PART ONE

"Kiara? I just took a fart on the heart."

Ethan

It was all happening so fast that my only focus was the Skittles in the fishbowl, tempting me to steal the whole bowl away and cry while binge eating them.

"Well, he started pushing me and saying all the words. What was I supposed to do?"

"Not punch my dick."

"You deserved it."

"You are such a bitch."

"Suck my cunt, you asshole."

Knowing Liam, he would have accepted her crude remark and fantasized about it.

I closed my eyes. This was not happening on the first day of senior year. But it is. My two best friends—no, my best friend and my ex—best friend were fighting like teenagers who just learned to use cuss words.

"Ms. Sharma and Mr. James, please refrain from using swear words in my office," our principal, Mrs. Inez Cooper, said, giving both of them a stern look.

They shut up, glaring at each other while I slouched in the seat, rubbing my forehead. This all started after our morning swim practice when I had showered and got a text message from my girlfriend—whoopsie, now ex—girlfriend—to meet her on the fourth floor of our high school.

To be called on the fourth floor's abandoned chemistry lab was every guy's wet dream.

It was well—known for getting a quickie, hooking up, smoking, and even smuggling drugs. And I was excited because my girlfriend of three months was finally asking me to meet her there. We started dating when she asked me out on my swim meet while she was wearing her cheerleading outfit. I remember replying 'Yeah, sure' because I had seen her play with my six—month—old sister. Needless to say, whoever is in good terms with Eveline, is in good terms with me.

My silent footsteps filled the creepy hallway, the only sound of bugs crawling through gaps of the old door. I was thankful for the light coming from the window, sunlight streaming down on the dusty floor and dry leaves.

I shivered. Whatever happens, I am not losing my virginity in a creepy chemistry lab and getting herpes by touching something in here.

Determined, I quickly made my way to the lab, furrowing my brows when I heard grunts and gasps from inside. Maybe some couple is already occupied with the lab. Curiosity getting the best of me, I creaked open the door without touching the doorknob.

I stepped inside the grayish lab. The floor was grim and dirty, covered with dead insects, littering rats and cockroaches. Not to mention too many weird spots of white liquid that I was sure I could get AIDS from. The ceiling was worse. Covered in huge spiders and webs. I held back a shudder and the urge to gag at the smell of a dying corpse. I coughed loudly, waving my hand in front of me as every piece of furniture was covered with dust and whatnot other liquids.

But that wasn't the most shocking part.

The most traumatizing part was that my girlfriend, Ariana, was sucking faces with my best friend, Liam, who was too busy groping her breasts to notice me.

"What the hell?" I muttered to myself, looking at their disheveled clothes and hair. Not to mention, Liam's shirt was half—buttoned, his pants—oh, shit! He has a fucking boner.

Ariana's blue eyes met my mismatched green and blue, her eyes widening with shock, and pushed Liam away as if she wasn't leaning on him against the old desk. I remembered why I loved her eyes so much. They reminded me of water, and I wished to drown in them. But now? I wanted someone to pull me out and give me CPR.

She patted down her black hair and glared at Liam. "I specifically told you to meet me later. Look what you've done!"

Liam rolled his gray eyes at her and buttoned his shirt, nodding at me, "Hey, man!"

Hey, man?!

"What the . . ." I trailed off, not knowing what to say.

My lungs squeezed in and I couldn't remember how respiration worked. Ironic how I could hold my breath for two minutes underwater. But looking at them, I didn't want to breathe in their direction. Ever again.

Ariana straightened her clothes when my eyes kept fleeting between them, trying to understand why she cheated on me and why my best friend never talked to me about this. I was sure I had done everything a good boyfriend did. I even took her to the carnival last week even though I hated crowded places just to make her happy. Not to mention, Liam was at my house yesterday where we played video games all day and even talked about school and university. Why didn't he tell me? Am I that bad of a friend or a boyfriend?

I snapped out of my thoughts when she walked toward me, her curves striking against her blue and white cheerleading outfit. I could still remember the day she approached me wearing the same clothes while I had just finished my round of breaststroke for the match, landing the first place. I blinked out of that vision because she was about to break up with me. Or I was.

Ariana kept her index finger on my chest and looked up at me, "Look, Ethan. How should I tell you this?"

I glared at her, hating the way her pale skin flushed under my gaze. "Starting with your mouth would be better. Though I wonder where it has been." I gave Liam a pointed look.

He shrugged in response, trying to adjust his boner. Oh, God, he lied to me about his size.

"Ethan, baby, I'm sorry," she said, her hand trailing down my shirt.

"Are you, though?" I asked, clenching my jaw.

I was angry for three main reasons: a

A huge tarantula was crawling behind Ariana on the right corner of the wall, b

Liam lied to me about his penis size, c

My girlfriend was cheating on me with my best friend.

Ariana noted my angry look and stepped back. "I am sorry, Ethan! Can we please get over this?"

I laughed. "Are you fucking kidding me right now? I can't believe I liked you. Did you even have feelings for me, Ariana? Or was I just another guy for you to hook up with?"

She didn't reply, avoiding my gaze, and I knew her answer.

My eyes averted to my best friend and he had no emotion on his face. Eleven years of friendship for nothing.

"How long have you been cheating on me?"

"This is . . . I . . . please—"

"I asked you how long, Ariana."

She squeaked, "Two weeks."

That meant the carnival date didn't mean anything to her. I noticed that the lace of my shoe was undone and I bent down, tying it as they both took a sharp breath when I stood up and said, "It's over."

I walked out of the creepy lab with my heart broken and my virginity intact. But by the two high—pitched shrieks, I knew the tarantula had lowered down on the floor.

The news of our breakup was out in the next few minutes. Everyone gave me pitiful glances, especially girls. All I wanted to do was go back home, hug my moms and tell them what had happened, maybe tell my baby sister not to date until she was thirty.

I was walking to my third lecture when the scent of coconut and black vanilla filled my nose, my nerves relaxing under her arms. I smiled and pulled her closer, hiding my face in her hair. My throat clogged and my eyes started burning. I had the sudden urge to cry on her shoulder when her hand gently patted my back.

"I'm so sorry, Ethan," Kiara said, her warm breath tickling my ears. "Do you want to get out of here?"

Yes, yes, yes, I do. Can we please bunk right now?

I shook my head and cleared my throat to get rid of the itch to cry and looked at my best friend. "You have piano classes and I can't miss the workout or the swim practice. I can handle this," I said with what I thought was a reassuring smile, but she didn't believe me.

Of course she doesn't. We had spent eighteen years of our lives together. She knew me better than myself.

Her small hand wrapped around mine, giving me a small squeeze. Her brown doe eyes were wide when she blinked up at me. "If you need to leave, just tell me and I will take care of"—her eyes flitted over my shoulder, her expression changing from I—am—the—definition—of—kindness to I—am—the—definition—of—serial—killer in a second—"Bhenchod!"

I raised my eyebrow at the Indian swear word. She only used it when she was angry. And right now, she was fuming. I looked over my shoulder and found Liam opening his locker. Oh, shit.

"I'll be right back. Hold my bag."

Before I could stop her, she gave me her backpack and marched toward Liam with determined steps. Passersby stopped to look at the five—foot—four furious girl as if they knew hell was about to break loose. They were right.

Kiara turned Liam's shoulder and started talking to him. Angrily. I couldn't make out the words, but I knew they were both equally furious. Liam pushed Kiara on the lockers and whispered something harshly. He was about to leave when she said something snarky that made him stop and glare at her. I was about to go and stop them when he slammed his hand beside her head on the locker.

The crowd was gathering around them and tension was boiling to see who would win the round; the golden girl of Summer High or six feet Liam James who had won the most swim competitions. Everyone knew the answer by the time she punched him in the balls when he said something that made her snap.

Liam crouched in pain, protecting his family jewels, and I rushed to them, Kiara's blazing brown eyes flashing toward me. Her anger died down a little. I took her away from there, holding her back before they both started clawing at each other's faces.

"No, let me go, E," she growled, "I am not done with him."

"Calm down, Jhansi Ki Rani," I whispered in her ear, my arms cinching around her small waist.

Her face relaxed and she let out an adorable snort.