A/N... Sorry it took me so long to update. Oh, and just for the record, this chapter is told via flashback. WARNING: This chapter contains some sexual content. If you do not want to read about any of that kind of stuff, I strongly suggest you leave right now. Otherwise, read! Hope you like this chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 14 – How could you?
I sighed as I was grabbing books from my locker. I just got back a test from Hatzilakos and it was a 'C'. How could I get a 'C'? It wasn't like I didn't study. I guess I'll just have to try better next time. I saw something out of the corner of my eye and looked over; Emma ran up to me with a red flier in her hand.
"Liberty!" She yelled slightly out of breath. She held up the paper so close to my face that the letters and words were a blur.
"You do realize that running in the halls can get you a Saturday detention, don't you?"
Emma shrugged, putting the paper to her side before I could get a good look at it. "Yes, I realize that. You won't say anything will you?"
I shook my head and laughed. "I think we'll let it slide... for now. But I don't want to see you doing it again, ok?" I said jokingly.
She nodded. "Yeah, yeah, yeah."
We stood there in silence for a few seconds, before I interrupted.
"So," I started, "What was so important that you had to run?"
"Oh," Emma held up the flier close enough so that I could finally make out the words, "There's a rave at Marillo's on Friday and I have nothing else to do. Want to go?"
I started walking and Emma followed me by my side.
"Why don't you just ask Manny?"
She sighed heavily. "I already did; she's grounded. Her mom won't let her go anywhere."
"Well, why are you asking me?"
"You're my friend too aren't you? Besides, I know you're not doing anything over the weekend."
I stepped back, offended by the comment.
"How would you know? I do have a life outside of school you know."
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. So, is it a yes or no?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. I have homework, and I--"
"JT will be there!"
I smiled. "So... what time did you say this party was?"
Emma squealed and hugged me very tightly. "Thank you Liberty! The party is at 7. I'll come back your house 15 minutes before, ok?"
I nodded and headed towards my next class. Tomorrow was going to be one long day.
Friday came faster than expected; even school went by fast. I was now at home, it was 6:30 and I still didn't have anything to wear. Giving up, I decided to go with what I had been wearing all day. I mean, what did it matter? It's not like it'd make JT like any more or less.
Emma had picked me up and we were now on our way to Marillo's.
"Emma, why exactly are we going to this thing?"
"Because we were invited. Why else would we go?"
"You're not exactly the type to go to raves. Why the sudden change?"
"No reason really. I guess I just felt that I needed to grow up."
"Grow up? I wouldn't exactly call this the road to maturity."
Emma laughed. "You do have a point there."
"I know I do." I laughed then became serious. "So tell me, what's the real reason you wanted to go."
We stopped walking and Emma turned to face me. "I just had to get out of the house. With Snake's constant whining and baby Jack crying all the time, I just felt like I was suffocating. Mom was always working overtime, and I was the one taking care of Jack. I had no time for me."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know."
We started walking again. "Don't be sorry. It's just hard trying to juggle school, work and take care of Jack and Snake."
We walked in silence for about 3 minutes until we finally reached Marillo's. We got through the door and made our way to the dance floor. It took me a while, but I finally got used to the music and was now dancing.
I was so into the music that I didn't notice someone had tapped me on the shoulder. The second time around, the person yelled my name into my ear. "Hey Liberty! You having a good time?"
I turned around to none other than Jimmy Brookes.
"No! I'm having a great time!"
Jimmy smiled and held up his drink. "Do you want something to drink?"
"No thanks. I'm fine for now."
He nodded and went back to whatever he was doing. I soon got tired and went over to get a drink.
"Excuse me," I said to the bartender as I sat down on the stool, "could I have a coke?" (A/N. Keep in mind, Marillo's is a place for teens, so they serve NO alcohol.) He nodded, left, and then came back with my drink.
I took a few sips before noticing the person sitting next to me.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Miss Priss?"
I rolled my eyes. "Get away from me Jay. I'm actually having a good time and I DON'T want you to ruin it for me," I said as I took a sip of my drink.
"Me? Ruin all this fun for you? Now, now, Liberty. I thought you had more faith in me than that."
I ignored him and tried my best to not look at him. I was fidgeting with my house keys that were in my pocket when they accidentally popped out and fell onto the floor. I must have been on the floor for what seemed like a minutes; when I came back up, Jay was gone. 'Well' I thought, 'at least I won't have to deal with him anymore.'
I took a few more sips from my drink and headed out to the dance floor. I saw Emma and started walking over to her, but before I could reach her I felt this wave of dizziness. I tried to walk, but I couldn't move without holding on to a chair or a wall. The people around me were all just a blur; nothing seemed to stand still. I was about to pass out when I felt someone grab me from behind and lift me up. The person took me outside and lifted me into a van. I couldn't make out the color or the maker of the van; I couldn't see much of anything at all.
As I was laid down on to the floor of the van, I felt my clothes being taken off. I tried to scream, but my mouth wouldn't open. I opened my eyes enough to see a body figure. I couldn't really make out who it was. Everything was a blur. I blinked a few times hoping my vision would clear, but it remained the same.
I slipped in and out on consciousness, but what I saw was always the same. He was still on top of me, moaning. 'Why me?' I know this happens all around the world to a lot of girls, but why me? I opened my mouth to try and scream, but it felt as if some had stuck a fork down my throat. Realizing my mouth was open, the person quickly clamped his hand down on my mouth.
"Don't try and scream," he said, "Or I'll kill you."
That voice; I recognized that voice. I had heard it somewhere before. Why couldn't I place the voice with a face? I felt a rush of pain when I felt him go inside me. Why does this have to hurt? Oh god, why me? I wanted to kick and scream -- anything – but my body just wouldn't move. 'Oh god, it hurts.'
I started to cry; it was about the only thing I could do. He slapped me across my face and told me to shut up. I hoped that it would all be over soon.
I knew he was gone when I couldn't feel his weight on top of me anymore. I wish I could have gotten up and ran, but my body still wasn't able to move. I felt whoever it was lift me up, and set me onto the ground. Then I heard the squealing of tires as the van drove off. The last thing I heard were a pair of footsteps running towards me.
I heard a faint voice calling my name. I tried opening my eyes, but they felt so heavy. It was like a weight that couldn't be taken off. 'Why were my eyes not opening?' I kept hearing my name repeating over and over, but there was nothing I was able to do. Finally, after what seemed like forever, I was able to open my eyes. I found Jimmy hovering over me.
"Liberty, are you all right?"
I somehow managed a coherent, "I'm not sure."
He helped me get up to my feet – this took a while.
"What happened?" he asked.
I rubbed my head trying to remember. Nothing was happening. 'What did happen?' I thought. I slowly paced, thinking to myself. I tried my best remembering the earlier events, but I just couldn't remember anything. Finally, when I had decided to give up, I remembered everything; and my world came crashing down. I immediately broke down in tears.
"Liberty? What's wrong? Did you remember anything? Liberty? Are you ok?"
I couldn't tell him; I just couldn't. I was too ashamed.
"Come on Liberty, tell me!" Jimmy yelled as he began to shake me.
I pushed him, and tried to walk away. I thought to myself 'How could I let something like this happen? I didn't do any drugs, I didn't drink any alcohol--' Finally everything clicked. The drink. I was talking to Jay when my keys fell. I bent down to pick them up and – did he slip me something? It seemed like the only logical explanation. It only takes a matter of seconds for him to give the date rape drug. I remembered researching it for a project it science. 'What was it called?' GHB – which stands for Gamma hydroxybutyrate.
It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless – which probably explains why I didn't notice it when I took a sip from my drink. How could I be so stupid? I knew that at any point in time – If I ever went to a party – to watch my drink at all times; and next to Jay of all people! What was I thinking? I knew Jay was a bad guy, but I never for once thought that he would do something so heinous.
I wasn't sure how I was going to handle this. I wanted to forget that anything had happened.
"Where are you going Liberty? It's like," Jimmy looked at his watch, "midnight."
I looked around where I was, realizing that I was in the back lot of Marillo's. I would have called for a cab, but I had no money. I wasn't ready to go home. I couldn't face my mother like this. What would she think? I turned around and walked back to Jimmy.
"Could I go over to your house?"
"Why?"
"I'm just... I'm just not ready to home yet ok?" I shouted. A tear started to roll down my cheek, but I quickly wiped it away before he noticed.
"Ok, ok. You don't have to shout. You can come over. Ok?"
I nodded and we headed towards Jimmy's apartment.
"Where's Emma?" I asked finally realizing that she wasn't here and that I hadn't seen since before 'it' happened.
"She thought you went home already so she left."
"How'd you know where I was?"
"Oh, um, I was...promise you won't tell anyone this?"
I nodded, "I promise. I won't tell a soul."
"A few minutes before the rave was over, I came out for a cigarette."
My eyes widened. Jimmy Brooks.... smoking? It just wasn't like him to something like that. We walked for about 2 more blocks before we finally reached his apartment complex. Once inside his apartment, Jimmy threw his jacket on the couch and headed straight to the kitchen.
"Do you want anything to drink?" he asked as he opened the refrigerator.
"No!" I quickly snapped. I knew Jimmy wouldn't do anything like that to me, but I wasn't taking a chance.
Jimmy came back with a coke and propped down on to the couch. As he was flipping through the channels, I couldn't help but notice a little bottle on the floor. I tilted my head trying to figure out what it was. It had a clear liquid inside. I looked over at Jimmy and found him half asleep, so I took the liberty of getting up to see what it was.
I got up and quietly lifted my leg over Jimmy's body, which was sprawled out on the couch with his legs on the table. I was afraid waking him, so I crept slowly and quietly until I made my way to the little bottle on the floor. I bent down and picked it up. I opened the cap and sniffed it; there was no smell. I wasn't going to taste it, unsure of what it was.
I shook it a few times before I noticed Jimmy quickly snatch it out of my hand. I stood and noticed him put it in his pocket. He stared at me with both anger and surprise.
"What do you think you are doing?" Jimmy yelled quite loudly.
"What's in that bottle?" I said ignoring his question.
"Who the hell gave you permission to go through my stuff without asking?"
"What's in the bottle Jimmy!"
"You know what, I think you've overstayed your welcome. I want you to leave!" He yelled as he pointed to the door.
"I'll leave as soon as you answer my question!"
"Get out!"
"What are you hiding? What's in that bottle Jimmy?"
Jimmy stayed quiet and turned around to walk away. I went up to him, and pulled him back. He arched back his arm and slapped me across the face; I clenched my check as I fell to the ground.
"You hit me!" I managed to say. "You actually hit me! What the hell were you thinking?"
"Yes, I—I'm sorry. It was an accident," he said as he reached to pick me up. I slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch me! Don't you ever touch me!" I yelled as I got up to my feet.
"Liberty I—"
"What was in that bottle?" I quickly changed the subject. It wasn't worth getting into. I just had to know what was in that bottle.
Jimmy looked from me to the ground, and back again.
"Jimmy. What is in the bottle?" I yelled beginning to get frustrated. "Jimmy--"
"IT WAS GHB ALL RIGHT?!"
GHB? But wasn't that —
"Why do you have that Jimmy? Why? Did you — did you give some to — to Jay?"
Jimmy slowly nodded and I fell to my knees. I began to weep; it wasn't out of sadness, or anger; I wasn't exactly sure how to explain it. I had trusted Jimmy, and he betrayed that trust. I wrapped my arms around my chest as I tried to contain myself.
"How could you do that? How could you be so stupid?!" I yelled.
"I needed the money."
"For what? It's not like you couldn't have gotten the money from your parents!"
"I know, it's just... I wanted to make money on my own."
"By selling drugs?!"
"I wasn't selling drugs!"
"Then what would you call it?"
"I, uh, er."
There was no explanation. He just needed the money. That was the excuse he would give me. But why? There had to be some logical explanation for all of this. I sat there and stared at him for at least a minute. I didn't know what to say. Should I get up and leave? Should I ask him for an apology? What should I do?
"I hate you."
The words came out so quickly I hadn't even noticed I had said them. I was just so hurt that he would do something so stupid.
"Well," Jimmy said trying to make me feel guilty, "it wasn't like I sold you the drugs!"
"You really don't get it, do you?"
"Get what?"
"It's your fault! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" I could feel my face turning red.
"What did I do? Tell me, what did I do!"
"He raped me Jimmy! He raped me!"
Jimmy's eyes widened as heard the news. He started shaking his head, and was backing up.
"Who?" Jimmy asked.
I looked away. What did it matter if he knew who it was? What could he do about?
I started breathing heavily. The walls seemed to be moving towards me. I felt so sick to my stomach. It took everything I had not to throw up on the floor.
"Was it – Was it Jay?"
I slowly nodded my head.
"No, you're lying. Jay wouldn't do something like that. He – He couldn't. He just couldn't. Could he?"
I looked up at him and watched him cry. I felt so bad for him. I wanted to hold him in my arms and tell him that everything was ok. But everything wasn't. Nothing was the same anymore. Nothing would ever be the same again. There was no way I could go back to being the same Liberty I was before.
I slowly got up to my feet and walked to the door. I didn't even look at Jimmy as I left. I never wanted to see him again. As much as I knew, he meant nothing to me. Nothing was ever going to change that. There was no way I could forgive him for what he did.
A/N.. Marillo's is a place I made up. If there actually is a place called Marillo's it is purely coincidental. Just thought I'd clear that up. Anyway, REVIEW!!!
