Roxie opened her eyes slowly as the sunlight streamed through her window blinds. She groaned and stuffed her face back into her pillow, as her head pounded painfully. Great- a first-class hangover. Exactly what she needed when she was cleaning the monstrous mess that was undoubtedly waiting for her downstairs.Roxie closed her eyes and decided there was no way in hell she was getting up. She sighed happily and rolled over.

Suddenly, she felt herself hit something hard. Her eyes flew open, and her then her mouth fell open in shock. Lying next to her was Spinner, who had a dopey little smile on his face as he slept. Roxie stared at him for a full minute, wondering what the hell was going on. Then she realized Spinner must have just fallen asleep last…

Oh, god. Images suddenly came flooding back to Roxie in bits and pieces. Being completely drunk…kissing one of her sister's friends….bumping into Spinner again and going upstairs…making out with Spinner…clothes being hastily removed. Roxie sat up, clutching the sheet to her chest. She was going to vomit.

She had slept with her sister's boyfriend! She was a slut! And as good as dead. Roxie glanced at Spinner again, who groaned slightly, and then rolled onto his back. She slapped him on the arm.

"Get out of my room!" she screamed. Spinner woke with a start.

"Roxie…what the hell?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes sleepily. Roxie sighed in frustration, grabbed a pillow, and thumped him on the head.

"Get out! I'm serious!"

"Calm down! Why-"he stopped suddenly, and glanced at Roxie, who was clutching a sheet to her bare chest. "Did we…"

"Don't even say it. I think I'm going to puke just thinking about it!" she said, shaking her head. "Ugh…what was I thinking? I don't even like you! Uh-I need to take a shower. I feel dirty."

"Um…I'm still right here," he said, sitting up. He shook his head, and rubbed his face with his hands.

"Unfortunately," Roxie barked. "Now get out-Angel could be back any second. I think it would be best if we never spoke of this again."

"Hey…" Spinner said, smiling slowly. "I think it's coming back to me…" Suddenly he stopped and swallowed hard. "Angel?"

"Yeah. Angel, as in my violent, psychopath sister who wouldn't hesitate to slice us both in a second if she found out," Roxie said. "Now take your clothes and get out. Because if you don't, I'm going to slice you."

   A day later, Ellie and Paige walked up to Ashley's front door, both biting their lips.

"Maybe…we shouldn't do this? Are you sure? How do I know you're not making this up?" Paige asked, folding her arms over her chest and giving Ellie an accusative stare. Ellie sighed and turned to Paige with look of irritation on her face.

"I knew this was a huge mistake, telling you," Ellie said. "I forgot- you don't care about anyone but yourself."

"That is so not true!" Paige said defensively. "I helped you, didn't I? I encouraged you to talk to the guidance counselor."

Ellie nodded in agreement. 'Ok. Fine. But be gentle. Ashley can be really sensitive."

"I know. I've known her longer than you, since grade two," Paige pointed out. Ellie rolled her eyes.

"Why do you have to always pick a fight with me?" Ellie asked. Paige shrugged.

"I don't know. There must be something about you that screams "Pick on Me" Paige said.

After the girls knocked, Ashley's mother answered the door and ushered them inside. She informed that Ashley was in her room, and told the girls to go upstairs. Ellie and Paige glanced at each other nervously as they headed up the staircase to the second floor. Both were thinking the same thing- how was Ash going to react when they confronted her about her cutting problem?

Ellie knocked lightly on Ashley's door. "Ash? Can we come in? It's us, Paige and Ellie."

After a long minute of silence, they heard a solemn voice. "Come in."

Ellie and Paige walked into Ashley's room. She was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling blankly, wearing a large, oversized sweatshirt. She didn't move when they walked in. She simply stared at the ceiling sadly. Sad, depressing music was playing on the stereo.

"Ash…you ok?" Paige asked, trying to fill the awkward silence. Ash had briefly informed both Ellie and Paige about Friday night, since neither had attended the party.

"I'm fine," she said evenly with along sigh. "Everything's…great."

"Craig's a loser," Paige said finally, walking over to the bed and sitting down on the edge. "When I said go back to him, I was clearly wrong. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not always right." Ashley smiled softly, still staring at the ceiling.

"I just thought we were this close to getting together," Ashley said. "We were getting along great, like old times. All along he was seeing Manny. Again. Why does he keep doing this!?" She threw up her hands angrily.

"Boy's are a handful," Ellie put in. "They never learn. They cannot be trusted."

"I know," Ashley replied, sitting up. "I don't want to talk about this anymore. Why did you guys come over?"

Ellie and Paige glanced at each other uneasily, and Ellie cleared her throat. "Ash…we want to talk about you. I…we…think you've been cutting. Is…it true?"

Ashley stared at them. "What? That's crazy!"

Ellie shook her head. "Ash, you can tell me. I've been there. I understand what-"

"I don't cut!" Ashley exclaimed. "Guys, come on! I know I've been under a lot of stress lately, but I'm fine. I promise you.."

Paige glanced at Ellie, and then Ashley. "Ok. We believe you. But can we just see your arms?"

Ashley shook her head firmly. "Get out. Get out, both of you!"

"Ash-" Ellie began, stepping toward her friend.

"What part of "Get out" don't you understand?" she yelled. She pointed to the door. "I don't need this, so go."

Paige and Ellie glanced at each other. Paige rose from the end of the bed, and she and Ellie both quietly walked to the door.

"We want to help, Ash," Paige said softly. "But we can't if you don't let us." With that, Paige and Ellie left the room, leaving Ashley sitting on her bed. As soon as they left, Ash jumped up and slammed her bedroom door. Then she turned and slid down it, tears streaming down her face.

  Emma stared at the mirror in the girl's bathroom on Tuesday. She leaned against the sink and hardly noticed as the bell ran, indicating third period had started. The bathroom was empty, so Emma leaned against the wall and sat down. She buried her face in her hands, wondering why she had even bothered getting up that morning.

A minute later, the door swung open, and Paige walked in. She spotted Emma and frowned.

"Hun, what's wrong?" she asked, walking over to the sink and turning on the faucet.

Emma shrugged, thinking. She knew that Paige had been date-raped last year by some soccer player, and she wondered how Paige had handled it. Emma just couldn't get the images out of her head, and though she had been dizzy and out of it, she could still remember being raped. Emma felt a tear slid down her cheek.

"Paige...can I ask you something?" she said softly. Paige shrugged and nodded. "How…what did you do after you were….raped last year?"

Paige frowned and turned sharply from the sink. "Why? Emma, why are you crying?" Paige froze, and walked over to Emma. "Hun…did something happen?"

Emma nodded slowly. "I…at the party on Friday. I was talking to this guy, and suddenly I started feeling really…weird. He took my upstairs…to help me." Emma swallowed hard and stared into her lap. "I thought he was just going to help me, you know?" She looked at Paige quickly. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be talking toy you about this."

Paige stared at Emma and shook her head sadly. "Do you think you were drugged or something?"

Emma shrugged. "I don't know. I…god, I don't know anything anymore."

Paige nodded. "First, you need to go to the doctor, to make sure everything is ok. Second, you should go to the counselor. I did, and it helped so much. Really-you should talk to her." Paige gently touched her arm, and Emma looked up.

"I…but look at me!" Emma exclaimed. "I was trying to change my image, and I became such a…slut!" She shook her head. "I flirted with him. I dressed like a slut. God, what did I expect? That wasn't me. I haven't been me in forever. I was practically begging to be raped."

Paige shook her head firmly. "Never say that again. Emma, no matter how you dressed or how much you flirted, you said no. When you said that, he should have stopped. But he didn't. Don't blame yourself. This wasn't your fault."

Emma sighed sadly and leaned her head back against the wall. "I keep telling myself that, but I just don't believe it. I just want to get over this, you know?" Paige nodded in understanding. She sat down next to Emma.

"I hate to break it to you, but you don't really ever get over it. You move on, but you don't forget. I think that as long as I live I'll remember that night," Paige said quietly. Emma nodded.

The two sat there in silence for a long time, staring at their hands and undoubtedly thinking about the same thing.