Broken Bridges

Chapter 13

                        September 30th, 2020
                                   Harper
I'll never understand guys and how they can just use girls for sex. " I can take your virginity in a minute." A boy said that to me and I didnt even know him. I told him he was making me uncomfortable and he said he didn't care. "Pleasure always comes with pain." Boys make me sick to my stomach. They want me for sex and they use me. When I say no, they harass and degrade me until I give in. I will forever be an object, not worth a single penny.
                                     ***
Maliyah and I sit on my bed, eating goldfish, and drinking Dr. Pepper. The bookworms we are, we are both reading. I'm finishing up Twisted Games and she's reading a Hades and Persephone dark romance. She places her bookmark on her page and closes her book, her face in complete and utter shock.
" I can't continue this right now." she says, throwing the book across the bed. "Tell me about last night." She hoists herself up on her arms and places them underneath her chin, eagerly waiting for my response.
" What's there to tell?"
" Oh I don't know." she says sarcastically. " How about the fact that you texted me saying you had the most romantic night ever?" she jokes. " So elaborate on that. What did you do?"
" We laid on a blanket in my front yard and just talked. He held me in his arms and I felt so safe and secure. We talked about our future and our dreams. " I pause. " We watched the stars and listened to music. It was straight out of a movie. A moment you'd never want to end." Maliyah laughs as I reminisce about last night's events. 
" You're in love."
" Well.." I stutter. " Yeah I guess I am."
" Have you said it yet?"
" Said what?" I raise my eyebrows, awaiting an answer.
" I love you." she replied. " Have you told him you loved him?"
" No."
" Why's that?"
" That's a serious thing. "
" You've been dating for four months Harper." She rolls her eyes playfully. "Judging by the way you talk about him, you are deeply in love." She teases.
" I do love him. Knowing that is the easy part. But telling him that is a whole different story."
The conversation shifts to homecoming and the two of us begin dress shopping online.
" Has Jeremiyah asked you yet?" She says, changing positions on the bed so she is sitting crossed legged.
" No. I assume we are just going together. He isn't the type to make it a big thing like a promposal."
" Well that's lame. You deserve something bigger than a promposal." We continue to dress shop but don't make any success.
" Let's just go to the mall and look for some. It will be easier to pick them out and try them on in person anyway." I suggest, closing my laptop.
" Who's gonna take us?" Maliyah asks.
" We can walk. It's not that far. It's right by the bookstore where Jeremiyah took me too."
On our way out the door, Lilliana pulls into my driveway, distracting us from our plans.
" Hey Harper? Can I talk to you?" She says quietly. " Alone." She adds, gesturing for Maliyah to go back inside.
" Harper, I am really sorry." She begins. Tears fall down effortlessly like drizzles of rain. " You did what I was too scared to do. You did what needed to be done. Scott was hurting me, both physically and mentally and he deserves to be locked up. He threatened to hurt my mom and sister if I ever told anyone what he was doing to me. You did the right thing. I thought to myself about what I would do if I was in your situation, and I realized I would have done the same because your safety means everything to me. I love you. You are my best friend and hating you for the past week absolutely killed me inside. " She gasps for air after spilling out the mouthful confession.
" I love you too, Lilliana Blanchard." I hug her, her curls suffocating me as I rest my head on her shoulder. " But, I need to know. Was Scott assaulting you.." I pause, afraid to continue. " Sexually? Was he sexually abusing you?" I start bawling.
" No!" She screams. " Nothing like that Harper. I'm okay. I'm okay. "
" Okay... I don't know what I'd do if he did. I'd... I'd..."
" Shh, it's okay." Lilianna comforts me.
" Lily, I should be the one comforting you. You've gone through so much."
" We all fight our own battles alone. Sometimes we need some support." She releases me from the hug. " Are we okay now?"
" Of course." I reply.
" Where were you and Maliyah headed?"
" The mall to go homecoming dress shopping."
" Oh, I need to get one too! I'll just bring you guys." I text Maliyah and she returns outside. The three of us get into Lilianna's jeep and she brings us to the mall. The three of us examine every dress in the store, different colors, styles, prices, and lengths. We all decide on a dress and buy them. Lilliana and Maliyah go to the bathroom and I approach the exit. As i'm standing there alone, a boy around my age approaches us .
" Hey pretty girl." He says. He smiles and gets closer to me. I step away, my blood pressure rising and my breath rapidly increasing.
" Wanna come home with me? I love your body. I'd make you feel so good." He corners me against a wall and pushes his body against mine. I freeze, my whole body tensing as I freak out. He reaches down and places his hands on my thighs.
"Please stop." I say quietly. My face flushes with warmth due to fright. He makes his way up to my waist and then grabs my breasts. I try to push him away but he grabs me by the wrists and restrains them against the wall.
" Hey, leave her alone!" a middle aged woman screams. The boy releases me and runs out the door. I stand there, frozen and embarrassed.
" Are you okay, hun?" The stranger asks.
" Yeah. He just wouldn't leave me alone." Maliyah and Lilliana return from the bathroom and we walk out to the car. We put our dresses in the backseat with Maliyah and we drive back to my house. I'm silent the whole ride home.