* * *

In the morning I walked into my closet looking for something to wear to class and didn’t even give it a second thought.

Well actually, I blushed at the memory of what Brandon had done to me right there in the middle of that floor.

My girly bits perked up, like she hadn’t just been fed ten minutes before Brandon left to go home. He needed clothes for school and I was afraid our nights of sleeping together would be coming to an end soon.

Last night when we finally climbed into bed, we’d decided that we should get married as soon as graduation was over, like the next day. This way we can use our road trip as a honeymoon.

He was going to ‘tell’ his mom this morning. Oh dear, they were planning a fall wedding. My money’s on my guy.

The other thing we’d talked about was what led up to ‘the incident’. We agreed after going back through everything that my friends were definitely involved.

He thought that there had been something in the diet pop Jill gave me in the car, and that since it had happened at Beth’s house that she had to be in on it as well.

I told him about the last conversation in chat that I’d seen and he was livid. I don’t usually agree with men calling females bitches, but this time I think it fits.

Funny enough, Beth is the only one who hadn’t said anything on chat that day, but everything he said made sense.

It was hard to accept that the people I knew and loved for most of my life could even think of doing this to me, but I had to face reality.

And if I didn’t, Brandon sure the hell was. If nothing else I have to keep him from going after them the way he wants to. I say let the cops handle it.

I chose an outfit that I hadn’t worn before. An all white pantsuit more suited to afternoon brunch at the country club, than the hallways of Shelton High.

The slacks were fitted around the hips but flared at the thighs and bottoms. The silk blouse had only one button but was tapered and the light summer jacket curved to my body. I looked hot.

I gelled my hair into submission and pulled it back in a swinging ponytail with a little flip at the end, and made sure my makeup was perfect.

I walked down the stairs with confidence when I heard Brandon pull up in the driveway, blasting Landslide, my favorite song.

There was already a smile in my heart when I saw mom and daddy standing at the door waiting to see me off.

Daddy was going in late because he wanted to see me off my first day back, and I’m sure it was taking all his strength not to follow me to school and sit in as a monitor.

He hugged me as soon as my feet hit the landing. “You look beautiful baby. I’m proud of you-you hear?”

“Yes daddy, I know.”

“Your mom and I love you very much and we’re here if you need us.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the new iPhone already in a new Louis Vuitton case, orange, my favorite.

“Here, I’m not sure when they’re going to be done with the other one. This one has a new number and Brandon is number one on your speed dial. Your poor old dad has been demoted.” He grinned and my heart felt lighter.

“Oh daddy, you know you’ll always be my number one…dad.” I grinned at him happily.

“Brat!” He tweaked my nose and passed me off to mom.

“Oh baby, you look amazing. I knew this would look good on you.” She fussed with my clothes and her eyes filled with tears.

I hugged her and rolled my eyes over her head at daddy, who came and got her.

I headed outside to my guy who was leaning against the passenger side door of his truck. Arms folded, legs crossed.

I put my shades on and struck a pose making him grin as he opened the door. I love the way he seated me and belted me in.

The way he held my hand all the way in the truck with Landslide on repeat as we both sang off key at the top of our lungs.

By the time we pulled into the parking lot at school I felt like I could take on the world. This time I didn’t mind the stares so much, or the whispers behind cupped hands.

“You look gorgeous baby. I almost made a little side trip, but I guess I can wait until after school.” He winked and placed his hand in the small of my back as we turned to head into the building.

I felt like I was walking on air, and couldn’t believe that just a few weeks I was dreading coming here. I knew having him at my side had a lot to do with it, but that’s all I ever wanted.

Unlike the last time I was here, people actually approached me. Some were full of apologies, some genuine and there were some who didn’t even care one-way or the other.

No one actually came out and asked me how it felt to try to hang yourself, but I’m sure it was the question on everyone’s mind.

I’d added makeup to the marks on my neck, but I was sure they still showed a little. I’d played around with the idea of wearing one of my Hermes mini scarves, but thought better of it.

No point in bringing everyone’s attention to my neck. If I wanted people to forget it, then I have to start doing that myself.

Brandon’s friends made it easier, they came over and talked to him about football and what he’d missed. Which reminded me that the finals were coming up.

I hadn’t even given any thought to cheerleading, but once I did there was no fear. Brandon kept my hand in his, or his in the small of my back, which somehow felt so protective, as we made it to the first class.

I hadn’t seen Jill or Beth or any of the others, which was beyond strange, and I felt a pang of unease.

Brandon took his usual seat next to me and by the time they came in I was ready.

I didn’t miss the way their eyes flitted to us and away quickly. But today they were the ones looking nervous.

It didn’t help that Brandon gave them the death glare as they hurried to their seats. “Those…they look guilty as hell.”

“Okay Brandon, I’m sure the cops have already questioned them and if there’s anything there they’ll get to the bottom of it.”

That seemed to placate him. The teacher came in and welcomed us both back to class, with genuine pleasure at having two of his star pupils back in the fold.

By the time lunchtime rolled around I was relaxed. No one so far had mentioned the incident and I found that I wanted to talk about it, if only to get it out of the way.

One kid kept staring at my neck and that was my cue. “Something on your mind Ashton?” Brandon turned from talking to his friends and looked from me to Ashton Banks, one of the school nerds.

He fumbled under Brandon’s stare until I elbowed Brandon in the ribs. He gave me a ‘what’ look and I indicated that he should turn back around.

I was sure his ears were still pricked though, when I turned back to the kid who I’d probably never spoken to a day in my life.

“I just…I wanted to know what it was like, you know…” He pointed to his neck and looked down at the table miserably.

“It was awful. I’ve never felt so alone in my life.”

“But that doesn’t make any sense. You’re popular, rich, pretty, why…”

“Because none of those things matter when you’re feeling alone and unloved.” I reached out and took his hand because he seemed to need it.

I got the feeling that he really needed to talk, but here was not the right place. “Brandon I’m gonna step outside with Ashton for a second okay.”

He looked from the kid to me and back and although he didn’t seem too pleased about letting me out of his sight, he nodded, kissed me on the cheek and whispered in my ear.

“Take your phone, if you need me I’m here.” I nodded and got to my feet. “Come on Ashton let’s go for a walk.”

“Really?” He looked at me like I’d grown another head. I walked off and he followed. I ignored all the looks as we passed on our way outside.

I found a spot away from the building under a tree and stood waiting for him to catch up. “Are you thinking about hurting yourself Ashton?”

He fidgeted for a bit, but then I got the truth out of him. He’d been playing around with the idea of taking his own life since he was fifteen.

His home life was a mess; an alcoholic abusive father, a mother who was also a victim of that abuse and kids who made his life a living hell every day that he came here.

Listening to him showed me how selfish I’d been. This kid had real issues, and though what had been done to me was horrible, it was nothing compared to his story.

I spent the rest of lunch break trying to get through to him, saying all the things Brandon had said to me.

I wasn’t sure how well I’d done, but I felt better for trying. “Why don’t you sit with us from now on Ashton? I was thinking of picking up guitar, I hear you’re pretty good at it.”

“Really, you’ve heard about me?”

“Well yeah.” Okay he didn’t need to know what I’d heard about him.

He seemed pleased with that and when Brandon met us at the door like he’d been standing there waiting, I’d never been more proud of him as I was when he said hi to this kid that I’m sure he’d never even noticed before.

“You wanna talk about it?” He asked quietly as we watched Ashton walk away down the hall. “Yeah, but not here, maybe at home later.”

We held hands all the way to our next class. I still hadn’t had a chance to speak to Jill and the others since they seemed to be avoiding me and by the time the last bell rang, I figured it wasn’t going to happen.

At least this time they were the ones looking in from the outside. I’m not sure what happened while I was gone, but people seemed to be shunning them.

I asked Brandon about it on the way home and he played the innocent but I was a bit suspicious. “Brandon what did you do?”

“Nothing, I was with you the past two weeks, when did I have time to do anything? Look the cops have been asking questions, it’s only a matter of time before people start putting two and two together.”

That was true, but I still got the feeling that he had something to do with it. As much as I hated them at the moment, I didn’t want them feeling any of what I had those last two weeks at school. There was no benefit in it for me.

“I don’t think we should do anything…”

“Do you realize how fucked up this is? Do you know you could’ve been raped? We still don’t know who the fuck that guy was in that room with you, while someone stripped you naked and took pictures of you.”

“You can forgive them, me, I want blood.” Well okay then that’s plain enough.