butt," he added, eyeing the customer from the back.
"No looking and no touching!" Marcy joked. "You're as hitched as I am." Ben lived with his boyfriend Jason and the two of them were rock solid, despite Ben's flirtatiousness.
When Marcy had her break she phoned Josh, her boyfriend. They had been going out since Valentine's Day. He had been on a trip with his parents the last two weeks, so they were belatedly celebrating their six months anniversary that evening.
"Hey, how was the trip? We still on for tonight?"
Marcy was expecting a "yes" and a "missed you" and a "can't wait to see you". She wasn't expecting an awkward pause, and what followed.
"Marcy, there's something I need to tell you…"
After she got off the phone she was too numb to cry. Too shocked to even react. Ben could tell something was up but he didn't press her.
Josh had met someone else. In just two weeks. Her Josh. Her perfect, wonderful, loving boyfriend. How could he do this to her? The only slight, saving grace, the only thing that made this bearable at all, was that the girl didn't go to their high school.
Marcy finished her shift in a blur, hardly noticing or caring that the cute customer left her a great tip or caught her eye and smiled at her. She was The Rejected. She was unloved and unwanted and discarded. The sun had gone out of the sky. That was the day's first disaster.
As planned, Addy came to meet her at the end of her shift. They were heading to the mall to pick out an outfit for Marcy's supposed anniversary dinner that night. Except that clearly wasn't going to happen now.
"Oh no, you've had bad news haven't you?" Addy didn't need to be psychic, Marcy looked as miserable as hell.
"It's Josh." Marcy told her what had happened.
"Oh God, that makes me feel even worse," Addy said.
"Worse? Don't tell me you have bad news too?"
"Mom got a job. In New York. It was all really last minute, a position suddenly came up. I know she's wanted this promotion for ages, I just never thought it would happen now. Or be in New York."
"But what about school?"
