Chapter 1The Practice Run

The summer we turned eighteen, Mason took my virginity.

I pushed through the discomfort, secretly beaming all night, thinking my agonizing six-year crush had finally blossomed into true love.

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

"Not bad, man. The school's sweetheart let you score your first time."

I felt a bit embarrassed and was about to slip away quietly. Then I heard Mason’s careless, indifferent reply.

"I want to ask the Homecoming Queen out, but I was worried she'd think I was too inexperienced."

"I just used Emma to practice my technique."

I didn't say a single word. At the very last second before the deadline, I silently changed my college commitment from an Ivy League in New York to a university all the way in California.

* * *

Mason's words hit me like a sudden clap of thunder. My mind went entirely blank.

On a sweltering summer afternoon, I suddenly felt freezing cold.

The conversation inside the classroom continued. The guys seemed stunned for a second before speaking up again.

"Gotta hand it to Mason. A girl like Emma is only fit for practice."

"Doesn't that make her basically… a backup hookup?"

Mason laughed dismissively. "Don't talk nonsense. It's not like she lost out on anything."

Someone immediately chimed in.

"True, true. Emma's a bit too skinny. Compared to Mia's body..."

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

"It was just an impulse. The mood was right. Plus, she looked like she was desperate for it anyway..."

The guys shared a knowing look and began hyping him up.

"Who knew the quiet girl was actually so wild?"

"Tsk, it just proves our boy Mason has too much rizz. Free meat at your mouth, might as well take a bite."

"She's been obsessing over Mason for years. It's a dream come true for her, she probably wanted to jump you ages ago."

The laughter inside the room grew louder and rowdier.

I bit my lower lip so hard I tasted copper, my hands balled into tight fists. It took every ounce of my strength to steady myself so I wouldn't collapse outside the classroom door.

Footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway.

Snapping out of my daze, I fled the scene in a panic, hiding myself in a bathroom stall.