Joya Goffney

“How do you know?”

“Because that idiot’s had a crush on you since he started going to school at Hayworth.”

My breath rushes from between my lips. I’m gasping against his black shirt. I’m not crying. I’m ugly crying. I’ve never ugly cried in front of anyone. I doubt he’ll be able to see me as “beautiful” after this.

How You Gonna Act Like That” by Tyrese.

My body isn’t a prize—some trophy you get after a certain amount of time. You don’t deserve my body, and neither does Reggie—it doesn’t work like that. My body is mine to give whenever I want to whoever I want.