Chapter 2

“You know you’re like the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen?”

I smile up at my boyfriend, Marshall, as I lean against my locker holding my books to my chest enjoying his low and sweet voice. I know we look like a cliche high couple with our stance but I don’t really care as he tucks some of my dark hair behind my ear and butterflies fill my stomach.

I blush, feeling a flutter in my chest. "You're the sweetest, Marshall," I gush standing on my tip toes as I place a my lips on his his.

He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me in close and the world around us melts away, feeling like it’s just the two of us in a dreamy reverie.

Just as we we’re getting lost in the moment, Mr. Smith, one of our teachers, snaps at us. "Hey! None of that in the halls!"

Marshall pulls away abruptly and chuckles raising a hand in a wave and Mr Smith.

"My bad, Mr S!” he says with one of his charming boyish grins.

He takes my hand and we start walking down the hallway.

I know our fellow students are staring. They always stare. The attention is nothing new. Marshall is the cute and popular star quarterback, and I’m the shy, awkward girl he'd somehow chosen to date.

Before Marshall, I'd struggled to make friends, largely due to my complicated home life. My father's abusive behavior made it impossible to invite people over, and explaining the situation to potential friends was a another task on its own. But with Marshall by my side, I'd been miraculously welcomed into his friend group.

“Hey, if it isn’t the cutest couple at our school!” Brooke pipes up from the outdoor benches where her and Marshall’s other friends are seated.

The table is full of the popular kids, some cheerleaders and football players. The ones who pretty much run the school.

Brooke is sucking on a lollipop and has her legs casually draped over Chad, Marshall’s best friend.

She’s definitely one of the prettiest girls at school with her long blonde hair and slim out glass figure, all the boys pretty much drool over her and all the girls want to be her friend.

"I know, right," Marshall said proudly, placing a kiss on my cheek before going to greet his friends.

Rachel, another bubbly redheaded cheerleader, caught my eye, her sly smile and gaze lingering on my outfit. "Mia, you look really pretty today.” She says, her tone dripping with insincerity as she shares a look with Brooke.

I immediately feel self conscious in my thrifted outfit. It’s really all I can afford but most of the girls don’t really get that all coming from richer families.

I pull my denim jacket closer trying to hide the slightly faded floral dress underneath, and muttered a quiet "thank you."

Marshall returns to my side, wrapping his arm around my waist, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me at his presence.

“Hey, babe, can I pick you up tonight for my party tonight?” He asks, his words tickling my ear.

I shiver at his words.

“Mia never comes out for parties. She’s so lame.” Brooke speaks with a pout. her voice laced with judgment and mocking.

I feel a surge of defensiveness rise in me but I force myself to remain calm. It’s not like she would understand that my dad would literally lock me in doors every Friday night just so that I couldn’t go anywhere.

I shudder at the memory forcing it away into a little box where it can’t haunt me anymore.

Marshall rubs my arm comfortingly. He has no idea about what I endured all these years but his always been so sweet and understanding about me always bailing on our plans.

“Actually? I’ll be there.” I speak proud for once that I’m not a prisoner in my own home anymore.

The satisfaction I feel when Brooke’s face drops is enough for me to forget her rudeness.

Rachel pipes up in excitement. "So fun! We all totally need to make the most of this year. We'll never be seniors in high school again after all!"

I turned to Marshall, who raised his brows looking pleasantly surprised. "You're actually coming tonight?" he asks.

I’m not offended by his shock considering how many excuses I’ve had to come up with to explain why I bail so much.

I shrug. “I just have to ask Drew but I’m sure he’ll be cool with it.” After all, Drew, Hayden and Scott were always disappearing for parties at night.

Surely they wouldn’t care if I went for one myself. And Brooke was right, I had been miserable and silently suffering for too long. I deserved a good year of just being a normal teen with my boyfriend.

Marshall gave me a dimpled smile and buried his face into my neck. “Can’t wait babe, you know maybe when you get there, we can sneak off and have some… you know? Private time?”

I’m suddenly more aware of Marshall’s body so close to mine and my face heats up.

He’s whispering so I know none of our friends can hear but I’m still flushed and embarrassed.

I swallow hard fighting my nerves. Marshall and I haven’t slept together yet. I know he has been with other girls but I’m still a virgin. And to be honest I’ve always wanted to save myself for someone special.

It took me some time to realise that that person might actually be Marshall. I mean of all the pretty and popular girls he could have chosen to be with he chose me. No matter how much I flaked on him and kept my home life away from him he stuck by me so I kind of owed this much to him.

“I can’t wait, babe.” I tell him even though nerves eat at me.

“Marshall, we gotta get to practice!” Chad calls as him and the other players start to rise.

Marshall turns to me.

“I’ll pick you up at 7.” He tells me before kissing me. Before he can pull away he gives me a wary look. “Drew won’t kick my ass when I show up at his apartment, right?”

I give Marshall a confused look. “Why would he kick your ass?”

Marshall cocks his head to the side.

“Mia, you do know your brother hates me, right?”

I furrow my brows and place my hands on his face. “Don’t be ridiculous, Drew doesn’t hate you.”