NO LONGER HIS PLAYTHING：I'm the Heroine of My Own Story novel Chapter 3

I dragged myself to school with puffy eyes, having skipped the morning classes.

I slipped into the classroom after the afternoon lesson had already started.

Zephyr's eyes locked onto me immediately, a vein visibly throbbing at his temple.

Pissed about my ghosting him last night, he reached around from behind and grabbed my waist, squeezing hard enough to leave a mark.

I shoved his hand away, which made him slam his elbow onto my desk in retaliation.

My notebook crumpled, pens and highlighters clattering to the floor.

I said nothing, just avoided his touch.

I bent down to gather my scattered supplies. He pushed his tongue against his cheek, his eyes dark with barely contained rage.

Halfway through class, a commotion erupted on the track field below.

Someone had collapsed. Everyone rushed to the windows to see what the hell was happening.

The moment we realized it was Katherine Linderman lying on the ground, Zephyr's entire body went rigid, and he roughly shoved me aside.

"Get the fuck out of my way!" he snapped.

Despite being on the second floor during class, he stepped onto my chair and launched himself out the window.

He slid down a tree and sprinted toward the field like his life depended on it.

He aggressively pushed away the guys trying to help,

Then cradled Katherine in his arms with unexpected gentleness as he carried her to the shade.

By the time the rest of us reached the field, Zephyr was performing mouth-to-mouth on Katherine.

His typical cocky attitude had vanished, replaced by careful, measured movements.

Like he was handling the most precious thing in the world. Even though it was just CPR, girls around us squealed and covered their faces. Zephyr was actually blushing too.

Katherine let out a soft moan and finally opened her eyes.

"Zephyr?" Her voice was honey-sweet and delicate. Zephyr gently brushed her hair from her face, his eyes suddenly pools of tenderness and concern.

"I'm right here," he said softly.

He took off his varsity jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, lifting her in his arms bridal-style.

My heart felt like it was being shredded, the pain unbearable.

Why?

If he wanted Katherine all along, why did he ever touch me?

Why use me to get off, then humiliate me in front of the entire school?

Calling me easy, assuming I was on the pill, playing with me like some disposable sex toy.

My body, my feelings, my self-respect.

Even our history going back years.

None of it meant a goddamn thing to him!

I had never felt such complete humiliation and shame.

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

I gripped the edge of my shirt with white knuckles and turned away, desperate to escape before I completely fell apart.