by Ellie Rose
“Sadly.”
I watch her swallow. “She still with Joshua?”
“Since they both disappeared, I’m going to guess yes.”
“You don’t know?”
I shake my head from side to side. “No, she stopped talking to me after I told her that Joshua was stalking me.”
Wendy gasps. “He stalked you too?”
I nod my head. “Beth says he does it to all the new girls.”
“Because of his past.” She makes it more of a statement than a question.
“You know about his past?”
Wendy leans back in her chair and looks down at the table. “Who doesn’t? Everyone thinks it’s so sad. It’s pathetic.” I can hear the anger in her tone. “I don’t care what he went through when he was younger. He had no right to do what he did to me. Every time I’m here, I keep my eyes on the door, praying it’s not him. When I’m out shopping, I have to keep watching over my shoulder. I hate him.”
She looks up then, tears rolling down her face. “I wanted to put a stop to him, but when I realized no one would help me, I left school. Everyone already thought I slept with him because I was secretly in love with him. I was never going back to that school where he was and where Beth was. So, I left and never went back.”
She wipes her tears before continuing. “I started working here. I asked the manager if I didn’t have to wear a name tag. Since the owner knows my family, they said it was all right. I work here full time.”
“Did he give you GHB?”
“He might have wanted to. I’m not sure. When… when I walked into one of the bedrooms at the holiday party, I thought it was a bathroom. He followed me in…” She gulps. “He said no one would believe me if I told.”
He said the same thing to me. “What about your parents?” I ask her.
“They disowned me,” she says flatly.
“Why...?” I begin to say but am cut short by the sound of the door opening.
“Momma.” A little girl with long blonde hair comes toddling in the room.
Momma?
The little girl pushes her arms up in the air, Wendy lifts her and kisses her on the cheek.
“Sorry,” a voice says from the doorway. “They told me you were back here with someone, and I was going to wait until you got out, but Mary wanted to see you.”
A boy that looks to be in his early twenties stands in the doorway, surveying us.
“This is why,” Wendy says softly.
The little girl turns her eyes in my direction, and my blood runs cold. Dark brown eyes. Just like Joshua and his father.
“I found out I was pregnant a couple months after. I went to the doctor because I thought maybe he gave me an STD. That’s when I found out about this sweet girl. This is my daughter, Mary.”
Mary stares at me, then looks over at Seth. I stare at the little girl who resembles her father. Wendy got pregnant from her rape.
Wendy points over to the boy standing in the doorway. “That is my best friend, Sean. He is the owner’s grandson. After my parents kicked me out, Sean and his family took me in. They gave me a job here, and I have been working to pay my hospital bills off. When I am done, I plan to move out on my own.”
Sean still hasn’t said anything, but I can see him watching Seth, who seems to watch him too.
“Sean. This is Paige and Seth. They know,” Wendy tells Sean.
Sean walks into the room and comes to a stop next to Wendy. “She was raped too,” Wendy continues.
“By the same guy?” Sean asks, eyeing Seth.
“You can relax. Seth is my friend,” I tell him.
Sean relaxes somewhat but remains tense.
“Sean, can you take her out of here? I’m going to talk to them for a few more minutes, and then we can head home. We can even get a sundae before we leave.”
The little girl smiles and squirms off Wendy, heading to Sean. Sean looks over at Wendy, and a look passes between them before Sean nods his head and leaves the room, closing the door behind him.
“Sean only knows I was raped. He doesn’t know by who,” Wendy says to us.
“Wendy, you have to come forward. This could put him behind bars for good,” I tell her urgently.
Wendy shakes her head vehemently. “No. I don’t want Joshua to find out about her. I don’t want her to know what happened that brought her to me, ever.”
I think back to something Joshua said to me in a text message not too long ago. “He already knows.”
The color drains from Wendy’s face. “What?”
“The first day I came here with Seth, Joshua followed us from the gym to here. He probably saw you at one point—”
Wendy stands up. “I have to go.”
“Wait!” I grab for her hand as she walks towards the door. “Come forward. Please. He’s already been arrested. The police just need more proof. I know they didn’t believe you before, but there is an officer. Her name is Officer Cunnings. She has been helping me. She knows about your report. She wants to talk to you. Please. So, he doesn’t get out and do this to someone else.”
“You went forward?”
“Yes, I did. I didn’t, at first, because I was scared, just like you. I was terrified, especially after he threatened to hurt my best friend if I told anyone. But after I told Seth, he helped me see that things will get better and continue to get better as time goes on. I will heal. It will take me a long time, but I know I’m on the right path to recovery. You aren’t alone anymore, Wendy. Your parents may have disowned you, but you have your daughter and your best friend to think about. I know you want to stop looking over your shoulder every day. Your daughter never has to find out how she was conceived, but if she does, you can tell her you did the right thing. Please, Wendy, just think about it.”
Wendy removes her hand from mine. “I will.”
She leaves the room without a backward glance.
Chapter 28: Present
On our way to the dance, I keep thinking back to Wendy. She wasn’t just living in fear of Joshua finding her, but also finding out about her daughter.
By the time we arrive at the school, I’m not in the mood to dance anymore, but seeing Anna’s face light up when we enter the gym, I tell myself that tonight will be over soon enough.
We put our jackets in the library before heading for the gym. Taking off my jacket, I couldn’t help but wonder if I convinced Wendy to go forward. If she did, her daughter would help send Joshua to jail. Shortly after the thought entered my mind, I felt guilty for thinking it.
Wendy has been trying to hide her daughter from Joshua, and if the whole town found out about Wendy’s daughter, who knows how they will react. I can understand why she would want to keep her daughter a secret. If I had a daughter, I would want to do the same.
I feel my heart plunge into my stomach. That could have been me.
A hand on my elbow makes me jump, and I turn to find Seth eyeing me with concern. “You okay?”
I nod my head and give him a weak smile, grabbing his hand and pulling him out of the library.
The school’s gym is decked out in coral reefs, with decorations of sea animals hanging from the ceiling. A few feet away from the door is a small island with a broken ship split in half with sand underneath it. They built a fake shark in front of it with its mouth open. This was where couples could go to take pictures together if they wanted to.
Music is blaring throughout, and the bleachers that are usually out for classes are pushed up against the wall. Tables for those that want to sit down are lined on each side of the dance floor. Colorful lighting splashes on and off on the walls. When I got closer, I notice pictures of mermaids wave every time the light hits the wall.
“This is so cool!” Anna exclaims.
Anna takes off for the shipwreck. “Guess I’ll go with her,” Rick says as Seth exchanges a look with him. Rick goes after Anna, and I turn to look at Seth.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, why?�
�
“Because you have been quiet since you talked to Wendy.”
“She has a daughter.”
“I know…”
“That could have been me.” I watch couple after couple go to the dance floor.
“But it wasn’t.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I snap and instantly regret it. “I’m sorry.”
Seth sighs and grabs me, pulling me into him. “Listen, let’s talk about this later, okay? We came here to have fun. I want you to have fun. Please?”
I nod my head against his chest. Anna comes running up then. “Hey! I get the first dance with Paige. You can get her later.”
I let out a small laugh as the tension leaves my body. Seth is right. We came here to have fun, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I follow Anna to the dance floor where we dance to the music. Seth and Rick join us.
We dance together until we are breathing hard. Seth grabs my hand and spins me around in a circle before dipping me. His eyes are shining with the lights that are floating around the room.
He brings me back up and spins me around in another circle. My pulse is racing, not because of the dancing, but because of Seth’s closeness and feeling his arms engulfing me.
Unlike that night with Joshua, when I felt like something was being ripped away from me, and everywhere he touched left something dirty on my skin, being in Seth’s arms makes me feel safe. In his arms, I feel like I’m home.
Seth spins me back to him, and without thinking, I grab his face, bringing his lips down to mine. A split second later, I pull back from him. His eyes are wide in shock. “I’m sorry… I don…” I’m cut off by his lips crashing down on mine again. Putting his arms around my waist, he pulls me closer to him. Closing my eyes, I wrap my arms around his neck and lean into him.
I open my mouth slightly so he can deepen the kiss.
Everyone disappears around us, and fireworks are going off behind my eyes. His lips are soft against mine as he moves over them.
Not rough. Not demanding.
Just soft.
He pulls back from me and leans his forehead against mine, smiling. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long.”
I giggle. “I’ve wanted you to do it.”
“I didn’t want to push you. Not after…” I silence him with a quick peck on the lips. The song ends, and a slow song starts up. “Shh. Let’s just live in the moment and not think of anything else.” I lay my head down on his chest and take a deep breath. I look over to find Anna and Rick slow dancing together.
Anna has her arms around Rick’s neck and Rick has her pulled close against him, and they are staring in each other’s eyes. I think Anna already found her fish in the sea, whether or not she knew it.
Seth and I stand there in each other’s arms in the middle of the dance floor, slowly moving to the music playing.
“I’m in love with you.”
My breath catches in my throat. I pull back from him. “What?”
“You took my breath away when I first saw you.” He brings his hand up to cup my face. “You were like a mystery to me that I needed to solve. You were so strong for so long, and you don’t even know it. Going back to school and being in the same class as the guy who crushed your soul. You are the strongest person I know. Your spirit, your confidence, your strength. Even though I told myself not to, because you were going through something that no one should have to, I fell for you.”
Feeling the air being sucked out of me, I step away from him and out of his arms.
“Paige?”
Seth is watching me with concern etched on his face. I give him a small smile. “I think I need some water.”
I could see the confusion and hurt cross Seth’s face. “Yeah. Sure. I’ll be right back.”
I watch Seth disappear in the crowd before heading in the direction of the double doors leading outside.
For some reason, I can’t breathe. Hearing Seth tell me he loves me should make me feel happy, but I’m not sure what to say back to him.
Did I love him? Is that what I have been feeling towards him?
More questions edge their way in. How could he love me? How could I move on after everything that happened with Joshua?
I head for the double doors leading out of the gym.
“Paige! Wait up!”
I pause to let Anna catch up to me.
“Did I just see what I think I just saw?” Anna asks me breathlessly, following me out of the gym. “That’s great! Right?”
Leaning my back against the wall, I stare up at the ceiling. “Is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Is it really great? Do I really deserve such happiness after everything that happened? I was raped, Anna.”
Anna stands next to me in silence for several seconds before she comes around and grabs my shoulders, bringing me to look at her. “Quit living in the past. Yes, you were raped, but that doesn’t mean you have to keep reliving it. Doubting yourself for something you couldn’t control. It happened to you, and now because of it, you are stronger than you were before. I’m not asking you to just forget it, and to move on. I’m asking you to keep living. Don’t let that monster keep you from true happiness. One thing I know for sure, Paige, is if Joshua sees you being happy and enjoying life, he will realize he never had any kind of control on you.”
Tears fall down my face as I listen to Anna. I knew she was right. Hanging onto the past meant that I wouldn’t be able to move forward. If I continued to think about what happened, it would continue to ruin my future, my happiness. I hug her. “Thank you.”
Anna squeezes me once, and when she pulls back, I can see her eyes are red with unshed tears. “Now, let’s go back in there.”
“Before we do, I have a question to ask you. Do you, by any chance, like Rick?” My question makes Anna stiffen, and she avoids making eye contact with me. “I take that as a yes.”
“I’m not sure if I do or not. I will admit that my feelings for him have changed over the years, but I don’t think I can define it just yet.”
“Are you worried about what Seth will think?”
Anna bows her head, looking at the ground. “Yes and no. I think that if it did ever happen that Seth will eventually get used to it. But I don’t think Rick feels the same for me. He thinks I’m just like a little sister to him.”
I smirk. “The way I saw him looking at you on the dance floor, I don’t think he feels that way at all.”
Anna perks up. “Really?”
“Yeah, now get your butt back in there. I’m going to text my parents really quick to let them know everything is fine. I know they are probably worried.” I reach for my phone when I realize that I left my jacket in the library. “Crap, I forgot my phone was in my jacket.”
“Do you need me to go with you?” Anna asks.
Already heading in the library’s direction, I shake my head at her. “No, I shouldn’t be long. Go on in without me. I’ll be back soon.”
Chapter 29: Present
I locate my coat in the library and notice that my phone isn’t in the pocket that I left it in. I looked around on the ground to see if it fell out somewhere.
“Looking for this?” My breath caught in my throat at the sound of his voice. I find him hiding in the shadows. He’s leaning against the far back wall watching me with a smirk and my phone is in his hand.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were in jail?” I can hear the fear in my voice. I eye the door and edge toward it.
A evil chuckle comes from Joshua as he stands up straight. “My father’s the chief. You really think I would behind bars this whole time. How stupid can you get?”
“What do you mean?” I ask him.
“I mean that you need to read up on the laws. They can’t hold me when they have no proof of the crime committed other than a girl spewing about something that may or may not have happened.” He is now in plain view, and I can see that he is wearing a tux, and his hair is slick
ed back. “I told you before, Paige. You are mine.”
He lunges forward, and I take off out the library door. As I run from him, I am thankful that I didn’t wear high heels tonight. I can hear my heart hammering in my ears while I try to find a place to hide. Anywhere to hide.
His laughter rings in the dark hallways around me. “Paige, you can run, but you can’t hide.” I need to get back to the dance.
“Oh, Paige. You went the wrong way. Now, what are you going to do?” His voice surrounds me. I check classroom doors, hoping, praying that one of them is unlocked. I don’t dare to look behind me to see if he is closing in on me.
I finally find an open door, and I sneak inside it. I head straight for the teacher’s desk and hide underneath it. I cover my mouth and nose to silence myself as tears fall down my face. I can hear his feet outside the classroom come to a stop. “Tsk. Tsk. Paige.”
Nothing could be heard for several long seconds, and I feel a small ray of hope that maybe he left. Then a hand grabs my leg. He drags me out from underneath the teacher’s desk and pins me against the whiteboard. Joshua Henley’s dark, cold eyes stare back at me. “Because of your big mouth, everyone thinks I’m a rapist.” He brings his hand up to rub his thumb over my bottom lip, his hot breath hitting my face. “I’m going to have to teach you a lesson for what you did.”
I can’t breathe. I can’t move. I am frozen in full-fledged panic.
“Got nothing to say now, huh? According to Officer Combs, you had a ton to say a few days ago when you were vomiting lies about me to Officer Cunnings.”
My eyes grow wide as what he says sets in. At the shock on my face, Joshua laughs. “Officer Combs and I have a mutual agreement, you see. He doesn’t say anything about my extracurricular activities, and I won’t say anything about his drug business. Who do you think supplies me with the GHB? Luckily, he was there when Wendy filed a report about me. He shredded it as soon as she left the police station.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Joshua moved his hand down and drags his index finger from one side of my throat to the other. “And another thing, getting my father involved was the stupidest thing you could have done. He doesn’t care about me or what I do. Half the time he’s so drunk he doesn’t even recognize me, much less remember that I am his son.”
