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“I bet,” I said, but I was too nervous to say much else What was the deal with ht, but noondering if it was soht? It had to be a trick I didn’t like the way doubt was suddenly filling , but now the only feeling inside of me was dread

“Hey,” Anna said, sensingto be okay Everything’s going to be fine Just because Eric used to date a cheerleader doesn’t ”

“Yeah,” I said, forcing myself to smile “Of course”

Only, as I looked around the cafeteria, I realized that he was nowhere to be found Weren’t you supposed to eat lunch with your boyfriend? Wasn’t that how these things worked? It asn’t it? Even though I was a huge nerd, I knew that ether at school

I made up some lame excuse about ho, she was polite enough not to call me out on it I dumped my half-eaten sandwich in the trash and went into the halls Where was he? Where was my boyfriend?

Maybe he was in the courtyard A lot of kids hung out there between classes or during lunch I turned,my way in that direction Anna probably didn’t have any idea what she’d just done to s working out with Eric It was a shallow high school relationship, sure, but it wasI wanted

I was halfway to the courtyard entrance when I heard Eric’s voice He was talking to someone beside an open locker, so they couldn’t see me It didn’tcare to stay out of their line of sight I hadn’t planned on eavesdropping It just sort of happened

“So, hoas it?” Charlie was the one talking to Eric I recognized his voice fro a lower level English class I’d even offered to help hilish was hard for a lot of people I didn’t bla some assistance

“Hohat?”

“Zoey Lane”

Eric laughed He ainst one of the other lockers I could see his feet I slipped to the side of the lockers, carefully staying out of sight If they closed the locker door, they’d see me, but if that happened, maybe I’d want to be seen

“Good,” he laughed “That girl is the biggest slut I’ve ever met”

My heart sank

Me?

A slut?

The word made me feel sick I didn’t care if people had sex Everyone was allowed to do what they wanted, but the word slut held such a horrible connotation that it ht then I should have sneaked away and pretended I hadn’t heard what they were saying, but I was frozen in place, unable to move

“She suck you off?”

“You know it,” Eric laughed, and I paled

I hadn’t

I hadn’t done that

I hadn’t done any of it

“It’s so easy with the nerds,” Eric said, chuckling “Just a feords and they’re done” He snapped his fingers, as though that was all it took to getEric and I had done was kiss He hadn’t even felt my breasts I hadn’t even known he’d wanted that

“I want a turn,” Charlie said

“She’s all yours after tonight,” Eric said “I want one et back with Samantha”

“You’re getting back together?”