Letting My Brother's Best Friend Take My V-Card

OVERTHINKING

LAURA

It had been a whole week of awkward glances and total silence between Josh and me. Every time I passed him in the halls, he'd look at me-just for a second-and then immediately look away, like I was something too painful or shameful to face. The worst part? It didn't matter. Not really. Because no matter how much I wanted to believe otherwise, Josh would never see me the way I saw him.

dragged my books closer to my chest as I walked past him again. He was leaning against the lockers, laughing at something one of his friends said. The sound of his laughter made my chest tighten, even though I knew better. He didn't see me. Not really.

That night at the party-God, what was I thinking? Josh was drunk, and I was just... almost. Almost a convenient fuck. The kind of girl you don't remember in the morning because she didn't mean anything. And then that night at my house-he only stayed because he felt guilty. He hit me. It was an accident, but still... He stayed because he felt bad, not because he wanted to.

He didn't stay because he liked me. Or because he thought I was worth his time. It was guilt. Plain and simple. And I needed to stop torturing myself by hoping it was anything else.

"Laura!" Jess's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to see her and Sam walking toward me, Jess with her signature unimpressed expression and Sam grinning ear to ear like she

0.00%

OVERTHINKING

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had just won the lottery.

this weekend," Sam announced, practically bouncing on her feet. "And we're

asked,

to be amazing. Hot boys running into each other over some stupid ball. Plus, there's an afterparty. With more boys. Boys not from this godforsaken school." Jess groaned. "Why do you always do this, Sam?

waving her off, "but you don't hate parties. And there will be cute guys there. Guys who don't know

crossing her arms. "You two go

me, her eyes sparkling with determination. "You're coming,

hesitated. Parties weren't really my thing. Especially not after the last one. And the idea of watching Josh on the

know me, was about as appealing as swallowing nails. But the way

forcing a

together like

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regret it. This is exactly

Jess said, raising

Laura, you've been sulking all week, and Jess, you-well, you're always moody, especially when

was a lie. I'd been sulking, all right.

scream.

not unkindly. "And that's okay. But this weekend, we're changing that.

the truth was, I wasn't sure anything could fix how I felt right now. How do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place? How do you stop wanting something you know you