Chapter 1 : It Was Too Good to Be True

Sharon’s POV

It was funny how everyone thought you were living a perfect life just because you were dating the campus heartthrob. I heard it so many times: "Sharon, you’re so lucky! Derrick is amazing," or "You two are the perfect couple." If only they knew that being "lucky" sometimes felt like wearing shoes a size too small—everyone else thought they fit, but they didn’t see the blisters forming underneath. Still, I couldn’t complain.

Snowtown College was everything I ever wanted. A small campus nestled between the hills of Snowtown, filled with mostly likable students from all walks of life and teachers who seemed to enjoy their jobs. Even though my classes were demanding, I never had to worry about grades. It was like my brain was wired to absorb information, sort it, and spit it back out on command. I was intelligent and had bagged scholarships left, right, and center. Sadly, none of that was why people envied me.

No, it was all because of Derrick. Derrick, my boyfriend, the star of the school baseball team. The school's baseball team was no joke. The NCAA recognized the team as the best in the state on account of their winning the state championship ten years in a row, and Derrick was at the head of it all. He had contract offers from pro baseball teams piled up for him. Everyone wanted a piece of Derrick; the guys all wanted to be him, and the girls wanted to be with him. Truth be told, he could have picked anyone he wanted, but for some reason, he chose me.

It immediately made me both admired and loathed by other girls on campus. Some were more vocal about it than others, but one thing was clear: I was no longer Shanon Bennett; I was Derrick's girlfriend, and that’s what mattered. Or at least, that’s what I kept telling myself.

I glanced over at Tina, who was lounging on her bed, scrolling through her phone. Her dark hair spilled over her shoulders, and her lips curled in disgust as she swiped through a girl's Instagram page.

"You know, you don't have to keep stalking her if you don't like her," I said with a smirk.

"Ugh! She's a bitch," she responded with an exaggerated groan. She put her phone away before turning to me. "Today's the big day, huh?"

I got off the floor, where I was surrounded by cut ribbons, balloons, and various other decorations. I clambered up the bed and lay next to her. “I don't know if this is going to work. Do you think I'm doing too much?” I asked, biting my lip. “I mean, do you think Derrick would appreciate all this?”

“Of course he will!” Tina replied, rolling her eyes as if I’d just asked the most ridiculous question ever. “He’s going to walk in here and be totally blown away. Trust me, Sharon, this party is going to be legendary.”

I nodded, trying to ease the flutter of nerves in my stomach. Derrick and I had been dating for over a year now, and things were great. Even though he was the top pick of just about everyone, he never let it come between us. He always treated me like I was his and his alone. He was sweet and went out of his way to make me feel special, so I wanted to do something special for him too, something that would show him just how much he meant to me. That’s why this party had to be perfect.

"And if he isn't blown away," Tina continued with a wicked grin, "I'll happily take him off your hands. With your permission, of course."

I couldn't help but giggle. Like all the girls, Tina probably saw Derrick as a viable option, but she wouldn't go after him. We were practically sisters, and sisters had each other's backs.

"You're crazy," I said, still laughing. "But you're right. I guess I'm just overthinking it." I said, more to convince myself than anything. “Everything’s going to be great.”

Tina grinned and pushed herself up from the bed, her smile brimming. “There you go! Now, what can Tina the Terrific do for you?" Her enthusiasm always got me going. "Do you need help with the food? I know a place in town where they make the best tacos.”

I shook my head. “Yes, I know about Felipes. I already ordered a bunch. I also got drinks; they're in a cooler downstairs. I even commissioned a cake; I've got to go pick that up as well. I already sent out invites to Derrick's friends, and I made them swear to keep it a secret.”

Tina stared at me with a stunned expression. "Wow, you really thought of everything." She tried feigning a downcast expression. "Guess you don't need Tina the Terrific's help anymore." She plopped back onto the bed, faking sobs.

"Oh, come on, Tina," I said as I rolled over to her. "You still have the most important job of all."

She turned her head and looked at me, all pouty-like. "What's that?"

"Being my best friend. So, get your ass up and help me finish setting up the decorations."

"Aww," she said in her puppy dog voice. "Alright, bestie! Let's do this."

As she said that, I couldn’t help but smile. Tina and I had been friends since I got on campus. She helped me fit in during my early days on campus. I had been drawn by her infectious smile and seemingly endless energy, and when Derrick asked me out, she was by far the most supportive of my relationship. She was a real friend.

Our dorm room was brewing with the chaos of our creativity. Streamers in Derrick’s favorite colors—blue and silver—draped from the ceiling, and we rearranged the furniture to make space for everyone. Tina and I sat on the floor, blowing up balloons for what felt like hours, but seeing it all come together was worth it.

I ran to the bakery to pick up the cake I ordered—a triple-layer chocolate fudge cake, his favorite—and carefully stuffed it in the fridge with the other snacks and drinks.

As I finished hanging the last banner, I glanced at the clock. It was late afternoon. Derrick should have been just about done with afternoon training by now. I already knew his practice schedule by heart. I wiped my hands on my jeans, grabbed my phone, and headed out, feeling a flutter of excitement in my chest.

The baseball field was alive with the sounds of practice—bats cracking, balls thudding into mitts, and the occasional shout from the coach. I spotted Derrick near the dugout, talking to a couple of his teammates. His sandy blond hair was damp with sweat, and he looked every bit the superstar that everyone said he was. I was just about to call out to him when I saw her. Chloris.

I always prided myself on the fact that I wasn't generally bothered about my looks, but now looking at Chloris, the cheerleader with a smile as sharp as her stilettos, made me feel every bit more insecure than I would have liked. She was easily the most beautiful girl on campus, and the one most people would have liked to see paired with Derrick.

And she was standing way too close to him, her laugh too loud, her hand lightly brushing his arm. I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. I told myself it was nothing, that Derrick wasn't like that. He loved me. He chose me. But it was hard to ignore the way Chloris looked at him, like she had already won some game I didn’t even know we were playing.

I straightened my shoulders and walked over, forcing a smile onto my face. Derrick saw me, and his expression softened, but there was something in his eyes that I couldn’t quite read. Chloris turned and gave me one of those fake smiles that didn’t reach her eyes. "Oh, hey, Sharon," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "I was just telling Derrick how amazing he was in practice today."

"Thanks, Chloris," I replied, trying to keep my voice even. "But I’m sure he hears that all the time."

Derrick chuckled awkwardly, running a hand through his hair. "Honestly, it gets exhausting. What’s up, Babe?"

"I wanted to talk to you about something," I said, ignoring Chloris as best as I could. "Can you come by my dorm tonight? It’s important."

He hesitated, glancing at Chloris before replying. "Uh, I actually had other plans with the guys from the team. We were going to eat out tonight."

"I promise it won’t take long," I said quickly, holding his gaze.

I could see unwillingness in his eyes. I said a silent prayer that he didn't turn me down. "Okay," he finally said, though he still seemed distracted. "I’ll be there."

"Great," I replied, forcing another smile. I leaned in to kiss him on the cheek, but the gesture felt hollow. As I turned to leave, I couldn’t help but notice Chloris smirking, like she knew something I didn’t.

Back at the dorm, Tina helped me with the last-minute preparations. I kept replaying the scene at the baseball field in my head, trying to shake the uneasy feeling that something wasn’t right. But I pushed it aside. Tonight was about Derrick, and I was determined to make it special. I called Derrick again to make sure he was still coming. He was.

By the time eight o’clock rolled around, the dorm was ready. The lights were off, and only a few candles flickered on the table, casting a warm, inviting glow. The cake sat in the center, surrounded by plates and drinks, and the air was thick with anticipation. Tina and the others were hiding in the next room, ready to jump out and shout, "Surprise!" the moment Derrick walked in.

I heard footsteps outside the door, and my heart skipped a beat. This was it. I took a deep breath and tried to steady myself. But when the door opened, my heart sank.

Derrick stepped inside, but he wasn't alone. Chloris was with him, her hand looped through his arm like she belonged there. My throat tightened, and the room suddenly felt too small, too hot.

Tina and the people I invited burst out of their hiding places and screamed, "Surprise!!" in unison. Then the lights came on, and they saw Derrick standing in the doorway with Chloris in his arms. The room went ice cold. Everyone stared at the three of us. Tina's face was in disbelief. The guests all looked confused. Chloris preened like a peacock.

"Sharon," Derrick began, breaking the silence. His voice was serious. "I need to talk to you."

I stared at him, at them, and the perfect night I had planned crumbled to dust. "What’s going on?" I asked, though I already knew. I could feel it in the pit of my stomach, in the way my hands trembled at my sides.

Chloris stepped closer to Derrick, her smile triumphant. "Actually, it's Derrick and I that have something to tell you."

"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "Derrick, this isn’t funny. What’s going on?"

He looked away, unable to meet my eyes. "I’m sorry, Sharon. I really am. But I… I think we should break up."

The words hit me like a physical blow, knocking the air from my lungs. I staggered back, my hand reaching for the table to steady myself. "What? What do you mean by that?"

He finally looked at me, and the guilt in his eyes was almost worse than the betrayal. "Because I'm in love with Chloris. I’m sorry."