CORIE
He was so cruel when he didn't get his way. What a lowblow.
When I reached my floor I slid my key in the door and entered the dark room. Taking a deep breath I prepared to deal with Danielle's attitude. Surprisingly she laid in the same spot. What was her problem?
Tonight was so filled with drama I just couldn't take it. "Danielle, what's wrong with you?" I asked turning on my lamp.
" Please leave me alone." There was something in the way she said it this time, almost like she was pleading with me unlike earlier when she demanded it.
" I won't leave you alone, now you've been I'm this room all day probably. Nothing can be that bad."
" What do you know Corie? Everybody's favorite cheerleader..."
" Oh please, that was high school. Whatever reasons you have for not liking me it's time to find new ones. Now get up!" I say snatching the covers off of her.
To my horror her legs are covered with bruises and she has a mark around her neck as if she'd been strangled. " Danielle! Who did this to you?" I question as she looks at her bruises ashamed.
" Just give me back the sheet!"
" No! Not until you tell me, did someone mug you or beat you up?"
" Corie--"
" I will call the cops right now if--"
" I was raped! Okay?"
I was speechless and my heart broke for her. Although we weren't close and the girl hated me it didn't matter at that moment. Sitting on the edge of her bed I go to hug her and she fights me off but I don't let go. After a few moments she stops resisting and hugs me back.
" I'm so sorry Danielle, I'm so very sorry..." I cry with her.
Just then the door opens and Harry is standing there with his keys in his hand.
" Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt--"
" Harry we need to go to the hospital," I say putting our drama to the side for the moment.
" What happened? Are you okay?" he panicked stepping into the room.
" Yea, but we have to take her--"
" No Corie, I can't...everyone's gonna find out," Danielle sobbed.
" But we have to get you checked out. This is not about what people think, trust me. Okay?"
She reluctantly shakes her head. Seeing she had trouble getting up I motion for Harry to pick her up. He quickly does so and I grab her purse and a blanket as we leave the room.
The drive to the nearest hospital was quiet and I sat in the back with Danielle laying on my lap. Harry looks at me every few minutes in the rear view and I look away each time.
Once we get to the hospital she's immediately seen by a doctor and they start the process of finding out who did it. She's given a contraceptive and antibiotics and soon has to talk to a police officer.
When they asked me to leave Danielle requested that I stay. I had no problem with that, in fact I want to be there for her.
" Ms. Targis do you know who did this to you?" the young police officer asks with a notepad.
" Um, yes. His name is Will Green," she says with her head down.
My eyes got huge. I didn't know many people on campus but I remembered him handing me the flyer for that party.
" I got invited to a party and decided to go. He's a senior so he knew his way around and promised to show me the house. When we got to this room he locked the door behind him and we started to argue. I wanted him to open it and he wouldn't even let me pass. He claimed freshmen usually love to sleep with him but I called him a pig and tried to push past him again. That's when he um, he put his hands on my neck..."
As she told her story I forced myself not to cringe. I couldn't believe Will would do this to her. He was a monster.
After she finished her report she gave them the address of the house it happened at and was told she could go.
I moved to exit the room while she got dressed and she stopped me. "Corie, um thanks for, you know coming with me and just being there...."
"No reason to thank me, we'll get through this together," I hug her and exit the room.
Once she dresses we head towards the lobby to leave and I forget I didn't plan a way home. We had been there for over 3 hours and I knew Harry had already went home.
" We'll probably have to end up asking one of the cops to drive us back," Danielle says exhausted.
" I'm right here," we both turn to face Harry who's eating a candy bar.
I'm happy to see him.
HARRY
I regret what I said to Corie as soon as the words left my mouth. What kind of jerk throws her screw up of a dad in her face?
When she left the car I knew I would go after her but I needed to calm down a little.
I was going to have a talk with her about leaving her dorm room unlocked. I walked right in.
I thought we would scream at each other some more and make up later but I was in for a shock. It didn't take a genius to find out what happened to her friend.
Honestly I was glad it didn't happen to Corie but it still was enough to piss me off. Any man who violated a woman in that way deserved to be under the jail or worse.
After a few hours I met them both in the lobby.
" Harry you didn't have to wait," Corie says looking shocked.
" Yes I did, come on let's go home."
" Back to the campus?" She questions.
" No, I want the both of you to stay at my suite tonight. This guy is still on the street and I'm not letting you out of my sight. Cor you know I have 2 extra rooms so it's no problem."
" I don't know if she wants to be around a lot of people."
" It's fine, I enjoy the noise. I need it. Thank you Harry, for this and everything, " her friend smiles.
