09: The Night Where It All Changed

❝ Nothing ever makes sense, I'm not feeling alright, stayin' up till sunrise and hoping shit is okay ❞

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TW: sexual assault ahead. nothing too graphic, but you've been warned.

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I quickly pulled Katie along with me to the restroom, while all of them eyed me.

I was shaking on the inside. The way those words had rolled off his tongue had me smiling and blushing for no reason. I knew it was wrong to be smiling to another guy's compliment, but I couldn't seem to control my thoughts around Ray.

Slamming the restroom door shut, I sunk to my feet while Katie stood with her hands on her hips.

"What is really going on between you two?" She was amused and her eyes clearly displayed that.

"I don't even know myself!" Groaning, I hid my face in my palms, trying to calm myself down.

"This isn't the Ray I've known June," Katie kneeled down in front of me, with a glint in her eyes.

I knew that. I absolutely knew that. He never had the hots for any girl in our school, while girls did shoot their shots only to get rejected very brutally. Girls prettier, sexier than me would come and find their places on his lap in the lunch time only to be shoved off by him. His phone was littered with booty calls from so many unknown numbers yet he never opened them.

He never complimented anyone, not even Olivia and that was very weird. Now why would he go ahead and call me beautiful in front of everyone?

"And he didn't just call you beautiful, he called you phenomenally beautiful!" Katie said dramatically.

I know right.

"Hey June, what's up with you?" Her voice was soft.

"I don't know, I really don't know. I just...I feel rather intimidated around him. I'm conscious of the way I act and my thoughts go all gooey when he looks at me. Is it attraction?" I tried to guess, because I really didn't know what the fuck was wrong with me.

She just chuckled and stood up, dusting her dress a little and fixing her makeup in front of the mirror.

"Now that's for you to figure out baby girl. Let's go, the dance will start soon." She pulled me up and dragged me to the main area as I kept my eyes open for any sign of Ray and decided to run if I saw him, because I wasn't going to survive another heart attack at the sight of him.

"Girls and boys, the dance will start soon, find your partners!" Mark shouted over the mic and there were numerous hoots as everyone scuttered around to find their respective dates.

Well, I didn't have any partner since Stefan was busy with his soccer practice and we hadn't talked in a while after our argument a few days back, so I figured I'd go and sit down on of the tables but I was pulled by Katie and she linked my hands with one of the boys. He smiled sheepishly and I nervously, as his hands rested a little above my hips.

A little hesitatingly, I linked my hands around his neck as the music started.

"So what's your name, pretty thing?" He grinned but something was very weird and off about him.

"June." I replied bluntly, roaming my eyes around the swarm of people to find someone I recognized.

"June hmm.." He raked his eyes up and down my body before speaking, "Damn, right clothes do you justice, don't they?"

I knew then that he was one of the horny teens because he was drunk and his breath told me that. But then suddenly, I was spinned around and I found myself right in the arms of Jason to which I sighed in relief.

"Oh, happy to see me now, are you?" He smirked and I slapped his shoulder playfully, still swinging to the music.

"Because you just helped me escape a horny teen; ew he was gross." My face contorted to form an expression of utter disgust and Jason chuckled.

"Well, I might've saved your ass but clearly, Ray doesn't appreciate it. The way he's drilling holes in my body only with his gaze is really scary!" Jason motioned with his eyes and mine followed his gaze. They landed on a rather frustrated Ray, who was looking at us, instead of focusing on the girl who he was dancing with.

"Well I'm surprised Ray even obliged to dance. He has never done these things before, atleast not in front of us." Mused Jason, as he had held a curious expression in his eyes.

"Oh." I managed to say, my palms sweating.

"He's up next." Stated Jason and broke me from my thought chain.

"W—What?"

"He's up next. Your partner. I have to spin you to the next one, remember?" Jason grinned and then he was spinning me before I could protest.

Warm, very warm hands settled on my waist and it burned from his touch. It was so sensual but caring at the same time. My heart was beating like a bass boom and my stomach twisted and turned as I faced his chest.

I didn't even need to look up to understand who he was. My body reacted completely different around him.

"Look who's here." He seethed, as I raised my head to face him.

I gulped at the sheer closeness at which we both were standing.

His chest almost stuck to mine, his lips bare inches away from mine and his hot breath was fanning my face. Even if I was 5'7, he was 6'2 and towered above me. It was hot but I would never say that out loud.

"Oh yeah, um, hi!" I forced a smile, entangling my arms around his neck. It felt good, but whatever. He didn't say anything further but his gaze bore into mine. He continued to dance with me.

It was intense. Very intense. His light brown irises were very unique down here in Cali, with almost many of them sporting green, blue and grey eyes. Mine were an exception too, but were a darker shade of brown, just like coffee.

Many emotions swarm around his irises, and I was surprised at the fact that he was letting himself and his emotions lay so exposed. There was something I couldn't figure out and it seemed like he too didn't know what was going on with him.

And then he left.

Straight away walked off.

Leaving me in midst of dancing teenagers who shouted because I was standing in their way.

Why?

Embarrassed and a pang of hurt flashing like a lightning across my chest, I made my way to the drinks section, grabbing a beer and gulping it down right away. It felt weird knowing that I would never use beer or alcohol for instance to keep in check my emotions but I found myself doing so.

I felt rejected even if I shouldn't be because he wasn't even someone special to me.

Friend? Yes.

But bestfriend? No.

I shouldn't be sad over him leaving. He could do whatever he wanted to.

Maybe he forgot something. Maybe something came up. Maybe he had personal issues. Maybe I shouldn't jump to any sort of conclusions.

Or maybe I should stop over thinking and forget about it.

Sighing, I grabbed a second cup, the beer reaching my brain now. I felt almost tipsy, and it somehow calmed me because now I had to focus on my surrounding and not the voices which were screaming and bashing inside my head.

A stupid smile crept up my face as I made my way to find Katie. Oh she would definitely dance with me. Weaving, pushing and stumbling over drunk, wasted, passed out and horny teenagers, I pried my eyes open as much as I could and tried to spot Katie.

Maybe she was back down in the garden, making out with some guy? Yeah, maybe.

Walking through the house and into the garden, it was quite deserted even when the garden was too beautiful for words. I could sit here everyday and never get bored.

Katie wasn't there and as I was about to make my way back into the front yard, a hand gripped my wrist. Stumbling a little, I faced a guy who I think I had seen before.

"Oh, you're that guy I danced with!" I exclaimed, too drunk to even think straight.

"Yeah, aren't I?" He sneered. I just smiled sheepishly. Maybe I shouldn't have drank so much taking into consideration that this was only my second time drinking.

But then his hand crept up the side of my waist and rested dangerously near my butt. No matter how drunk you are, you recognize a bad touch. You are taught to recognize those since elementary school.

And so a red alarm rung in my mind and I instantly tried to back off but he was strong, very strong, and kept me in place.

"Now, now, princess, you wouldn't want me to hurt you, right? Let's just go quietly and have some fun." He started dragging me behind a tree, where some kind of a bench had been placed. And I knew what was bound to happen.

I started to push him, struggle to get out of his grip, and even tried to screamed but his hand on my mouth kept me mum. My limbs were tired trying to get out of his strong hold and they were telling me to succumb. No matter what I was doing, he wouldn't let me go.

Tears slipped down my eyes as I tried to come to terms with what was going to happen to me.

But before he could do anything, I fell onto the floor and a crunch of a bone was heard alongwith loud pants and grunts. I panicked, thinking I had broken a bone and moved cautiously, but it wasn't me. I peered my eyes open to see Ray fuming and the guy lying on the floor awarded with a broken nose and bruises over his knees.

"Stay the fuck away from her, bastard. And from any girl. How dare you take advantage of a drunk girl?" He spat, his fists clenched and oozing blood.

"I'd do more to you, but I'd rather report you and send you to jail for assault." I vaguely saw him taking out the guy's wallet, removing his ID, and keeping it with him.

He then turned to look at me and quickly rushed over.

"Are you okay?" His voice was frantic and laced with concern.

My mouth couldn't form any words and hence I couldn't reply.

"June I need you to tell me that you are okay, and that you aren't hurt!" He urged, squeezing my hand.

I nodded slightly and moved my fingers a little, hoping he would get the signal.

And then everything was black.

××

I woke up with a pounding headache and my body was sore. As I tried to sit up, pain shot through my lower back. Creaking my eyes open, I instantly shut them at the amount of light that suddenly entered my eyes increasing my headache.

Slowly but steadily, I peeked around my surroundings to find out I wasn't at my home. Well definitely I wouldn't be. After all the ruckus last night, I couldn't have gone back home.

But then where the fuck was I?

Last thing I remember is passing out as Ray shook me.

Ray.

Oh My God.

I shot out of the covers to see the dress I wore yesterday was changed and I was wearing a simple hoodie and underwear.

No way.

Prying the door open, I checked for any other person's presence to hear some faint chatting from downstairs.

Slipping past the landing, I saw Olivia sitting on the kitchen countertop with Ray, and they were seriously discussing something. Thank God, atleast Olivia was here. I hoped she was the one who changed me and that this was her house.

"Oh hey, you're up." She must've seen me. I smiled nervously and stepped into the kitchen as she jumped down and approached me.

"How's the headache?" She asked while filling up a glass of water and turning to grab something from a shelf. Ray stood there quietly, his eyes staying still on me.

"Yeah it hurts a little bit, but it's okay." She smiled and handed me an advil with some water which I gladly gulped down. Feeling watered and fresh, I decided to ask.

"So what exactly happened?"

They both seemed hesitant because they shared nervous glances between each other until Olivia spoke up.

"Well, you see, there was a bit of trouble and you passed out because you were drunk. So Ray here carried you to my house to spend the night since Katie was nowhere to be seen. We tried to call her from your phone—which reminds me here it is—" she handed me my phone and continued, " but she didn't pick up so we had no option. We found out later that she drank too much and Jack carried her home." She sent a small smile my way.

But hey, I remembered. I remembered how the guy crept up his hands on my body—I was only unaware of what happened after that.

"What happened to the guy?" I directly questioned, not beating around the bush anymore. He seemed shocked and Olivia looked taken aback too. "Yeah I remember, well now would you tell me?" I wanted to cry. I wanted to shout. I wanted to scream. I wanted to—

"I reported him. The local police is taking care of it," he replied, his eyes full of concern. He cleared his throat once and averted his gaze before speaking, "Are you, you know, okay?"

I didn't like the way he stressed on the okay because I very well wasn't okay and he very well knew that.

"You could've asked that before leaving me hanging in midst of drunk teens dancing, and then I had to go around looking for Katie, or Olivia, or Jason, or Jack, or you. But I didn't and then—" Words got stuck in my throat as I swallowed the huge ball of tears and disgust. Tears were welling up but I held it in. I was strong. I could handle this. I had totally got it.

"June I—" he started but I cut him off.

"Where are my clothes and belongings?" I moved my gaze to Olivia who was very much engrossed in her thoughts.

"Oh yeah, clothes." She cleared her throat. "In my room, on the chair."

I muttered a thank you and went up, changing my clothes, freshening up a bit and splashing water over my welled up face. With my phone in place, and my handbag with me, I returned to where they both were.

"Thank you for letting me sleep in your bed, for having a drunk, stupid person like me over and even changing my clothes. I'm really very grateful." She smiled and waved her hand dismissively.

"That's okay June. But, are you okay?" She pried.

I wasn't.

"No, but I'll be fine!" I smiled rather forcefully and not even turning my gaze to the person who had my heart beating fast even in the situation I was currently in.

"Let me drop you, atleast," he pleaded, grabbing his keys.

That was the last thing I wanted. Atleast for today. Ugh.

"Nope, thank you. See you at school Olivia." I waved at her and dashed out of the house before he could follow me. Luckily, a taxi was right around the corner and I jumped in rather quickly, as I saw Ray running down the gate and staring at me.

He looked vulnerable and scared and sad. He looked like he was going run away somewhere and cry his eyes out.

I didn't know why was I angry at him. After all, he had helped me yesterday. But if he hadn't left me, maybe I wouldn't have faced whatever I did yesterday. But then, maybe he had some problems.

Maybe I was just hurt because he left me hanging there. Why did he do that? Didn't I dance well? Did I step on his foot mistakenly? What wrong had I done, for him to abruptly leave? And then he had had the audacity to compliment me at the start of the party.

God.

Looking out of the window, tears slipped my eyes as the scene unfolded in my memory. The way that guy held me, dragged me, shut my mouth with his hand had me shaking. I was trembling.

To think of the things that would have had happened to me if Ray hadn't saved me was something which I couldn't even come to terms with.

I needed my bed, a bucket to shed my tears, a cup of cookie and cream ice cream to calm my nerves down and a re-run of Harry Potter to keep my mind diverted.

I knew my previous nightmares would be nothing compared to what I would be having starting today.

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Sexual assault at parties is so common, much to my dismay. There's literally nowhere a girl can feel safe. I wanted to write on this subject, but not too much in detail because I really don't wish that upon anyone. Anways, thank you for 131 reads. I just hope people check out budding authors too :( we aren't that great, but we do give our best <3