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“You might think something like this won’t happen to you. You’ll walk around without a care in the world, teasing people who do have to live with it, but it can happen to you. He was her best friend. They’d known each other since they were little, yet he still did this to her. She didn’t ask for it or want it. She didn’t get drunk and make a bad decision. She was drugged and raped. You’d think females would be more sympathetic towards her, but you’re all just bitches.
“And lads, take a look in the fucking mirror, man. You’re all getting off on seeing a girl get attacked. Is that really what gets you going?” he asks, and a pained whimper escapes my mouth.
Cole scoops me up and sits me in his lap. Immediately, I hide my face in his chest, needing to breathe in his comfort. I knew the picture would get around, but not once did I consider people getting off on it. It makes me sick.
“That could be your sister, your mother, your daughter, or your wife. You might laugh at me now, but one day, if it happens—and I pray to fuck that it doesn’t—it’s going to turn your whole world upside down. It’s going to tear you up inside, knowing that there isn’t a damn thing you can do to save your loved one,” he breathes out, pausing. I hiccup a sob, holding on to Cole tighter as I ignore the stares from the others around me.
“If any of you had a soul, you’d delete that fucking picture. You’d grow up, take responsibility, and help a girl in need out. You’d make sure your friends deleted it too. That picture was taken so he could get away with what he did. All you guys are doing is feeding that guy’s ego. He wanted it spread. He wanted her broken so she wouldn’t go to the police. I mean, if she saw everyone else not believing her then why would she think the police would? Think about it,” CJ finishes, and I hear him walk back over to the table and grab his bag.
“Let’s take her back, man,” he whispers to Cole. I feel Cole shift before he stands up with me in his arms.
“I had the picture emailed to my university account. I’ve removed it. My sister was raped last year, and every day it’s killed me not knowing who her attacker was, and not being able to save her,” someone voices nearby.
“I’m sorry, man,” CJ replies.
A chorus of people informing CJ that they’ve removed it rings around the room, and I begin to sob harder, knowing it’s just one more step towards it being gone.
A chair tipping over echoes around the room, and for some reason, it has me lifting my head. Peeping through my damp eyelashes, I see the girl who was sitting in the front row is standing there, her eyes solely focused on me.
Tears are running down her cheeks as she clings to the books held against her chest. She’s a chubby girl, not fat, but not skinny either. She’s a healthy size. She’s beautiful, but the pain etched into her features is heart-breaking.
She looks right at me, dead in the eye, as if she sensed I was looking at her and needs me to listen, to understand her pain.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so very, very sorry. It’s my fault. It’sallmy fault,” she sobs, before running out of the room.
“Go,” Cole grumbles, his voice hard. I’m assuming he’s talking to CJ, though I can’t be sure. “Sir, we’re leaving for today. If it’s okay, can you email us today’s lesson?”
“Yes, Cole. Please give Willow my sincerest apologies. Despite what CJ said at the beginning, I didn’t know what was being passed around. I would have put a stop to it. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
I’m utterly speechless. Moby is known for his strict rules and stricter attendance. One student missed a week of his classes and he kicked them out, sending them to the other Introduction to Journalism professor. I overheard two students talking about it once.
“Thank you, sir.”
As Cole walks out of the classroom, I feel everyone’s eyes on me, and I have to cling to Cole tighter. The minute I know we’re clear from prying ears, I begin to sob harder into his chest, and he holds me tighter against him.
“I thought I could do it. I thought I was strong enough,” I cry out brokenly.
“You are strong. What CJ just revealed in there would have broken the strongest man, but you stayed. You showed them. You are the strongest person I’ve ever met,” he tells me, his words heated.
“I don’t know if I can face anyone ever again.”
“You will. You just need time. You should have given yourself time to let everything sink in.”
“That’s what Allie told me I needed to do this morning.” I sniffle, remembering my friend’s words.
“She’s right, and I heard from a good friend of mine that she’s never been wrong,” he tells me lightly.
I chuckle into his chest, wiping my nose with the sleeve of my hoody. I feel his chest vibrate under me, and I groan in embarrassment. I forgot I was wearing his hoody.
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” he chuckles. “Want to go back to ours and watch a movie? We can chill for the rest of the day if you want.”
I open my mouth to answer, but running footsteps pound towards us. Looking up, I see it’s CJ, and I notice his face is grim.
He looks to Cole and does that silent communication thing that lads love to do. It would normally drive me mad, but I actually find it amusing.
“Bad?”
