“Zac, stop.” Jennifer said irritably, pushing Zac away from her neck. Zac blinked a few times, surprised. He licked his lips once, then looked at her with his best caramel puppy dog eyes. Jennifer turned toward him, eyes narrowed. She felt her heart soften at once when she caught a glimpse of his eyes. “I’m sorry, Zac,” she whispered.
“Listen, Jen; what’s wrong? You’ve been on edge all day today,” Zac said. Then his voice suddenly became softer as he said, “Is it me?” At this, Jennifer whirled toward Zac and thrust her tongue in between his eager lips. “No. No. Don’t ever, ever think like that, Zachary Walker Hanson.”
“Well, what is it then?” Zac asked, his eyes more pleading than ever. Jennifer sighed. Suddenly the thought came across to tell him. Everything would be alright then. Zac would know how to handle it. But then suddenly she remembered the night Kelsey had first told her...
Jennifer laughed happily, “This is the greatest, Kelsey! Just you and me, nobody else. Reminds me of when we were younger.” Jennifer poured another soda for Kelsey. “Just like old times, huh?”
“Yeah, old times...” Kelsey’s voice wandered off. Jennifer looked at her sharply. Kelsey’s brown eyes had a glassy look to them and her voice was slurred. “Kelsey, what’s wrong?” Jennifer asked. Then suddenly, Kelsey snapped to attention. Her eyes became alert and every muscle in her body tensed. “Nothing.”
Jennifer narrowed her eyes. “I know you better than that Kelsey. Tell me.” Then suddenly a thought occured to her, “Is it Jyson?” At this, Kelsey burst into tears.
Kelsey couldn’t believe it. No! her mind screamed. Stop! He warned you! But the tears wouldn’t stop. Kelsey felt as though her soul had opened up and exposed her pain and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She felt the wetness streak down her face and melt into her hands. She could almost hear Jyson’s voice from the night before, “Damn you, you bitch! You’re mine, damnit! MINE!”
Jennifer stared at Kelsey, shocked. “I’m sorry, oh my God,” she whispered. She softly wrapped her arms around Kelsey in an embrace. She could feel Kelsey shaking, letting the sobs overcome her body. “Shhh...shhh,” Jennifer whispered softly. “It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me.”
Jennifer didn’t think Kelsey would. But as the sobs began to subside she heard, “No. You need to know.” Kelsey stared up and Jennifer. Jennifer could almost feel her heart break. Kelsey’s eyes...the pain, the emotion, the sorrow... “It’s Jyson.” Kelsey spoke the words, bitterly.
“What’s wrong? Did you two break up?” Jennifer asked carefully, not wanting to be the cause of another scene. She watched Kelsey for a moment, expecting an answer. But none came.
Kelsey stared, trying to think of the best way to tell her. “Oh hell,” she thought, “Might as well show her.” Kelsey quickly slipped out of her shirt, revealing the bruises.
Jennifer gasped. Her eyes became wide as they ran over Kelsey’s back. “Oh my Lord, Kelsey...he did this to you?” she asked, fighting the urge to reach out and touch the black bruises that covered Kelsey’s body. Kelsey nodded, biting her lip. “It was because of...well...Mike. He found out that Mike and I had coffee together and he...” Kelsey blinked, not able to go on.
“MIKE?!? But Mike’s your tutor! You had to have coffee with him to study for finals!” Jennifer yelled, exasperated. Then suddenly Jennifer asked, “How long?” Kelsey’s eyes didn’t move as she answered, “Since February.” Jennifer felt electricity shoot through her body. “That’s when he first raped me.”
“Oh, Kelsey...” Jennifer didn’t know what to say. But she knew one thing, “You have to tell somebody.” Kelsey turned toward her with rattlesnake speed and grabbed Jennifer. “No. Jennifer, don’t you know what he’ll do to me?” Kelsey asked, tears streaming down her face in wet rivers of pain, “He’ll kill me Jennifer! He said so! Please, Jennifer. I’m begging you. If you care about me at all, you’ll swear to me you’ll never tell a soul. Swear. Now.” Kelsey’s eyes became darker with worry and emotion. “I swear.”
Kelsey dropped the pen, her vision blurred by tears. Why couldn’t somebody help her? She could feel herself almost everyday weakening. There was no longer any spring in her step. No joy. Why should she live anymore? She closed her eyes and suddenly she felt a large black thing underneath her hand. She let her numb fingers trace it. Jyson’s gun.
