I Went to My School Friend's Pre-wedding Party — It Turned Into a Surreal Nightmare

Back home for the summer, Andrea is eager to reconnect with Daisy, her effortlessly cool high school friend who's getting married. But Daisy's pre-wedding party turns into a nightmare when Daisy recognizes the man in one of Andrea's photos as her fiancé.

The drive home had been long but peaceful, windows down, the warm breeze carrying hints of pine and wildflowers. I was feeling good. Too good, maybe.

My phone had buzzed with a text from Mom a few days back, "You got a wedding invite from Daisy. It's on the counter."

Daisy. My heart had done that little flip it used to do whenever she passed me in the school hallway. Back in high school, Daisy was the person everyone wanted to be. She could wear a thrifted hoodie and make it look like Paris Fashion Week.

After she graduated, she stayed in our hometown while I eventually went out of state for college.

We'd mostly lost touch, reduced to the kind of friendship that only existed in text threads. A "Merry Christmas!" here, a "Happy Birthday!" there; polite check-ins that didn't leave room for real conversations.

And now she was getting married. Of course, she was. I'd texted her, not even expecting a response, but she'd replied right away.

"Yes, girl! Caleb finally proposed. Summer wedding so all my old friends could be here. You better be there."

It was the kind of message that made it sound like we'd never stopped talking. And just like that, I was pulled right back into her orbit.

By the time I pulled into my parents' driveway, I was practically vibrating. The house was the same, but something about it felt smaller than I remembered.

I wasn't ready to settle in for the night, so after some half-hearted hugs from my folks, I changed into my best "I'm not trying too hard" outfit and headed to the local bar.

That's where I met Ron.

He was leaning over a pool table, lining up a shot like it was rocket science. Dark hair, sharp grin, that little glint in his eye like he was in on a joke no one else knew. I'd just ordered a drink when he caught me watching.

"Want me to teach you a trick shot?" he asked, tilting his head toward the table.

"Depends," I said, tossing back a sip of my drink. "You any good at it?"

His grin widened, and he held out a pool cue. "Guess you'll have to find out."

We played a few rounds, the banter as sharp as the whiskey I shouldn't have ordered. He leaned in close once, showing me how to angle the cue, his hands guiding mine just enough to send a little spark down my arm.

His voice was low in my ear, warm as a campfire. When I made the shot, he threw his hands up in mock surrender.

"Alright, I'm impressed," he said, eyes crinkling at the edges.

We didn't talk about jobs or last names as the night wore on, and we definitely didn't exchange numbers. It was just one of those nights that exists perfectly on its own.

"Maybe I'll see you around," I'd said much later when he kissed me goodnight at my car.

"Maybe," he'd replied, all slow smiles and cocky confidence.

I ran into Ron again that weekend, and we spent another great evening together. It looked like I'd found myself a hot summer fling. I never imagined then that it could turn into a disaster.

It all went downhill during a pre-wedding girls' night at Daisy's place. Girls were draped on the couches like we were shooting a Vogue spread, and for once, I didn't feel like I had to try so hard to fit in.

We were about two cocktails in when Daisy clapped her hands and said, "Alright, confession time. Worst dating story. I'll start."

I was expecting the usual ghostings, weird Tinder dates, and maybe someone's ex popping up at the wrong moment. But when it got to me, I had a better story.

"Okay, not a bad story, but definitely unforgettable," I said, scrolling through my phone. "First night back, I met this guy at a bar. Absolute heartthrob, and yes, I took a picture."

I tapped my screen and spun it around to show them. The reaction was instant. Daisy's face hardened, eyes piercing mine in a stare that felt like a searing judgment.

"Where did you say you met him?" Her voice was razor-thin.

I felt it then, the slow crawl of something bad. "The bar in town. Why?"

"But… but he's my fiancé," she said flatly, each word sharper than the last.

Silence hit the room like a bomb. I half-laughed, expecting her to smile and say it was a joke. But her eyes didn't move from mine. Panic started clawing up my ribs.

"Daisy, no… there's no way. His name's Ron. He didn't even mention—"

"Don't," she snapped, her voice like glass shattering. "Don't stand there and lie to me. That's Caleb, my Caleb!"

Her voice climbed, as she rose and started pacing. The other girls watched, lips pressed shut, eyes darting between us like we were two stray cats about to fight. Daisy turned on me, face twisted with something ugly and raw.

"You RUINED my wedding," she screamed, tears shining like shards of glass. "You're disgusting, Andrea. Get out."

I tried. God, I tried to explain. "I didn't know! He told me his name was Ron. I didn't know, Daisy!"

But nothing got through. I grabbed my bag with burning cheeks, every pair of eyes on me like lasers. I stumbled out the door and into the night, tears burning down my face before I made it to my car.

I was shocked and devastated. I couldn't understand how everything fell apart so fast, but I got my answers three days later.

I was lying on my bed when my phone buzzed. Daisy was calling me.

My hand hovered over the screen. I was certain she was only calling to chew me out again and thought about letting it go to voicemail, but some part of me, a hopeful, stupid part, picked up.

"Hey," I said, voice tight as wire.

There was a pause. Then Daisy sighed, long and slow. "I... I'm sorry."

That stopped me cold. "What?"

"Turns out Caleb has a twin," she said. Her voice cracked on a laugh, bitter and tired. "Ron. They thought it'd be funny not to tell me until now. Apparently, they planned to pull some sort of prank at the wedding."

Her words rolled over me in waves. For a second, all I could do was sit there, heartbeat thudding in my ears.

"Are you serious right now?"

"Dead serious," she muttered. "I ripped into him about cheating on me, Andrea. I thought I was gonna call off the wedding. Then he pulls out his phone, saying he'll prove he has a twin. Next thing I know, his doppelgänger is standing on my doorstep."

She let out a sharp breath. "I was so mad I couldn't see straight."

"Daisy, you screamed at me."

"I know," she said, quiet now. "I know I did. That's why I'm calling you now. I'm sorry for what I said. I'm sorry about everything. You were right."

Her voice was so soft and small, like this ordeal had made her unravel completely.

I pressed my palm against my eyes, trying to push down the flood of emotions rising up.

"Okay," I whispered. "It's okay." It wasn't, not completely, not yet. But for Daisy, I could let it be enough.

"Please say you'll still come to the wedding. I really want you there."

"I'll be there, Daisy."

I showed up wearing the best dress I owned. Daisy hugged me like nothing had ever been wrong between us, and maybe that was her superpower: making you feel you belonged.

Later, at the reception, I spotted Ron leaning on the bar, hands in his pockets, that same slow grin pulling at his face. He saw me and raised his eyebrows in mock surprise.

I walked up, arms folded. "You owe me an apology, Ron."

He blinked, eyes wide in faux innocence. "For what?"

"Don't play dumb," I said, lips twitching. "Your and Caleb's little game nearly destroyed this wedding, and I was your unwitting accessory."

He held up his hands in surrender. "If I'd known you knew Daisy, I'd have… I dunno, worn a name tag?"

"Real helpful," I shot back. But I was smiling, and so was he.

He glanced down at his phone, then back at me. "Want my number this time, or do we keep playing fate?"

"Give me your phone," I said, hand outstretched. He dropped it into my palm, and I started typing.

"Smart move," he said, his voice warm as the summer air. "You seem like the kind of person I shouldn't let slip away."

I glanced up at him, cheeks heating. Maybe he was right.

Here's another story: When Audrey announces her pregnancy, her MIL, Sydney, shifts from helpful to intrusive, attending ultrasounds and obsessing over hospital security. As Sydney's behavior grows stranger — cryptic whispers, a mysterious bag, and unsettling plans — Audrey begins to suspect something sinister is afoot. Click here to keep reading.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided "as is," and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.