Cheater
LILY
The summer between my junior and senior years was one of the best summers of my life.
I spent the long, hot days at the lake with my best friends Ava, Leah, and Harry, and of course my boyfriend of two years, Oliver.
At night we would go to different parties, drinking and dancing until the sun came up, then we’d repeat it all over again.
Until today.
Today is mine and Oliver’s second anniversary.
We plan on going for a picnic dinner at a “secret” spot he found, then we’re coming back to my house to spend the evening together. Everything sounds perfect.
“Okay, you look so fucking hot right now!” Ava exclaims, looking me up and down.
I’m wearing a blue-and-white backless sundress that falls mid-thigh, showing just enough cleavage.
“You think he’ll like it?” I ask, doing a little spin.
“He’s going to love it!” she squeals.
“I’d better get going,” I say, grabbing my phone and keys and throwing them into a small cross-body bag.
“See you tomorrow, you sexy thang.” Ava winks, slapping my ass as I walk past her.
The whole time I’m driving to Oliver’s my stomach does flips with excitement.
I pull up outside his house and double-check my makeup in the mirror before climbing out of my car and straightening my dress.
I slowly walk up to his front door, trying to calm my butterflies down before I knock. I wait about a minute before knocking again.
I frown to myself when he still doesn’t open the door. Maybe he’s in the shower.
I’m about to try the handle when the door flies open, and a disheveled-looking Oliver is standing in the doorway.
Seeing him standing in front of me in his boxers and blond sex hair, I let my anger overtake me.
“You motherfucker!” I yell. Kicking the door open, I storm inside to find out who the fuck he’s cheating on me with.
“Babe, just calm down. It isn’t what it looks like!” he yells frantically.
I ignore him and throw his bedroom open, only to see fucking Leah in her bra and panties.
“Lily.” She gasps at seeing me.
“Are you fucking serious?” I scream at both of them. “How long?” I ask, pinching the bridge of my nose to calm down.
“This is the first time.”
“Six months.”
Oliver and Leah answer at the same time.
“Six months.” I laugh humorlessly, shaking my head.
“Lily, let me explain,” Oliver begs, grabbing hold of my wrist.
“Don’t fucking touch me!” I yell, ripping myself free and running outside to my car.
How could he? Two whole fucking years I’ve wasted on him! And Leah! She’s one of my best friends! I never thought she’d do this to me.
I drive on autopilot to one of my favorite spots in the whole city. A running trail just on the outskirts and not too far from my home.
I pull up in the small parking lot and get out of the car and start walking, not giving two shits I’m in a dress and sandals.
As I start walking, I finally let myself cry. My whole life feels like a lie right now. I’m full-on sobbing when someone taps me on the shoulder, making me scream.
“Whoa, calm down, princess,” a boy around my age says, holding up his hands.
“You scared me,” I sniffle, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.
“Are you all right?” he asks gently.
“I’m fine,” I answer.
“You don’t look it,” he states, going to sit on a large rock just off the path. “I’m a good listener,” he says, patting the rock for me to sit down.
“I just caught my boyfriend of two years cheating on me with one of my best friends,” I blurt out.
“That’s rough.” He whistles.
“They’ve been sleeping together for six months!” I exclaim and start pacing in front of him.
“We spent the whole fucking summer together!” I yell, kicking a stone, instantly regretting it when pain shoots through my big toe.
“I just don’t get it. I mean it’s not like I didn’t put out!” I shake my head.
“And my best friend…,” I whisper, sitting down next to the stranger. “You’re not going to kill me, are you?” I ask skeptically.
“I’m not going to kill you.” He chuckles.
“Senior year is going to suck,” I grumble, pulling my knees up to my chest.
