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“I’m fine. It’s fine. It really wasn’t that bad.”
“But you are facing assault charges.”
“I’d rather be facing murder charges, but it’s fine. I’m out on bail. I had to surrender my passport, so I can’t leave the country, and I have to be back for my next court case at the end of the month, but it’s all okay. I’m just worried about you.”
“I’m going to go to the cafeteria and get us something to eat.” Sue comments and leaves the room.
“I’m okay.”
“Did he…” His voice trails off, unable to say the words.
“No. You got there before it got that far.”
“Good. I barely heard you call for help, but when I heard your voice. When I saw what he was doing to you, I lost it. I just saw red and snapped. I would’ve killed him. I swear to God, I wish I had. The thought of him… God, it makes me so angry. But Ben was there and pulled me off him.”
“You shouldn’t have attacked him. Now you’re in trouble.”
“I got a good lawyer. They are already working out a plea deal. I’ll probably get away with some community service and probation.”
“But you’ll have a record.”
“A record of stopping a rapist. Yeah, I’m okay with that.” He laughs lightly. “I’m just glad I got there in time.” He grabs my hand.
“Wes.” I look down at his hand, which is bruised and cut up.
“It’s just some bruises.” I feel like I’m going to cry. I rub my finger over his knuckles softly. He winces. “It’s okay.” He repeats, using the other hand to stroke my cheek. “I’m okay. How are you? What did the doctors say?”
“I don’t know. They just said I might have some memory loss. They are giving me some pain meds soon.”
“Are you in pain?” I shrug. “How bad?”
“Just sore. My head hurts, but I’ll live. Thanks to you.” I burst into tears. “I didn’t even know he put something in my drink. All of a sudden, I was feeling out of it. Skylar took me back to his bunk for a bump, and I said no because I made you a promise. Then he started saying all this stuff about liking me, but I could barely keep my eyes open. I just wanted to get back to my bus. The next thing I knew, Liam was offering to walk me back to my bus, and I couldn’t say no because I could barely walk. He pulled me between the buses, and then he tried… But you got there… and I knew I didn’t drink that much. I feel so stupid.”
“You aren’t stupid. You were drugged. That’s not your fault. None of this is your fault.”
“Isn’t it, though? I shouldn’t have been on that bus. You warned me.”
“I didn’t warn you about Liam, to be fair. I didn’t think Liam was the kind of guy to do something like this, to be honest.” He squeezes my hand. “But it doesn’t matter. You should be allowed to have drinks on a bus with guys and not be drugged. It is not your fault.”
“If I had just stayed on your bus.”
“Yeah. Okay? Yeah, you could’ve done things differently, and it could’ve gone differently, but it doesn’t matter. None of the choices you made are deserving of you being drugged and almost raped. You don’t deserve that. Ever.”
“But now you’re in trouble.” I feel the tears finally, spill from my eyes.
“I’m in trouble, because I let my anger get the best of me, because I lost my cool. That’s on me. And him. He made a choice that ended up with him getting his ass beat. That’s not on you.”
“I just keep messing everything up.” I cry.
“You’ve messed nothing up.”
“I lost your hoodie.”
“Got plenty more.”
“Everyone knows what happens.”
“They know parts, yeah.”
