Love's Unexpected Path

nd my hair and stepped out of the bathroom, finally

," I said as I unscrewed the cap of my toner. "She told Edward

my house, seemed impressed with the intricately

m sure every house in the community would have three or

d, "By the way, what color nail

the students would attend, second only to the graduation prom. Many girls had b

replied excitedly. "Com

directly beneath Lucy and Edward's master bedroom, was well-lit, but my foster parents ha

uealed. "It's snowing! Today is goin

my prom date arrived. However, our conversation

wed by Edward's stern re

my left foot's nails. I had chosen a bottle of cherry red polish with glitter for toni

, I figured it was b

ly heard the yell. Trying to lighten the mood, she said, "Nice

g on my right foot's nail. The g

t's good to be modest. I don't think I'm pretty enough to be a '

ythmic knocks on the door were followed by Lucy's

r later and hung up the phone. Lucy's e

radiant tonight, and that silly boy downstairs

"Tell Edward to take it easy on him. He may be the captain

warm hug and sa

been sitting in the living room with Edward, looked up like a meer

e that any father would give before reaching down to help m

compliment was followed by

r does anything wrong, come and te

not-so-subtle warning. I glanced at my phone; it was almost time to bid fare

e my brother a delibe

s blue eyes shifting

a great night,"

shoulder as I had done countless times before, genuine

pily made my way

to the radio music, and then he offered me a pretentious compliment, "Madison, this dress

residents were elite white people. Non-white individuals, like me-a girl who w

and my hair was fine, curly, soft, and highly manageable. Emma and Stacy often gathered aro

my phone as I opened Instagram. I had heard simila

expected. Frustration crept into his driving as I saw

le. I can tell your mother must have

ut of things to

ded, "Yes, Lucy and Edward went to college together. They've been

I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, thinking I could resume c

f he joined our team, I

nge, James seemed to turn his attention to Alex, p

best if you don't get too confident. Al

erdy guy with glasses.

the venue. James held me by the sh

paper cups and waved at us

and ran up to me, saying, "I

dn't hear anyone speaking, even w

and asked, "Do you wan

s ear, I replied,

her beautiful eyes. Before she could say a

"You know how many girls at school are

hed ge

atedly looked our way, and Emma immediately sai

ie of a broken heart, was already struggling to hold two pa

d his forehead sticking to his skin as he furro

Emma quickly reassured m

her's best friend, showing up at a s

en attack or any

GH