My Childhood Friend Chose Her Virginity Over My Future Chapter 02

My Childhood Friend Chose Her Virginity Over My Future Chapter 02

When I came out of the restroom, Ethan and a group of classmates were walking ahead of me with Chloe in the middle.

”You were amazing,” someone said. ”Now you get to go to Easton State with Ethan. Congrats.”

”Ethan finally doesn’t have to be the spoiled princess’s bodyguard anymore. Must be exhausting pretending all the time.”

A few of them burst out laughing.

Ethan did not correct them.

When I first started track, I really had been fragile.

My feet blistered easily, and my legs cramped all the time.

Every time the others said I was holding them back or acting like a princess, Ethan would kick their chairs and make them apologize. He used to say I was the strongest girl in the world.

Chloe laughed softly. ”Don’t say that. Avery is amazing too. If her period hadn’t come early, I never would’ve gotten this spot.”

Ethan immediately said, ”Don’t sell yourself short. You earned this. She just got lucky before. Today her luck ran out, which means the slot was never meant to be hers.”

I never thought Ethan would be the one to say those words to me.

Bitterness spread through my chest.

I was about to turn away when Chloe saw me and hurried over.

”Are you okay? They were just joking. Please don’t take it seriously.”

”And don’t be too upset about the qualifier. Your health matters more. I’m sure you can reapply next year, and we can still be classmates.”

Panic flickered in Ethan’s eyes, and his voice turned stiff.

”They were joking. Don’t mind it. We’re going out tonight to celebrate Chloe placing first. Come with us and relax.”

My eyes burned.

How ridiculous.

Since when had the thing that destroyed me become something worth celebrating for Ethan?

I pressed a hand to my stomach. ”No. I don’t feel well. Have fun.”

Chloe slapped a hand lightly against her forehead, and her eyes reddened at once.

”My bad. I knew you missed the qualifier because of your period, and I still celebrated in front of you. I hurt you. I shouldn’t be happy. I’m so sorry.”

Then she ran off, looking wounded.

Everyone turned to stare at me in disgust, Ethan most of all.

”Sports are about winning and losing. Is everyone who achieves something supposed to give up the right to celebrate just because you failed?”

”Avery, the world doesn’t revolve around you. Stop being so selfish.”

He ran after Chloe without another word.

My heart felt as if it had been soaked in salt water. The pain was so sharp that I could barely straighten my back.

Yes.

I was selfish.

So from now on, Ethan would never again be trapped by someone as selfish as me.

The walk from the restroom to the classroom felt endless because of the cramps.

The bell had already rung five minutes earlier by the time I reached the door.

It was study hall.

Before, if I slipped quietly back to my seat, the teacher would pretend not to see me.

But just as I stepped inside, someone stuck out a foot and tripped me.

My legs were already weak.

I pitched forward and fell hard, landing on my knees in front of Chloe’s desk.

My forehead hit the edge of the desk with a dull crack.

”Wow, it’s not even New Year’s, and you’re already kneeling to the prettiest girl in class. What did you do wrong? Can’t even walk straight?”

Chloe smiled and told them not to mess around.

The boys laughed even louder.

The voice that started it, and the shoe that tripped me, were both familiar.

It was Nolan Brooks, Ethan’s best friend.

I looked up at Ethan.

A faint smile had been tugging at his mouth, but the moment our eyes met, it froze.

The fog in my head cleared all at once.

So this was what he had wanted all along: to force an apology out of me for Chloe.

I had never imagined that the boy who had promised to protect me since childhood would one day let someone bully me for another girl.

I knew the Ethan who used to feel sorry for me was gone.

I gritted my teeth and struggled to my feet.

Only then did Ethan notice the blood dripping from my hand. He reached out to help me.

I stepped away. ”Don’t touch me, Ethan. You make me sick.”

Panic flashed in his eyes.

A second later, it was replaced by worry.

My ears rang as my vision went black.

Then I fell into a warm pair of arms.