“At first, it was a prank. I didn’t know it was a prank at the time, but him and his buddies had a bet.”
“What kind of bet?”
“A bet that surrounded me. Apparently, it was weird to still be a virgin as a ninth grader, so there was a running bet as to who could take mine.”
“What?” she asked flatly.
“Yeah. And all of his buddies tried to hit on me. But him? Jamie? He really laid it on thick. I wasn't interested in any of his friends, but I was interested in him. Then, after one of the football games, we made our way back into the school and I gave myself over to him. At the time, I really felt like I loved him. You know, as much as a freshman in high school could. It wasn’t until the next day, in the afterglow of it all, that the rumors started.”
“Rumors?”
“Yeah. That’s how I found out about the bet. How Jamie won fifty bucks for taking my virginity.”
“Did you kill him? I hope you killed him. And fifty bucks, like seriously, what the fuck.”
“I was heartbroken, Jessica. But I couldn’t go to my mom or my dad about any of this. So, I just… kept my head above water. And eventually, Jamie approached me.”
“Did you punch him in his dick?”
“No. He actually apologized. Said he felt like shit for what happened and that he wanted to make it up to me.”
“What could he have possibly done to make it up to you?”
“For starters, he took the money he won and took me out on another date. We went to this restaurant and we talked, and he apologized over and over again. Said that what he did was wrong and he felt terrible for it. And I believed him. I mean, I didn’t have a choice.”
“You fell for him again.”
“I did. Hard, too. We kept going on coffee dates and hanging out, and soon the rumors changed. It went from how he took my virginity for money to how the two of us were an item. And it was back to where it was. He kissed me in the hallways and held my hand, and I was back on cloud nine.”
“Why do I feel like something terrible is coming again?” she asked.
“Because it is. He invited me to a party my sophomore year. My first ever senior party. He was graduating that year and it was all about celebrating his success, and I was all for it. He picked me up, drove me to the party. I had my first drink. All the good stuff, right? Then I lose him at the party, go looking for him, and find him balls deep and drunk out of his mind with another girl.” I could feel the embarrassment creeping back in. I was that high school kid all over again. It hurt then like I couldn’t believe, and even now? I was still devastated.
“Holy. Hell. Are you serious, Andrea?”
“As a heart attack. I didn’t even recognize the girl. I don’t think she went to our school. She stared me in my eyes while she fucked Jamie, and I felt humiliated. I just knew that getting back together with Jamie was a mistake, and I left the party crying and didn’t look back.”
“How did you get home?” she asked.
“I walked. Stuck to the lit roads.”
“How far of a walk was it?”
I shrugged before I drew in a deep breath.
“Eight, nine miles?”
“You could’ve been killed, Andrea.”
“Yeah. I know. So, that’s why I haven't dated since. I don’t trust guys. Especially guys who like parties.”
“Well, I get that now.”
“I’m happy for you, Jessica. I really am. I just don’t want to see you get hurt anywhere near the way I did. We’re going to go to Vegas and have a great time, but I don’t want you to worry about hooking me up with someone. I’m not interested. I don’t want to be with anyone. I had my run, and it was a terrible run, and now I’m over it.”
“But Andrea—”
“No buts. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but sex and drunken marriages don’t stay in Vegas. They haunt you. I’m game for anything this weekend except those two things,” I said.