The girls were ecstatic when I announced my engagement. Well, Li Lo and Alani were.

Alani nearly cried.

Gracie just pressed her lips into a thin line and asked me “if I’m sure”. I can’t believe this woman. I asked her again why she hates Gussie so much. She tried to look innocent and assured me that I’m wrong.

I was quite tense because of the whole wedding thing, so I kind of snapped at Gussie when he made me go through the third website about cakes.

“What the hell is going on between you and Gracie?”, I threw the question at him. “And this time don’t even try to deny it.”

“What? Abbie, what’s wrong with you?”, he seemed confused.

“Are you having an affair with her?”, I asked, pointing an accusing finger at him. I knew they are not having an affair, and it must be something else, but I didn’t know what else to say to make him talk finally.

“Abbie, can we please not talk about this?”, he pleaded.

I stood my ground, and told him he either tells me what the big secret is, or we might as well just call off the wedding.

“I’m not sure…” he shook his head. “She’s your friend and I don’t think I should say anything about her to you.”

“Are you her lawyer?”, I glared. I think I probably mastered this whole looking menacing stance, because Gussie broke down and indicated that I should probably sit down.

“I’m listening”, my voice came out sharper than I intended. Gussie seemed to crumble.

“Gracie and I went to the same highschool. It was my last year. She was 16…”

I couldn’t believe my ears. I felt horrified, ashamed, hurt on behalf of Gussie.

“I can’t believe she did this to you! Accusing you of such terrible thing!”, I exclaimed.

“She was young. She probably had no idea…”, Gussie said softly.

“Seriously? You do sound like her lawyer”, I interrupted him.

I need to think about this. Gracie is my friend. Well, was my friend. I’m not sure I can look at her the same way after this. Gussie said he already found a way to forgive her, and I should do the same. I should think about how she is now, and why she’s my friend. Honestly? I have no idea.

They went to the same high school. It was Gussie’s last year and Gracie was 16. She had a crush on him. He had no romantic feelings for her. Gracie showed up at his football practices, watched him play, sent him letters, asked him out a few times. He didn’t want her attention. On the night of the prom she showed up drunk. Gussie didn’t want her to make a scene. He took her aside to one of the empty classrooms to talk to her. She could barely walk. When Gussie told her to leave him alone, she wouldn’t listen, just wrapped her arms around him and tried to kiss him. When Gussie pushed her away she was furious. Gussie tried to calm her down, but she took out a pair of handcuffs from her purse, and chained herself to the radiator pipe, and tried to attach the other end to Gussie’s wrists. He left, bewildered.

Next morning the police knocked on his parents’ door. He spent two days in custody. He was interrogated for hours and was charged with kidnapping.

At the end of the second day he was released. The charges were dropped. Later Gussie found out that Gracie stayed there the whole night, scratching at her own arms and face. The janitor found her the next morning, she was hoarse from screaming and her clothes were ripped.

“She did that to herself. I was innocent and they let me go”, he said. “But you know how it is. People stared at me, wondering if it was true. My friends and family believed me of course. But my last few weeks at school were miserable.”

I had no idea what to say.