Chapter 2
1145 Words
~ Aaliyah's pov ~
My best friend throws her arms around me the moment she reaches me, and I stumble back and laugh into her shoulder because she always hugs too hard.
She’s a journalism girl to her core. Loud, brave, and so very energetic.
“You survived,” she says. “How was it?”
I push all thoughts of jealousy aside and respond like I always do. “I think my brain has officially turned to soup,” I reply. “But I answered everything, so… maybe it’s fine.”
“That sounds like a win to me,” she says enthusiastically.
She pulls back and stares at my face. “You look tired. But your lipstick is still perfect. I swear that is not fair.”
I touch my lips without thinking.
The red lipstick I put on this morning is still clean. No smudge.
I smile, happy that at least something in my life is exactly the way I want it.
“I probably have mascara smeared somewhere,” I say, trying to brush off her compliment.
“Nah, babe, you look like you should be in a magazine,” Maya says. “Come on, let’s go celebrate our last days in school before the holiday. Ben’s hosting a holiday party. There'll be free drinks and a terrible playlist but it’ll be fun.”
“I can’t,” I say. “I’m going to see Tyler.”
The moment his name leaves my mouth, Maya’s smile drops.
“You’re joking,” she says. “Why are you still with that clown?”
“He’s not a clown,” I defend too quickly and cringe.
Maya folds her arms.
“Last week he forgot your birthday and went drinking with his friends instead. The week before, he ‘lost’ the notes you let him copy and made you do his entire project for him. Like… girl… what are we doing?”
I look away, not able to meet her eyes.
“He’s been stressed recently,” I say quietly. “His finals, his dad, everything. He’s not always like that.”
Maya snorts.
“He is EXACTLY like that. Your standard is on the floor, babe.”
I know she’s not wrong.
I really do.
But Tyler was the first person here who made me feel like I wasn’t completely out of place.
When I transferred into this world full of rich kids with families that basically own half the city, Tyler was the first boy who showed me any form of attention. When we started dating, he stayed close to me, held my hand at parties so I wouldn’t feel lost, and introduced me to people when I was too shy to connect on my own.
He made me feel… normal. Like I wasn’t just the girl from a tiny apartment with a mom who works double shifts to keep us afloat.
“Look,” I say softly. “I just want to give him his Christmas gift and spend the night with him now that exams are over. I don’t want to fight with my bestie or stress over anything else today, so please, can we not fight?”
Maya’s eyes soften at my words and her annoyance fades.
“You know I love you, right?” she says.
“I know."
“I promise I won't talk about Tyler, but you have to agree to me dragging you to my home for Christmas,” she tries to bargain, like she always does.
I shake my head at her antics. “I said I'll think about that, remember?”
She rolls her eyes. “My dad asked about you, you know? He remembered your name. That NEVER happens. Don't you want to finally meet him? Also, I need you. Do not leave me alone with him this year. I don't think I can suffer any more of his daddy jokes.”
I smile a little.
Her dad probably didn’t mention me at all.
She’s the one who talks about me nonstop.
I’ve never met her father, but she’s described him too many times to count. According to her, he's a seriously intense man who is always working, barely sleeps, and is never around unless she is home on break.
Her problems are rich men's problems, and honestly, my own problems were bigger, but I don’t tell her that.
“I’ll think about it,” I say instead, and Maya sighs, loud enough that people turn to look at us. She flips them the bird and turns to me.
“Fine. Go to your terrible boyfriend. But text me when you get there. If he even breathes weird, I’m calling the police. I don't trust that boy one bit.”
I laugh and hug her again. “Fine. I’ll text you if anything comes up.” I don't tell her about my plans for tonight because I know she’ll do everything to stop me.
"Good," she says with a grin and takes one last look at me before disappearing into the crowd.
I stand there alone for a few seconds before taking in a deep breath.
My eyes land on the small red gift box sticking out of my bag, and I cringe before pushing it back in completely, hoping Maya hadn't seen it.
Inside is the bracelet I spent three months saving for.
It's nothing fancy because Tyler hates flashy things, or so he says because he can't seem to stop buying them for himself.
When I bring it up, he says it's because he's used to expensive things, not because he loves it.
I don't have experience being rich, so I'm inclined to believe him.
Tapping on my screen, I log into Tyler’s message thread and send him a message.
Aaliyah: I got your text.
Aaliyah: I'll be at your place the moment I'm done on campus.
The message shows a single transparent tick, meaning it has been delivered but he hasn't seen it yet.
I click my phone off, drop it into my bag, and begin to make my way off campus.
As much as I've made up my mind to f**k Tyler tonight,
I’m also nervous, because it's going to be my first time, and I'm not sure if I'll like it or not.
Don't get me wrong. I like the idea of s*x. I’m just not sure if it’ll actually feel good for me. What if it’s awkward? What if it hurts? What if he finishes too fast and I'm left high and dry?
I sigh and shake the thoughts away, because these might just be my fears talking.
Tonight, I’m giving Tyler my virginity as an early Christmas present. And maybe, just maybe, it will finally bring us closer and make things better between us.
Because even a lowly girl like me deserves happiness too.
- Writer
