Prologue
Clayton
Pearl Beauregard has been the object of my desire since freshman year in high school. Since the very first time she said my name in homeroom, she’s owned me mind, body, and soul. But being the nerdy kid doesn’t lead to being popular with the ladies.
“Hey, Clay.” Pearl gives me a bright smile as she takes her seat beside me in AP Calculus class.
I catalog everything about her, wanting to commit it to memory: her blonde hair pulled back into a tight ponytail at the top of her head, the peachy colored cardigan draped over her shoulders on top of a white button-down shirt.
“Are you ready for our test today?” She yawns loudly, causing her cheeks to darken in embarrassment.
I chuckle softly. “Stay up too late studying?”
I roll my eyes internally. Of all the things I could say to my crush, I ask about her studying habits.
“Either way, I’m sure you’ll do fine. You know the material well.”
Stop talking, Clay. Gosh!
“I hope so. I can’t afford to fail this test or my mom said I can’t go to prom. Not like anyone has asked me yet.”
My ears perk up at the mention of prom. I’ve pined for Pearl in silence, unable to work up any courage to say more than a few words to her. With our high school careers ending shortly, I decided to grow and pair and ask her to be mine. Prom seems like the perfect excuse—the culmination of our entire high school career—but over the last few weeks, I’ve struck out. Either I never find the right opportunity or the fear of rejection takes over, preventing me from taking that final step. But now my hopes are renewed.
Just as I open my mouth to ask her out, the teacher comes into the classroom, halting all conversation.
“Good luck,” I whisper to her before turning toward the front and giving the teacher my full undivided attention.
As the teacher hands a test to each student, my mind formulates the perfect plan to ask Pearl to prom after class. I can’t let the fear of rejection stop me this time. If I don’t work up the courage to ask her out now, I’ll have missed my chance.
As per usual, I finished my test before everyone else. I’ve always excelled at math and the sciences, much to my parents' and teachers' surprise. There’s something about numbers that makes more sense to me than anything else. I wish that talking to people came as naturally to me, then I wouldn’t have any problems letting Pearl or anything else know exactly how I feel.
After turning in my test, I head for my locker and run through exactly what I want to say to Pearl.
“Tell her how you’ve liked her forever and want to spend the most memorable event of high school with her,” I say into my locker as the bell sounds through the halls, signaling the end of classes.
“It’s now or never,” I inhaled deeply before turning around, ready to say my speech and make all my dreams come true.
But instead of coming face-to-face with Pearl standing alone in front of her locker, I’m met with the exact opposite.
Kyle Bates slides in beside Pearl and leans up against the lockers. He’s the perfect example of everything I’m not: the captain of the football team and the boy every girl hopes will give them the smallest bit of attention. And the bane of my entire high school existence. He and I are opposites. The fact that he has set his eyes on Pearl can’t mean anything good for me and my plan to ask her to prom.
“What color are you wearing to prom?” he asks with a satisfied smirk on his face.
I know exactly where this is headed, and my heart sinks. Pearl, along with just about every girl in the senior class, has been speculating about who Kyle was planning to ask to prom. There's no doubt in my mind that if he asks Pearl today, she will say yes. Ruining any chance I had of making her mine before graduation.
Pearl runs her finger along the string of pearls she is always wearing, a gift from her parents for her sixteenth birthday. Something I’m sure Kyle has no idea about. He sees Pearl as nothing but a prize to be won, especially because she is one of the most popular girls in our class. Everyone loves her, but most of all me.
“Why do you need to know that?” Pearl’s cheeks flush bright pink as she smiles shyly at him.
I roll my eyes, unable to turn away from what I already know will happen.
“We’re going to prom together. I need to make sure your flowers match, right?” Kyle reaches back and rubs the back of his neck, like he’s unsure of her reaction. “That’s what my mom said when she asked.”
Peal giggles softly as she closes her locker. “That would mean you have to ask me first.”
She pulls her book to her chest and looks at him expectantly. And he doesn’t disappoint her. He drops to one knee, sweeping his arms out to the sides, grabbing everyone’s attention.
“Pearl Beauregard, will you go to prom with me?” he says at the top of his lungs.
My shoulders sag in defeat. There’s no way he will treat Pearl the way she deserves, like the most precious person in the world. Instead, he’ll take what he wants from her and toss her away, just like he has done countless times to countless girls during our four years in this place.
“It's pink,” she says quickly as she grabs his hand. “Now get up and stop making a scene.”
He wraps his arm around her waist and yanks her into his side, lifting her chin slightly so she is looking directly into his eyes. “It was all worth it to make sure you said yes.”
This is ridiculous. I don’t understand how people—girls in particular—can fall for this act. And that’s exactly what it is: a way to draw in his prey.
All the girls in the hallway look green with envy as Kyle leans down and slobbers all over Pearl’s lips, practically sucking her face off.
Unable to take any more, I turn away from the pair, knowing that there is no way Pearl will ever give me a second glance now. I had numerous chances to tell her how much I loved her, but now it's too late.
Chapter One
Pearl
15 Years later
Thirty-three years old and back in my childhood bedroom is not how I expected to wake up on my ten-year wedding anniversary. Today should have been a happy day that I spent with my husband showering me with love and affection, but the only gift I got from him was divorce papers. Even after a year, I still can’t figure out what went wrong.
“Rise and shine, Pearl. If you don’t get moving, you’ll be late for your first day of work!” my mother calls as she knocks hard on my door, just like when I was a child.
“Thank you,” I grumble in response, throwing my legs over the side of my twin size bed and heading toward the bathroom.
I brace my arms on either side of the vanity and gaze at my reflection in the mirror. My once-bright blue eyes are dulled with pain and regret.
“What the hell happened to you?” I say into the empty bathroom, wondering for the millionth time how I ended up here.
When Kyle, the most popular and sought-after guy in our senior class, asked me to go to prom with him, I thought I had won the jackpot. After that night, we were inseparable. Spending nights under the stars talking about our future together: marriage, kids, the whole nine yards. Neither one of us had a care in the world, especially since we were both headed to the University of San Francisco on scholarship. I thought everything was perfect. I was with the boy I loved, and who loved me desperately. What could go wrong?