Every Girl Except Me…

June.

The image of Reid’s face kept flashing behind my eyes the whole walk home, sharp and painful like broken glass under my skin.

He had looked at me like I had stabbed him in the chest right there in front of everyone.

Reid Ashford.

The boy I had wanted since I was thirteen, the one whose smile used to make my stomach flip.

And now Knox had crushed that dream under his heel like it was nothing.

The audacity of that asshole made my blood boil.

He had stood up in a room full of people and claimed me like I was some prize he had already won, without even asking, without caring what it would do to me.

I wanted to claw my nails down his perfect face, scratch that smug smirk right off until he felt even a fraction of the hurt he kept dumping on me.

I wanted to scream in his face that he was nothing but a selfish, jealous monster who ruined everything he touched.

Knox fucking Ashford was the worst kind of trouble, the kind I should run from as fast as my legs could carry me.

But how do you run from someone who refuses to let you go?

By the time I pushed open the front door, my feet were throbbing in the stupid heels he had made me wear.

I headed straight for the stairs, hoping I could slip upstairs without anyone noticing, but my mother’s voice cut through the quiet house like a siren.

“And what is this nonsense I heard, June?”

I turned around slowly.

She stood there in her old nightdress, arms folded tight across her chest, eyes narrowed in that way that always made me feel ten years old again.

“What do you mean, Mom?” I asked, trying to sound confused even though my stomach was already twisting into knots.

Of course she had heard.

The whole neighborhood probably knew by now.

She let out a bitter scoff. “You don’t know what I’m talking about? Really?”

“My feet are killing me,” I said, shifting my weight. “I have a test tomorrow and I just want to go to bed. Standing here like I’m on trial isn’t going to help me study.”

She stepped closer, voice rising. “What happened at that party tonight? People are already texting me about you dating Knox Ashford. What happened to waiting until you’re at least twenty before you even think about boys? I warned you, June. You’re still in high school. You have no business getting distracted by any of this.”

The memory of kneeling in that empty classroom flashed through my mind, the heavy taste of his cock still lingering on my tongue even hours later.

I swallowed hard, fighting the heat that crept up my neck.

“Mom, I’m not dating him,” I said quickly. “He only said that to get back at me for something that happened at school. I swear. You have to believe me.”

She didn’t look convinced.

Her hands settled on my shoulders, warm but firm. “If there was nothing between you two, why would he announce it in front of his whole family? In front of everyone? Half your school was probably there. Boys like Knox don’t say things like that unless they mean it. You’re still so young, June. You need to focus on your studies, on getting into a good college, on building a real future for yourself instead of chasing silly distractions that will only drag you down. Knox is not the kind of boy you need in your life. You’re too innocent for the world he lives in. If there’s anything going on between you two, you end it right now. Do you hear me?”

Before I could say another word, she brushed past me and headed up the stairs.

Her bedroom door slammed shut a moment later, the sound echoing through the quiet house like a final warning.

I stood there in the hallway, heels dangling from my fingers, the emerald dress suddenly feeling too tight, too expensive, too much like something that belonged to him.

Avoiding Knox had always been impossible, but tonight it felt completely hopeless.

His grip on me was tightening by the hour, and I had no idea how to loosen it without everything falling apart.

It wasn’t even about ending things with Knox Ashford anymore.

It was about surviving him.

~ ~

The next morning I showed up at school earlier than usual, hoping the empty hallways would give me a few quiet minutes before the storm hit.

There was no point in hiding anymore.

By now the whole school had probably heard Knox’s little announcement, and his usual crowd of girls would be circling like sharks smelling blood in the water.

Especially Bianca Pierce, the head cheerleader.

Every girl wanted to be her.

Tall, blonde, legs for days, and a smile that could cut glass.

Every girl except me.

I kept my head down and walked fast, my eyes fixed on the floor tiles, praying no one would stop me before I reached my first class.

“June!”

Mae’s voice rang out behind me.

I didn’t slow down.

“Wait up!”

Her footsteps quickened until she fell into step beside me, slightly out of breath. “Why are you walking so damn fast? I’ve been calling your name for the last minute.”

“We have a test today,” I muttered, pushing through the classroom door.

I dropped into my usual seat near the back and she slid into the one right next to me. “I’d rather talk about whatever this is later.”

She leaned in anyway, her voice low but urgent. “You already know what I’m going to ask.”

I gave a small hum and kept my eyes on my notebook.

“Seriously?” Mae scoffed. “Fine. Why the hell are you dating Knox Ashford? Your bully? The same guy who’s made your life miserable for months? Have you lost your mind and sold your soul to the devil?”

I clamped my hand over her mouth before her voice could carry any farther. “Keep it down, Mae.”

She shoved my hand away but dropped her tone. “Keep it down? The whole school already knows. There’s nothing left to hide. You’re going to have to deal with Bianca too. I saw her this morning and she looked ready to burn the building down.”

“I’m not even dating him,” I whispered quickly. “It’s not real. He only said it to—”

“Not real?” She cut me off, eyes wide. “He announced it in front of the entire party, which was meant for his older brother. Your first crush, June. First you’re sucking his dick and swearing it was photoshopped, now it’s fake dating? I might not be the best at school stuff, but I’m not stupid.”

Before I could answer, the classroom door swung open again.

Bianca Pierce walked in like she owned the place.

The entire room went quiet as every head turned toward her.

Her cheer uniform hugged every curve, ponytail swinging with each confident step.

Her eyes locked straight on me, sharp and glittering with pure venom.

She stopped right in front of my desk, her hands planted on her hips, and the smile she gave me was anything but friendly.