The Corruption of the Good Girl

Chapter 2: Back to School

Lilly’s POV:

The school day trudged on, and my classes seemed to flutter by, the buzz about the party continuing its relentless circulation. Just before my last class of the day, double maths, I swung by my locker. Anticipation danced in my veins. As I tapped in the code, the lock's tumblers clicked into place, but suddenly, a pair of hands seized my shoulders. "Boo!" Hailey's voice echoed, and I let out an involuntary yelp, my heart pounding. "Eeek!" I exclaimed, more in surprise than fear. "Don't do that! You know I hate it when you sneak up on me," I chided.

Hailey just laughed, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Haha, come on, Lilly, the look on your face was priceless."

"I can't help it," I sighed, chuckling despite myself. "It'll never stop being funny, will it?"

"Nah, I highly doubt it," she replied, grinning.

Hailey stood at a confident 5 feet 6 inches, her presence always gentle yet assertive. With light blonde hair that cascaded in loose waves around her shoulders and bright green eyes that held an innate warmth, Hailey radiated an aura of approachability. She often wore baggy clothes, as if she were hiding in her own soft cocoon, yet even in this deliberate camouflage, there was a girlish charm that couldn't be suppressed. Subtle in her mannerisms, her hair, makeup, and nails were always impeccable, a testament to her meticulous attention to detail.

We were two peas in a pod. Like me, Hailey wore a purity ring and believed in abstinence from parties, alcohol, drugs, and well, you know the drill. For us, the idea was that s*x was something magical to be shared with our soulmate, someone with whom we shared a lifelong commitment. But, let's be honest, our ideals were a universe away from the other kids that we went in school with.

Recalling it now, I'm still amazed at how Hailey ever meshed with that group, particularly with Taylor and Adele, the reigning mean girls of OakRidge. These two also happened to be the most popular girls in our senior year. Looking at it from my point of view, Hailey and I couldn't be more different from them. Even our thought processes are worlds apart. Yet, Hailey used to be best friends with them. Things have changed since then, though. Our bond grew stronger, and Hailey's connection with them started to fade, not that they had any falling out. They still hang out occasionally, but not like before.

You see, those girls thrive on attention, and for me, well, I've learned that the secret to surviving high school is to blend in. If you stay below the radar, you escape bullying, even though it might mean not making many friends. But in the end, you have the freedom to concentrate on the things that matter – education, building skills for the future, and maybe, just maybe, finding that dreamboat you can sail into the sunset with.

My train of thought was abruptly derailed by Hailey's tapping on my arm. "Hello, earth to Lilly, are you listening to me?" she questioned, bringing me back to the present.

"Yeah, sorry," I replied as I reached for my math textbooks and a fresh jotter, preparing for the impending class.

"How was your last class?" I inquired, wanting to catch up with her.

"It was a nightmare," she exclaimed, her frustration evident. "Mr. Histowski decided that this year, he'd be the one picking the groups for our mid-term project. Apparently, he believes it'll hone our teamwork skills and give us more practical experience for the real world, or something like that. Anyway, long story short, I'm stuck working with Trent, Adam, Scott, Lisa, Layla, and Izzie. It's going to be a nightmare. I've been paired with a bunch of slackers who don't even know what day it is half the time. I suggested we focus on the impact of Rosa Parks since we were tasked with choosing someone significant to the American civil rights movement. Literally everyone in my group asked me who she was, except for Scott, who's convinced she's some character from Doctor Who. Ugh, help!" Hailey concluded with a hint of dramatic exasperation.

"Listen, girl, you've got this," I reassured her, offering a supportive smile. "You've maintained straight As in all your classes as long as I've known you. I know it's frustrating now, but I'm sure there's a way to turn working with them to your advantage. Just keep your head up. There's always a bright side. And right now, the bright side is that we're about to head to Math!"

"I guess you're right," she responded, her enthusiasm slightly rekindled. With my locker securely closed, we set off for our favourite class together.

Math had always been Hailey's and my favourite class for as long as I can remember. As for why Hailey loves it so much, I can't exactly say, but for me, math is like finding serenity. In a world teeming with intricate challenges and numerous situations that lack clear solutions, math offers a different realm. It's a matter of committing equations and formulas to memory to untangle problems. Once you've mastered these tools, it all becomes beautifully straightforward. There's an unwavering right and wrong – no grey expanse, no room for doubt. And that's what makes me cherish it.

Over the years, Hailey and I have added our unique twist to things. We've become fiercely competitive during mock tests and spot quizzes. Whenever Hailey outperforms me in a spot quiz or mock test, she earns the right to pick an activity for us to do together. No matter what it is, I have to go along with it, and the same goes the other way around. It's how I persuaded Hailey to join me for a camping trip during the first week of summer, and it's how she's managed to get me to watch I-don't-even-know-how-many goofy comedies.