Stacy—I declared a major (1)

Kenny always says that I'm girlfriend goals for Scott, because we never argue. Well we were about to debunk that myth on the sidewalk of a busy New York road.

"I have to go," I said, making my way to the door of the bakery.

Conflicting thoughts went through my head. I knew, with absolute certainty, that the door to me coming back to New York or having any sort of life outside of being Luca's wife would close when I got on that plane. But what choice did I have now that I'd exposed Scott's existence to the entire mafia?

"Stacy, wait," I heard Scott call out to me.

I couldn't see his face, but I was so caught up in my own feelings that it wouldn't have mattered what he looked like anyway. Behind the fear and the paranoia, I was just exhausted. Trying to run from being Don Angelo's daughter had drained me.

Something in me snapped and I exclaimed, "You're not going to change my mind. This wedding is happening."

Even as I said the words, briskly walking to keep Scott from catching up with me, a part of me hated the idea of him not chasing after me. When he caught up to me, I felt a short-lived sense of relief. That was until he spoke.

"If that's really what you want, then go right ahead. Let your dad manipulate you for the rest of your life," he said with venom in his voice.

I stopped on the corner of the street, a fresh face passing me by every second. Just taking in the city that had become my home while I summoned every scrap of courage I could.

"Everytime I go back, I go back for you. Because I know if I don't go back, he'll come out here and find you next to me. And it doesn't matter if you don't think we're important, Mr. I don't feel anything for anyone, because he will," I said, revealing a painful fear that I had been holding on to for years.

"Don't stand there and use me as your scapegoat. You go back everytime he calls you because you're terrified of letting go. Of declaring a damn major. You say you want your own life, but you won't risk shit to make it happen."

These were the last words Scott said to me before he walked away. After that I got onto the subway and replayed our conversation in my head over and over.

How had I never seen Scott angry before today? Was this what rejection felt like? Was he right about me not standing up to daddy?

When the first call came, I didn't even check who was calling. I just turned my phone off. Now that all the theatrics were over, and I had let go of everything and everyone, I was just numb. Not even the comfort of ugly crying would come.

After hours of riding the train, I got off and made my way to my old sorority.

"Are you lost?" a nineteen year old pledge asked me when she saw me standing in the exact spot where I first wanted Scott Brady to kiss me.

Daddy always taught me that everything had a price. My first week in New York, I learned that he was wrong. Scott's friendship didn't come with a price. He'd never want me giving up on myself for him. He'd never want me to give up, period.

"I was, for a long time. Better late than never right?" I said to the confused pledge with a smile. "Go Kappa Kappa Gamma!"

Within ten minutes, I had made my way to the admissions office. I walked out an hour later, having declared my major.

"I did it," I screamed, jumping into the air and punching it too. "I fucking did it. I declared a major. Take that, Don Angelo."

Students all around me gave me strange looks. Some laughed, some shook their heads, but I didn't care. This was a big moment for me and I wanted the whole world to know.

No sooner had I turned my phone back on than I got another phone call. The caller was my half brother, Joey.