The sixth-period bell rings, releasing us from the classroom. Everyone shuffles out, eager to move onto the last class of the day. Mrs. Hilliard, my English teacher, says her short goodbyes to the students passing her desk. They chime in my ear as I pack up my things.
"See you tomorrow."
"Goodbye."
"Don't forget to revise chapter twelve."
"Quiz on chapter twelve is Friday."
I sling my backpack over my shoulder and walk past her, but she stops me. "Hailey, you got a great score on your quiz last week, best out of all my classes." She places the perfect score in front of my eyes, sliding the graded quiz across her desk. "Do you have a strong interest in Lord of the Flies?"
I shrug. "I like English, I like to read, that's all."
"Well, I'm impressed. Keep up the good work," she smiles and I wave as I pass through the door.
English has always been my favorite class, and I started trying extra hard after entering Mr. Russ' classroom. I strived to impress him.
I walk along the hallway, it is a little emptier now, as the last bell is about to ring any second. As I pass the locker room doors, I hear quiet voices.
"I have to get to class," the female voice says in a light tone.
I glance at the Male Locker Room sign on the door, then roll my eyes.
"Harrison, I have to go, really."
I stop then, my eyes shooting back to the door. I reverse and press my ear to it.
"Harrison," she says more firmly. "Harrison, stop."
Harrison, I mumbled as he kissed my neck, maybe we should go back to the party?
I was feeling the alcohol now, my head spinning as we sat together on his bed. He shushed me quietly then gripped the bottom of my shirt. My face flushed and I quickly held my clothing down, stopping him from pulling it up.
What's the matter? He asked.
I didn't know what to tell him. I was a virgin, I didn't know the routine he did. All in one night I had had my first flirtatious conversation, my first kiss, and then make out. He wanted more, and I ran out of ideas. How was I supposed to tell the most popular, most attractive guy in school that I wasn't ready, even though he wanted to?
I want to go back to the party, I lied, I need to find my friends. They wanted to meet up—
My eyes shot to the clock. It read: 10:57.
They wanted to meet up at eleven, I finished.
He pulled away. Come on, Hailey, let's have some fun. You'll like it, I promise, Harrison said.
Without thinking, I push the door open and storm into the boy's locker room. Right in front of me, against the lockers, Harrison stands, almost hiding a girl behind him. He turns at the sound of the door opening, and his eyes are surprised to find me.
The girl slips out from underneath him, cheeks rosy red, and she scurries past me and into the hallway. I have seen her before, she a junior on the dance team, Holly. She must be embarrassed that I have caught them.
The door closes behind her, leaving me with my tormentor.
With all the courage I have, I stand tall and say, "she asked for you to stop."
He looks utterly annoyed, and he crosses his arms. "You think you can just barge in? You shouldn't be here, Hailey."
I swallow. "Holly asked for you to stop. You didn't stop, did you?"
Harrison stalks towards me, and my back hits the wall. He leans in. "You should have never come back here. If you know what's good for you, you'll fly back home to your Daddy." With that, he swings the door open and disappears into the hall.
The bell rings, and I jump, then I start to cry.
At least he didn't see me cry.
At that party, a year ago, he held me down when I tried to leave for the door. He grabbed my thighs and told me to relax. He leaned in, kissed me passionately. He laid me down, my head resting on his pillow. He slid up my shirt. He kissed my neck. He grabbed my ass. He grabbed my chest. He held me down.
He didn't listen when I told him to stop.
I rush out of the locker room and head straight for my car. Harrison is right, I should have never come back. Ditching my last class, I jog to the driver's side and fumble with my keys."Going somewhere?"My heart skips a beat and I jump at the sudden, familiar voice. Turning around, I see Daniel standing at the back of a car, shutting the truck after pulling out a duffel bag with his name sewn on it. It's the track team bag.Realizing my red eyes and puffy face, I turn back and unlock my door. "Yeah, I'm leaving," I mutter and slide in. I shut the door before he can say anything, though I doubt he would. Like some sort of speed racer, I zip out of the parking spot and bolt down the street. My hand wipes stray tears from my face roughly, and I struggle to keep my hands steady on the wh
Instead of slipping through the side gate, this time, Jana and I walk through the front door of Trent Watts' house. Jana calls out, "we're here," and she leads me inside.The lights are dim and we join Taylor on the couch. Sitting across from her is a couple I had seen around school before. They seem to be in a deep conversation with each other, looking into one others eyes, holding hands. The girlplays with the guys, drawing pictures on his palm.Taylor smiles. "Finally, you're here. For a moment I thought you two weren't going to come.""Diddo," I mutter and crash down beside her. She has a glass set on the table in front of her. I can tell it's hers because her berry lipstick is smeared on the rim. I wonder what it is. I wonder what it tastes like. "How many times a month do y
When I first started therapy in Florida, my therapist gave me the idea of journaling. I started a journal and wrote in it for a few months, but eventually, it died off. Most of my entries lacked the topic of the incident—the reason why I was in therapy in the first place—but were about Mr. Russ and my friends in Florida. Though, I suppose they were an escape for me in themselves.With my friends in Florida, I was an actress, pretending that Harrison never did what he had done. With them, I was an entirely different person. With Mr. Russ, I was an entirely different person also. I became so in love with this fake persona that I even created a name for her, well, not created, I stole a name for her. Daphne.Yes, Daphne was my best friend before she turned on me, andDaphne, my persona, did the same.Daph
The four of us attend the football game on Friday, and it is nothing special. Coldgrove High School lost in a close game, but we left happy anyways. Many people gave me dirty looks, some even saying that I shouldn't be here, which was embarrassing in front of Taylor and Jordan. I'm sure they know what happened, but oddly, they don't show an opinion like everyone else. Maybe they believe me, maybe they don't, if they are whiling to be my friends, then who cares. People are free to believe what they want here, in moderation of course.Jana and I say our goodbyes to Taylor and Jordan before heading to my car. We leave later than everyone else, not wanting to sit in parking lot traffic. Once we are in the car, and all the doors are closed, Jana turns to me. "You didn't seem very into it."I wasn't. I hate to admit it, but I was really hopin
I can't help but watch his lips as he talks. He is like the forbidden fruit, and I just can't have him. Jana nudges me and I zip back to life. "What?""We're talking about fall break if you want to participate in the conversation. I was thinking a road trip, that would be fun."Taylor rolls her eyes. "Jana, you keep saying road trip, but a road trip to where?"She shrugs. "We have time to decide that.""Oh, I don't know if I can go on a trip. I might go to Canada and visit my Dad," I tell Jana and she frowns."That's too bad," Daniel joins in, "because I know a guy who will let us stay at his cabin up north. I've been before, he's friends with my dad. The place is insane."
"I have no idea what to bring," I say to Jana as I stare at my open suitcase. I called her over to my house to help, and she joins me at my side, also staring down."Well, you'll need pajamas for sure. Bring cute pajamas, something sweet, maybe a little girly. He's probably going to see you in them so—""Jana, I can't base this trip around Daniel. I'll drive myself insane. What is suppose to happen anyway? It's just a schoolgirl crush."Jana rolls her eyes. "That is the understatement of the year." She walks over to my dresser and rummages through my pajamas, pulling out a matching top and shorts set. The top is a blue fitted t-shirt with white polka dots and the shorts are white with blue polka dots. My now stepmother bought them for me when I was in Florida. "These are cute," J
The next day, at noon exactly, I struggle with my suitcase and backpack as I hold my phone to my ear, all while managing to walk down the stairs. "Yes mom, and I promise to be good.""Hailey Fonte you tell me this honestly, are there any adults going with you on this trip?"One of my eyebrows raises, then I drop my suitcase to the floor. "An adult? Yeah, there is."Jana gives me a look.Jordan and Daniel are eighteen as they have early birthdays. Technically, I am not lying. My mother sighs. "Alright. Just, please be careful. You'll be back Wednesday?""Yeah, Wednesday night, if everything goes smoothly. I'll call you every day so you know I'm still alive."
I am shaken awake with my head resting against the car, curled up in the very back, almost a piece of luggage. My eyes flutter open, overwhelmed by Jana's face. "We're here," she silently cheers. "Oh, Hailey, it so beautiful up here. Look outside."After climbing out of the SUV, and almost tripping to the dirt, I peer up at our surroundings completely mesmerized. A small, dirt road weaves through the trees and we must have followed it up to the cabin, which is set before me. The dark wood blends perfectly with the forest, and stone details play perfectly with the rustic feel. Long story short, the place is huge and looks quite luxurious from the outside. The trickling sounds of running water tickles my ears, meaning we must be close to the creek."Who is Daniels Father's friend, again?" I question as we make our way up to the front door