“Lyss,” I manage to choke out, my voice breaking on the second syllable. “I need you to come get me.”
Her tone changes instantly. “What happened? Are you okay? Where are you?”
“I'm—”
I look around, trying to figure out where exactly I ended up. A gas station? A side alley? I can’t think straight, so I just drop my location and send it.
“Shit, Laura,” she breathes. “How'd you get all the way out there?”
“I couldn't stop running,” I whisper. “Can you come and get me? Please?”
“I'm already grabbing my keys,” she says, and I can hear the jingle in the background. “Stay right there. I'll be there in ten minutes. Are you safe?”
“Yeah,” I whisper. “Just… hurry. Please.”
“On my way. Stay on the phone with me, okay?”
I close my eyes, letting Lyss's steady voice wash over me as she keeps talking, asking gentle questions I don't answer. She doesn’t press me to, either. She reverts to telling me about her day—anything to keep me on the phone.
By the time her car screeches to a stop, I’m still curled against the wall, my hair a mess and my dress filthy and torn.
She jumps out of the car without even turning off the engine and rushes to my side.
“Laura, oh my God.” She kneels beside me, taking in my tear-stained face, the missing shoes, the disheveled costume. “What happened?”
I shake my head, not able to form words yet. “Can we just go home? Please?”
“Of course.” She slips an arm around me and helps me up, guiding me to the passenger seat. “We'll talk when you're ready.”
The drive home is quiet, with Lyss occasionally glancing at me with concern. I stare out the window, watching the city lights blur together as fresh tears well up.
“I’m switching out of English Lit,” I blurt, breaking the silence. “I never want to see Scotty Hendricks again.”
Lyss doesn't push, just nods. “Okay.”
“He's a cocky, arrogant asshole,” I continue, the words spilling out now. “I knew that, but I still let myself fall for this bullshit and let my guard down.” My voice cracks. “I was so stupid, Lyss. I swear I’ll never let that happen again.”
“Whatever happened, we'll figure it out,” Lyss assures me, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “You don't have to talk about it, but I’ll help you any way you need.”
I swallow hard. “Thank you,” I croak out.
By the time we pull into our driveway, the tears have stopped, but the hollow feeling in my chest remains.
I don't know if it will ever go away.
I'm at rock
bottom. I thought I reached that point when my parents didn't show up for me in high school, but no.
This…this is worse than anything they've ever done.
I trusted him…I reallylikedhim, and I was just a TV show segment.
Embarrassment doesn’t even come close. Humiliation doesn’t cover it. It feels like someone scooped out everything soft inside me and left the shell.
He told them.
He told all of his teammates and let them make a mockery out of me.
