Chasing Butterflies Read Online Free Page B

I’m labeled a slut. Go figure. But you know what, it’s freeing. I don’t give a shit what people think. I’ve slept with less guys than on one hand. But you think anyone cares that there are other more popular girls who have done it with more than they can count?”
    “It’s not fair.”
    Her shoulders lifted and fell before she let out a long string of air from her chest. “It’s high school. I can’t wait to get out of this place.”
    I smiled, finally feeling like someone agreed with me.
    “Me neither.”
    The light in her eyes danced as the corners of her mouth lifted. “So the girl going out with Ox, the fox, isn’t happy.”
    “Fox, that sounds like something my mom would say.”
    “Not as in hot, although he’s gorg. But he’s sly. You have to watch out for him.”
    I wasn’t sure what she meant by that. “Can I ask you something?”
    Her eyes narrowed. I plunged forward anyway. “What is it like to have…” I waved a hand around. “You know.”
    “Sex?”
    I nodded.
    “It can be really good with the right boy.”
    She didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t ask anymore. I didn’t know her all that well and didn’t think it was my place to pry.
    “I have to say, though, Lenora, if you don’t want to do it, don’t.”
    She glanced over my shoulder. I followed her line of sight and saw a guy in the grade ahead of us make a beeline in our direction.
    “And one more thing.”
    I frowned by her ominous statement, unsure as to what she was about to say.
    “Sometimes you shouldn’t trust your so-called friends.”
    With that, she left. Was she talking about Debbie or Ox? And what did I really know about Trina to trust her? She claimed not to be the slut everyone said she was, but she and that boy who had arrived went hand and hand deep into the stacks. I stared after them until they totally disappeared from sight.
    The next night, I stood staring at myself in the mirror. The yellow dress Debbie and I picked up during a shopping trip to Dallas did look really nice on me. It covered almost all of me with the halter style top but left most of my back exposed. The flirty skirt just barely passed mid-thigh. It was the kind of dress I didn’t think my parents would approve of. Mom, however, eagerly agreed it was the best choice. Dad hadn’t complained when he saw it either.
    Half of my hair had been pulled back in an updo with the other half cascading down my back. That and the makeup I’d put on, made me look older even though I didn’t feel it.
    Despite the rumors, Ox had been really sweet that first night at dinner. When our parents practically dared us to go out, I had. And it had been fun. He hadn’t been the boy I’d thought he was. He hadn’t tried for more than a quick kiss on my lips when the night was over. And in fact, we had a lot in common too. We liked the same movies. I happened to enjoy superheroes as much as romance. I blamed that on my dad. So it had been really easy to fall into being his girlfriend.
    There had been a few times we’d gotten hot and heavy. I’d even let him feel me up a time or two. He’d wanted me to touch him as well. I’d complied, more out of curiosity than anything else. I hadn’t let it progress to letting him put his hand under my shirt. Maybe I should let him tonight.
    “Lenora, come downstairs for pictures.”
    I rolled my eyes and trudged downstairs. Not finding my parents in the living room, I glanced around. Mom called from the kitchen, and I found them with a cake and candles.
    “You got me a cake?” It wasn’t as if they hadn’t done so every year, but things had changed. Even though Dad kept his job, he had suffered a pay cut. So I just didn’t expect it, not sure why.
    Mom smiled and nodded. “Make a wish.”
    The wish could have been for anything. But I found myself wishing for guidance. I wanted to know if Ox was the right guy for me. So I wished for butterflies. Mom had once explained that you knew if you really liked a guy when