Page 5 of Piggy

Charlotte

As soon as I am home, I fly through the house to my bedroom, rushing past Brax and Grayson, who are already drinking.

I need to set up my room. It must be perfect. As perfect as it can be. I put a scarf over my lamp. I tidy up my bed. And I set up my speaker and playlist to the right song. It’ll be ready.

“Okay. Pretty. Romantic!”

Then, I practically run to the bathroom, shower, and do my hair in two tight pom-poms. No make-up. Not trying that again!

Perfume, though?

Yes. One puff on my wrists and neck.

He might go down on me, though... better spray down there .

Ouch! Burns!

Charlotte, don’t ever do that again.

Okay, now my best sports bra — pastel pink — and matching thong panty. Nicest white shirt and black pants. Yes !

When I leave the bathroom, I’m ready.

I pass Grayson, who is stepping outside onto the patio.

“What are you so happy about?” he says.

I rub my cheeks. They already hurt from smiling nonstop.

He moves closer. I tip my head back, his towering frame less intimidating now that I have good news. Now that I don’t care if he teases me.

“I have a date!” I say proudly, but purse my lips as I try not to smile so stupidly. However, it breaks through.

Hell with it. I’m excited! I beam.

“A date?”

“Yeah! I took your advice. This guy came into the store. I told myself, don’t make it a big deal. And I asked him to come over tonight. Alex West. He—”

“The pot dealer?” Grayson interrupts.

“Is he?”

Grayson smirks. “Yeah, since forever. He’s back in town?”

“Yes. Well... Either way, isn’t this good news? I mean, I don’t know if he’ll sleep with me. I don’t even know if it’s a date. But he called me cutie. I think it’s a date!” I cover my face, the warm feeling buzzing through me. When I look up again, Grayson’s head is cocked.

“That guy’s a loser.”

“So! Wait, I don’t understand. You said to get experience. Find someone. I’m telling you, Grayson. I think he was into me. He’s not even dorky or a virgin. This is great! He’s had sex before too, so he’ll... you know... last longer than ten seconds. ”

Grayson curls his lip, disgusted. “I meant find someone innocent, like you. Not fucking Alex West.”

My chin trembles, shocked he isn’t amazed by this news. “You’re ruining this. Don’t make it sound bad. I’m really excited.” I choke back tears. “I don’t even know if the guy will kiss me, let alone sleep with me, but I prayed for this and—”

“You prayed for this? A one-night stand at your brother’s party?”

I skip the internal ‘ Calm down, Charlotte ’ speech, and as hard as I can, I shove Grayson, causing his back to thump against the sliding glass door. He definitely wasn’t expecting it.

Oops. I freaked out. Ah, hell with it!

“Fuck you!” I yell — a phrase I rarely use.

By now, more people have arrived for the party and, as I feared, I hear their laughter follow me as I storm past them.

“Wee, wee!” Killian teases, mocking a pig as he rolls a blunt. “Peepin’ Piggy is squealing again!”

“Watch out!” adds Brax. “Her face turns red when she screams!”

I snap my eyes shut. Just as I’m about to duck into the hall, I side glance.

Coming through the front door: Alex.

Shoot! He can’t see me at my worst. I move faster, running into my bedroom. Of course, I cry into my pillow for a while until I calm down .

I wait, trying to collect myself. Eventually, the party is at full swing, evident by the loud thumping of music against the walls and people laughing.

Normally, I would stay in my room.

But not tonight.

I’m changing my life. I have to do things differently. I take a deep breath and step out.

I spot Alex quick. He’s lighting up with a group of guys who are doing the same. Cautiously, I walk over to him.

Please be happy to see me. Please .

“Aye yo! Charlotte!” he greets, slinging his arm over my shoulder, giving me a strong side-hug.

Erm-my-gosh!

A few curious glances flash our way. The kind of glances that say, “Bruh, you like Piggy ?”

To my surprise, Alex doesn’t unhook from me. He offers a drag from his joint, but I decline respectfully.

He laughs and squeezes me tighter. “Such a cutie.”

He said it again!

“Thanks,” I reply bashfully.

He laughs. “Look at her. All shy and shit.” His glassy, bloodshot eyes sparkle.

Oh my God. I might be in love.

The rest of the night flies. It is heaven. However, Brax gives me more than one weird look. Surely, he’s surprised I’m glued to a guy. But they aren’t really friends, so I guess he doesn’t mind .

I eventually see Grayson again when I get some water from the kitchen.

I can’t help it. I’m on cloud nine. So I’m fast to apologize as I impulsively clutch his forearm and say giddily, “Sorry, sorry about earlier! I get upset sometimes and... explode — as you know. But guess what! It is a date! It’s a real date!”

I let go of his forearm and do a little dance in a circle before filling up my water cup. My cheeks hurt so much from smiling.

“Piggy—” he stops himself. “Er, Charlotte . You’re not gonna have your Notebook moment with that guy.”

“You know what?” I snap. I’m ready to be mean, but no good comebacks come to mind. They never do.

Therefore, I sigh. “We can’t all choose whoever we want.

Maybe you can, but I... I haven’t even kissed a guy.

” I stop myself in time before being too loud.

I rise on my tiptoes and whisper as close to his ear as I can reach, “I appreciate... what happened on my birthday, but I know you hated it. This guy doesn’t. Be happy for me, please!”

For some reason, he tries to keep the conversation going, but of course, a sexy brunette girl with a high-set ponytail slips between us.

Like I don’t exist. Only she does. And to make sure Grayson knows it, she leans her perfect body against him, twisting her ponytail and laughing already. Drunk, flirting, but smooth.

And Grayson? Yep, he forgot about me that fast .

I don’t care or wait and practically run, so eager to get back to Alex, the first guy who doesn’t judge me.

By one in the morning, people are wasted. The party is still going. It’s loud, and for once, I don’t mind. Because Alex is sitting close to me, arm slung over my shoulders.

Sure, he can barely keep his eyes open, but he’s been hanging on me all night! Suddenly—

I hold my breath as he leans in.

Is this happening?

His lips near mine. From the corner of my eye, I spot my brother glancing at us, his face twisted in disgust.

Okay. This is weird. My first kiss should not be in front of Brax.

Then, Alex’s lips draw nearer as his hand slides up my shirt.

“Get your fuckin’ hands off my sister!” roars Brax. He charges forward.

Everything happens so fast, like flashes, time sped up.

A gun is out!

The coffee table gets pushed.

People panic.

I scream.

The party stops.

And Alex, he really runs, escaping out the front door.

“Brax! Stop!” I beg, grabbing his arm. “Don’t make him leave!”

“Fuck off,” Brax snaps. “And don’t bring your little boyfriends around here again. ”

I frown. “But you have girls here all the time—”

He lifts his arm — the gun still in his hand — like he might smack me with it.

I flinch.

“ Fine! ” I shout, backing off, voice cracking. I head for the front door to run after Alex, but Brax steps in front of me.

“This isn’t fair! I’m an adult!”

“Nothing’s fair, Piglet.” His tone drops, low and sharp. “Mom’s in prison. This is my fucking house. Don’t like it? Move out.”

“And who’s gonna take care of Atticus?” My voice is desperate now. “ You won’t!”

“Shut up already,” he mutters, shoving the gun into his waistband like it’s just another accessory.

I glance around. Everyone is staring.

I stop on Grayson, leaning back against the wall, smirking at my misery. That brunette clings to his side like she already belongs there.

“Everyone gets their love story except me!” I cry out, causing the crowd to snicker.

Grayson imitates me in a whiny voice, making his new girl laugh.

I’m always the joke.

I can’t see anymore. My eyes are too clouded with tears. I spin around, run, and slam my bedroom door shut.

Of course — as usual — I collapse into my pillow and sob .

Rock bottom. Again. Trapped in this house. This life. This body that no one wants.

Knock knock.

Soft. Almost hesitant.

“Go away, Brax!” I shout through tears.

The door creaks open.

Grayson.

I shoot upright, frantic. “What—”

He doesn’t look away. “Hey. Sorry about Alex.”

“Thanks,” I mumble, voice barely there. I sound pathetic. I am pathetic.

I sniff, then mutter more to myself than him, “Maybe I should sneak out the window and go find Alex.”

Yeah! That’s a good idea!

I head for the window.

A shadow moves at the edge of my vision.

I look over, and my heart slams against my ribs. Grayson’s shirt is coming off.

I freeze.

He lifts it over his head in one fluid motion — smooth, unbothered.

And there it is.

His broad chest, sculpted like marble. Shadowed in all the right places. His abs tight and defined like a model on IG. That V-line. God.

I blink. My breath gone. I forget how to swallow.

“H—Holy,” I whisper under my breath .

He doesn’t laugh. Doesn’t tease. Just stands there like he knows what he’s doing to me.

“What is this?” I manage, throat tight.

“You don’t want to sleep with that guy for your first time,” he says.

I point at him, like I need confirmation from my own brain. “ You? Want to sleep with me? ”

“Take off your shirt.”

My pulse spikes. “Um... What about Brax?”

He locks the door, no hint of concern, his eyes fixed on me. “Unless you don’t want to.”

“No, I do! I just... didn’t think—” I swallow, tense. “I didn’t think you would.”

He doesn’t hesitate. “Come on. Take off the shirt like your stupid movie. I took off mine. Your turn.”

I’m gonna pass out.

Grayson is reenacting the movie for me.

But this isn’t a movie! This is real life.