Chapter 1

May

I stepped into Ben's luxurious apartment building, my heart pounding with excitement to see him. I can barely control my excitement as I let the elevator take me to his floor.

As i approached his door, muffled voices inside grew louder. Strange, He didn’t mention he had company when we spoke a few minutes ago.

I didn't know what I'd find, I didn't tell him I was coming, it's a surprise but I'm sure he'll love it. Laughter and teasing filled the air. Curiosity overtook me, and i paused outside the door, trying to identify the voices.

Inside, Ben and another girl, their laughter echoing in the apartment, were engaged in a conversation. I paused as I mentally tried to tag the voice.

We haven't seen each other in about a week, our longest time apart since we began our secret relationship.

Our relationship is forbidden; I'm underage at 17 and he is 23. But that will change soon, I will be 18 in a few weeks, then we can go open with our relationship.

I smile at the thought of kissing him without worrying about being caught. I made another move to his door.

The tip of my sneakers was about to touch the marble floor when voices from inside stopped me in my tracks. I recognize that voice. it is unmistakable.

Ben's laughter and Patricia's soft giggles. Patricia, the girl Ben told me not to worry about. I never liked her, she always acted as if she owned Ben, always trying to rub up on him as if she were a cat in heat.

Their voices held the warmth of intimacy. My heart raced as I realized what was happening.

Her screechy voice laughs at something. I pressed my ears closer to the door as I pieced together their conversation.

The conclusion struck me like a dagger. They were ridiculing someone, referring to them as an idiot for believing that Ben could genuinely love her.

As I strained to listen, I heard my name mentioned. My heart sank as i realized they were talking about me.

"I can't believe May thinks you would ever love her," Patricia said, her voice dripping with mockery.

"Yeah," Ben replied, "she's so naive to believe that someone like me could ever fall for her." A hot flare of pain strikes my chest, I can literally hear my heart break.

"A high schooler?, a little girl? No. You only like women like me. A real woman not a pubescent teenager.” Her screechy voice spits.

"I don’t love her, I don’t even talk to her, she follows me everywhere throwing herself at me.” Ben's voice resounds.

I hesitated, hidden in the shadows just outside the entrance. Through the open door, I saw them: Ben and Patricia, standing in the elegant foyer of his apartment. He never bothered locking his door most times, overconfident that no one would dare rob his swanky and expensive building.

Her hand was on his arm, and he was laughing, a smile I thought was reserved only for me, I guess the smile is still for me since they're laughing at me.

I gasped, my breath catching in my throat as I watched them.

Every stolen glance, every whispered secret—now it all made sense. Why he always blew off my concerns about her. I leaned in closer, hidden from their view.

From the state of their dressing it's obvious they'd just had sex. Patricia's hair is looking rough, her clothes are half way on. And Ben had that gleam in his eyes.

As I listened, the words of their conversation filled me with a mixture of disbelief and hurt. They thought they were alone, unaware that I was standing just outside.

"she's such a needy teen. Always hanging around you, begging for scraps of your attention. So childish, trashy and low class." Patricia mocks. Hard to believe she was my best friend before I'd met Ben

"She is nowhere near your level, that I can assure you." Ben agreed.

"I knew it. I knew you never liked her. You must have pretended just to make me jealous." she trails her long witchy nails along his chest.

"My feeling for you have never changed. I still feel the same way as I did when we first met." He smiles coldly.

"I knew it. That's why I never relented. I knew you always felt the same way about me. I just wished you'd said something and not made me wait too long. And you shouldn't have ever hung out with that ugly teen." And she'd always been the one going on and on about how beautiful I am. I can't believe I'm seeing a new side of her, I'd known her for years. Even though she was five years older than I she'd always been a wonderful friend to me. Though I should have noticed the changes.

My anger swelled, and I knew I had to confront them. So I kick the door open. They jerk apart from each other. My footsteps froze, I watched as Patricia slowly pulled her hand away, her smirk plain for all to see.

"May, I can explain," Ben stammered, his voice trembling. Patricia remained silent, her eyes gleaming with triumph.

"Explain?" I said, my voice quivering with anger. "What's there to explain, Ben? You've been lying to me all along."

The upscale apartment seemed to close in around me. The tension in the air was suffocating, and tears welled up, blurring my vision.

"I never meant for it to happen this way," Ben said, his eyes pleading.

"You didn't expect me to catch you?" I shout.

"Oh shut up." Patricia orders. "You little girl."

"Patricia? How could you both do this to me? I trusted you." Tears roll down my eyes. she was the one who said I should go for him if I wanted him, she was so supportive until she discovered that the mystery guy was Ben. Then she'd started acting out, telling me to wait, showing up unannounced on Ben's and I dates. Always indirectly mocking my relationship with him.

"Me?, you did this to yourself. Biting off more than you could chew. What did you expect huh?, my Benny Boo here would never be forever satisfied with a few kisses and blowjobs." she spat.

Shock hits me like a hammer, "This is because I wasn't putting out?, because of sex."

Patricia rolled her eyes, "Yes dummy. You need sex to hold a man."

Tears filled my eyes as I turned to Ben, "You said it was fine. That you'd wait. Wait till whenever because I was worth it. Those were your exact words." I close my eyes and whirled on Patricia, "And you. You were the one that said I shouldn't do it, even after I told you I was ready. You said only cheap girls have sex with their boyfriend before they are a year into the relationship. You told me to wait.'

She smiled maliciously," Yes. And being the dummy that you are, you actually listened.'

God, I feel so stupid. So used. How did I miss this?

"May, You shouldn't be here. You need to leave." Ben growl.

"Me? your girlfriend?" I can't believe him, after catching him in the act.

Patricia laughs, "Yes, you. Get out of here. Can't you see your betters are talking?" I didn't warn Ben about her until she started physically throwing herself at him at the slightest chance, touching his biceps for no reason, always rearranging his hair with her hands, hugging him whenever he saw him, giving him little pecks on the cheek whenever she saw him; saying it's what's in vogue. Then I told Ben my concerns and he waved it off, saying she's just my friend to him, nothing more.

"May, you need to leave. I don't appreciate your annoying Patricia." His voice was as cold as ice.

"Benny Boo, I feel a headache coming on, please get rid of this nuisance." She gave a little pout.

"Ben, please. I am sure this is all just a big misunderstanding. Please, can we talk about this alone? Anything you say I'll believe you." I begged. And I meant it, maybe this was a mistake or a one-time thing, I'm sure he loves me, not her, I can forgive him. I should forgive him, I love him.

Ben scoffed, "A mistake?, are you that stupid? This was no mistake. I knew what I was doing, and this is definitely not the first time. I wanted a real woman. I was tired of making do with you. Now leave before I have you removed."

"Ben- I can forgive this. pretend this never happened. We_"

Patricia scoffs with an eye roll, "Give it up Dummy, Don't you understand?, he doesn't want you anymore, he never did."

" Th- that's not true. He-he-he-"

"Lemme guess, he told you he loves you and that he's never been more in love with anyone else and you mean more to him than any other girl he's been with in the past? " Patricia paused, she smirks, "Sounds familiar doesn't it? "

I freeze, the words had indeed sounded familiar when He'd said them to me, it was the familiarity that made me so certain he was saying the truth. And I'd believed him.

Patricia smiles as she sees the look of horror on my face,"Yes and that's because we stole it from your trashy TV show. I told him you'd fall hook, line and sinker for it. And you melted like snow in the sun, too easy. Don't act stupid as usual and just get out of here. "

My sob got louder as I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving them behind in the lavish apartment. Their voices faded as I distanced myself from the heartache and betrayal.

Tears streamed down my face, and my heart ached. The love I had trusted had turned into a lie, and the revelation had torn my world apart. Betrayed by my Bestfriend and my Boyfriend.

I don't know if I'd ever be able to pick up the shattered pieces.