Taylor felt his lips go numb. He stared at his younger brother with hazed eyes. “Come on, Tay, we better get home,” Zac said, opening the door and ushering Taylor out of the office. Taylor stumbled dumbly to the door as Jen held the door open for her. Jen bit her lip, thinking about a million ‘what ifs’ that were going through her head at the moment. She hadn’t even told Zac about Kelsey. Zac had no idea what was sitting in the car, waiting for them.
Kelsey stared at her reflection in the rearview mirror. She quickly pushed long, shining, silky brown hair in front of her neck, hiding the dark blue bruises the had been put there the day before. She looked carefully and decided they weren’t noticeable at all. She quickly looked down and looked at herself; tight jeans and a tight black shirt. Her heels made her height a complete 5’8 but they killed her feet. She had no idea why she had gone through all the trouble just to pick up Jen, Zac, Ike, and Taylor. She grumbled but got out of the car, moving somewhat slowly to avoid causing anymore pain from her bruises.
She walked slowly up the steps and, for the first time in years, once again raised her eyes to meet Taylor’s.
Taylor felt himself go numb. He stared, amazed, for a moment. Everything she was wearing showed off her figure that was completely new to Taylor rather...nicely. Her hair went all the way to her waist and seemed to be begging for him to run his fingers through it once again. Taylor blinked quickly and tried to brush the feelings away. No time to be lust-driven. But Taylor could tell other parts of his body had different ideas.
He quickly stepped out of Zac’s way to let Jen and him through. He watched Kelsey and Jen smile and exchange hugs. Then she hugged and kissed Zac on the cheek. Afterwards, she walked over to Taylor, reached up, and put her arms around his neck. Taylor felt his arms go around her in what seemed like an eleven-year old reflex. He numbly felt her lips brush his cheek and he felt his own twitch with pleasure. She leaned back and smiled at him, “It’s good to see you, Taylor,” she whispered softly. Taylor managed to make himself smile back, “It’s good to see you too, Kelsey.” God, if only she knew how much.
At that moment Ike came out the door and Taylor let go of Kelsey and her embrace. She smiled and giggled when Ike picked her up with his arms. Taylor noticed for a split second when Isaac picked her up by the waist her eyes flash with pain. Then they quickly transformed to happiness. Taylor cocked his head at her, wondering what was going on, but her eyes avoided his.
Kelsey squirmed, giggling, but she kept thinking, “Damnit this hurts like hell...oh God.” Isaac’s hands had to grip her hard in order to keep her off the ground and it was stinging her insides like fire.
But Kelsey knew she couldn’t let them know that; the only person who knew was Jen. So Kelsey smiled and laughed and struggled to be put down and when she finally was, let out a breath of relief. She could feel her insides churning and suddenly she felt like sitting down and crying out for her Mommy, like she did when she was a little girl. Back then, Mommy could always take the pain away. But not now. Nobody could.
She felt Jen’s concerned gaze on her and turned toward her to smile and assure her she was okay. Jen returned the smile, looked relieved, and Zac slipped his arm around her waist. “C’mon, Kelsey, drive us home!” Kelsey laughed and started toward her car. She quickly opened the door and put herself into the driver’s seat, calling, “All aboard!” Everyone laughed and settled into the car. Kelsey and Taylor up front, Zac, Jen, and Ike in back.
The five all laughed and talked on the way to the each other’s houses. The brothers all had separate mansions but they all lived on the same block so it wasn’t too much of a hassle. Taylor asked Kelsey many questions but he didn’t find out what he really wanted to know, “Are you seeing anybody?”
But he did find out she had graduated from high school a year early and therefore, was already in her senior year in college. She was graduating next week and was really looking forward to it. She had already been offered many well-paying jobs all around the country. She worked part time at an office job and lived in an apartment.
Soon it was Taylor’s turn to get out of the car and he did, regretfully letting Jen get out and sit up front with Kelsey since Zac and Isaac had already been dropped off. He walked up the stairs and let himself in and went immediately to his bedroom to think.
The second the door to Taylor’s house closed, Jen turned toward Kelsey, “How are you going to tell him?” Kelsey looked straight ahead, avoiding Jen’s eyes, “Tell him what?” Jen felt her eyes narrow and her temper shorten, “You know very well ‘what’ damnit! About Jyson, about how much he beats you, about how on your fifth date he raped you, and how you stay with him because you don’t know how strong you are! How are you going to tell him that?” Jen felt her breath leave her all at once and leaned back for a moment. Jen stared at the window for a moment. She couldn’t tell Kelsey about how much it killed her to see her like that; to watch Kelsey tremble in Jyson’s presence, to worry about every little thing in case it would upset him, and to made sure there was always enough Miller Lite in the refrigerator.
Jen had become deaf to everything, but as she came back into reality, she turned toward Kelsey, shocked. Jen watched as tears began to roll down Kelsey’s face. Jen’s face softened, “I’m sorry, Kelsey. God, I’m so sorry-” Jen was cut short by Kelsey leaning toward her, “Just give me a hug, Jen.” Jen obeyed and softly told Kelsey, “It’s okay to cry.” Kelsey cried her heart out, for everything. For Jyson, for his alcoholism, for his friends, and lastly, for her.
Kelsey had met Jyson the first year of college. She was a freshman, and he was a sophomore. He was two years older than her and she had never had any real contact with him until a friend insisted she go on a blind date with him. That was how she had ended up laughing and smiling at a handsome, intelligent, buff blonde who had gotten into college with a full academic and athletic scholarship. He seemed so perfect. On their first date they went out to dinner and to a movie. He had been a complete gentleman, never touching her when she felt he shouldn’t, opening doors, saying all the right things, and actually listening to her. They dated three more times after that, and Jyson was perfect all the time. It was only during the fifth date when things had gone wrong.
They had gone to a party that was thrown by a rich girl at college. Her parents were out of town and her mansion was being used as a party house. For the first few hours, things went fine. But then Jyson started to drink heavily and somehow, Kelsey ended up being carried upstairs screaming, but nobody could hear her over the music being blared in the main room.
She remembered every detail of what he had done to her: every thrust, every cry, every moan, and every emotion that had gone through her body. He raped her; without mercy, without feeling, rousing her body to meet his, and taking something she hadn’t intended for him to have: her virginity. And when he took that he took her stability, her reliability, everything from her. He put it perfectly as he forced her for the last time: “You’re mine now, body and soul...forever.”
