My First Sex

Leah's POV

“Wait, you’ve never had sex before?” Savannah, my best friend, asked, arching her perfectly shaped brows as she stared at me like I had just confessed to living under a rock.

“Shh!” I quickly tapped her hand, my face burning with embarrassment as I glanced around, hoping no one had heard her.

The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the street as we walked home, and the occasional breeze brushed softly against my skin, but it did nothing to cool the heat crawling up my neck.

The last thing I wanted was random strangers overhearing our conversation and staring at us like we were some reckless, spoiled teenagers.

“There’s nothing to shush about,” she said, lowering her voice slightly but clearly not ready to drop the subject. Her sandals clicked against the pavement as she walked beside me. “How come you’ve never even been touched by a boy?”

“We are not supposed to be talking about…” My words trailed off as my throat tightened. I couldn’t even bring myself to say it out loud.

“About what?” she pressed, her grin widening mischievously. “Sex?”

God. She said it so easily, so shamelessly, like it was as casual as discussing the weather.

A man walking past us suddenly turned his head, his sharp, curious gaze sweeping over us before he kept moving. Mortification sank deeper into my bones.

“We’re just eighteen,” I reminded her through clenched teeth, my fingers tightening around the strap of my bag.

She rolled her eyes dramatically, her long ponytail swaying behind her. “Oh, please. We’re officially adults now, and we’ve reached the age to do what adults do.”

I stayed quiet, too embarrassed to keep arguing. The way she spoke so boldly about it all made me want to disappear.

By the time we finally reached my house, relief washed over me like cool rain. I just wanted to push the door open, escape inside, and end this humiliating conversation once and for all.

But Savannah grabbed my wrist before I could.

“You should give it a try, trust me,” she said, sounding like she was recommending some harmless hobby instead of talking about losing my virginity.

I slowly turned to her, forcing a tight smile despite the exasperation bubbling inside me.

“You know what you need?” I asked sweetly.

She blinked. “No.”

“A doctor,” I shot back before pulling my hand from her grip.

For a second, she stared at me.

Then she burst into laughter, loud and uncontrollable, like I had just said the dumbest yet funniest thing she had ever heard.

“So talking about this now means I need a doctor?” She flung her hands dramatically to her sides, clearly fed up with what she always called my childish behavior.

“You need to grow up, Leah,” she said, her voice rising with frustration. “It’s not a fucking death sentence. It’s just…”

Before she could say another word, I quickly slapped my hand over her mouth, panic surging through me as I already knew exactly what she was about to say next.

Her muffled protests vibrated against my palm as her eyes widened.

“You really need to shut it,” I whispered harshly, my pulse quickening. “My mother’s home. She might hear you.”

Savannah raised both hands in mock surrender, amusement dancing in her eyes.

Still, I shot her a sharp warning look before finally removing my hand.

She let out an exaggerated sigh, brushing herself off like I was the one being unreasonable.

“Okay, fine,” she said, folding her arms tightly across her chest. “But what about John?”

“John?” I blinked, pretending complete innocence, as though I’d never heard that name before in my life.

But the sudden warmth rushing to my cheeks betrayed me instantly.

“Which John?”

“Seriously?” She gave me a long, unimpressed stare. “John Ryder?”

“You should get going,” I muttered quickly, trying to nudge her toward the gate, but Savannah stood firm like an immovable force.

“You should really give him a chance,” she said, her tone softening for once. “That guy has literally been chasing after you since middle school.”

“Let’s not talk about him, please,” I groaned, stomping my foot lightly against the ground, desperate for this conversation to end before my embarrassment consumed me whole.

The corners of her lips curled into a mischievous smile, but thankfully, she didn’t push further.

“Okay,” she said, finally turning away.

Relief barely had time to settle before she glanced back over her shoulder.

“But whenever you’re ready to…” She made an obnoxiously suggestive gesture with her hands.

I slapped my palm against my forehead in pure humiliation.

“...just let me know, okay?”

I didn’t dignify that with a response.

Instead, I spun around and hurried inside, shutting the door firmly behind me as though it could block out both her voice and my embarrassment.

Inside, I found Mom already dressed in her pale blue nurse’s uniform, her hair neatly pinned up as she hurried around gathering her things. She worked at the local community hospital, and this week’s night shifts meant I’d mostly have the house to myself.

“Hey, Mom,” I said, leaning over to kiss her cheek before heading toward the kitchen.

“Hi, baby,” she replied distractedly, stuffing supplies into her handbag with practiced speed.

“I’ve got to go now,” she added, zipping her bag shut. “I made meatloaf in case you’re hungry, and lasagna for dinner later, okay?”

“Okay, Mom.”

I dropped my school bag onto the kitchen counter before automatically washing my hands. My mother’s obsession with hygiene was so deeply ingrained in me it had practically become muscle memory.

“Take care of yourself, okay? Be a good girl and stay indoors!”

Her voice echoed behind her as she rushed out the front door.

I smiled faintly.

That was Mom, always in a hurry, always caring, and never one for proper goodbyes.

Glancing at the microwave clock, I saw it was already 5:30 PM.

Music class had dragged on far longer than I’d expected.

****

Night fell heavily, wrapping the house in darkness as rain pounded relentlessly against the roof.

The rhythmic drumming of raindrops filled my bedroom, steady and hypnotic, while flashes of lightning occasionally illuminated my ceiling in pale bursts.

Lying on my bed, staring upward, only one person occupied my thoughts.

John Ryder.

We’d been friends since middle school, and somewhere between awkward teenage years and high school hallways, my feelings for him had changed into something deeper, something dangerous.

I’d never told him.

Never had the courage.

But sometimes… sometimes I caught myself wondering if maybe he felt it too.

I reached for my phone on the nightstand, my fingers brushing the cool screen before unlocking it.

His photos filled my gallery.

Pictures from school trips.

Summer camp.

Beach days.

It was the beach photo that held me captive the longest.

My breath caught slightly as I stared.

His damp hair had been tousled from the ocean, droplets of water glistening on his golden skin, his toned body far too distracting for my peace of mind.

Slowly, almost without realizing it, my fingertips traced the outline of his torso on the screen.

My throat suddenly felt dry.

He was way too attractive.

My imagination began to wander, dangerous and intoxicating, curiosity swirling through me in ways I barely understood.

Savannah’s shameless words replayed in my mind, teasing me about experiences I’d never had.

But my thoughts always circled back to the same person.

John.

If there was ever going to be a first for me…

I wanted it to be him.

Only him.

Suddenly, the sharp sound of the doorbell rang through the house.

I jolted upright so fast my heart nearly leaped into my throat.

Rain battered the windows violently as thunder rumbled outside.

My breathing quickened. I grabbed my phone and checked the time.

10:05 PM.

Fear prickled beneath my skin.

Who on earth would be at my door this late… in the middle of a storm?