The Hit Book

Alexandria Liu vs Adam Lopez

I lost my virginity to Francine Watkins in the ninth grade. We were in love. Adam Lopez said it doesn't count because girls can't lose their virginity to each other. He's a dumbass. He also said that 'classic' line no woman of color ever wants to hear:

"I've never been with an Asian girl before."

Cue eye-roll. Pam Parsons deals with the same shit; guys calling her chocolate or Nubian Queen. Give us a fucking break.

"My parents will be out of town this weekend," Adam said. He slid up next to my locker and leaned his head on the door. "You should come by."

Adam Lopez has wanted me since grade school. Adam is our lucky contestant adorning page two of our Hit Book. Missy Hodge wrote, "REFUSES TO EAT OUT," to which Pam Parsons replied, "HE SUCKS AT IT ANYWAY." Chelsea Raymond wrote, "BUT HE'S PRETTY GOOD WITH HIS FINGERS."

"You look amazingly beautiful today, Alex," Adam said.

I just returned to school after getting a subtle nose job. That's what he's complimenting, but he doesn't realize it.

"I have a question for you, Adam," I teased. I gently traced his collar bones with my fingertips. "What's up with the Hit Book that Bobby Louis-Gray is keeping?"

Adam looked like a deer in headlights. "How do you know about that?"

"News travels," I said.

"Keep your mouth shut," he said in a threatening tone.

I played along and inched closer until our bodies nearly touched. "Or what?" I closed the small distance between us and traced my tongue on the rim of his ear. His body shuddered.

"Not here," he said. "Let's continue this at my place."

...

Adam Lopez is high-key rich, but he loves to pretend like he grew up in the ghetto. His father is a surgeon, and his mother designs clothing that celebrities wear to award shows. No one knows this because Adam wants to seem like a "regular guy." Whatever. If it were me, I'd milk it and I wouldn't be sorry.

He told me to 'dress up,' so I wore a black sequined mini-dress that barely covered my thighs and a fuzzy coat. Adam answered the door wearing a black blazer and black button-up with dark jeans and Jordans.

He tried.

I stepped into the foyer of Adam's mansion in subdued awe. I hid it well. My objective was to get my hand on the boys' Hit Book.

"Welcome," he said sweetly. "Can I take your coat?" I shrugged my coat off my shoulders and he moved behind me to slide it down my arms.

"You're the only girl I've ever invited over," he admitted as he placed my coat on a fancy gold-colored rack.

He extended his hand to me. I took it without hesitation. He led me into the dining room where the dinner table was set up with an entire spread of Chinese dishes lit by candlelight.

"I didn't cook any of this food," he confessed. "I wanted to impress you though."

"I'm impressed," I lied.

Adam pulled a chair out for me at the head of the table. I sat. He bounced to the other end and took his seat.

"Let's eat."