Is this destiny?

~ Austin, Texas ~

While Sarah and JoAnna enjoyed their lunch in Los Angeles, three young women, approximately in their mid-twenties are having lunch in an upscale restaurant in Austin, Texas. Based on their clothes, makeup and overall bearing, at first glance everyone can tell that they are from well-to-do families even if they are not dining in this restaurant where every entrée is worth three figures.

"Abby, Kyra… neither of you responded to my invitation to spend two weeks in my family's resort in Alps later this month.", woman with dark brown hair tied in an updo said in an irritated tone.

Abby and Kyra exchanged glances for a second before their attention went back to their irritated friend.

"Madison, don't you have other plans during that time?", Kyra asked with a smirk.

At Kyra's question, Abby shrank in her chair and started nervously fidgeting her fingers under the table. She knows what Kyra's tone means: there will be a conflict between Kyra and Madison, and Abby wishes that she can leave.

Madison lifted one eyebrow and her eyes moved between her two companions questionably few times before they settled on Kyra. "I can tell you are insinuating something. Is there a birthday I forgot about? Or some other event? Just speak up! Oh, why do you enjoy these mind games? You know I hate them!"

Abby was nervously trembling while Kyra relished the fact that Madison does not know what she is talking about. After all, mind games are her specialty. She is proud of the fact that she always has crucial information and knows what to do with it in order to push someone's buttons.

Madison lost her temper. She knows that Abby always cracks under pressure. She is a weakling, after all. And she is the easy target in this. "Abby, tell me. Now!"

"There is a wedding…" As commanded, Abby responded without delay. She glanced at Kyra, but Kyra didn't pay any attention to her. Is it possible that Kyra predicted this?

Madison's eyes flashed in curiosity and there was a trace of panic on her face. "Wedding? Who?"

Abby lowered her head. She is too timid to talk, afraid of Madison's wrath, and when Kyra gets like this, it's… terrifying.

Kyra looked at her anxious friend for few seconds before answering ambiguously: "White family."

Madison paled and held her breath. It took her some time to find her voice. "Which one?"

Kyra could not hide that she enjoys seeing Madison in such a sorry state.

"Jeffrey..." Kyra's voice was flat, and it was difficult to spot a flash of uneasiness in her eyes.

Madison exhaled. "Why didn't you say so right away? My heart almost stopped." She fanned herself with her hand and took a sip of chilled water to calm herself.

It took Madison few seconds to process the information. "Wait, wedding? How come you two are invited and I don't know about it?"

"Our family is invited." Kyra coldly said.

Kyra's voice was flat, but her expression showed hint of mockery, as she continued: "I'm surprised that you don't know about the wedding, considering how close your family is to Whites."

Madison thought about it for a second. "I'm sure we got it, and my dad forgot to tell me about it."

Just to make sure, Madison got her phone and made a call: "Dad? Did we receive a wedding invitation? … Whites … Fifteenth? … Thanks, dad! Love you… mwah!" She ended the call and smiled at the phone.

"So, about those two weeks in Alps…", Abby weakly started but didn't finish her sentence.

Madison looked at Abby like she said something outrageous. "We will postpone that. I'm not crazy to miss this opportunity." Her wicked smile told her friends that she looks forward to the wedding very much.

Kyra observed Madison. "You look confident. When was the last time you saw him?"

Madison rolled her eyes. "It doesn't matter. If Aiden didn't move to Los Angeles after high school, do you think that he would not be with me right now?"

Kyra smirked and didn't want to let go of the topic. "How much I remember, even before moving away he didn't stay by your side. I mean, plenty of others were by his side, but not you. Right?"

Madison snorted. "That only shows that he was trying to see if there is someone better out there, unsuccessfully. You know I was his first, right? No one forgets its first."

"Hmm… true, no one forgets its first. At the same time, not many end up with their first." Kyra wanted to ask Madison how she can be so confident that she was Aiden's first, but Madison was talking again: "This time he will not be able to resist. I'm not that naïve girl anymore."

"And he is not a teenager anymore either." Kyra reminded her.

"Don't worry, I will be prepared this time." Madison responded.

"I'm not worried." Kyra smiled. "I'm just thinking that he is a big boy now, and you might take on a bigger bite than you can chew on."

Madison looked at Kyra and frowned. "On whose side are you, anyway?"

Kyra looked at Madison innocently. "Hey, I was not aware that there are sides here. But I'm definitely interested in watching how this ends up. And I am rooting for you… By the way, do you know if he has a girl now? Maybe someone special? How much I remember about your prince charming, he was never without female company."

Kyra's expression irked Madison. Why did it look that Kyra is hinting something? Or maybe she is just jealous? Madison's eyes flashed. "And how much I remember, back in high school… you were with Aiden for some time, right Kyra?"

"So what?" Kyra scoffed, irritated that Madison thinks everyone is after Aiden. "It was one date. We had a good time and that's it. At that time, you didn't seem to mind. And I'm not the one obsessed with him."

Madison relaxed and puckered her lips. "Yes. At that time, I was foolish. If I played my moves well then, he would stay by my side…"

Madison bit her lip while thinking how that time Aiden looked at her like she is the most precious girl in the world. Little did she know that after one night they spent together, she played hard to get and it backfired. Next time she saw Aiden, his arm was wrapped around a redhead girl from tenth grade, and he didn't spare her a single glance. But she is confident that because of her behavior, his pride was hurt… if she didn't do that… or if she apologized, he would be with her. She tried ignoring him and his endless stream of one night stands, she tried making him jealous by hooking up with others in front of him… but nothing worked… and before she knew it, they finished high school, and he moved away. Now she knows better: if she apologized instead of acting all high and mighty… it would be different.

She took a deep breath and pulled herself back to reality. "It's not too late. As I said, I'm going to prepare in advance. I will not waste this opportunity. It's time for this lady to settle down."

During lunch, Madison was not comfortable under Kyra's occasional provocations, so she left as soon as she finished her avocado salad with strawberries. Also, she needs to go dress shopping, there is an important wedding coming and her Aiden will be there!