Seventeen (Zach Dempsey/ Montgomery De La Cruz

Chapter 8

I wanted to feel bad for what I said to Monty and I kind of did but then when I saw him sitting with Bryce and I got over it. Today Jessica was testifying she left right after lunch, while I was curious I couldn't sit in the courtroom again it made me too anxious.

"Hey Perri, we're going hang out at the mall do you want to come?" Erica the team captain asked me and I looked at her and shook my head

"No, thanks maybe next time." I said picking up my bag and I walked toward my car

"What's your issue?" I heard I turned to see another girl on the team walking up to me

"Excuse me?"

"We always invite you places to welcome you to the team and just to be nice and you're always blowing us off. What's the issue?" She asked and I sighed

"There's no issue.... I'm just not fun company at the moment. I'd hate to bring everyone down." I said and she stared with a look but not with pity like I'm used to getting these days.

"You should come anyway we're not bitchy cheerleaders, we're pretty laid back. No pressure."

"Next time like I said."

"I'll hold you to that I'm Nina by the way, I run anchor." She told me then walked away. I got in my car and thought about what she said I kept my distance from the team on purpose. I didn't trust anyone anymore and I didn't really want to be on this team but if it kept me out of group therapy I would do it

I got home then showered and changed and started doing my homework

"Hey Perri." I looked up to see my parent in the doorway I rolled my eyes

"Whatever it is Tyler did it." I said and they walked in

"I heard something interesting today about Jessica Davis's testimony." My mom said

"And what does that have to do with me?"

"Bryce Walker." My dad said and I froze I could feel my anxiety kick in gear as it always did when I thought about Bryce

"Olivia made a statement to the press today saying that Bryce Walker raped Hannah. Do you know anything about that?" Mom asked kneeling next to me and I shook my head

"No," I said quickly

"Has Bryce ever done anything to you? Is he the one who hurt you?"

"Dad please I told you I don't remember anything."

"Maybe it's time to try again." He said

"Can you stop! I don't want to keep reliving the worst day of life,"

"Ok calm down Perri. We want to help you but-"

"I'm fine!"

"You're not if you're not going to school with a predator,"

"Well I'm sorry I can't make myself remember!" I snapped my mom got in front of my dad

"Stop this is not helping. We just want you to know Perri you can tell us anything.." She said and I looked down at my work. I heard them leave as I thought about what she just said, Mrs. Baker just told the world about Bryce and for some reason I felt like I had another target on my back.

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"Did you hear about this shit?" I looked up as Tyler sat across from me. I spent most of my lunches now

"What are you talking about Tyler?" I asked

"Marcus testified today."

"Why is everyone obsessed with this fucking trial? I don't need or want a play by play," I told him

"But he lied! We all agree to tell the truth!"

"Grow up Tyler we're not fucking 5 did you really think that one day at Monet was going to change everything?"

"This isn't fair we're getting fucked with, Jessica got a threatening note, Courtney got ousted and he gets off dirt free?"

"Well what are we going to do Tyler huh? Tell me?" I asked and he got quiet

"Exactly just let it go please."

"He accused her of liking Bryce. I'm sick of just letting it go." He said then walked off

I saw Marcus near the end off the day I stopped him

"You're a fucking prick you know that right." I said to him

"Perri what are you talking about?"

"I heard about what you said in court today." I told him and he sighed

"Look Perri-"

"I really don't understand how you guys look yourself in the mirror. You know what Bryce is and you're still protecting him?"

"Look who's talking why haven't you told anyone it was Bryce who raped you then?" He asked and I shook my head

"It's not the same thing I can barely remember but you saw what he did to me!"

"Did I?" He smirked

"It really looked like he was helping a drunk friend to me. How much did you drink that night Perri?" He said and before I could stop myself I slapped him

"You selfish motherfucker, I hope you at some point every bit of humiliation that any girl at this school has been put through by you assholes." I walked away from him.

My wish came sooner than later right after school to be exact as Marcus walked out of school gloating and smiling. He approached his parents van and saw a black bag on the ground on the floor next to it. He frowned then opened the bag there was a sweatshirt. He reached in and pulled it out and a paint bomb exploded in his face. catching the attention of everyone out front and they began laughing and taking pictures of him as he forced at smile trying not to seem so embarrassed. Then he looked at the back of his mom's van and someone had painted:

'Hypocrite'

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I'm back with this story I will try to keep to a regular updates please vote and review to let me know if you guys are still interested and I will have the next chapter up tomorrow