Chapter 6: The Anniversary

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: The Anniversary

The last rays of the setting sun filtered through the sheer curtains of Iris’s bedroom, painting the room in warm shades of amber and gold. It was that fleeting hour between day and night when everything seemed softer, almost magical, and for a moment, standing before the full-length mirror, Iris allowed herself to believe that perhaps tonight would be different.

She smoothed her palms over the crimson fabric hugging her figure.

The apartment was unusually quiet. The playful laughter that had filled it that morning had long since faded, replaced by the soft hum of the air conditioner and the distant sounds of Seattle traffic filtering through the living room windows.

Iris studied her reflection in the full length mirror in her bedroom. For a long moment...She barely recognized the woman staring back at her.

The red evening gown hugged every graceful curve of her body before cascading elegantly to the floor, the high slit revealing one long leg whenever she shifted her weight. The rich shade of red contrasted beautifully against her fair skin, making the emerald green of her eyes appear even more vivid.

Her raven-black hair had been curled into soft waves that tumbled over one shoulder, framing a face touched with just enough makeup to enhance her natural beauty without masking it.

She had spent nearly an hour getting ready. Not because Jason expected perfection...but because tonight mattered so much to her. It wasn’t simply her birthday, not was it simply their third anniversary.

Tonight was the night she had finally decided to give him every part of herself. It took a lot of courage for her to decide on it, but she realized that she loved Jason too much to leave him hanging everytime he tried to touch her intimately. Everytime he had an arousal and wanted her and she’d flee.

Her fingers instinctively brushed against the delicate silver necklace resting against her collarbone.

A pair of silver heels completed the outfit, while the delicate diamond earrings she’d borrowed from her mother’s jewelry collection the last time she visited, sparkled each time she tilted her head.

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and stared at her reflection.

"You can do this," she whispered to herself.

Her smile looked convincing, but her eyes didn’t.

Almost instinctively, her gaze drifted toward the phone lying on the vanity. There’s still nothing from Jason.

Yet, as the minutes ticked by, she found herself staring at her phone, willing it to buzz with a message or call from him.

Her heart sank deeper with each passing moment. She had sent him several texts earlier in the day, all of which he had read but not responded to. A sinking feeling settled in her stomach, and she couldn’t shake the gnawing uncertainty.

She picked up the phone anyway and still...it’s the same conversation and the same unanswered messages. The same tiny Seen 4:18 PM beneath the anniversary text she’d sent hours ago.

She let out a slow breath and immediately the thought that had become her lifeline throughout the day, resurfaced again.

Maybe he’s busy because the interview could have run late. Maybe his coach could have called an emergency meeting and he couldn’t reply. Maybe his phone battery could have died.

There had to be an explanation. Jason wasn’t the kind of person who would deliberately ignore her for two days... was he?

Just as she was about to lose herself in a spiral of doubt, the door swung open, and her best friend Zoey burst into the room.

"Iris, have you seen my—" Zoey stopped mid-sentence, her mouth fell open and her eyes widened.

Then, with exaggerated slowness, she closed the door behind her without taking her eyes off Iris.

"...Well...oh my God..." She blinked once then twice. "I wasn’t prepared for this at all."

Iris frowned, suddenly feeling self-conscious under her friend’s intense stare. "What?"

"What do you mean, what?" Zoey walked closer, looking Iris up and down with absolutely no attempt to hide her admiration.

"Girl..." She placed a hand dramatically over her chest. "I think my heart just skipped a beat."

Iris laughed a hearty laugh. "Oh, stop it Zoey."

"No, you stop, i’m serious right now." Zoey circled her once, like an artist admiring a masterpiece.

"I knew that dress looked gorgeous when we bought it, but I did not expect..." She shook her head in disbelief. "...this."

Iris felt warmth creep into her cheeks. "You really think it looks nice?"

Zoey looked at her as though she’d just asked the most ridiculous question imaginable.

"Nice?" She scoffed. "Nice is what you call a decent haircut." She pointed a finger at Iris. "This?.....this is the perfect definition of dangerous."

Iris couldn’t help laughing. "You’re so dramatic."

Zoey gently took Iris by the shoulders before positioning her directly in front of the mirror again. "Look at yourself."

"I have."

"No...I mean really look."

Iris met her own reflection.

"Iris Carter, if you walked into a beauty pageant dressed like this, I’d demand they cancel the competition because everyone else would just be wasting their time."

"Thank you Zoey." Iris smiled warmly at the compliment.

"You remember what I told you at the café when the women’s ranking came up?"

She nodded. "You said if the idiot who took my picture for the Campus Pulse rankings hadn’t uploaded a blurry picture, I would’ve rivaled Scarlett Dubois."

Zoey snorted. "I take that back, I was wrong."

"You are?"

"Yes. You wouldn’t rival Scarlet Dubois." A teasing grin spread across Zoey’s face. "You’d make people forget she existed."

Iris burst into laughter, shaking her head. "Now you’re definitely exaggerating."

"I absolutely am not." Zoey folded her arms proudly. "And I stand by every word."

She stepped back, admiring Iris once more. "If Jason sees you tonight and doesn’t completely forget how to breathe, then he’s a stronger man than I thought."

Iris managed a smile, flattered yet tinged with a hint of sadness. "Thanks, Zoey." Then the smile lingering on Iris’s lips slowly faded.

"I just wish Jason would respond to me. It’s like I’m talking to a wall."

Zoey stepped closer, her expression shifting from admiration to concern. "...He still hasn’t replied?"

Iris quietly picked up her phone from the vanity. Seeing no changes ti what was already there, she lowered the phone again.

"No. And he hasn’t called either."

She slowly lowered herself onto the edge of the bed, carefully gathering the dress beneath her as she sat.

"I tried calling him myself since he wouldn’t call me, and each time it’d ring and it’ll go straight to voicemail."

Iris swallowed the lump rising in her throat before forcing a smile that convinced neither of them. "I don’t know what I’m supposed to do anymore, Zoey."

Her voice was quieter now. "So much of today has just been me staring at my phone, hoping it’d light up."

She looked down at the expensive red fabric covering her knees.

"I kept telling myself he was busy. I told myself practice probably went on longer than expected. I even convinced myself his phone might have died."

A humorless laugh escaped her. "It’s amazing how creative you become when you’re trying not to believe someone is ignoring you."

Zoey slowly walked over and sat beside her.

"Iris..." She reached over and gently took one of Iris’s hands into hers. "I honestly don’t know what’s going on with Jason and don’t know what to say about this situation."

Silence settled between them. Then Iris looked toward the window, where the evening sky had grown noticeably darker. She turned towards Zoey, bearing her doubts.

"I don’t even know if I should go anymore Zoey."

Zoey answered almost immediately. "No?" She shook her head firmly. "I think you should go."

Iris stared at her. "Even if he doesn’t show up?"

"Especially then. And do you know why?"

Iris shaked her head no.

"Because tonight isn’t just about celebrating your anniversary anymore." Zoey’s voice was calm, steady, carrying the quiet wisdom only a best friend could offer. "It’s about finding out where your relationship actually stands. Tonight is when you’ll know."

Those last three words settled heavily between them. Zoey reached for Iris’s hand.

"I know that’s probably not what you want to hear."

"It isn’t." Iris nodded.

"But sitting here imagining a hundred different possibilities isn’t going to help."

She leaned back slightly before continuing. "If Jason walks through those restaurant doors, then wonderful. Sit down, have dinner, ask him why he’s been acting this way, and don’t let him dodge the conversation."

She smiled faintly. "Maybe there’s an explanation neither of us can see. I say this because I’ve seen for years how he looks at you. Even though I don’t like his cocky-ass."

She paused and Iris smiled at that. "I know that he loves you. But if he doesn’t come..." Her voice softened. "...then you’ll finally stop living inside questions. His absence will be the answer you’ll need."

Iris looked away, back at the windows.

"You deserve answers Iris, and you deserve clarity. You deserve someone who doesn’t leave you wondering whether you’re important enough to text back."

The words struck somewhere deep inside Iris. She hadn’t realized how desperately she’d needed someone to say them aloud.

Zoey brushed a thumb gently across the back of Iris’s hand.

"Go tonight. But don’t go because you’re hoping he’ll magically become the boyfriend you remember....Go because, one way or another, tonight will tell you the truth."

Iris stared quietly at the floor and after a long moment....She finally nodded. "You’re right Zoey. If I don’t go I’ll never know."

That finally earned Zoey a smile. "There she is."

Twenty minutes later, Zoey stood outside the apartment beside Iris, helping her into a waiting cab. Before Iris climbed inside, Zoey leaned through the open window.

"Promise me something."

"What?"

"If Jason does indeed come tonight and he gives you some ridiculous excuse involving aliens, amnesia or being kidnapped by pirates...you won’t let him off that easily."

Iris laughed. "I promise I won’t."

"And text me when you get there."

"I will."

Zoey smiled warmly. "Happy birthday, Iris. I hope tonight ends the way you’ve been dreaming."

"So do I...."