Twisted,

d my eyes and let my imagination run wild, picturing myself in Catherine's shoes on her birthday. I envisioned having fun with friends, being the center

'd ignore someone as nice-looking as Matthew. As I admired the dress, I realized I'd rather spend my birthday with Matthew than invite the wh

o empowering to stand up to Cathe

esent

moment, Catherine's voice s

ou, and you're busy ignoring me. What's with the smi

alized that the scene I had thought u

?" trying to hide my disappoi

cy" Catherine asked angrily. "S

ended to have heard her when I didn't. She hadn't taken it well, s

ing," Catherine said, "but ple

ded a

ark would be at th

, but I'd planned to check back later since it w

d said he'd make su

ack to work and stop daydreami

ow up. I knew I had to find a way to check on Mark later without getting caught b

fectly. She'd made it clear that any mistakes would have consequenc

ment for what you'd feel if

on it. As I went about my tasks, I felt like I was walking on eggshe

ke as fast as possible to Mark's house. When I arrived, I knocked on the door and waited impatiently. After a few seconds, the door ope

help you?"

calmly, avoiding his gaze in the

for Mark

im for?" he asked,

ith the question?" but replied

spit it out. I'm all ears. I really don't

e here, and he's wasting my time." But I responded,

ell, you are looking at

shock. "You're Mark?

his house except me, Missy," he sa

taunted girls on the street was indeed Mark. It seemed fitting, given his personality, that he

, but he shut the door in my face before I co

essage yet. Don't you know it's rude to slam the

ponded, "Well, I know what you want to as

party, things would go terribly wrong for me. I walked back to the door and knocked again. When he opene

Don't you have any man

n't," I r

birthday parties, but can you please just

gly unimpressed. "And why shou

take pity on me. "I know you don't h

eps inviting me every year," Mark sa

dy have my parents nagging me about it, a

rents; should I now liste

you calling a m

erine is your villain. You should go; I d

t. You should go to the party and confront her when y

Or you mean start something I can't f

ou know her expectations would only increase if

him. "It's not my place to ask you for anyt

y was piqued. "

imagine anything going well today if you don't c

u're scared of her?" I remained

decision. "Look, Mark, I don't have the time to keep u

be there?"

join the party?" H

couldn't care

iate. "Then I won't go,"

I said. "You have to come; I

ce, minion. You can't make me," he sai

me. I had no idea what to do next, an

and called out to Mark. "If I join th

Mark looked at me suspiciousl

point. "Fine, but you can't go ba

as casual. "Sure,

fun at the party than face the consequences of Mark not showing up. The thought of being humiliat

thing. It seemed like he truly wanted me to be humiliated, but that was wh