Chapter 1
Present day, three years later!
Chrissy
“... I rush to him, my body quivering in sync with every forceful thrust. Each stroke feels like a tantalizing mystery, a secret recipe known only to Ted. I surrender to the sensations, unable to fathom the depths of my desire. Flipping me over, he places my trembling legs against his face, and my cheek presses against the cool sand. Wet kisses trace along my back, igniting a fire within me. As he spreads my legs wider, time seems to blur, and before I can register it, he plunges into me once again. I cling desperately to the sand, hoping it will anchor me. I yearn for something to hold onto, to ground myself in this intoxicating moment. Am I losing my mind to these carnal desires? I crave release, yet I also yearn for salvation...”
"CHRISS?"
Ellen's voice pierces through my headphones, jolting me from my reverie. She snatches my phone from my grasp and starts reading aloud while I try to reclaim it.
"Ken, you have to see this! Oh my God!" she exclaims, beckoning Ken over. They both become engrossed in the explicit scene, reveling in its titillation. I slump into my seat, defeated and hopeless.
Laughter fills the air as they laugh and react to the explicit content. These are my crazy friends, irreplaceable companions who have been with me since sixth grade. They know my highs and lows, some of my secrets, and every intricate detail about me. I can't imagine life without them.
Leaving the court behind, we make our way to calculus class. Little did they know that Dayle Theodore, my secret crush, would be there. From the moment I first laid eyes on him, he captivated me. While everyone knows him, I feel like I know him on a deeper level.
Despite the painful clashes we've had, my heart still longs for him. I know it's foolish, considering the way he insulted and taunted me in front of the entire school. The memory still haunts me, and I blame myself for not standing up to him or escaping his ridicule. I should have run away instead of shedding tears like a helpless child. But even though he's the villain in my story, I can't help but yearn for him. And so, I resort to indulging in erotic novels, where I can at least fantasize about him.
"Have you talked to Max?" Ken asks as we enter the classroom. Max Norman, my boyfriend, is a great guy—tall, handsome, a soccer player—but my infatuation with Dayle eclipses my thoughts.
"Nope! I'm still mad at him. We were supposed to hang out yesterday, but he bailed, and now I'm paranoid!" I reply with a tinge of irritation.
"He's genuinely sorry, and I swear he can explain everything—"
"Ken, it won't work this time! Don't defend him just because he's your friend."
Clearly, Max sent Ken as a messenger, but it's not enough to sway me. Just because they're on the same team doesn't mean I'll accept his apologies so easily.
"Honestly, if you let me, I'll give Max a taste of his own medicine," Ellen chimes in, causing me to smile curtly. I don't want to read too much into her words, though sometimes the way she talks about him makes me suspect she likes Max. But for now, I'll dismiss it.
"Whatever, guys. I'm just not in the mood for Max right now," I finally express, taking my seat alongside them. Ken is more of a "flings and nothing more" kind of guy, similar to Dayle, who is notorious for his player ways and insatiable sexual appetite. I've heard he sleeps with every popular girl without a care, and they willingly oblige. How messed up is that?
I pull out my phone and start mindlessly scrolling through Instagram when boisterous laughter erupts from the entrance. I raise my head and spot Dayle, accompanied by Egan and Steve. These cliques are notorious for using and discarding people. They may not have girlfriends, but they have an endless line of girls and fans to toy with. Being around them means losing your innocence; I bet anyone would break their promises or their mother's trust. I'm certain of it.
"Chriss, seriously, why don't you just go over to him and spill the truth?" Ellen suggests, bringing me back to reality.
"Why would you say that?" I coolly respond, rolling my eyes as she predicts my thoughts. I once confided in her about my feelings for Dayle, only to be met with her dismissal. She claimed that every girl at Hemville Senior High likes Dayle. She just doesn't understand, and I'm not surprised she brushed it off.
The sight of Dayle wearing a similar jacket as his friends adds to the ache in my heart. I can't comprehend how one person can be so irresistibly sexy and breathtakingly handsome. His dark, silky hair, tall and well-built physique, sharp nose, and killer jawline make him the epitome of male beauty. You'd think someone with such exquisite features couldn't possibly hurt anyone. And therein lies the problem—I've been one of his targets, invisible in his eyes. He doesn't look at me the way I look at him.
I avert my gaze as the teacher enters the room. Dayle is my ultimate weakness, and it's slowly devouring me.
I waste an hour and thirty minutes on Calculus, but I'd gladly waste it on Dayle instead. He means everything to me. It's not that I don't care for Max, but my feelings for him fall short. Besides, he's always occupied, and I can't stand it. He may try to ward off the attention from other girls, but I fear that one day I might lose him to them, or even worse, to my best friend, Ellen.
I know my attention should be focused elsewhere, but I can't explain this insatiable pull toward Dayle.