The sun hung low in the sky as I finished my usual jog, a familiar rhythm guiding my steps through the neighborhood. My heart pulsed, matching the beat of my sneakers against the pavement. Once inside, the warmth of the shower enveloped me, washing away the sweat and the remnants of my thoughts. I slipped into my blue Calvin Klein shorts, a black hoodie, and my favorite ankle socks, completing the look with my trusty Air Force Ones.
As I arrived at school, I couldn't shake the memory of Rowan's kiss. It had felt rushed, surprising, but there was something about it that lingered—something that made me believe it was more than a fleeting moment. He flashed that charming smile of his in the hallway, surrounded by his friends, and suddenly, insecurity bubbled up within me.
"Hey! No way you just got her after one date!" one of his friends exclaimed, laughter tinged with disbelief. "And you kissed her? Respect, bro! Here's 500 bucks!"
My heart dropped. A naive little part of me had thought it meant something more, but a sinking feeling in my gut suddenly clarified everything. Just one date, and he had already become the subject of a bet? The realization ignited a fire within me.
"Is that how little I mean to you?" I blurted out, feeling bold, anger propelling me forward as I approached him. The laughter faded, replaced by stunned silence. "You think you can just bag me like this? Just for a laugh?"
Before he could recover from the shock, I slapped him. The sound echoed through the hall like a gunshot, and I felt the weight of my anger resonate in the air. I turned on my heel, marching toward the girls' locker room, determined not to let this infuriating situation derail me.
I had dreams, goals, and plans—joining the cheer squad was the next step on my list, and no boy, especially not one who thought of me as a prize, was going to stop me. As I stepped through the locker room door, my heart raced, but with determination now, not insecurity. I was ready to show everyone—Rowan included—that I was so much more than just a bet.
"Okay, you ready, Naira?" the coach's voice cut through my nerves like a knife. I nodded, taking a deep breath to steady myself. This was it. I launched into my routine, a backflip followed by a somersault that sent me soaring into the air. I landed smoothly, tacked on a toe touch, and then executed a back handspring, transitioning effortlessly into a front handspring. To finish it all off, I spun into a standing full twist that left the crowd roaring.
Everyone cheered, except for Maggy, the former cheer captain. Her expression was a mix of annoyance and disbelief, and honestly, I couldn't help but smirk. I had been saying it to her ever since I met her: I was going to take her spot, and, well, I just did. The coach clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Outstanding performance, Naira! Everyone, I told you this would be your new cheer captain — Naira Jones!"
The squad erupted with cheers, their voices creating a cacophony of support. I felt a rush of pride flooding through me, warming every part of my being. I was finally where I belonged, and there was no way I was going to let anyone take that from me. Maggy strutted off the field, her heels clicking against the ground, but I didn't let that bother me. Not today.
After the practice, we gathered in a circle to work on our basics and talk about the upcoming cheer competitions next year. There was plenty of room for growth, and I could already picture us dominating the stage. I looked around at my teammates, their faces filled with hope and excitement. We had time, and with that time came the promise of improvement—and I was ready to lead us there. After all, the future was bright, and I was determined to shine.
Once cheer practice wrapped up, I hurried to my car, craving a warm latte from Starbucks to ignite a surge of energy. But just as I slipped into the driver's seat, Rowan appeared out of nowhere, strolling towards me with that infuriating look on his face. I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Fuck off, Rowan," I muttered, slamming the door shut and peeling away from the parking lot.
I was done with his 'I love you' nonsense. He'd hurt me, no doubt about that, and I needed to focus on myself now.
After grabbing my latte, I raced home, practically throwing my bedroom door closed and locking it behind me. "N, it's Gali. You okay? Wanna talk? I'm here for you. Please come out," she called from the other side, her voice filled with concern.
But I couldn't respond. Instead, I sank to the floor, tears pouring down my face as despair swallowed me whole. I should've seen this coming. Deep down, I knew better than to believe Rowan's sweet nothings or the way he kissed me like I owned the world.
"Babe, it's Ailany. I'm really sorry for what my brother did. He didn't mean to hurt you—he's such an asshole. Please, just come out so we can talk about this," she pleaded. Her words echoed in my mind, but they felt too far away, as if I were drowning in my own sorrow.
In that moment, I wanted to escape the pain consuming me. I grabbed a glass and a lighter, heating the glass until it glowed. I didn't care anymore. Who was I to think I could ever fit in with people who had old money? My mom may have married into wealth and slipped into that world seamlessly, but I was just a girl trying to survive, feeling like an outsider.
Before I could press the heated glass against my skin, the window cracked open. My heart dropped, and I hastily tried to pull my shorts up, but it was too late. Rowan stood there, eyes wide with shock as he took in the sight of me with the sharp piece of glass. "Naira, what are you doing with that?" he asked, a mix of concern and disbelief etched on his face.
Shit. Now I had to explain the chaos in my head, the turmoil that led me to this moment.