Page 3 of His Good Girl

It was my junior year and I had been asked to prom by a senior, who also was the captain of the baseball team, and all around popular and sexy. At nearly six feet tall with blonde hair and blue eyes, Connor was your typical All-American boy. When he asked me, I nearly peed my pants. Marcee and I spent weeks searching for the perfect dresses. Marcee ended up with a dark green silk ballroom gown with a sweetheart neckline. On the taller side for a female at five-foot-seven, the shape suited her perfectly. Paired with her gorgeous olive skin, thick dark hair that had a natural beach wave, and to-die-for green eyes that matched the dress, she was stunning. Where hers had been princess like, mine had been sexy and revealing. It was fire-engine red with an open back. At only a couple inches over five feet, I had opted for a more fitted dress as any pouf swallowed me whole.

I’m a stark contrast to Marcee, having a more golden complexion and blonde hair that is straight as a pin. My eyes are light brown, and fade to green around the edges. Although not an exciting color, I love the shift from brown to green, and I swear they are like a built-in mood ring. When I'm mad, they look completely brown; if I have been crying, the brown seems washed away and gives them more of a light green appearance. But most of the time, they’re boring old brown. Luckily, I hired a makeup artist to teach me a few tricks to accentuate my eyes and now people love to remark about how striking they are.

The open back of my dress showed off plenty of skin, and I shiver as I remember the feeling of Connor's hands on my bare skin while we danced. But it was the slit in the skirt that gave it real spice, going all the way up my thigh to my hip. If I stood with my legs together, it wasn’t even noticeable, but I loved the way my leg peeked out when I walked. I felt gorgeous in that dress, relishing every inch of exposed skin. When everyone met for pictures, all the parents were hovering and snapping photos non-stop. Craning my neck, I searched for my dad but had no luck spotting him. Worried, I checked my phone for the hundredth time, and this time, I found a text waiting.

Dad:

Sorry Alexis, something came up at work. Have a blast and I'll see you Monday for dinner.

My blood boiled, and tears pricked behind my eyes. How dare he do this to me! He thinks he can just push me aside like I’m nothing? My rushing thoughts stalled as I caught Marcee watching me closely and her face said it all. She knew he wasn’t coming, and her stare held such pity, I almost gave in to the tears. Instead, I made a few calls and set up a huge after-party at my dad’s place, then spread the word.

That night, I let Connor lead me into my dad’s room and gave him my virginity. It had felt so daring and rebellious, and Connor had spent all night going on and on about how gorgeous I was and how I needed to come see him at college next year. His words filled a void in me like a balm to the hurt from my dad’s abandonment.

As soon as the bedroom door closed, we slammed into each other, clothes peeled off and toppled onto the bed. He showered me with kisses, praising my body, okay, not my body, my tits, but he was a teenage boy, so no surprise there. When he lined himself up with my entrance, I had never felt more beautiful. Connor sunk into me with one rough thrust. Unable to stifle the cry of pain at the abrupt intrusion, I had given away just how inexperienced I was. He froze, staring into my eyes with his face lighting up like I was the most precious thing alive. All pain forgotten, or at least not acknowledged, his moans quickly grew louder then he shouted my name and came inside me.

My eyes went wide as I realized he hadn’t used a condom. It was over so quickly, I didn’t even have time to process that, but it was fine that it was quick since it kind of hurt. I knew it would, but I also knew it would be better the next time, so I didn’t care much, not with Connor looking at me like I was his everything. When I brought up the condom, he laughed, saying, “Nah, baby, I’m too big for those things!”

He wasn’t—not even close.

We went back down to the party and Connor went to get us drinks. Within minutes, people were staring at me and whispering. Panicking, I looked down at my dress then fiddled with my hair. I had checked the mirror before leaving my dad’s room and didn’t think it was obvious what had happened, but the way people were staring, I was sure my tit had to be out or something.

Marcee ran to my side, grabbing both my hands and searching my eyes. “Oh, Lexie,” she breathed, but whatever she was about to say next was lost as a few of the baseball players came over.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Sexy Lexie! Hear you spread those legs of yours for Connor. If you ever want to ride a real man, give me a call.” He grabbed his crotch before pinching my ass as they walked off laughing. My eyes met Connor’s, betrayal pouring through me. That little fucker toasted me with the red solo cup in his hand then started laughing.

By Monday, the whole school was talking about him popping my cherry and saying I was an easy lay. Huddling in the bathroom, I cried through all of first period. A senior girl, that I recognized as one of the cheerleaders, burst into the stall I was crying in. She handed me a paper towel and said, “What’s done is done. Do not let that fucker see you crumble. Pull your shit together and give Connor a big middle finger as you walk with your head held high. If you let that douche win, I will personally kick your ass.” Spinning on her heel, she walked out of the bathroom and we never spoke again. But what she said unlocked something in me. Sure, my parents may have abandoned me, and that asshole used me in a disgusting way, but I’m Alexis Fucking Wayfield, and this will not break me.

I did just as she suggested. I pulled it together and walked out of that bathroom like a fucking queen, chin up, shoulders thrown back, owning exactly who I was. I wore my new moniker of Sexy Lexie with pride and never let them see that it hurt.

Shaking myself out of the memory, I do the same thing I’ve done every morning since that event. I square my shoulders and step into the limelight like nothing can touch me. Plus, in a couple of months, Marcee and I are moving and starting college, giving me a chance to start over and lose that damn nickname. I may have leaned into it to survive high school, but I'm more than the girl Connor used and discarded, and I'm ready to let the rest of the world see it.

5

FINN

After passing Lexie in the hall, I’ve been unable to shake the look on her face at my words. Realizing how starved for attention and approval she must be makes my heart ache for her. I will never understand her folks. I try to shake off the moment and work to steady my emotions that are pinging all over the place today. As proud as I am of my little girl, my heart is also heavy knowing that she's moving away soon. I have some very big plans on the horizon, and as hard as it will be to live far away from her, I'm ready for this new chapter.

Vivian and I decided we would sit together for the graduation ceremony for Marcee’s sake, but I’m already dreading having to see her. We haven’t seen each other since the divorce was finalized last year, and that has been fine with me.

I have thrown myself into work, and I’m about to launch a new business venture in the fall. Outside of work, I go to the gym and try to spend time with Marcee. That’s my life, and ironically, I feel lighter than I have in ages. I hadn’t realized just how miserable I was until we ended things, and suddenly, I was able to sleep at night and the near-constant stomach aches vanished as well. I found myself enjoying old hobbies like surfing again and running on the beach. In all the muck of my marriage falling apart, I had let myself fall apart too, but it felt like I was finally climbing out of that hole and reclaiming bits of myself.

As I leave the house with a large bouquet in hand, my phone dings, and I smile when I see Marcee’s picture on the screen.

Marcee:

Hey Dad! Lexie’s dad flaked and isn’t coming. Jerk didn’t even have the decency to call himself, had his old biddy of an assistant call her. Anyways, after the cookout can I crash at her place so she isn’t all alone?

My heart drops, remembering how excited she had been when she told us her dad was going to be there. As much as I want Marcee at home tonight, I don’t want Lexie to be alone. Thinking back to the night that she stayed with Marcee as my marriage crashed into the rocks, I shoot back a quick text saying yes. Then I call the caterer and head to the florist.

I speed the whole way from the flower shop to the graduation venue, nervous the stop might make me late. In the end, I make it just in time, even grabbed a single seat near the front since Vivian didn’t bother to save me a seat after all. As the graduates file in, I instantly spot Marcee and my chest swells with pride. She looks so grown up, a far cry from the little girl with an overbite and pigtails that insisted on reading Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs every night for a whole year. I can still recite it from memory.

Tears prick my eyes as I watch my daughter walk to her seat. As soon as Marcee is seated, I spy Lexie coming in. Unlike the rest of the graduates, she isn’t searching the crowd looking for anyone, knowing no one showed up for her. I smile and follow her progress on the off chance she looks out into the crowd. I want her to have at least one friendly face.

The ceremony drones on, and the speeches are insufferably long. My God, the valedictorian is a preening douche, and I pity anyone that had to suffer through being in a class with that narcissist. Finally, it's time to call the graduates to walk the stage and get their diplomas. Marcee steps onto the stage, and I stand and cheer, hearing her mom, aunts, uncles, and grandparents doing the same for her. My baby smiles brightly and waves to both cheering sections. Although I'm glad Vivian's family came out to support her, it does make me feel very alone over here by myself. My family and I aren’t close and haven’t been in a very long time.

Maybe that’s why I have such a soft spot for Lexie. I know how it feels to not have a family, like you’re alone in the world. It gives me some comfort knowing Lexie has a great friend like Marcee, and I hope she feels a sense of family when she’s with us.

6