Ignored by everyone but one

Chapter 3

So, since I told the gang about Harry Hook, I've tried to avoid Carlos as much as possible, which tends to be difficult when you share a dorm with him.

I'm sitting on my bed, thinking he's doing tourney training with Ben when he appears in front of me, "Where in evils name did you appear from?!" I cursed, he shrugged, "Now, actually spill. I know you've been avoiding me for 6 days and I know you're not ok." He says gently, "Now, please. Tell what's wrong?" I roll my eyes, "You guys are pissed I had sex with the first mate of our rival gang." I say simply, he sighs, "No, the bit where we are concerned because you basically admitted that men and boys had taken advantage of you and your body." I shrug, "Oh yh, I mean, it's life, right? I just don't particularly wanna talk about it." He sighed, "It's not normal CJ. Well, on the Isle it was, but it shouldn't be, it's fucking awful." I roll my eyes, "And....? I'm used to it, C. I'm fine." He scoffed, "Sure you are. And I'm a rich brat." I sigh, "Just leave it, please." He sighed and looked at concerned, "You need to talk to someone about it CJ. I don't care if that's me, Mal, Evie, Jay, or whoever. Just...don't bottle it up, yh?" I nod reluctantly and he nods, "Thanks. Talk to Jay please? He's super worried." I nod and he smiles and ruffles my hair before walking out the room.

I flop back on my bed and sigh, Carlos's words echoing in my head. I've never really thought anything of it, because it was just how isle life was, I mean, it hurt, but I just got on with it. Everyone did, it was a quietly accepted fact, it was a disgraceful thing to do but nobody ever did anything about the people that did it, so you just shut up and got on with life. I know Carlos is right, it's awful, but I really don't need to make a fuss about it.

The door opened again and I looked over, surprisingly it wasn't any of my friends, it was the annoying girl that
I think is called Audrey. A pink ball of annoyingness would be a more accurate description of her. I roll my eyes and sit up. "What do you want " I demand, not ready for any of her stupid attitude or false pretences. She stares at me, "I overheard Carlos talking to Benny-boo" she says, swanning into the room, I raise an eyebrow, "And?" She looks stupidly proud of herself, "Was it really common on the Isle for people to 'take advantage'" she does stupid air quotation marks, "Of other people and think it was normal? Because I think it's gross and people should be ashamed if they let it happen to them." She says, innocent face, smiling widely.

When people say that you can feel like you've been punched in the gut, yh, that's what that just felt like., I swallow, "Get the hell out of my room." I snap, "Or I will snap your neck off." My whole body tense, glaring into her soul. She squealed and ran, but not without a dark, smug look in my direction.

I let out a breath and hug my knees to my chest, before making my mind up to go find Evie. I stood up, put my hands in my pocket and walked quickly to Evie and Mal's room, not even knocking.

I pause when I see two other girls in Evie and Mal's room with them. I look down, "I'll come back later." I mutter quickly before quickly going back to my room and slamming the door behind me.

"Who pissed you...." Jay trails off, "CJ? Are you ok?" He rushes over, and I don't realise I was shaking until he stops me with gentle hands on my shoulders. "Evie is busy. I, uh..." I take a breath, "I just needed to talk to her." I'm not exactly lying, but Jay knows me too well. "Who said something?" He said, voice shaking slightly out of anger, but he's still holding me, stopping me from breaking down. "No-one, it's really stupid." I say, going to move away from Jay, but his grip tightens fractionally, "You're not stupid and nor are your emotions." His eyes trained on mine, "Please just talk to me." He almost begged. Somehow him being vulnerable with me made me crack, "Audrey," I croaked out, "She just came in here and started asking dumb questions." He raised an eyebrow, "Like...?" I shake my head, "She just said something, I've essentially been told the same thing before. I don't even know why it hurt so much." He sighed, "Was it about the Isle?" I nodded, "Yh. You could say that." He raised an eyebrow, "Did she call victims of gross men disgusting?" I sigh and know Jay has all the answers he needs. "Yes?" He asks, and I slowly meet his eyes, he pulls me into a hug, no words said, but his arms are such a comfort, his warm body engulfing me in safety and I just bury my head against his chest. "I'm here." He says softly, over and over.