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Chapter 1

Candy

"You have to lose the 'v' card this semester," ordered my best friend, Larissa

It was fine for her; she'd been in love with Jeff Williaed a couple of o, and she had their whole future life et married, how e It helped that both of them, like me, are from the Upper East Side in New York City with parents who had so much wealth we didn't discuss it Most around here flaunted it instead, ‘Oh look what Daddy got apore’, then they would show off their latest vintage Rolex Everything had to be the latest trend Every step one-upmanship In truth, deep inside I found it all dull but if I didn't go along with it, then I'd be the laughing stock of Lincoln High and no one ever wanted to make themselves that So instead I immersed ht now, planned for hteenth birthday party, which was to be the party of the year according to my mom My father was in politics, and n company I didn't see them much, usually only when they needed to show me off to their coone, I likedht now, o home

"I'inity I want to be in love It's important to me," I replied, as I rubbed my brow

"Oh, you can always pretend on your wedding night Just say your battery operated boyfriend broke your hymen" Larissa waved off my response

"No" I had become so pissed by this point that I snapped the pencil I was holding in half Larissa either failed to notice or ignored ive up

"Julian Murphy likes you He's hot"

Julian was the star player of the varsity baseball teairls wanted; even loved-up Larissa found hi, sure All tall and lean with a fit body and a perfect smile But he lived for sports, and I loathed theirls v-cards like trophies, so there was that I was not going to be a notch on a bedpost

No, I dreaent Tall Dark-haired Maybe of slim build, rather than pumped up muscles Gentle and kind He'd look atLarissa said I read tooup Huh, our lives were like fairy tales: balls, designer gowns and shoes, staff to do our bidding Maybe what I wanted was an anti-fairy tale, where I was the Princess ent after the Prince, not the other way around

"Earth calling Candy"

"Huh?"

"You went off in a daydrea to be the theme?"

"Sleeping Beauty," I announced

"What? ThatBeauty is over You need soirl"