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

DISTRACTION

JOSH

I walked into school feeling like I'd slept with my head in a vice grip. Every sound, every slam of a locker, and every laugh grated against my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. My thoughts spun in circles, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop them from circling back to Laura.

Laura, with her paint-splattered T-shirts and oversized denim jackets, the kind of clothes that looked like she just threw them on without a second thought. The kind of clothes that should've made her blend in. Except, she didn't blend in. Not to me. Not anymore.

My chest tightened as I spotted her at her locker. She didn't notice me-or maybe she was pretending not to. She was laughing at something Jess said, her face lighting up in a way that made something twist inside me. All I could see was her in that satin purple dress from the party, the way it clung to her curves and shimmered under the lights. The way her skin had felt beneath my palm when I steadied her.

But then, just as quickly, the image of her in the dress was replaced by another memory. Her face after the fight with Tim. The way she flinched when I moved too fast.

"Fuck it," I muttered under my breath, slamming my locker shut. The sound echoed down the hall, loud enough to make Luke, who was standing next to me, freeze mid-conversation.

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DISTRACTION

288 Vouchers.

he asked, his

"Nothing.

Feels like everyone's out of sync lately. You,

then, as if summoned by the mention of her name, Britney appeared. She walked down the hallway like she owned it, her cheerleader uniform fitting just right, her blonde hair swept up in a high ponytail

her voice syrupy sweet. Before I could respond, her hand slid across my forearm, her nails

against the lockers.

eyes sparkled, and she stepped closer, so close I could smell her perfume-a little too sweet, like candy. "You know, I've been thinking we should hang out more. You never text me back, but I'll forgive you if you make it up

kind of girl who knew what she wanted and didn't hesitate to go after it. Maybe that's what I needed right now-something simple. Something that wouldn't leave me lying awake at night, replaying every word, every

voice drop just enough to

DISTRACTION

288 Vouchers

"What do you have in

smile, but I pushed off the lockers before she could answer and nodded toward the doors leading to the bleachers.

toward Britney, my hands sliding to her waist as I pressed her against the wall. She gasped, her hands flying to my chest, but I didn't give her time