Ryan shook me awake. "Care, we're home."

I didn't even realize I'd fallen asleep. We were at my house, and the first things I saw were Grace's car, the empty spot where Travis usually parked, and a car that I recognized in an instant.

My stomach was suddenly in knots. "No."

"What's wrong, Caroline?"

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no!" I was starting to panic.

Ryan was scared. "Caroline, tell me what's wrong!"

I couldn't speak anymore. All I could do was point a shaky finger at Luke's car.

"Shit. Who's car is it, Caroline?"

I couldn't speak, I couldn't cry, I couldn't breathe. How can he hurt me when it's not even him that's hurting me?

Ryan finally figured out. "That fucker. Is it Luke?"

I felt like I needed to throw up, but nothing was working. Ryan held me tightly in his arms, turning my head away from the car that belonged to the one person I was truly afraid of. Ryan called my house, hoping one of my parents would pick up the phone and explain.

"Hello?" Ryan sighed, relieved.

"Hey, Mrs. Addams, it's Ryan."

"Ryan! When are you guys going to be home?"

"Well, actually, we're outside your house right now, but there's a slight problem. Could you and Mr. Addams come outside please?" Ryan's voice sounded urgent.

"Well, we have company right now, but I guess I could sneak out without Jeff."

"Alright, thank you," Ryan said before he hung up. He held onto me still, rubbing my back with his warm, strong hands that would never hurt me, that I knew for sure. I finally started to cry.

I heard my mother walking outside, then running as she saw me. "Caroline! What's the matter, baby?"

I could finally make a sound, although I was struggling through my sobs and trembling. "H-h-how c-could…"

"How could what?" My mom was also starting to panic.

"…you let Luke in?" I finally finished.

She made a confused face. "What's wrong with having Luke here? He said you invited him up from West Virginia." She didn't understand it. I didn't expect her to, of course, because I made Travis swear he wouldn't tell anyone else what had happened. "I was surprised to see him, but I'm sure everything will be fine. I'm so glad you two are friends again. I remember your break up." During this explanation, I started sobbing all over again. I was so scared for myself, my family, and my boyfriend. Mom pulled her hand gently through my hair. "Care Bear, what's wrong? Why are you crying like that?"

Ryan explained, because my mother obviously didn't get it. He had Mom sit down and told her everything. He told her about the rape, the text, my brother's text and phone call. All my mom did was cry and pull me in safely to her chest, close to her heart.

I heard the familiar sound of my brother's car racing down our street. He slammed on the brakes and ran up to the truck. He was crying too. "Caroline, I should have told them, I should have called the police that night, I should have told them." I sat up and my brother hugged me tightly. "I'm so sorry."

Ryan picked up his phone. "Should I call the police?"

"They can't arrest him. He didn't do anything wrong," Travis said, furious.

"Travis, he raped her! That's wrong in my book!" Ryan was still angry.

"That was over a year ago, man, they can't arrest him! They can't prove it!"

"We've got to go inside and take care of this piece of shit," Ryan said, already walking towards the house. "Caroline and Mrs. Addams, stay here. But lay down. Don't let him see you when he gets out of here." Then he and Travis went inside.

We obeyed. We waited five minutes, then ten. After fifteen, we got worried. After twenty five, I heard our door open. I got scared all over again. "Get out of here, Luke! Leave her alone; she doesn't want you," Travis was screaming. I heard running feet. I clamped my eyes shut. My mom held me tighter.

Then I heard a gunshot. "If you come back, you're dead!" I heard my dad scream. Of course, I thought, he has a shot gun hidden in the house.

Then I heard yelling from a new voice: Luke. I couldn't understand what he was saying; someone must have punched him so that it wasn't easy to speak. A car engine started, and I felt relief that Luke was gone. Once he had driven off, I got out of the truck and ran to my dad.