Silvia danced alongside Olivia at homecoming. She saw Lucita storm onto the dance floor, her eyes red, losing herself to the music.

“Oh boy,” said Olivia, wrapping her arms around Silvia.

“Looks like she and Cyrus got into it again.”

“Poor girl.”

“Heart wants what the heart wants.”

“Oh, aren’t you two so cute?”

Olivia stiffened against her. Silvia turned to see Evie standing there, Liz at her side.

“Can I help you?”

“Since when are you a lesbian?” asked Liz.

Silvia rolled her eyes. “Not that you need any sort of explanation, but I’m bi.”

“Oh? Since when?” Evie slid up next to them. “Olivia, are you really okay with that?”

“Back off, Evie.” Silvia looked up at Blake, stepping to her side.

“Ah, the ex. Liz put you guys together, didn’t she? Too bad it didn’t work out.”

“They were perfect for each other.”

“Since when did you become the bad girl out of some teen movie?” mocked Silvia. She didn’t know what was going on, why Olivia was holding onto her so tightly, but she wanted whatever this was done and over with.

“Go fuck yourself.”

“You know, I hope you’re at least good. Olive,” continued Evie, using her nickname, “I don’t think she’ll be better than me. Just sayin’.”

The words hit Silvia like a ton of bricks.

“What?”

Evie’s lips slid into a sinister grin. “Oh, didn’t she tell you? I was her first. Olive is my ex.”

“I dumped you.” Olivia’s voice was shaky but firm, a fire in her eyes.

Evie’s gaze slid over to her. “Yeah, you did. But you’ll come crawling back in no time—”

Someone yanked her away, tossing her to the ground. Like some avenging angel, Lucita stood, fists clenched at her side, Jason beside her.

“Go get a fucking life.”

“Back off,” said Liz, helping Evie up.

“Or what? What can you do? You already spread fucking lies and rumors about me. What else can you do?”

“Watch.”

“Oh, how scary. More rumors? You’re pathetic. Fucking pathetic. A pathetic little bitch—”

Liz punched her, catching her off guard. Luci took a step back, momentarily stunned, but Silvia could see the murder in her eyes. Whatever had happened with Cyrus had already gotten to her, fueling this rage within her.

Like a cat, her hand struck out, nails digging into her throat.

“Fucking pathetic.” Her voice was low, dangerous, almost a growl. Luci, still clutching her throat, swept her foot under her, sending her crashing to the ground. Watching her gasp for breath, Silvia watched Luci do the unthinkable. Luci’s heeled foot met Liz’s stomach, making her yelp almost loud enough to be heard over the music.

“What? Nothing to say?” Luci kicked her again. Silvia spun around, and people were starting to notice.

“Luci, stop!” she said, feeling frantic, reaching for her friend.

“No!” She said, shaking her off. “She is the worst! She deserves the worst!” There was something manic in her voice, something chaotic in her eyes.

“Fucking calm down,” said Matt, suddenly appearing, holding her arms behind her, pinning her. “Come on, before you get suspended or expelled.” Silvia watched him drag her away. Evia helped Liz stand, holding her close.

“These are your friends, Olive? Psychos?”

“You’re no better.”

“Hmph, we’ll see.” She pulled Liz close to her, helping her walk along the dance floor, drawing stares from the crowd.

“The fuck just happened?” asked Blake. “Luci has never gotten like that before.”

“That was my fault,” said Cyrus.

“Obviously,” muttered Jason.

Cyrus glared at him. “Shut up.”

Silvia turned away from them to look at Olivia. “Olivia? What was she talking about?”

Olivia was wringing her hands together. “Can we talk about it privately? Please?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Silvia led Olivia out of the ballroom and into the hallways lined with benches. Sitting next to her, she wanted to lace her fingers with hers. But Olivia wouldn’t let her get close enough.

“Olivia, did you date Evie?”

She nodded, head down, eyes on the floor.

“I had always had a little bit of a crush on her. She was so pretty. We were sleeping over at Tiff’s once, and then she kissed me.”

“And you…your virginity?”

Olivia’s fists tightened in her lap. “That wasn’t my choice.”

“What?”

“It happened at her house. We had just started dating, but we hadn’t told anyone. So I stayed over at her house. I woke up to her hands on me; my underwear was gone, and she was right there, naked. She said it was time, and I didn’t really understand. I mean, I was tired, and then she didn’t wait. It just happened, and I felt so paralyzed. I mean, I wasn’t ready for that, not yet. I wanted her, but not like that.”

Silvia just stared at her girlfriend, in shock and horror. “Olive, that’s…she raped you.”

Olivia looked up at her, eyes red. “Did she? I didn’t say no, I didn’t say anything, I didn’t make a move to stop her. I let her hold me down and do things to me.”

“You didn’t say yes. You didn’t give your consent. You were in shock, and she took advantage of that, of you. So yes, it is rape.” Silvia was furious. “I wish Luci had beaten her to the ground.”

“She still might.”

“Olivia, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I was ashamed. Because I didn’t want you to know. I hate myself for letting it happen, for letting her control me. For not saying no. I just hate her for pushing me around.”

“Olivia, no.” Silvia took her hands in hers. There were nail marks in her palm from how tightly her fists had been clenched. “No. You are a victim. Evie is a bitch and a bully. I won’t let her come near you again. And Luci, well, she’ll probably go psycho on her ass if she goes near her again.”

Olivia laughed, leaning her head against her shoulder, tears falling down her cheeks. “I hope so.” They sat together, heads close together, fingers laced together, the only two people in the world.

Matt let go of Luci near his car. She shook him off like a feral cat, eyes blazing.

“What the absolute fuck, Luci?”

“What? She deserved it.”

“You could get expelled if anyone reports you.”

“She’s done worse.”

“She metaphorically kicked you while you were down. You literally kicked her when she was down. Twice.”

“So what?”

“Is this about Cyrus?”

“It’s about everything,” she all but screamed. “I go to a fucking school where people harass me, and I take it. Where guys leer at me and try to paw at me, and it’s all because of her lies. Her and Francis’s lies! And then there’s Cyrus! God, I am just so fucking angry all the time. All the fucking time. So it felt good. It felt so good kicking her. I don’t regret it.”

Matt stared at her before snatching up her arms.

“What are you—”

“Are you cutting yourself again?”

Lucita snatched her arms away. “No.”

“But the thought has crossed your mind. Don’t lie to me.”

“Yes, the thought has occurred to me. I’m just so angry all the time.”

“Even with me?”

“Huh?” She stopped pacing, stopping to stare at him, eyes wide. “No, being with you is the only time I’m okay.”

Matt stared at her for a moment, his heart racing. “Fuck it.” He kissed her, catching her by surprise, his hand going up her dress, under her underwear. She moaned against him, pressing her body against his. Pulling away from her lips, he slid two fingers into her, trailing kisses down her neck.

“Matt—” she moaned, back arching.

“Get in the fucking car.” He opened the back door, sliding in, pulling her after him. Unbuckling his pants, he slid them down right before she straddled him, slipping the dress off her shoulders and letting it bunch around her waist.

He lifted her up, letting her slide on down him, his fingers digging into her waist as she moved along him, nails digging into his shoulder. He leaned forward, taking one of her nipples into his mouth, pulling out a sharp gasp from her. God, he wanted her.

Matt shrugged off his jacket. She unbuttoned his shirt quickly, and together they pressed themselves. It wasn’t enough, not nearly enough for him, but it was something, hearing her say his name. Right now, he could pretend they were together, even for a moment.

Even when they were finished, even with his pants pulled back up, Luci stayed where she was, on him, her lips on his, fingers in his hair.

“Matt?”

“Yeah,” he said, kissing her neck, lingering in the one spot above her necklace.

“Do you want to try? Doing this for real?”

He stopped. “Luci—”

“I know it’s complicated, but everyone already seems to think we’re dating and—”

“No.”

She jerked back, staring down at him. “What?”

Matt pulled her back, his lips kissing her breast. “Let me think about it, okay.” His hand slipped up her dress, his fingers finding her sweet spot easily. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she moaned.

“God Matt—”

“I promise,” he said, trailing kisses up her neck, “I’ll think about it.”

She nodded, biting her lip as he played with her. Matt wanted her; he wanted to be with her, but he knew he wasn’t her first choice. He knew Cyrus would wake up one day and want Luci for his own.

“Want to go for round two?”

“God, yes,” she moaned. He smiled against her. At least in these moments, he could pretend.

Pre-Order ‘New Girl,’ the first in my YA Romance series.