Uncaged

Chapter 4

I'd had a good pattern down for that week at school. Go to math right at the bell, walk in with the teacher so Brad can't do anything, and then skip the cafeteria at lunch to eat in the library. Math was the only class I had with Brad, so lunch would have been the only other time to see him unless he tracked me down in the hallway between classes. I was sure he knew I was avoiding him, but there wasn't much he could do about it.

But I couldn't avoid him at the party that Friday.

I hadn't planned to go. Honestly, I wouldn't have had Jane not called me. Ben was drunk, and Jane had a couple guys hitting on her that she couldn't avoid, but she was a little tipsy and couldn't drive either. So, it was off to the party to bring them both home.

It was still relatively early as parties go, only 11pm or so, and the place was pretty wild. Nobody was going to call the cops, not with most of the neighborhood's kids at the party. Music was blasting, and alcohol was everywhere. Ben was easy to find as he was passed out on the front lawn next to another guy who I didn't recognize. Hopefully they didn't mess up the yard, I was going to be here on Wednesday to mow. There was no sign of Jane, I had hoped she would be with Ben. Heading into the house, I started the search. It was a big house, so it took time, but I was moving quickly around the stumbling teens. The couches were full of people making out, tough none looked like Jane. I did find Jasmine, and I averted my eyes since I didn't want to see her kissing some random guy that I think played on the golf team.

But it didn't hurt as bad as I thought. I guess I was past her.

In the kitchen is where I finally found Jane, pressed in a corner between Brad and a guy named Frank something. Frank was a tall guy, played basketball but was skinny as a rail. Brad was Brad, just a dick. Jane was trying to push her way out of the corner, but Brad was holding her wrists, and keeping her there while Frank just gave a goofy drunk chuckle. Thinking quick, I put my camera phone on video, and started recording. I put the camera in my breast pocket and walked closer.

"Come on baby, you know we can treat you right tonight." Brad was slurring to Jane.

"No, I don't! Let me go!" Jane whimpered.

"Brad, taking someone to the McDonalds drive through isn't treating them right. Let go of Jane so I can take her home." I demanded, stepping between them.

"Fuck you Garcia!" Brad spat. "She's with us. This is what she wants!"

"Oh, so you're fine with me videotaping this and using it as proof later when she files the assault charges? Cuz I'm pretty sure that no means no, and her trying to get out of the corner isn't a come on," I retorted.

"You're a real piece of work, you know that right?" He finally said, turning to look at me.

"Thanks Brad, that's real sweet. I'll put that in my memoirs," I scoffed.

"What if we don't want to let her go?" he pushed me in the shoulder, causing me to take half a step back.

"So, rape is what you want your first conviction to be?" I asked him.

"You know that I'd never get convicted, all the girls want a piece of this. They always say yes in the end," he said with a chuckle.

"I'm sure after you drug them or get them drunk enough, right? You're a real winner." I was really sick of this asshole.

"Whatever I need to do to get in their pants, you know I'll do it," he smirked.

"Charming. But not tonight, and not with Jane. She's coming with me." Reaching past him, I took Jane's hand and pulled her to me. Frank wasn't too strong, and she slipped right out of his grasp.