First Girl I Loved 2016

As the sun beats down on the high school softball field, yearbook editor Anne (name not provided) finds herself captivated by the star player, Sasha (name not provided). Her confession of realization to best friend Clifton (name not provided) is met with a jarring reaction, as he reveals his own long-held feelings for Anne. The ensuing kiss escalates into a violent encounter, as Clifton ignores Anne’s tears and cries of discomfort, ultimately leaving her feeling violated and shattered.

As the days pass, Anne finds solace in the guise of yearbook interviews, using this ruse to forge a connection with Sasha. Their bond grows stronger through their clandestine texting exchanges, culminating in Anne offering comforting words to Sasha after a crushing defeat on the field. Meanwhile, Clifton’s jealousy simmers just below the surface, leading him to orchestrate a series of underhanded tactics aimed at sabotaging Anne.

When Anne discovers that Clifton has broken her bike lock and had it stolen, she unleashes a fiery temper in yearbook class, sparking a physical confrontation that ends with disciplinary action from the school. Unbeknownst to Anne, Clifton had intentionally provoked her into attacking him, hoping to get her into trouble. His machinations continue as he asks Sasha out, though his conscience begins to stir during a meeting with his guidance counselor.

As the fallout from her fight and argument with her mother continues to weigh on Anne, she finds solace in a night out with Sasha. The two sneak away to a bar, where they flirt with men before ending up lost in each other’s eyes, sharing a passionate kiss under the stars. Sasha’s confusion is palpable the next morning, but she allows Anne to return home, and the two share her bed.

However, Sasha’s distance grows increasingly evident as the days pass. Despite Anne’s public declarations of her crush, Sasha remains aloof, leaving Anne heartbroken and unsure of how to bridge the gap between them.

As the sting of betrayal lingers, Anne seizes an opportunity to exact a subtle yet potent form of revenge, surreptitiously inserting a provocative image into the school yearbook - a candid snapshot capturing the tender moment when she and Sasha shared a kiss. The unexpected inclusion sparks a chain reaction, prompting the school administration to summon the families of Clifton, Anne, and Sasha for an emergency meeting. In this tense gathering, Sasha presents a starkly different narrative, one in which she claims that their encounter was non-consensual, with Anne allegedly taking advantage of her vulnerability while she was intoxicated. Meanwhile, Clifton struggles to reconcile his own transgressions against Anne’s autonomy, ultimately taking the fall for inserting the incriminating photo into the yearbook, candidly admitting that many students were aware of their clandestine relationship. As the meeting draws to a close, Sasha’s uncertainty regarding her consent is revealed, leaving a palpable sense of ambiguity hanging in the air.

Anne and her mother depart the meeting, their faces etched with distress. Later that day, Anne seeks solace at Jasmine’s bar and retail store, where she had previously spent time with Sasha. This visit takes on a new significance as Anne prepares to confront a potentially life-altering reality - the possibility of contracting HIV. Amidst this somber backdrop, Anne opens up to Jasmine about her tumultuous past, including another instance of coercive sexual exploitation. As she processes her emotions, Anne begins to accept the truth about her sexuality and her long-standing feelings for Sasha. With this newfound awareness comes a sense of liberation, as Anne purchases a new bike, symbolizing a fresh start and a renewed commitment to self-discovery.