I cut him off, “I wasn’t feeling well and I was home alone so I came to get your brother sick.”
Drake laughed and said, “Are you going to start stayin
g over more often?”
I glanced at Jake and he answered for me. “Mr. Mike probably wants her at home at night, Drake. Now get out of my bed and go get ready for school.” He picked Drake up and placed him off the bed. Drake laughed and ran out of the room. Jake pulled me to him and gave me a kiss. I felt uneasy now that Drake knew that I spent the night in Jake’s bed and Jake could tell. “Don’t worry about it, Sweetness. He won’t think much of it.”
I nodded and rolled on top of him with a smirk on my face. “I’ll see you later.” I gave him a quick kiss and rolled off the bed. I slipped on my shoes and glanced over my shoulder at him before I left.
I ran into his dad downstairs, he was about to walk out the door. “Um, hi,” I said when he saw me and froze in my steps.
“Are you one of Jake’s whores?”
I gulped. “No, sir.” He cackled like he didn’t believe me and opened the door for me to walk out. I slinked by him and didn’t look back. I got in my car and headed home.
I saw my dad’s car in our driveway and wondered why he was home. There was no way I could sneak in. I walked through the garage door into the kitchen and saw him sitting at the table. He took in my rumpled hair and pajamas.
“What are you doing here so early, Daddy?” I asked innocently.
He gave me a stern look. “My trip got cancelled. Where have you been?”
I decided to tell him the truth. “I slept over at Jake’s.”
My dad slowly set his newspaper down, scooted his chair back, and walked over to me. He pulled me into a bear hug. “My little girl’s back,” he whispered. I couldn’t help but laugh. He kissed the top of my head and chuckled. “But don’t do that again.”
I nodded and excused myself so I could get ready for school. I decided on a fitted green, low cut shirt and plain Jane blue jeans. I slipped on socks and shoes. I grabbed my book bag, cell phone, and keys. I waved goodbye to my dad and headed to school.
I parked my car and saw Jake a few spots down leaning against his trunk. I slipped my bag on my shoulder and walked over to him.
He wrapped his arm around my waist and gave me a kiss. “Hello,” he said in a husky voice.
“Hey.” I filled Jake in on how my dad was at home and what he said.
“So sneaking out and staying over at boys’ houses is you being normal?” He asked with a smirk. I shrugged. That was normal for me. “How about we skip school today?” He suggested.
“No way. I can’t do that,” I told him.
Jake looked uncomfortable and I couldn’t figure out why. “What’s going on?” When Jake didn’t speak, I said, “Never mind. Let’s go to class.”
I stepped around Jake and walked into the school. Everyone looked my way as I walked in and came to a halt. All over the lockers and hallways were pictures of me…naked. No. This couldn’t be happening. How did someone get their hands on these? Who would want to do this to me?
I felt Jake behind me and he whispered in my ear, but I didn’t hear him. I was in a state of shock and everyone in the entire school was staring at me. Jake turned me to him and cradled my face in his hands. Before he could say anything, anger took over. I knew exactly who had done this. I pushed him away and walked away.
I turned down a hallway and found Claire who was laughing at one of my pictures. I snatched it out of her hand. “How dare you? Do you think this is funny?” I turned and looked at the crowd forming around us. “Do any of you think this is funny? I had been repeatedly raped just before these pictures were taken and you are laughing at me?”
Jake came up and blocked my view. “Sweetness, just let it go.”
“No,” I pulled away from him and faced Claire. “You are unbelievable. I don’t know how you got ahold of these pictures, but let me set this straight. I did not pose under my own free will. I hated getting these pictures taken of me. For you to think it is okay to share them…” I shook my head and closed my mouth. I was so
close to becoming my mother. Jake took my hand and pulled me away.
The teachers who had started tearing the pictures down gave me apologetic looks. Jake walked me out of the school and wrapped his arms around me. “I’m sorry, Sweetness.”
“Don’t worry about it. I just can’t believe she thought any good could come out of that for anybody. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about that.”
“Don’t be. I’m proud of you.”
I looked up at him with confusion on my face. Jake chuckled. “You didn’t retreat. You literally went and tackled the problem head on.”