“Are you drunk?’’ Mason grins, while Myles and Malik frown at him.
“Dude, I can handle my beer unlike you, you’re a cheap date,’’ Max answers defensively.
“Yeah, okay.’’
“What did I miss?’’ Max asks putting his arm around me.
I go to open my mouth and say not much when Mason interrupts me with a smirk on his face.
“Nymphadora here wanted to see me naked so badly she barged into the bathroom whilst I was in the shower,’’ Mason grins and my face immediately turns red.
“You saw him naked?’’ Denny shrieks, while at the same time Max chuckles shouting, “I fucking told you bro, we rocked out with the new neighbour.’’
“Settle down Max and sit down,’’ I snap, not wanting to be referred to as a whore more than twice today. I’m saving the third for tomorrow.
“We were just going to fill her in about Kayla and Davis,’’ Myles pipes in from the chair his eyes distant like he’s stuck somewhere in the past.
“What did that prick do?’’ Max growls his earlier chirpy mood gone.
“I heard he attacked Harlow after school today,’’ Denny says quietly when no one answers him.
“WHAT THE FUCK!!! Why are you all still sitting around here? Why aren’t you in the hospital?’’ he asks looking at me. “Did he, did he rape her?’’ he stutters out, his chest rising and falling. My heart completely stops from the fear and anger in his voice and from his words. My chest squeezes tightly and I have to rub my chest to try to help ease the pain.
“No. No… no,’’ Denny assures him quickly, but I’m frozen in place staring at Max. Rape? Who did he rape? Oh my God, he raped their friend Kayla. Fuck! Is that why Mason said it was serious, why he didn’t want me to know? Jesus! I didn’t even think of this when Denny started telling me about her friend and Davis. I wished she had now. To be fair, I wish I would have taken a seat next to her first instead of Davis. At least then, I might not have grabbed his attention or had opened my mouth to him. No, I can’t think like that. I think Davis will do what he wants to do when he wants to do it, and not give a fuck with the consequences. I’ve known him less than two days and I’ve already figured that one out about him.
Everyone in the room is talking all at once, their voices rising by the second and my head pounding to the point I know it’s going to explode.
“He raped her?’’ I whisper, never really understanding the full extent as to what Davis is capable of until now. It’s like it’s hitting me all at once. I could be next. I could be his next victim and I would have played right into his hands if someone hadn’t told Denny about him hurting me earlier. Did he say the same to Kayla? Did she not tell anyone he was bullying her because of his threats, and then when she did tell someone he raped her? I have so many questions, questions I’ll probably never get the answers to.
“Babe, he isn’t going to touch you,’’ Malik says pulling me into his lap.
“He already has,’’ I all but scream getting up from his lap. “Look at my hand, and what he did to me earlier when I was alone. I’ve just moved here for Christ sakes. What have I really done to him?’’
“I dunno, but the way you looked at him during registration said more than any actual words,’’ Malik laughs.
“You were watching me?’’ I ask shocked sitting back down on his lap, ignoring the others still chattering on.
“I couldn’t keep my eyes off you,’’ he admits making me blush and my stomach flutter.
“He smelt really, really fucking badly. Then he introduced himself like he was some hot shot making me gag. His breath was the worst,’’ I gag just thinking about it.
He laughs, his dimples coming out for me to admire, “Yeah, he went to the beginning of term party that Chris had at the back of Spring Fields. He obviously did smoke some weed and never got home to shower in time for school because I’m sure he had on the same clothes before he ran into the boys toilets that morning to change into his uniform.’’
“That is just gross,’’ I say scrunching my nose up. “Will someone tell me what happened between Kayla and Davis already?’’ I ask looking to the rest of the group.
They all stare at me looking unsure before turning to Malik. I turn to see why they’re looking at him when I see him nod, as if to give them permission to go ahead. What the fuck? Is he their boss or something? Jesus, he’s seventeen. A hot seventeen year old lad yeah, but he’s acting like he controls them. Jeez, Mason is older than him for heaven’s sake.
You think it’s hot Harlow so stop your complaining. Yeah, it’s true. I do kind of think his power over people is hot.
Denny coughs and I turn my head to her. “I met Kayla when her parents first moved here. They moved a few streets away from me, so we became friends during one of the holidays. We were close, but not as close as friends usually are. We spent most of our time together, but she never really opened up to me.
“Kayla was a huge book nerd, she got straight A’s in all her classes and even started a college course for extra credit, but then Davis and his friends started paying attention to her after the school dance. She didn’t even want to go, but her parents made her. She had worn a dress that made her figure stand out, mostly her huge boobs. She was drop dead gorgeous, she just didn’t know it. Anyway, when Davis walked over to her and asked her for a dance in front of all his buddies she told him no nicely. After that he started picking on her, stupid things at first. I’d see him sometimes and helped out, but then she withdrew from me. The rest I heard is just rumours. She did confirm over text when I asked her about why she wasn’t coming to school anymore when the rumours had started about him sleeping with her, that he hurt her too badly to ever go back. She ended the text with a warning to stay away from him because he’s dangerous,’’ she says, tears in her eyes.
“Didn’t she report him?’’ I ask, tears filling my own eyes. That poor innocent girl. She was what, fifteen or less when it happened to her? It’s disgusting that he did that to her.
Denny scoffs looking at me like I’m mad, “Her parent’s didn’t believe her. My mom said her mom played it off like Kayla wanted it, but didn’t want people knowing she was a slut when they found out, so Kayla made it up that he forced himself on her. My mom even said that if she was her daughter she’d fight tooth and nail to make sure he was behind bars. In fact, I’m pretty sure my mom was the only other person bar us that did believe her.’’
“I spoke to her a couple of days after it happened. She was still going to school then,’’ Myles whispers making my head snap to him.
“You knew her?’’ Malik asks shocked.
“Yeah, we hung out loads during dinner time in the library when I had that research to do on a project,’’ he shrugs.
“Tell us then, man,’’ Mason says looking restless having to sit on the bed, his eyes flickering to Denny. Since we all sat down I’ve noticed him staring at her a few times.
“I feel like shit talking about this because she told me in confidence guys,’’ he groans.
“Hey, you’re not betraying her. I’m sure if she knew why she’d want you to tell someone,’’ I tell him softly, looking to Denny to see if I’m right. When she nods her head at Myles, I relax, then remember I’m sitting on Malik, so I sit back up again making him chuckle. Turning to him, I send him a glare, warning him to shut it.
“Right,’’ he says dryly before scrubbing his hands over his face. “Something happened to her in the girls changing room because when she came rushing out of there she had tears streaming down her face. I went to go after her but I heard a bunch of girls laughing inside the locker room. I didn’t go in, but I heard Hannah Gittens say that she deserved another good fucking; the dildo was being generous or something. I’d been so disgusted with what I heard I didn’t stick around, so I went to find Kayla. When I did she was at the back of the old building crying her eyes out on the phone to her mom. I’d sat down a little away from her. She looked so scared that she put
the phone down without saying goodbye,’’ he huffs out, pulling at the ends of his hair before looking back up at us. “Do you really want to know this? It isn’t pretty,’’ he says, his jaw hard.
We all nod our heads ‘yes’ for him to continue, “I asked her what happened in the changing rooms first, she didn’t really want to talk about it. She just said it was girls being girls. Then I asked her what her mom was doing about that prick and why was he allowed at school after what he did to her. She laughed at me. Her laugh sounded so hollow, so sad and torn I felt bad for her. She said her mom didn’t even believe her, and that even if he did do it, it’d be the only person Kayla would get to go between those legs of hers. Her fucking mother said that to her.
“Then she started sobbing, I mean full on sobbing. She didn’t have anyone, no one. The school pretty much turned on her, it made me sick, and then for her own mother to say that shit to her, is just wrong. I didn’t know what to do.
“Before the bell was due to ring she asked me why I hadn’t asked her what happened. I told her that I didn’t need to and that I believed her, so I didn’t need to know all the gory details. That’s when she told me. She told me everything. How he followed her home from the church event she volunteered at. She said he mocked her at first before they got near the park by her house and he pulled her behind one of the buildings.
“After it happened she’d gone straight home, barely wearing anything and told her mom, but her mom told her to go and get cleaned up, that she looked like an embarrassment. It was only because her dad came to visit the next day that the police got involved, but then he had to leave again for work. Her mom made her go back to school and the police didn’t do anything to Davis because there wasn’t any evidence against him after her mom made her shower. She said she kept the clothing but her mom wouldn’t let her press charges.’’
I don’t even realise he’d stopped talking or that I’m crying until Malik pulls me into his chest. I hear his soothing words, but my head is still picturing what Kayla must have gone through. My mother would never have done that to me or made me go to the same place the boy was still attending. How could someone not believe her? From the little I know about her she seems like a quiet, shy, nice young lady, but Davis destroyed her. He’s a monster. I hope he burns in hell for what he’s done. I don’t even think about what he could do to me, just knowing what he did to Kayla is enough to warn me away from that prick.
“I’m going to finish that prick off like a double cheeseburger,’’ Denny says seriously, but ends up making me laugh. We’re totally going to be best friends now I know she loves Pitch Perfect as much as I do. It’s one of my favourite shows and I’ve just seen the new trailer for Pitch Perfect Two.
“You’re going to eat him?’’ Mason asks wide eyed, but I can see them burning with lust when he looks at her.
“No shithead, it’s from a film. Fat Amy says ‘I’m going to finish him off like a cheesecake’, I love it,’’ she shrugs, her cheeks a little pink when she realises how excited about it she seems.
“Fat Amy?’’
“Yeah, she’s the fat one in a group of a capella singers.’’
“They call someone fat on television, isn’t that like sexist or something?’’
“No she calls herself fat Amy so skinny bitches like you don’t say it to her,’’ Denny says, throwing the words that Amy uses from the movie making me giggle.
“You are Acca-Awesome,’’ I say giving her a high five leaning over to meet her halfway.
“You Acca-believe it girl,’’ she chuckles back.
“Max Xavier Carter, where the fuck are you?’’ a manly voice booms from downstairs, stopping our nerd moment.
“Oh fuck,’’ comes from Myles.
“This is going to be fun,’’ laughs Mason.
“I’m screwed,’’ comes from a groaning Max as Malik shouts ‘up here’ to the voice.
“Who is that?’’ I ask worried.
“It’s our eldest brother Maverick, but people call him Mav,’’ Malik answers just as Maverick walks into my room, his face murderous.
“You, get the fuck home now. We’re having words. You can’t skip anymore from school,’’ Maverick yells at Max who just sits down not seeming to care.
“You’re not my dad, so stop acting like it. It was one fucking lesson, okay, maybe two,’’ he adds when his brother gives him the eye.
My eyes watch between them, but they keep going back to Maverick who is incredibly hot like his brothers. His hair is so dark it could be classed as black, and they match his dark eyes. He’s taller than the other Carter brothers and you can tell by the lines above his eyebrows and the way he holds himself that he’s the eldest and taken on much more than his years should have. He’s also more muscular than the other brothers.
“No I’m fucking not thank God. You’d know what I’d be doing if I was,’’ he glares making everyone snap their head to him. Denny and I look at each other and shrug, knowing there’s a deeper meaning to that comment Maverick just said. All the boys are giving him death glares before Maverick gives up and sighs, his jaw finally relaxing along with his body.
“You’re going to get into trouble,’’ Maverick says more calmly.
“They don’t even care Mav, stop worrying, no one will do shit,’’ he grins.
“You’re wrong. We had a phone call from social services earlier basically saying if we can’t reign you in then we lose custody of you.’’
All the brothers jump to their feet, Malik putting me down gently to the side before joining his brothers.
“They can’t do that,’’ one growls.
“I’m not living with strangers,’’ Max says seeming to be bothered about skipping now. I move up the bed next to Denny watching the boys argue amongst themselves.
“No one will want your ugly ass anyway,’’ Mason says earning a slap from Max.
“How hot do they look all standing together,’’ Denny whispers.
I giggle looking at her, nodding my head in agreement before I turn my attention back to the boys.
“Look, I’m fucking tired. I’ve had a shit day at work and I don’t need to come home to this Max. I need you, no, I need you all to pull your weight. We’re a family. We haven’t fought so hard to stay together just for you to go fuck it up now,’’ Maverick says, looking to Max when he says the last part.
“I’ve got homework to do anyway, so I’m coming back round. Harlow I’ll see you tomorrow at school and you Denny,’’ Myles says before walking to the door.
“Sorry about this,’’ Maverick says to me making me stunned for a few seconds before I quickly shoot up from the bed. He’s fitter now I’m standing up and I have to lift my head to meet his eyes. Denny stands next to me in awe, her mouth forming an ‘O’. Both of us must look like a right pair with our mouths hanging open with wide eyes.
“That’s okay,’’ I squeak out.
He grins at me, “I can see why my brothers like you, you’re cute.’’
“Um…’’
“Jeeze brother, she’s going to pass out,’’ Max grins.
Maverick just rolls his eyes before holding his hand out to me, “It’s nice to have finally met you Harlow,’’ he says shaking my hand before turning to Denny doing the same.
Once he’s gone and takes Max with him, it’s just me, Malik, Mason and Denny left in the room, the silence deafening.
“Want to watch a film?’’ I blurt out.
“Do you have Pitch perfect?’’ Denny squeals happily.
“Do I? Of course I bloody do,’’ I say in mock horror.
“Yes,’’ she jumps up and down before bouncing onto the bed, moving across to lie down.
The lads look to each other before shrugging, and then move to sit on the bed with us. I’m cuddled up to Malik, and even though I protested at first, he eventually won in the end demanding I’d be more comfortable, which by the way I am. Then we settled in to watch the movie for the rest of the night.
Chapter Seven
I’ve ended up spending the day at home today instead of going to school. I’d woken up with another nightmare at three this morning about my parents, but instead of the usual nightmare I have about them being attacked, this one was about how unhappy they were about me moving on so quickly after their deaths. It had really gotten to me to the point I’d gone for a three hours before I made my way back home to get ready for school.
Just like he’s done for the past two days, Malik was waiting outside for me this morning to walk me to school. He’d told me Wednesday morning that he didn’t want me walking alone. Had it not been for the fact I love spending time with him, I would have flipped at him about treating me like a four year old.
Everything had gone okay on the way there, even my locker hadn’t been touched, but then when Myles handed me a new key for a new lock, I’d found out the reason why. No one could have done anything to my locker because Myles had the locks changed.
Then when I got to registration I got talking to Denny about an argument she had with her parents the night before. She mentioned something about them being overbearing and controlling. She told me that her mother called her an ungrateful, spiteful, young child and that they should have given up on her when they had the chance. The thought turned my stomach, but then Denny got angry and wished they were dead, or that she had different parents. I know she didn’t mean what she said, well I hope anyway, but even still, Denny is lucky to even have her parent’s.
The whole conversation just brought back a lot of bad memories, memories of losing my parents.
Anyway, that’s the reason I’d gone into the office and asked to call my Gram’s to come and pick me up, telling her I didn’t feel well. She had even said to me that morning I looked pale and asked if I was okay. I honestly thought I’d be okay being busy at school, but I’d been so wrong. Everything that has been happening, plus my continuous nightmares have been weighing on me. Everything seems to be moving too fast and there isn’t anything I can do to slow it down.
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