YOU LOVED FEELING ABOVE THE REST There was something intoxicating about knowing that more than half the people around you harbored a deep envy toward you. It seemed to delight the dark-haired girl, since you had built your entire persona around being effortlessly better at everything you did

You weren’t insecure—quite the opposite. You were the girl. The perfect one, weren’t you? Your hair gleamed brighter than your flawless grades, your full lips were always perfectly painted, and your well-defined curves drove boys mad—boys you never even bothered to glance at

Every aspect of your life was neatly under control. You dated the dumbest boys on the island—who just so happened to also be the most attractive. You loved watching how people bent over backward for you, simply because they liked the image of themselves by your side

Who wouldn’t?

Though you would never admit it, you craved validation from others. The reason was simple: your parents had never given you any. Your mother was always in someone else’s bed—men who weren’t her husband, even if you pretended not to notice. And your father… well, he shouldn’t even be called a father. He had always treated you with utter disdain. Maybe it was his sexist beliefs, or maybe it was the possibility that you weren’t even really his daughter* But none of that was your fault You had always seen him as a monster But then again, how do you slay a monster without becoming one yourself?

it was a normal Monday. Walking to your class, you saw someone look at you, maybe more than the rest.

Niccolo Govender. He was difficult to explain, because no one really knew him well. Loved parties. Loved girls. Loved smoking. That was all you knew about him. He had many friends, more than you, and was constantly stuck with his ex, Virginia —whom you didn’t really like very much

your story with Niccolo was simple. One random party you ended up sleeping together. You had never really been friends or anything, but two hot people didn’t know better