The Hardest Fall

In the blink of an eye, he was on her, hugging her, kissing her lips fervently. “There you are. There’s my baby. You freaked out because you liked it, didn’t you? I would never hurt you, baby. I just wanted us to have fun with my friends. I’m your boyfriend, and you love me—that’s not rape.”

Feeling sick to my stomach, I covered my mouth with my hand to keep everything in.

“We need to get out of here together,” he rushed out. “I’m feeling so good right now. You have no idea babe—if you had listened to me and taken the drugs, you wouldn’t be shaking like a leaf right now. I feel on top of the world, baby! Next time it’ll be just the two of us, don’t worry.” Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he pushed Kayla away and crouched down to pick up her bag from the floor.

She looked my way and shook her head.

I couldn’t—wouldn’t let him leave with Kayla. I wouldn’t let him touch her again. Before they could walk past me, I blocked them.

“You’re not leaving with him, Kayla. Have you lost your mind?”

Just like that, Keith’s hands were on me again, and this time he wasn’t going easy. My back hit the wall yet again, and this time I saw stars when the back of my head thudded against the wall, the sound echoing in the room.

I tried to breathe, but I couldn’t. I clawed at his arms, but it was no use. I couldn’t do anything to stop him from choking me.

Chapter Twenty

Dylan

Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I headed toward the library so I could see Zoe before Chris and I began our daily workout. I should’ve given her space. It wasn’t like she was running away from me, but I still wanted to see her, still wanted to make sure everything was okay after the night before, make sure there was no chance of her pulling back from me again.

I was too far in my head, trying to come up with a solution for Zoe and me. For no reason at all, I quickened my steps, and soon I was full-out running. There was just something nagging at me, and I felt the need to see her.

Feeling strange, I ignored the rain and pulled out my phone, trying Zoe again.

Her phone went straight to voicemail.

Was she still at the library? Was she really meeting a friend, or had she lied to me?

The need to find her squeezed something in my chest and I took off toward the library like a bat out of hell.

When I finally made it there, I slowed down to a walk. I walked straight in only to find that there were hardly any students around.

I could hear people murmuring in the main room so I followed the voices. There were only two students, and both of them were wearing headphones, lost in their work. The voices stopped. Walking in farther, I checked the room on the right then headed for the opposite side. When I pushed in some chairs to pass by, I spotted Zoe’s friend through the doorway in the east wing. Then my mind registered Zoe being held against the wall by some guy. Her face was flushed, eyes big, and she was silently gasping for air, her hands unsuccessfully trying to push the guy away.

I ran to them, not giving a damn that I was bulldozing through the desks and chairs in my way.

Her name spilled from my lips, but I didn’t think she heard me. Neither of them did.

I stepped through the bookshelves and was on the guy in a few seconds, though it felt like several minutes had passed. I gripped his shirt and yanked him away from Zoe. Startled, he lost his balance and stumbled back. Before I could catch her, Zoe fell to her hands and knees, coughing and crying.

I was down on one knee before her friend could get to her.

“Who the fuck are you?” the guy roared, coming at us, but I ignored him and pushed Zoe’s hair away from her face.

“Are you okay? Baby, talk to me—you okay?”

She grabbed my arm and lifted her head, her free hand covering her throat. “Yeah,” she gasped, her voice rough and barely audible. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Yeah, I’m okay. I’m fine.”

I helped her up and her friend took over.

The guy was still spewing shit, shouting and cursing, but I heard not a single word. My senses dulled and all I could focus on was this fucking bastard who had dared to put his hands on Zoe.

As I walked toward him, I took in his bloodshot eyes, twitching hands, and noticeable restlessness.

In three steps I was on him and none of it mattered. I punched him right in his nose and heard the satisfying crack. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the girls run out of the small room, but my only focus was on the bastard holding his bloody nose.