“Oh my God!” a student from the Picnic Blanket Study Group yells. “Someone call security!”
And then we’re all running.
And then we’re all stopping, becausefuck…
Melissa’s dress is ripped at the shoulder and at one thigh. It used to be cream, but it’s covered in so many stains—blood, sweat, dirt, something pink—that the only way I know its original color is because it’s been in the lineup for ‘what should I wear tonight’ a couple of times.
Her hair is matted. Mascara has turned her face into a horror show. And her eyes?—
Her eyes are feral as she struggles to focus on the students forming a semi-circle around her, everyone too nervous to get close.
Because she looks like a gust of wind could topple her.
“Melissa!” I take a cautious step forward, holding out my hands like she’s a skittish cat. “Are you…” I trail off, becauseof courseshe’s not fucking okay.
It takes my friend way too long to focus on me. Torecognizeme.
Add that to her slack jaw, her pasty skin, and the way she sways on solid ground…
She’s not drunk. She looks high as fuck, and suddenly all I can think about is what Kai told me about the coke habit that got her put in rehab.
When she finally registers who I am, she lets out an awful sound, like a wounded animal would make.
She stumbles backward, nearly falling in her haste to get away from me.
“Don’t!” she rasps, stabbing a trembling finger at me. “Don’t—don’t you let him touch me!”
“What? Who?” I glance around.
Abigail stares at Melissa in shock and confusion, then gives me a suspicious frown. I’m immediately on edge, suddenly desperate to tell her—everyone—that I don’t know what Melissa’s talking about.
But somehow I do…
It’s just a glimpse of a hint of a sliver of suspicion, but I’ve been dealing with unhinged people my entire life, so it’s become a skill of mine to put two and two together and get to seven.
Abigail steps forward, wrapping an arm around Melissa’s trembling shoulders. “Who did this to you?”
Melissa’s teeth chatter so hard that I can hear them from where I’m standing. “K-Keep him a-way f-from me!” she stammers, her wide, shell-shocked eyes locked on me.
Abigail turns to glare at me. “Who is she talking about?”
“Wh—” I shrug and raise my hands, taking a step back before I can stop myself. “I don’t fucking know!”
“Please! Please!” Melissa blubbers, collapsing into Abigail’s arms.
They sink down to the grass, Abigail cradling Melissa’s head against her shoulder as she sobs. Someone hands over a fleece top, and Abigail drapes it across Melissa’s shivering legs. A bottle of water appears, but Melissa turns her head away when Abigail tries to give her some.
And all I’m doing is standing here, staring, when I have a thousand questions.
I try to make my voice calm even though my heart is trying to punch through my ribs. “What happened, Melissa? Where were you?”
Abigail scowls at me, but I guess she wants to know what happened as badly as I do, because she swipes hair away from Melissa’s face and gives her a little shake, trying to get her to respond.
“W-w-withhim!” Melissa sniffs, eyes squeezing shut. “Hekeptme—I couldn’t—“ She breaks off and starts sobbing.
“Who? Who did this?” I ask, but Melissa’s shaking her head, lips pulled back from her teeth as anguish pulls at her face.
Abigail pulls Melissa closer, murmuring soothingly to her. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. No one’s going to hurt you.”
