The Girl They Took for Granted

Twenty minutes before the Homecoming Gala started, Chloes designer dress zipper completely burst.

Without hesitation, I swapped my perfect dress for her broken one.

Clutching the fabric over my chest, I stumbled out of the backstage dressing room, wearing her ruined gown.

Ethan Vancethe school golden boy I had been secretly head over heels for, and Chloe's step-brothersuddenly took a few quick strides toward me.

He draped his jacket over my shoulders.

"Don't move," he murmured.

Even Ryder Hayes, the star quarterback who'd spent half his life teasing me, stepped in front of me with a scowl.

"Who did this to you?"

I stood there, stunned.

For a second, I actually thought they were finally worried about me.

Until I looked up.

Both of their faces instantly darkened.

"Why the hell are you wearing Chloe's dress?"

***

**01**

Ryder reached out and yanked the neckline of my dress upward.

"Holy crap."

"Since when does a nerd like you try to go for the sexy vibe?"

Ryder looked me up and down with an air of dismissive amusement, unable to resist scoffing.

"Are you out of your mind? Isn't this Chloe's dress?"

"How did it end up on you?"

"Look, if you wanted a makeover, you should at least see if you can pull it off. But honestly"

He leaned in slightly.

Dragging out his words, he mocked, "You look absolutely ridiculous in this, Summer."

I gripped the dress with white knuckles.

If I wasn't busy holding the front of the dress together, I would have punched him right in his perfect jaw.

Then.

A soft chuckle came from above me.

It was a very light sound.

As if he had heard a mild joke and was politely laughing along just to keep the atmosphere light.

But to me, that chuckle sounded like thunder.

It came from Ethan. The crush I had been shamelessly chasing for three months.

I kept my eyes glued to the floor, biting my lip so hard it hurt.

I forced myself not to snap back at Ryder like I usually did. I didn't want to completely destroy what little dignity I had left in front of Ethan.

But Ryder wasn't used to my silence.

"Whoa, whats wrong with you today? No sassy comeback?"

He reached out, mockingly feeling my forehead.

"No fever."

His gaze drifted down.

He looked at me with a smirk.

"Stop hiding it. Theres nothing to see anyway. Its not like youve got the curves for it."

"Did you honestly think wearing the school queens dress would turn you into her?"

I trembled with pure rage.

Tears blurred my vision.

All I could see was a well-sculpted hand suddenly appearing in my line of sight.

I slowly looked up.

It was Ethan. The boy who usually avoided me like the plague.

He reached out and yanked the jacket he had just put on my shoulders right back off.

I was too stunned to react.

It took me a few seconds to process it.

"Wasn't... wasn't that for me?" I whispered, looking up at him expectantly.

Ethan looked down at me.

Seeing my rimmed, watery eyes, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

He averted his gaze, his face turning cold and indifferent.

"Give this to Chloe," he said flatly.

"I don't want her catching a cold."

"And"

"I get it," I interrupted.

I took the jacket, feeling utterly humiliated, and ran back into the dressing room.

Through the heavy curtain, I could still hear Ryder's lazy voice asking Ethan:

"Hey, didn't she look hilarious in that dress?"

"You should've seen her in middle school. Her waist was way thicker than it is now."

"I can't believe she actually tried to pull off the sexy look today."

I didn't know what expression Ethan had on his face.

But I heard his quiet, indifferent reply: "Yeah."

***

**02**

I returned to the backstage dressing room, feeling hollow.

When I walked in, I didn't do what I usually didrushing to Chloe with a flattering smile, gushing, *Oh my god, babe, your makeup looks stunning today!*

Instead, I walked quietly to my seat.

As usual, Chloe was surrounded by her clique of popular girls.

I heard someone ask her:

"Chloe, who is more obsessed with you? Your gorgeous step-brother Ethan, or Ryder, the star quarterback?"

It was a question she got asked almost every day.

She always acted shy and dodged it.

But after everyone left, she would usually hold my hand and whisper, *Don't listen to them, Summer. My brother looks cold, but he actually listens to everything I say. I know you like him, don't worry, I'll help you get close to him!*

But this time, for some reason, I stopped in my tracks.

I wanted to hear her real answer.

Chloe smiled beautifully, her voice bright and sweet, dripping with playful innocence.

"Oh, come on, thats such a hard question."

"Ethan spoils me so much, but Ryder is also so sweet. It's so hard to choose."

Someone teased, "But if you had to pick just one?"

I stood there, watching Chloe twirl her hair, pretending to be troubled.

"But they're both so good to me!"

"Ryder is always so mean to Summer, his own childhood friend... but hes only ever gentle with me."

"And Ethan? Summer has been practically begging for his attention for three months, and he won't even look her way... but he treats me so differently."

She sighed deeply, as if carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.

"I can't help it. I'm his only sister, even if we aren't blood-related."

"I don't want to make a choice and hurt either of them..."

"As for Summer... well, let her keep running errands for me. She'll do anything just to get close to Ethan anyway."

Just then, the photographer called for a group photo.

Chloe shrugged at the girls, signaling them to head out.

The moment her eyes met mine, she pouted slightly in annoyance.

"Why are you still here?"

"You shouldn't go on stage looking like that."

"I was actually going to look for"

I tossed Ethan's jacket onto her vanity. Looking straight ahead, I said coldly, "Take off my dress and give it back."

***

**03**

She didn't notice my change in tone.

Assuming I had just been rejected by Ethan again, she gave me a couple of fake, sweet consolations.

I ignored her completely.

She nudged my arm.

"Summer, I have to go to Ryders game this afternoon, so I won't have time to finish my AP History research paper."

"The usual deal. You write it for me, and tomorrow, Ill set up a study date for you and Ethan at the library."

Chloe smiled at me, confident I would agree.

I stood up and said, "No."

"I have my own things to do."

Chloe bolted upright, staring at me in absolute disbelief.

"Ryder hasn't been bothering you lately, so forget himbut this is a private study date with Ethan!"

"Summer, don't tell me you don't like him anymore?"

I thought of the fleeting warmth Ethan had shown me earlier.

My chest ached terribly.

But the harsh reality of today made me realize, clearer than ever, that he felt absolutely nothing for me.

"Yeah. I don't."

With that, I walked out of the room.

I spoke loud enough for her to hear:

"I am done chasing Ethan Vance."

"And as for Ryder? I don't need a single nice word from that jerk ever again."

Just as I reached the exit, Ryders mocking voice drifted over.

"Wow, Summer. Look at you, talking big."

"Why don't you go all the way and say you're unfriending me? And that you're never riding in my truck again?"

"Great idea," I interrupted, my face blank as I looked him dead in the eye.

"Unfriending you sounds perfect."

Before Ryders face could transition from smug to furious, I turned and walked away.

Not once did I look at Ethan, who was standing right next to him.

Behind me, I heard Chloe's annoyed voice, "Ethan, I've called your name three times. What are you staring at?"

On my walk home, I realized how long it had been since I had experienced such peace.

Usually, I was either busy finding ways to cling to Ethan, or Ryder was driving his pickup next to me, bickering and insulting me all the way.

But today, it was quiet.

The entire world felt like it belonged to just me.

I began to think.

Is it possible that my worth doesn't need to be validated by anyone else?

With that thought, my steps became lighter.

On my way, I fed the stray cats.

I helped the sweet old lady down the street fix her garden fence.

I even guided a blind woman with her service dog past a construction zone.

But when I reached my front porch, Ryder was standing there waiting for me.

***

**04**

Tonight was the night the varsity team won the state championship. Chloe had been excitedly talking about throwing a massive victory party for Ryder at the field.

Yet, here he was, still wearing his varsity jacket, standing outside my door.

He looked at my dirty dress.

He instinctively opened his mouth to make a sarcastic comment, but forced himself to swallow it. Clearing his throat, he handed me a paper bag and said awkwardly:

"Summer, I got you those loaded fries you love from that diner downtown."

"The line was insanely long."

"Here. Eat up."

The savory scent wafted through the air.

Ryder put his hands in his pockets, trying to look cool, but his eyes kept darting to my face.

I knew this was his version of an apology.

He throws a bone.

I take it.

And were good again.

But I didn't want to play along anymore.

Before I could say anything, my phone buzzed. It was Chloe on FaceTime.

Her voice was bubbly and loud:

"Summer! Did Ryder behave and apologize to you?"

I didn't answer.

She continued, sounding playfully annoyed, "That boy almost drove me crazy. I casually mentioned in our group chat that I wanted loaded fries, and the second the post-game interview ended, he rushed to wait in line for them! He even brought them to my house. But my parents were home, so I didn't dare go out. I told him to take them to you instead! Tell me, is his attitude sincere? If not, I'm ignoring him too!"

I ignored her banter and caught the main point. I looked at Ryder.

"Group chat?"

"What group chat?"

"Do the three of you have a separate group chat?"

Chloe gasped over the phone, "Oh my god, sorry! My bad. Summer, don't be mad, it was Ethan's idea, he"

"It's fine," I said coldly, and hung up.

Before Ryders face could pale further, I took the bag of fries and threw it right into the trash can next to the porch.

Then, I slammed the front door in his face.

After taking a long shower, I gathered everything related to Ethan into a large cardboard box.

I walked out and threw the entire box into the trash bin.

Even though I knew it was the right thing to do, my chest still throbbed with a dull ache.

After a restless night, I walked out of my house the next morning.

Only to find Ethan standing right next to my trash bin.

He was frowning, staring blankly at the garbage.

I didn't know what he was thinking, and I wasn't delusional enough to think he was there for me.

I decided to treat him like a stranger and walk right past him.

"Summer."

It was the first time he had ever called my name so softly.

I stopped.

He spoke in his usual calm, collected voice, "Chloe told me last night that you wanted to study with me at the library."

"She said if I didn't agree, you were going to rally the girls to isolate her."

Ethan casually checked his watch, took a deep breath, and looked at me.

"We have time. Let's go."

My body went stiff.

Ethan didn't notice. He began walking ahead, talking casually.

"Chloe is too innocent. She sees the world too simply and doesn't have a bad bone in her body."

"She isn't like you. You wear your emotions on your sleeve and say whatever trash comes to your mind."

"So, I hope you stop trying to exclude her. And I hope this is the last time you and I have to hang out alone"

I stared at his tall, straight back.

It felt like waking up from a long, stupid dream.

I quickly picked up my pace.

Like a stranger, I walked right past him, leaving him behind.

I thought to myself:

My first love.

On this ordinary Monday morning.

Is officially over.