If there was anything I'd learned from my parents' divorce, it was that I didn't like mourning.
So instead of lamenting the fact that all my hard work had culminated in Flynn being removed from Homecoming Court and given detention, I decided to celebrate that fact that I'd been made a junior class attendant. I, Jasmine Walters, decided that it was high time for me to lose my virginity.
O virginity! Thou elephant in the room! You blasted barrier that separated me from the other girls in my grade! You make me unable to join the thousands of "first time" talks that I have been forced to listen to without being able to contribute! I will vanquish you before I glide across the field on the arm of a guy deemed more popular than my own boyfriend!
So, the week before the Friday night where the fabled Homecoming Game would be played, I planned a party. Flynn loves parties. Flynn loves me. Flynn will love me before the party.
What could go wrong?
"Flynn, will you help me arrange this veggie platter?" I asked sweetly. I hoped my voice managed to hide the irritation that the local caterer had caused me. They were supposed to have already turned the plate of chopped vegetables into a work of art, but unfortunately that hadn't been the case.
"He's helping me hang streamers, honey," Charlotte drawled back. Her stupid southern accent managed to secure her as the perfect "damsel in distress" that made guys itch to help her with every menial task. I silently cursed myself for asking her to help me decorate.
I turned my attention to my other party helper: Mulan Lu. The other junior attendant had been practically floored when I asked if she'd like to help me throw a party to celebrate our victory. "You're artsy, right?" I asked coolly. Mulan looked up from where she was pouring gourmet salsa into an orange bowl.
"Uh, I guess so?" she stammered. I smiled without spreading my lips. It was my signature "I'm pissy" look. I marched over to her without wobbling in my three-inch heels.
"I think I can take over here if you can fix the veggies." I placed a hand over my heart so I could appear more genuine. "I'm so glad I asked someone to help me who has such a great eye for detail!" I trilled.
Mulan's pale face blushed. She looked prettier that way. Mulan ambled over to the granite topped island in Jafar's immaculate kitchen and started positioning the baby carrots and cucumber slices.
I snuck a glance over at Charlotte. I'd put her in charge of the living room and had clearly made a horrible mistake. "Did you have to pick the tackiest colors you could?" I asked, thoroughly exasperated by her oversight.
Charlotte turned to me ask quickly as she could. She wobbled on the step stool. "I thought they would look cute, since they're school colors and everything," she explained.
I snorted. "Char, our school's colors are purple and gold, not freaking lavender!" I said loudly, barely holding back a shout. I tore one of the longer strands down and shook it in her face for emphasis.
"Wow. PMS much?" Charlotte snapped back. I felt my face turn red and I was this close to losing it. I took a step in her direction before I felt warm, strong hands on my shoulders.
"Charlotte, Jazz is just stressed. She's been working hard and this means a lot to her," Flynn said, smoothing over what could have easily been a sticky situation. Charlotte tilted her head, considering it, and flashed me a smile of forgiveness.
I whirled around the face Flynn, threw my arms around his shoulders, and pressed my face into his neck. He smelled like cologne and peppermint. "Thank you," I whispered, not giving a flying rat turd if Charlotte was uncomfortable by our display of affection. I knew what I wanted.
"Can you help me with something upstairs?" I asked as seductively as possible, twisting my lips into a sexy pout.
Surprisingly, Flynn looked less than thrilled at the idea of wandering around my mostly empty house with me. He scratched the back of his neck and looked (was it possible?) reluctant.
He kept scratching before asking, "What do you need?"
I tried to keep my nostrils from flaring because I knew he'd realize I was getting annoyed. "I need to put some more valuable things away," I lied, diverting from my original plan slightly. I hadn't anticipated him needing convincing.
Flynn checked his watch. "We still have to pick up the cake and I kind of wanted to run home and change and it starts in three hours and didn't you say something about "
"We have plenty of time for that," I growled, cutting off his mini monologue. God, who knew he wouldn't pick up on my hints? I closed my eyes and counted to ten before snapping my fingers. "Char. Can you pick up the cake? Flynn and I need to double check the breakables."
Charlotte bobbed her head enthusiastically. I had mentioned my plan to her and she'd been more than happy to help. "I would love to!" she trilled, beaming.
"I could help," Mulan offered. I widened my eyes and nodded. Even freaking Mulan could see what I wanted. Why hadn't Flynn gotten the memo?
"Great, thanks," I said breezily, handing Mulan the bakery's business card. "It's under Walters," I added before borderline yanking Flynn down the hall.
"Jazz, wait," I heard Flynn gasp behind me. I turned slowly and brought my hands to his face.
"We have the house to ourselves now," I told him breathlessly, stroking his slightly stubbly cheek. I'd always planned to bone Flynn when he was clean shaven, but it wasn't a complete deal breaker. I grabbed the door knob to my right and slowly turned it to reveal the guest bedroom.
Our house had been completely redone when Father had married Jafar. That was pretty much the only part of their marriage that I had been okay with. I loved my mom, but her taste was nowhere near as refined or elegant as my evil stepfather's. And even though Jafar had an unnerving obsession with control, he really didn't care that much what I did. Which made him the ideal person to ask help turn our extra bedroom into the perfect sex cave.
Jafar had booked massages for Father and himself so that they'd be out of the house. He'd also decided to scatter rose petals, light the fireplace, and fill a tasteful glass bowl to the brim with condoms. Their multi-colored wrappers caught the light and gleamed like jewels in a treasure chest. A bottle of sparkling white grape juice chilled in a bucket filled with ice. I rolled my eyes. I guess our conversation about having chilled champagne had been overridden by his sudden paternal instinct.
Oh well. I'd take what I could get. And what I could get was right behind me.
I twisted around to face Flynn and smiled. "Pretty nice, huh?" I breathed, trying to make my voice sound husky. I walked backwards and sat down on the bed. "Come sit," I ordered, patting the spot beside me.
Flynn's face was as red as the bedspread. "Um, Jazz, I don't think this is such a good idea," he said slowly, backing away like I had a B.O. But I was nothing if not resilient. I marched over to him and snatched his wrist.
"God, Flynn, are you blind?" I snapped, losing control of my temper. I grabbed a blue-wrapped condom from the bowl beside me and waved it in his face. "I am trying to have sex with you!"
My perfect, loving, wonderful boyfriend did the worst thing he could have ever done. He laughed at me. "Jazz, are you serious?" he said, gasping for breath between his spasms of laughter. I felt my face turn hot. He placed his hands on my shoulders and squeezed gently. "Look, baby, are you sure we need to have sex right now? We're having a party soon."
I yanked myself out of his grasp. "Yes! Yes, we need to have sex right now! I'm, like, the only virgin I know and people don't think you really care about me and clearly they're right!" I could feel myself talk without thinking, but I either couldn't stop the flow of words or I didn't care to. "What kind of girl has to practically force her boyfriend to have sex with her?" I asked, my eyes pleading. "What is wrong with me?"
He sighed. "Jasmine, nothing's wrong with you. In fact, there actually might be something wrong with me," he said quietly, looking away.
I wanted to make a joke and make everything weird go away. But I couldn't. This was the most real things had been in months. I touched his arm lightly. "You can tell me," I insisted. Flynn's light brown eyes met mine and I waited for him to say something, anything, to tell me how much he loved me, to kiss me, to hold my hand and tell me it was alright.
"I think we should break up," Flynn said, busting me out of my thoughts.
I seized my hand away. "What?" I shrieked, completely dumbfounded. This was definitely not what I had planned. The unwrapped condom fell from my hand as my mind went blank. What had he just said? Did he mean it? Was my hearing failing? My eyes betrayed me and filled with fat tears. I covered my face with my hands and looked away.
Agonizingly, Flynn continued. "Things just don't feel the same between us anymore. I feel like I'm your prop lately and you don't listen to me. Jazz, are you listening to me?" I wanted to say something, but my throat was clenched too tightly.
He touched my shoulder, but it was out of pity now. "Jazz, I'm sorry to do this to you. This isn't how I wanted tonight to go. I was hoping we could have one last hurrah before, you know…"
Flynn didn't finish his sentence. He didn't need to.
"Just get out," I managed. My voice cracked and it sounded ugly. It sounded broken. I turned on my heel and listened for him to leave. I wanted him to touch me again, to turn me around and tell me that he loved me, that he still cared. But he didn't. He just left.
I practically ran upstairs. I couldn't stay in that room, where even the unused condom seemed to feel sorry for me. Locking the door, I texted Charlotte and told her to pick up the cake and hurry back. I laid out a new outfit and brushed my teeth until my gums bled. I mentally selected a hair style and put my dry shampoo on the sink. Finally, I sank down into the huge Jacuzzi-style tub and turned the knob.
Only then did I let myself cry.