Chapter Twenty Five: Who Is The Lucky Guy???

**Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock...**

The only sound breaking the silence in her room was the steady ticking of the wall clock. Cara sat frozen in front of her closet, lost in thought. Her eyes were fixed on the sketch who looked like Vince, and she hadn’t moved in what felt like an eternity. The day had gone by in a blur, but the illustration, which she had finally found after weeks of searching, held her attention entirely. 

Cara's face was pale, still, almost frozen like an ice sculpture, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing. The sketch in front of her was not just a vague resemblance of Vince; it was eerily accurate. The artist had captured every detail of his face, from the shape of his nose to the curve of his lips, as if Vince himself had posed for it. The sketch could have been a carbon copy of him.

Her breath caught as she blinked, her mind racing to connect the dots. How could this be? How could the image of Vince be in this sketch when she hadn’t met him yet? She thought back to the vivid dream she’d had—a dream where maybe Vince's face played a starring role, an almost fairytale-like scenario. The dream felt so real, so intense, and she was sure it wasn’t just a coincidence. But now, standing in front of the sketch, the question gnawed at her: how could she have dreamt about him before even meeting him in real life?

Before she could dive deeper into her spiraling thoughts, the sound of a sharp *knock knock* interrupted her.

Cara’s heart jumped, the unexpected sound pulling her out of her reverie. She quickly turned her head toward the door, startled by the interruption.

"Will?" she asked, confused, as she looked at the figure standing in her doorway. Will—her childhood friend. She hadn't been expecting him, and it was certainly not who she had hoped would be standing there. She had assumed Jean would be the one to check on her. Will’s familiar, warm smile greeted her, but something felt off. Why was he here? Wasn’t Jean supposed to be the one checking in on her?

"Hey, pretty," Will greeted her casually. "Sorry to interrupt your quiet moment. Your mom sent me to check on you. She said I could disturb you—can I?"

Cara held back the urge to snap at him for knocking on her door like they were still kids. Instead, she managed a polite but distant smile. 

"No, it’s fine. Can you wait for me in the living room? I’ll be down in a minute," she replied, trying to keep the conversation civil. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Will, but she didn’t feel the same sense of comfort around him as she did with Vince. With Vince, there was a freedom she didn’t experience with anyone else—she could be herself anywhere, whether it was at school, in the library, or even during awkward moments. But with Will, there was a certain distance she couldn’t cross.

**Later, in the living room...**

Cara joined Will in the living room, trying her best to act normal. She was still caught up in her swirling thoughts about Vince and the dream, but she focused on Will, hoping to push the confusion aside, even if just for a moment.

"So, what’s up?" Cara asked, keeping her voice casual and light, trying to sound interested in the conversation.

Will took a deep breath, his demeanor shifting slightly. "Well, I’ll get straight to the point," he said, looking at her with a mix of determination and uncertainty. "I was wondering if you’d be my date to the acquaintance party?"

Cara’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected this, and the last thing she wanted was to disappoint him. How could she let him down without hurting him? 

“Actually…” she hesitated, feeling the weight of the situation settle in her chest. “Someone already asked me, and I said yes.” She swallowed hard, trying not to sound too apologetic. "I’m really sorry, Will."

His face faltered for a moment, but he quickly masked his disappointment with a forced smile. “Who’s the lucky guy?” he asked, his tone still trying to sound cheerful, but Cara could detect the strain behind his words.

Cara felt a pang of guilt, but she pushed through. “His name’s Vince. He’s my classmate in Chemistry. I’m really sorry. I have to go with him for personal reasons,” she explained, offering a smile that she hoped conveyed her sincere apology.

“Ah, I see,” Will replied, his voice sounding almost flat now. “It’s fine, really. Maybe next time,” he added quickly, but his words didn’t carry the same enthusiasm. Cara could tell he was trying to hide his disappointment, but it was clear in the way he spoke. She gave him a polite smile, but the silence that followed felt awkward, and she didn’t know what to say next.

**The Acquaintance Party...**

“Wow, I can’t believe what I’m seeing!” Jean’s excited voice rang through the phone as Cara adjusted her makeup in front of the mirror. “You look even more stunning than I imagined! The gown, the makeup—it all fits you perfectly. You’re going to blow everyone away at the party!”

Cara smiled at her friend’s enthusiasm, though she couldn’t shake the nervousness that settled in her stomach. Jean had been skeptical all along, wondering whether Cara would actually show up at the party. But now that she was all dressed up, she couldn’t back out. She had already agreed to go, and there was no turning back.

Dingdong!

“Cara, Will’s here!” her mom called out from downstairs. “Your date’s here, sweetie! Come on down!”

Cara froze. Will? She stared at the door, confused. Will wasn’t supposed to be her date tonight. She had been expecting Vince.

Her pulse quickened as she rushed to the mirror for a final check. She wore a royal blue gown with a stunning V-cut neckline, and a delicate lace half-sleeve. The dress was backless, adorned with Swarovski beads along the bodice, and a thigh-high slit that revealed her smooth skin. It fit her perfectly—like something straight out of a designer’s dream.

Her hand gripped the gray pouch she’d picked to match the dress, her other hand adjusting her hair. Every step as she descended the stairs felt like slow motion, each one carrying a weight of uncertainty. She tried to walk gracefully in the three-inch stilettos, not wanting to stumble like she had the first time she tried them on.

When she reached the bottom, her eyes immediately scanned the room, searching for Vince. But instead of Vince, she was met with Will’s expectant gaze. Her heart sank.

“Will?” she asked, voice shaking. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of Vince. He should have been there by now.

She quickly pulled her phone out and dialed his number, her hands trembling slightly. The operator’s voice quickly answered, asking her to leave a message.

“No…” she whispered to herself, panic rising in her chest. Could he really have stood her up?

"Where is Vince?" she muttered under her breath, staring at the phone as she ended the call. She had tried to prepare for the possibility that this might happen, but now that it was real, she didn’t know what to do. Would he show up? Or had she been left to face the night alone?