"I can't tell Collier," Mary-Elizabeth whispered to Renee. "I don't want him ending up in a fight."

"Someone needs to stand up to them, M.E.," Renee frowned. "We could have been raped! And our Jackass fathers blame us for wearing short skirts!"

Mary-Elizabeth bit her lower lip. "Still... I feel embarrassed." She admitted.

"Up to you, but you don't generally hide stuff from him..."

At that time the door bell rang, and Mary-Elizabeth answered. "Collier!" She smiled , hugging him.

Collier grinned, his arms automatically going around her. Unfortunately, she could not hide the wince, and made a small, muffled pain noise, as he brushed against her bruise. Collier frowned, pulling back.

"Mary-'Liz'Beth?" He frowned.

" it's nothin... " she lied- unconvincingly.

"Then lemme see, Sug." He said softly.

When Mary-Elizabeth did not answer, Renee blurted, "It's probably from when that guy slammed you into the wall."

" Renee! "

"Excuse me?!" Collier demanded, seeing red.

Mary-Elizabeth sighed, shaking inside. What if Collier thinks like our Daddies? she but her lip, looking down, but Collier went behind her, lifting the back of her shirt.

Collier Simms was no stranger to bruises. He'd certainly has more than his share from his drunk monster of a father... But someone hurting Mary-Elizabeth? His Sug? He would have faced even his father for that transgression... "What happened?" He demanded , his voice low and dark.

"We were having a party at my house, you know," Renee sighed. " me an' two other girls- not M.E., some girls from my church- went and changed into sexier dresses. It was fine at first, but then the boys... Started getting grabby. First just at me and Sally and Michelle, but then... al! the girls. "

"I went to try to help Renee, but then I got blocked," Mary-Elizabeth flushed. " he grabbed me by the butt and lifted me, pushed me back into the wall. "Hard." she admitted. "I squirmed, I pushed, kicked, scratched... He was just bigger... Stronger..." She whispered.

Collier gathered her gently into his arms. "Not your fault, Mary-Liz'Beth..." He murmured into her hair. "He touch you anywhere else?'"

The memory still burned bright, making her feel ashamed, but less frightened with Collier's arms around her. She shuddered involuntarily, though; if he knew...

"Sug?"

"He... Touched the front of my panties," she admitted , her cheeks aflame. "I got away before he... his hands didn't get inside them..."

She felt him tense around her. "Name?"

" Collier, it's over... And Daddy said it was my fault for wearing a skirt... 'Boys will be boys'..."

"Your Daddy's an idiot!" Collier spat. " No one has the right to touch you like that...ever. .. You're my girl... "

Mary-Elizabeth clutched him impossibly tighter, snuggling against him. Collier held her, kissing her hair. "Name." He said again. Soft, gentle , but still a demand.I

"Jack Draper."