"Jet, do you think I'm being a baby about this?" Juliette asked as they headed back to the dorm.
"What? No, Jules, not at all."
When they entered the dorm, Shelby was sitting glumly on her bed.
"What happened to you?" Jet asked.
"Nothing happened. I just got in trouble with Sophie. I have to do dinner kitchen work with Kurt for the next two days."
At the sound of Kurt's name, Juliette shuddered. "But why? What did you do? He rapes me and all he gets is two days of kitchen duty?" Juliette flopped on her bed, looking miserable.
"Well, you know how I ran out of here after you told us what happened? Where did you think I went?"
"I don't know. To tell Sophie or Peter."
"Well, I went to anyone but them."
"Where did you go, then?" Juliette wasn't really paying attention.
"Well, I went to Kurt. He was playing basketball like nothing happened. It made me so mad that he could do that to you, or to anyone. And when I saw him there, playing with Auggie and Scott as if everything was normal...well, lets just say I don't think he'll ever rape anyone again."
"But what did you do?"
"I beat him up. Three times."
"You what?" Juliette asked, her full attention to Shelby.
"Yes. I beat him up."
"For me?"
"Well, yeah, for you. But also for every other girl he was ever planning on raping."
"Yeah, but for me? Why?"
"Well...you know that sister thing?"
"No. I don't have any brothers or sisters."
"Well, the older sister-younger sister bond. You see, I can torture and tease and "beat up" my little sister, but if anyone else touches her or makes fun of her, I'll come to her defense. You know, I am the only one who gets those privileges."
"So...you think of me as your sister?" Juliette asked, confused.
"Not hardly," Shelby said, but saw the slightly hurt look on Juliette's face. "No offense, Princess. What I meant was, I'm supposed to be the only one who can tease you. I jumped on Freakin's case the other day for you. But when teasing goes to what Kurt did..." she trailed off. "Well, thats a whole different idea. He just can't do that to people. I don't know why I did it. I guess I just felt I had to protect you."
Juliette was shocked. Shelby's revelation was the last thing she expected, and, well, it touched her. Shelby went over and gave her a hug. The others watched, speechless. This was very un-Shelby-like behavior.
"Okay, this is kinda weird," Juliette said.
"Yeah," Shelby said, sitting back.
"Well, thanks, Shelby." Juliette got up and went to the bathroom to wash her face. She looked horrible. Her face was bruised and her eye was black and swollen. Her arms were still red and chapped from her vigorous shower, plus all the cuts and bruises she had all over her body. For the ten minutes after returning, she had felt safe, and almost forgotten about it. But now, she was scared again. Scared of being pregnant. Scared of what Kurt would do if he found out she told. Scared of what Auggie might think. That thought brought tears to her eyes.
She climbed into bed, wondering, and scared, of how the next day would turn out. She turned off her lamp and waited to fall asleep.


I know its probably going downhill a little, if it is, please tell me in a review!