A few days later, Victoria finds herself at a dinner party at a popular local restaurant, a welcome distraction from the emotional whirlwind she's been living in. She arrives with a small smile, ready to enjoy a night out with her friends, Jada, Gabbie, and Kate. 

As she enters the restaurant, her smile falters when she spots Caitlin and Connor already seated with the group. The sight of them together sends a jolt of pain through her chest. Her heart sinks further when she realizes the only available seat is directly across from them. Swallowing her discomfort, Victoria makes her way to the table. 

As she sits down, she forces a polite smile, though it doesn't reach her eyes. Gabbie, seated next to her, leans in and whispers apologetically, 

"We didn't know they were coming, Vic. I'm so sorry." Victoria nods stiffly, appreciating Gabbie's attempt to console her, but the weight of the situation feels unbearable. 

She takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself, and focuses on the menu in front of her, using it as a temporary shield.

Victoria sits down, her smile falling as she notices Caitlin looking at her apologetically. The silence is thick and uncomfortable. Jada starts talking to break the awkwardness. 

"So, how's everyone's week been?" 

Before anyone can respond, Connor interrupts, looking directly at Victoria. "So, Victoria, you went to Oxford?"

 Victoria responds dryly, "Yeah."

 Connor laughs. "Still sure about reading books for a living?" 

Caitlin turns to him, her expression stern. "Shut up, Connor," she snaps, defending Victoria.

As the dinner continues, Victoria can't help but notice the interactions between Caitlin and Connor. Every time Connor tries to touch Caitlin—whether it's a casual hand on her shoulder or a playful nudge—Caitlin visibly tenses up. 

She leans away from him, her body language screaming discomfort. Victoria watches as Caitlin's face contorts into a weird, almost pained expression whenever Connor gets too close. The only time Caitlin forces a smile is when she catches someone looking at them. 

Victoria finds this behavior strange, especially since Caitlin's love language had always been physical touch. When they were together, Caitlin was always affectionate, constantly finding ways to have her hands on Victoria or pulling her close.

 She exchanges a glance with Gabbie, who notices Caitlin's discomfort as well. Gabbie gives Victoria's hand another reassuring squeeze, a silent acknowledgment of the complicated emotions hanging in the air.

Feeling overwhelmed by the strange dynamic and the memories it stirs up, Victoria excuses herself to go to the bathroom. She stands in front of the mirror, taking a moment to fix her hair and gather her thoughts.  After a couple of minutes, Caitlin excuses herself to go to the bathroomEveryone at the table looks at each other, confused, while Connor's expression turns to one of irritation. 

The bathroom door swings open as Caitlin comes in. Victoria glances up, seeing Caitlin's reflection in the mirror. For a moment, they just stand there, the silence between them filled with unspoken words and unresolved feelings. Caitlin hesitates, clearly searching for the right words, while Victoria's heart races, caught between anger and the love she still felt for the girl. 

Caitlin takes a tentative step closer, her eyes filled with a mixture of regret and hope. "Can we talk now?" she asks softly, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Victoria, knowing it's better to address things now rather than let them drag on, sighs and turns to face Caitlin directly. "Talk," she says, her tone guarded but firm.

Caitlin looks unsure, her eyes flickering with uncertainty as she searches for the right words. "I'm sorry, Vic," she says quietly, looking down. 

She tentatively reaches out, trying to hold Victoria's hand. Victoria lets her, feeling the familiar warmth of Caitlin's touch. After a moment of silence, it becomes clear to Victoria that Caitlin isn't going to say anything else. Frustration and hurt bubble to the surface.

 "That's it?" Victoria says, her voice tinged with disbelief as she pulls her hand back, breaking the fragile connection. The space between them feels colder, the air heavy with unresolved tension.

Victoria's gaze falls on the delicate necklace adorning Caitlin's neck, a familiar piece that she herself had given her on Caitlins birthday. Despite the distance between them, Caitlin still wears it. What made it worse is that they were matching necklaces, and Victoria still hand't found the courage to throw hers away.

"You're still wearing the necklace," Victoria murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper, her heart heavy with emotion. 

Caitlin's response is barely audible, a quiet "yeah" tinged with sadness. 

Tears well up in Victoria's eyes as she struggles to hold back her emotions. She takes a shaky breath, her resolve wavering, before silently turning away and heading back to the table. As she rejoins the dinner party, Victoria tries to push aside the pain and focus on the present moment. 

Victoria's steps back to the table feel heavier than before, the weight of the conversation with Caitlin pressing down on her. She resumes her seat, forcing another polite smile as she glances around at her friends. The chatter continues, but Victoria feels detached, her thoughts swirling around the necklace and Caitlin's pained expression.

Jada, noticing Victoria's distant look, tries to engage her. "Hey Vic, remember that crazy hiking trip we took last summer?" she says with a smile, hoping to distract her friend. Victoria nods, her smile becoming a bit more genuine as she recalls the adventure.

"Yeah, that was something else," Victoria replies, grateful for the distraction. She recounts a funny incident from the trip, drawing laughter from the group. Even Caitlin manages a small, genuine smile, though it's fleeting.

Throughout the evening, Victoria continues to notice Caitlin's discomfort around Connor. His attempts at affection seem forced, and Caitlin's responses are equally strained. 

As dessert is served, Gabbie leans in again, her voice low. "Do you want to leave early? We can make up an excuse," she offers, her eyes filled with concern for her friend.

Victoria considers it, the temptation of escape strong. But she shakes her head. "No, I'll stay. I need to face this," she says quietly. Gabbie nods, respecting her decision, and offers a reassuring smile.

When the check finally arrives, everyone pitches in, and the group begins to disperse. As they all gather outside the restaurant, the night air is filled with the low hum of city sounds. Victoria exchanges hugs with Jada, Gabbie, and Kate, grateful for their support. Gabbie softly pinches Victoria's side, eliciting a surprised squeal from her. The sound makes everyone laugh, the tension momentarily lifted.

"See you vic" Jada says, giving her one last squeeze. Gabbie and Kate echo similar sentiments, their smiles warm and reassuring.

Caitlin stands a few steps away, her eyes locked on Victoria with a mix of apology and lingering affection. Connor stands beside her, glaring at Caitlin, his irritation clear to everyone. 

Victoria, feeling the weight of Caitlin's gaze, musters a polite smile. "Bye Caitlin. Connor," she says, her tone even but devoid of warmth. She doesn't move to hug them, keeping the distance firmly in place.

Connor mumbles a quick farewell, his eyes still on Caitlin. "I need to meet up with some friends," he announces abruptly, turning on his heel and walking away without another word.

Jada and Gabbie wave one last time before heading off together, leaving Victoria, Kate, and Caitlin standing in the glow of the streetlights. The atmosphere feels heavy again as the laughter fades.

Victoria glances at Kate. "I'll see you soon," she says, giving her friend a quick hug before walking to her car. As she drives away, she takes one last look in the rearview mirror, seeing Kate and Caitlin standing alone.

Kate leans against the car and sighs, looking at Caitlin with a mix of sympathy and frustration. "You're still in love with her," Kate says softly.

Caitlin nods, tears welling up in her eyes. "I know," she whispers, her voice breaking. "I miss her so much."

Kate steps closer and wraps her arms around Caitlin, offering comfort. "I know why you're with him, Cait, but it's stupid," Kate says gently. "You deserve to be happy."

Caitlin buries her face in Kate's shoulder, crying softly. "I miss her," she repeats, her voice muffled.

Kate strokes Caitlin's hair, her voice soothing. "She misses you too," she says quietly. "But you need to figure out what you really want. Staying with Connor isn't fair to anyone, especially not you."