Chapter 1: The Slap That Broke Us

He lost it—right there in front of everyone—his palm cracking against my cheek like a gunshot.

That very day, I deleted every trace of him from my life—his number, our messages, all of it.

Everyone was stunned. Derek Lawson and I had been inseparable since we were kids. I’d been in love with him for as long as I could remember, chasing after him for nine whole years.

“Why, Natalie? Just because of that slap?”

He stared at me, bewildered.

“Yes. Just because of that slap.”

I meant it with every ounce of seriousness I had.

It felt like the world tilted, a single sharp moment tearing down years of memories. Nothing else mattered. I could almost hear my heart cracking, softer than the slap but infinitely more painful.

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1.

When Derek Lawson slapped me across the face, I was too stunned to move.

The slap echoed—sharp and loud. My vision spun, my head buzzing from the blow. I tasted metal at the back of my mouth. The room felt too bright, too loud.

My left cheek went hot, burning like fire.

I clutched my face, staring at him in disbelief.

My childhood friend, Derek Lawson, had just slapped me in front of everyone while I argued with the new transfer student.

Derek seemed to realize what he’d done—his face froze for a split second, but then anger and impatience took over.

“Can you quit messing around already? Natalie! Go back to your seat!”

Someone in the class snickered. Most people just stared, silent and shocked.

Aubrey Fields stood beside Derek, twirling her shiny chestnut curls and clicking her tongue in fake sympathy.

"Aw, Derek, look—your princess is about to lose it. Gonna cry for Daddy next?"

Derek’s voice got even colder.

“Natalie, if you want to cry, go home and cry! This is school, not a place for you to act like a princess whenever you want.”

Shame, frustration, and anger crashed inside me. Tears spilled down my cheeks.

Boys snickered. I bolted from the classroom.

If I could’ve shrunk to the size of a pencil eraser, I would’ve. Anything not to be seen.

I didn’t know where I was going—just that I couldn’t go back to class or face any of them again.

Derek had always been impatient, but he’d never hit me before.

This was the first time anyone had ever slapped me in my entire life.

As I stumbled into the hallway, the buzzing fluorescent lights and the echo of my sneakers on old tile made everything feel unreal. I kept my head down, desperate to avoid any glances. Lockers slammed in the distance, the vice principal’s whistle shrilled, but none of it reached me. I felt invisible, floating outside my own skin. My cheek throbbed, but what hurt more was feeling exposed—like every memory of Derek was unraveling right in front of my classmates.