Chapter 13

Molly arrived back at her dorm a half an hour later. Opening the door, she saw Elodie sound asleep in bed.

“El, you wouldn’t believe—” Molly stopped. A lump in the bed beside her told Molly that Elodie hadn’t come home alone either.

Starting to undo her jeans, Molly stopped at the thought of them waking up. At this point, Molly didn’t want anyone to see her naked ever again.

Molly snuck past Elodie’s bed and into the bathroom. The door creaked loudly, and Molly quickly stepped in, shutting it tightly behind her.

Molly looked directly into the mirror. Oh my god. Who am I?

The girl staring back at her might as well have been a stranger. Black mascara had smudged all around her eyes, and it looked like her hair had been back combed.

You look like a hooker, Molly.

Molly unzipped her jeans, pulling them down to her ankles. She twisted the corset so that the laces were in front, and quickly unfastened it just until she could slide it down past her hips. Exploring her legs and stomach, Molly pulled at her skin. It felt different, like she had been switched into someone else’s body overnight. Her usual soft, porcelain skin felt sticky and stained under her fingers. The soreness between her legs had downgraded into a dull ache. Removing her underwear, Molly felt the folds where Xander had been the night before.

A knock on the door surprised Molly, and she quickly pulled her underwear up.

“Just about to shower El. Be out in a minute!” Molly yelled through the door, turning on the water.

I need to wash this filth off of me. I don’t want to smell him on my skin anymore.

“Just let me in Mol, I won’t look. Seriously, I have to pee so bad.”

Molly wrapped the only towel she could find around her and opened the door.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, I thought I might piss my pants.” Elodie looked at Molly and her jaw dropped.

“Molly Tompkins, did you have you first walk of shame?” Elodie asked, in disbelief.

Molly turned away from Elodie, dropping her towel and stepping into the shower.

Closing the curtain, Molly turned the temperature up until it was so hot it burned.

“Molly, tell me! Did you? You little tramp! I love it! I knew it would happen sooner or later!”

Elodie stuck her hand into the shower and playfully slapped at Molly’s leg.

“So, how did it go Mol? Did he live up to his name?” Elodie waited for Molly to laugh, but there was nothing.

Elodie heard a whimper and pulled back the curtain.

Molly was sitting down in the bathtub, head between her legs, letting the water beat onto her back.

“Oh my God. Molly, I’m so sorry. I’m being a complete jerk. What happened? You can tell me, Mol. I won’t judge you. Not now, not ever.”

Without thinking twice, Elodie pulled up her pants and joined Molly in the shower, clothes and all.

Molly wanted to tell Elodie what happened, but she couldn’t stop crying long enough to get the words out of her mouth.

“Mol, take a deep breath. Everything is going to be okay. Did he hurt you? I’ll fucking kill him if he did, I swear to God, Molly.”

Elodie lifted Molly’s head from between her knees.

“He didn’t hurt me. I mean, last night was so perfect and he was nothing but kind, and gentle. I thought we could really be something, you know?”

Molly looked at Elodie, and Elodie couldn’t help but cry with her.

“Oh babe. Guys are never what they seem.” Elodie stroked Molly’s hair, pulling it behind her ears.

“I know you said to watch out for that kind of guy, but I thought he was different, El. He said things that made me feel comfortable. He opened up to me and I thought… I just thought…” Molly put her head onto Elodie’s shoulder.

“Did you guys, uh—” Elodie began asking.

“Yes. We had sex, El. I lost my virginity to some guy I met at a club, in the back of his pickup truck, in the middle of a fucking hayfield. I stupidly thought he was going to be ‘The One’ or whatever, and then when morning came he dumped me like trash on the side of the road.”

Molly cried harder now.

Taking a few deep breaths, Molly calmed herself down. Looking up, she noticed for the first time since getting in the shower that Elodie was fully dressed and soaking wet.

“I can’t believe you got in here with your clothes on. That’s what I call a best friend.”

Elodie took a look at herself and laughed.

“I didn’t even think about it, I kinda just jumped in. I guess I really am like a superhero.”

Winking at Molly, Elodie stood up and pulled Molly to her feet.

“Come on Mol. Let’s get you washed up and then we’ll go out for breakfast. We need to take your mind off of this shit bag.”

Molly wiped her face with her hands.

“Okay El, I’d like that.”

Elodie smiled, “Well, maybe you can do the washing up and I’ll deal with last night’s baggage.”

From the bathroom, Molly could hear Elodie kicking her date out of their dorm. She felt bad knowing that this poor guy was catching the brunt of Elodie’s anger over what had happened to her. Although she felt bad for him, Molly couldn’t deny a tinge of satisfaction and smirked thinking of how nice it was to have the roles reversed.

Once she had dried herself off, Molly wiped the steam from the mirror and looked closely at her reflection.

You are still beautiful and you are precious, remember that. Now go out there and be the best you can be. He can’t take that from you—no one can.