We climb in my waiting car and make it through the throngs of media. Jenna is silent and still, staring out the window. I text Dom.

One of my friends needs to report a crime. What do I do?

His response is quick. Kiesha is in the office. I’ll text you her number.

I tell the driver where to take us, and we start the long drive towards the station.

U ok? Dom texts a few minutes later.

I smile. Yeah. She came forward because I did.

Ari sends me a flurry of texts demanding to know if I’m okay and what’s going on. I glance at Jenna, not wanting to tell Ari over text about the situation. I assure her I’m okay and tell her just to trust me. I know she’s cursing me, but she finally agrees and complains about how I’m keeping secrets.

I call Kiesha and tell her I need to see her. Jenna glances at me, worry in her gaze. When I hang up, I’ve got more texts from Ari and one from Chris, asking me why I redirected the driver. I tell him I need to do something important and manage not to make any jabs about Dr. Thompkins. He gives me the one word approved response again that irritates me.

It takes a little over an hour in rush hour traffic to reach the courthouse. The paparazzi snap a zillion pics as I ascend the stairs to the station. Jenna’s hands are shaking, but she ignores the photographers, and we step into the police station.

I have them page Kiesha, who appears with a bright smile after a few minutes.

“Can we talk somewhere?” I ask.

“Sure.” Her gaze takes in Jenna then goes back to me. I suspect she knows why we’re there as she leads us to one of the awful interview rooms.

“You want me to stay?” I ask Jenna.

She hesitates.

“It might be best,” Kiesha says.

I nod. They go into the room, and I sit down outside the door, waiting. My own hands are shaking. Jenna’s pain reminds me of mine, of how I still can’t go to bed without looking under the bed. Of how I’m about to be exiled alone in an apartment. It’s a block from the police station, but I was only a few feet away from a huge party in the garden, and no one heard me scream.

“Do I want to know why you’re here?” the DA’s voice makes me tense. He’s standing at the intersection of two hallways, staring at me.

“I’m here with a friend,” I answer.

“I hear you’re moving down the street.”

“You tell me. I’m the last to know what’s going on.” I shouldn’t snap at him, but I really can’t help it.

Apparently, he takes the hint or doesn’t want to deal with me. He moves on without another word, and I rest my head against the wall. Dom didn’t respond to my last text, and I’m wishing he did. I feel lonely in the hallway.

Jenna’s interview lasts for over two hours. By the time she’s done, I’m cramping from not stretching after soccer and dozing. The sound of the door opening jars me awake. Jenna’s face is red from crying, and Kiesha’s hand is on her arm. I trail them to the restroom, where Kiesha stays outside while Jenna goes in.

“She says you inspired her,” Kiesha says, turning to me. “I imagine you inspire a lot of girls to come forward.”

“Inspire is a strong word,” I reply awkwardly. “I’m a coward who couldn’t come forward until someone died.”

“You’re no coward, Mia.”

Of everything on my mind, the one thing I can’t think about without tears is Tanya. I still have the picture I took, still remember her mother’s face. I push the image from my mind.

“Where’s Dom?” I ask to change the subject.

“He’s working nights this week,” Kiesha replies. “I keep seeing you in the paper.”

“I know,” I mutter. “I don’t even look anymore.”

Kiesha looks like she’s trying not to smile, and I wonder if she figured out my connection to Jenna. She doesn’t say anything else about it, and Jenna emerges. She’s tried to fix her make-up, but she looks awful. Grimly, I wonder if that’s how I look every time I do the same thing.

Kiesha leads us to the front again and stops at the information desk.

“Thanks, Kiesha,” I say.

“Never a problem. Any message for Dom?”

“Just tell him next time we play basketball, I might let him win.”

Kiesha laughs and gives me a quick hug. With the help of my bodyguards, I lead Jenna back through the media to the car. Jenna slumps, drained. I’m not sure what to say to her, except to ask her address for the driver.

She tells me and falls silent. I wish I knew what to say. What did I want others to say to me when I was in her spot? I don’t remember.

“You can call me, if you ever want to talk,” I say at last, as we pull up to her home.

“Thanks.” She smiles wanly then gets out.

I’m not at all happy about the exchange. I should do or say something else. I don’t need Dr. Thompkins to tell me that communication is one of my limitations.

I watch Jenna walk to her door and disappear inside before we drive away. The driver starts towards home, and I make another decision that I’m certain will earn me a lecture from Chris.

“Take me to Ari’s,” I say.

The driver obeys, and Chris’s text comes a few minutes later. This time, I don’t have the patience to be civil with him and just tell him I’ll be home when I’m home. Which gets me an order to see him as soon as I walk in the door.

Agitated, I fidget all the way to Ari’s. As soon as the car stops, I hurry to her door. The butler answers, and I wait for her dad’s approval to enter before stepping into the foyer.

“Mia, it’s like, nine!” Ari says, flying around the corner. “You’ve been ignoring me for hours! What the hell is going on?”

“We need to talk,” I say, grateful she listened to me tonight. I know I freaked her out, and I’m glad that was enough to keep her from going out.

“Fine. Come on.” She’s upset with me.

For once, I don’t care. I’m not about to apologize. I’m not gonna think twice about preventing her from going through what I did.

We go to her room, and I tell her everything Jenna told me. Ari’s face loses all color as she listens. Her initial response is denial, but I keep at her until she’s promised never to go out with Benji again.

And then I start crying, drained by the events of the evening. Ari wraps her arms around me. She’s shaking but calmer than me.

By the time I get home, it’s almost midnight. Chris’s lackey is waiting for me in the foyer. The minute I walk in, she points down the hall. I groan but go.

I drop into a chair at the table where Chris works. He looks like he’s ready for a full day of work. He has more energy with little-to-no sleep than I have after a full night of sleep. He gives me the silent treatment and waits for me to explain myself.

“I know, I know.” I groan. “Just yell at me and get it over with.”

“I’m a litigator. Convince me why I shouldn’t yell.”

“In the morning? Please?”

“Now.”

“Omigod, Chris.” I sigh.

I tell him everything, from Jenna and the reason she’s picking fights to the police station and dropping by to warn Ari. Chris listens without interruption. I’m so tired by the time I’m done, I want to cry again. I finish and wait.

“Dr. Thompkins tomorrow then community service.”

“That’s it?” I ask sarcastically. “You don’t want to put me in orange and have me pick up trash after?”

He gives me the look that says he doesn’t have to go easy on me. I hop up and leave before he changes his mind. By the time I’m ready for bed, I’m almost too tired to read Ari’s handful of texts. Dom sends one, too, that makes me laugh despite my exhaustion.

So I hear you beat me at basketball.

I type a smiley and hit send, happy to end the stressful day messing with him for once. I figure I’ve won this round with him. Finally.

You ready to cross that line? His response makes me curse.

I stare at the question, heart pounding. I think of how I played with Robert and lost. I think of how responsible I was. I shouldn’t have drunk so much. I shouldn’t have wanted to feel beautiful.

I breathe deeply. Robert has taken so much from me. I won’t let him take Dom from me.

Slowly, I type and send my answer. Game on.

Your ball.

I feel freaked out but excited. I’m scared. I trust him. I want him to be my friend and maybe someday, something more. I’m still not certain what that means, except I don’t want to lose him.