Part 1Not Your Practice Run

The summer I turned eighteen, Liam took my virginity.

I endured the pain, secretly thrilled the whole night, thinking my six-year crush had finally blossomed into true love.

That was, until the next day, when I overheard his friends teasing him.

"Not bad, man. The good girl let you pop her cherry."

I felt a flush of embarrassment and was just about to quietly slip away when I heard Liam’s nonchalant reply.

"I want to go after Chloe, but I was afraid she’d think I was too inexperienced.

"I just used Maya to practice my technique."

I didn't say a word. Right before the college decision deadline, I silently logged into the portal and changed my commitment from Boston to Miami.

* * *

Liam’s words struck me like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky.

My mind went completely blank.

Despite the sweltering summer heat, my entire body turned ice cold.

The conversation in the empty classroom continued. The guys seemed to pause in shock before speaking again.

"Damn, Liam. Only you would use the sweet girl next door for target practice."

"Doesn't that basically make her your, what, placeholder?"

Liam laughed dismissively.

"Don't talk nonsense. It’s not like she lost out on the deal."

Someone immediately chimed in.

"True, true. Maya’s a bit too skinny anyway. Compared to Chloe, her body is..."

Liam threw a textbook at the guy, cutting him off.

"It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. The vibe was right, and honestly, she looked like she wanted it so bad..."

The guys exchanged knowing looks and kept joking.

"Who knew the quiet girl was so thirsty?"

"Tsk, tsk. Our boy Liam is just too charming. Free meat delivered to your mouth, might as well take a bite."

"Maya’s been trailing after you for years. She finally got what she wanted. She’s probably been dreaming of jumping you."

The laughter in the room grew deafening.

I bit my lower lip so hard I tasted blood, my hands balled into tight fists.

It took everything in me just to keep from collapsing outside that door.

Footsteps approached from the end of the hall.

I snapped out of my daze and fled the scene in a panic, locking myself in a bathroom stall.