𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐍 & 𝐄𝐂𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘-𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮

NINE

I hadn't seen Jackson since the day he was let out of the Slammers and it seems that he had been avoiding me. Which was fine, because I didn't really want to converse with him anyway. But now I had no choice. "I'm sorry. I should really be watching where I'm going." I laughed awkwardly, but he kept the same stony expression as when I bumped into him. "I should be going now."

I went to step around him, but he blocked the way. "You know, I've been thinking. You think you're so fucking special." He took a step forward and I took one back. I wanted to keep as much distance as I could from him.

"I actually don't. I'm just trying to get by, just like the rest of you." I couldn't hide the shakiness of my voice.

He smirked. "But you're not, are you? Like the rest of us. You're just a girl. A weak girl who's pretending to be something she's not." I felt the tears form in my eyes. I thought I had gotten past this. But it was the way Jackson was saying it. Like it was the truth and it was the only thing anyone would believe.

"You don't know what I am." I tried to bite back, but I sounded just how he had described me. Weak.

He got closer and I tried to step back, but ended up tripping and falling on my butt. He just smiled and laughed humorlessly, he crouched in front of me, his face so close to mine I could see the specks of what looked like red in his brown eyes. "I know exactly what you are, Florence." He smiled wider this time, trying to feign sweetness, but I saw right through it. He reached his hand up and held it to my neck, bringing his mouth close to my ear. I was breathing hard and felt like I couldn't move. "You're just here to bring us pleasure. The only thing a girl is good for."

I heard hurried footsteps and Jackson moved far from me. I looked to see Gally. His eyes scanned both of us, trying to make out the scene in his head. When his eyes landed on me again and took in my panicked state, his eyes hardened. "So, what's going on here?"

Before I had the chance to speak-not that I could anyway-Jackson answered. "I was passing by and saw that she tripped, I was just checking to see if she was alright and needed help."

Gally only looked at me as Jackson spoke and I hoped that he could read the thoughts I was screaming at him in my mind. He's a liar. He's lying right through his teeth. I saw an emotion go past Gally's eyes and with a straight face he told Jackson to get lost. The boy didn't have to be told twice and scattered without another word.

Gally waited until he was far away before moving in front of me, checking me for injuries. I wanted to tell him that I didn't actually fall, but I couldn't find my voice. I felt the tears slowly falling down my face and when Gally took my face in his hands, I felt myself flinch. He looked hurt and concerned. His mouth opened like he was going to ask something, but I got up before he could.

I made my way to the hut, skipping out on dinner. He followed me the whole way there and tried to ask me what Jackson did. But I didn't want to tell him. I couldn't tell him. And maybe he was right. I was good for nothing, weak. There was no point in trying to be something I was not.

I took off my boots and laid down in bed, not even bothering with laying under the blanket. I knew Gally was still in here and had so many questions, but after so many times of me not answering, he stopped trying.

I wasn't sure when I fell asleep, but when I woke up, it was pitch black and I could barely see the silhouette of Gally. He was sitting at the end of the bed, his back resting against the wall, and he had fallen asleep. I sat up and nudged him with my foot. It took a couple times before he woke up. He looked at me expectantly. I patted the bed beside me and he was hesitant before he kicked off his boots and laid beside me.

His arm touched mine and it caused me to shiver and goosebumps to fill my exposed skin. He told me to get up so he could get the blanket. I did so and he covered us both. We both stared up at the ceiling. After a moment of silence he sighed. "You know you can tell me if he did anything to you."

I heard Jackson's voice replaying in my head. I winced and shut my eyes, feeling the tears burn on their way out. What had I done to deserve such harsh words from someone? Sure I had beat him at the bonfire, but I hadn't forced him to challenge me. That was all his own doing. And why now would he say something? Especially something so vile as I would only bring pleasure to them. For what I knew, they had no pleasure in me being here. I voice my question out loud, my voice hoarse. "What kind of pleasure would I bring you guys?"

The question and my voice shocked Gally, knowing he was sure I was stuck on not speaking at all. "I don't know what you mean. Did Jackson tell you that?"

I sucked in a shaky breath. "He said that I was good for nothing other than bringing you guys pleasure...Amongst other things."

Gally got up on one elbow and I knew he was looking at me, but I stayed looking up. "What else did he say to you?"

I could hear Jackson, like he was speaking right in my ear. I felt his hand on my neck and instinctively cringed away from it. "He said that I was weak and pretending to be something I'm not. And all I could bring you guys is pleasure. I don't even know what that means." My voice broke at the end of my sentence and I felt the sob racing up my throat.

Gally was up and out of the bed quickly, halfway to the door when I got up and grabbed his arm. "What are you doing?"

"I'm gonna kill him." He growled through clenched teeth.

"No. You can't."

"I can't?" He laughed and it sounded just like Jackson's. I let him go and stepped back. "Florence he hurt you! Why should I let him get away with it?" He was shouting and I shrunk away from him. When he saw my reaction he softened. "I'm sorry." He dragged a hand over his hair and then down his face, trying to calm down. "We have to tell Alby and Newt."

"No." I felt fear squeeze my chest. I didn't want anyone else to know. It was bad enough Jackson saw me as weak, if I fell on him, he'll only see it more. "Please. I don't want to."
I could see the anger that brought on.

"Florence, whatever he said. It wasn't true. He's stupid for even thinking about it. He doesn't even know you."

I know exactly what you are.

"Just please. Don't say anything."

I knew it was killing him, but he exhaled and nodded. "Okay. I won't say anything."