After (After, #1)

by Anna Todd

those ridiculous plotlines became my reality.

At times I am grateful, so utterly lost in the moment of passion that my judgment is clouded and all I can see is him. Other times, I think of the pain he caused me, the deep sting of loss for who I had been, the chaos of those moments when I felt as if my world had been turned upside down, and the answer isn’t as clear as it once was.

All that I’m certain of is that my life and my heart will never be the same, not after Hardin crashed into them.

Her eyes scan the old building, full of disapproval. She has a way of finding the worst in things.

“Sorry, Tess, I forgot to tell you Hardin would be coming by.”

You only met?

I always had to have my hair combed, my eyebrows plucked, and my clothes clean and ironed. It’s just the way it is.

Bleh

It’s almost like a bee stinging you over and over,” she says with a shrug. “That sounds terrible,” I tell her and she laughs.

“Nothing… it’s just so… long?” she says. “It’s barely below my knee.” I can’t tell if she can see I’m offended or not, but for some reason I don’t want her to know this about me.

Is she mormon? Is this twilight fanfic?

Theresa reminds me of my father, and I would rather not hear it.

am handed a red cup. I turn to decline with a polite “No, thank you,” but it’s too late and I don’t have a clue who gave it to me. I put the cup on the counter and continue to walk

Good call

olive-toned skin

Course

I don’t need to make any enemies when I don’t have any friends to begin with.

It’s a bedroom, and, even more unfortunate for me, it’s one in which Hardin is lying across the bed while the pink-haired girl straddles his lap, her mouth covering his.

That was fast

These two seem to be a good match. Both tattooed, and both rude.

lol

“All night… and half the day tomorrow.” He laughs and my mouth drops. When would Steph want to leave? Hopefully soon.

When do classes start??

But they aren’t just dancing; they’re groping and grinding against each other.

Was she homeschooled?

You there Tess? Hello? You okay? Tessa? Should I call your mom? I’m getting worried.

Oh yikes

“Heyyyy… Tessa!” Steph slurs and leans her head on my shoulder. “You having fun yet, roomie?” She giggles, obviously heavily intoxicated. “I think… I need… the room is starting to spend, Tess… I mean spin,” she says, laughing, and her body lurches forward.

How long have they been there??

Whoever owns this collection is impressive;

Hmm who could it be?

“I asked you what the hell you’re doing in my room,”

Hypocrite

I thought the party couldn’t get any worse, but here I am, caught in Hardin’s personal place. He rudely clears his throat and waves his hand in front of my face.

Did he take a girl to someone else's room

He grabs my arm and pulls me back. “Don’t touch me!” I yell, jerking my arm away.

I wonder if I should I wake her.

but she is a sophomore, so maybe she has it under control.

What college rooms freshmen with sophomores?

Since this person obviously cares about being on time, too, I sit next to him.

Yikes

“What do you want, Hardin?”

all of a sudden he shouts out, “Stop staring at me!” turns a corner, and disappears down a pathway

Wut

“A man who is rude and intolerable being made into a romantic hero? It’s ridiculous. If Elizabeth had any sense, she would have told him to fuck off from the beginning.”

“Are you going to another party? Your mom is still disappointed.”

lol wut

I’m confident to a certain extent, but I’m aware that my hips and breasts are larger than most women my age.

Oh no

Why did I agree to go back to that frat house again?

Why didn’t I just stay in and stare at my ceiling?

Read a book girl

I glare at Hardin and sit down cross-legged in their little circle,

Oh that'll show him

Of course I’m a virgin; the furthest Noah and I have gone is making out and some slight groping, over our clothes, of course.

Of course

If I didn’t know him any better, I would think he was mad or disappointed.

I have to admit I feel pretty relaxed for once.

Why am I even hanging around these people who keep laughing at me?

“No… of course not,” I lie and hang up the phone.

Are they my friends? I don’t think they are. They only want me around so they can laugh at my inexperience.

For someone who tries too hard to stand out and be different, you sure are judgmental about people who are different from you!”

“Do you always cry at parties?”

“It is water. I don’t drink,” he says.

“Your boyfriend. He is the biggest tool I have ever seen.”

When did he see him?

“Well, he has been dating you for two years and hasn’t fucked you yet, so I would say he is a square.”

“Don’t cry, Tess,” Hardin whispers. And the funny thing is, I hadn’t realized I was.

But my conscience loses, and I crash my lips against his, catching him totally off guard.

That was fast

and I feel like crying again. He makes me too emotional.

I am usually timid and sort of afraid when it comes to her.

I want to scream at both of them—actually at all three of them. My mother for treating me like a child. Noah for telling on me. And Hardin for just being Hardin.

My subconscious temps me