Page 157 of Always: A Legacy Novel

“Later, okay?”

She didn’t even get to turn around because Derik was already grabbing onto her wrist and spinning her back. His forceful grip left a red ring when he finally let go.

“So, we should hang out after school,” he said, cocking a brow.

Catherine barked out a laugh, surprising herself. “No way.”

“Pardon?”

“Derik, I will never be alone with you again. And if that was my only option, I would eat the barrel of a gun first. Are we clear?”

Derik chuckled. “Ah, shit, don’t be pissed because you got fucked up and—”

“I was fine until …” Catherine squeezed her eyes shut, trying to bring back the memory of what messed her up. She couldn’t get it there, but she knew, somehow, it had been something Derik did. The cup he brought, the drink … she was sure that was it. “Just fuck off, Derik. I’m not going to say anything about what happened, but stay the hell away from me.”

“What happened?” Derik asked, smirking a little too much. “Because I don’t remember shit, Catty, except us hooking up.”

Rape.

Rape. Rape. Rape.

RAPE.

That was the word her mind kept screaming whenever she thought about it. And she thought about it way too much. All she could do was think about it.

Catherine couldn’t bring herself to say it, though.

Don’t drink from a cup you don’t pour.

Keep someone with you all the time.

Be safe.

Stay smart.

Girls were taught to protect themselves.

Boys were never taught not to rape.

She heard the warnings over and over again. Mantras repeated by everyone.

And she screwed up.

It was her fault, too.

“Fuck off, Derik,” Catherine repeated. “Please, just leave me the hell alone.”

Wordlessly, Derik pulled his phone from his jacket pocket, and turned it on. His finger grazed over the touchscreen a few times, before he turned it for Catherine to see the gallery. Far too many images of her stared back—bad, awful, horrible photos. In some, she certainly might have looked as though she was awake, somehow conscious, but it was clear she was out of it at the same time. Her body was on display. Her pride was shattered.

“So, you and me,” Derik said, flipping his phone back around, “after school?”

“Fuck you.”

“Oh, and send me a pic or something, whatever is on under your jeans today. In case you didn’t know, I’ve got the whole school on my contact list, and it takes thirty seconds to make a group text with some pictures attached, Catty.”

She glared at him, but hid her trembling hands at her side. Silence was her best friend, and her best defense.

“Remember what you said to me last year—it wasn’t by my choice?” Derik nodded, his grin widening. “It was this time. It still is.”