Chapter Thirteen:
Paige’s POV:
“Truth.”
I was beyond embarrassed. All the guys were staring at me like I was the biggest chicken in the world, but I didn’t know what else to do, I didn’t want to have to back out a dare, and at least with truth even though the truth might be painful at least they can’t judge me for being honest.
“Okay.” Niall said, then seemed to rethink, as if he had been prepared for me to pick dare. “What’s the worst thing there is to know about you?”
I seemed to stop breathing as soon as those words left his mouth.
“Niall!” Liam scolded harshly.
“What?” Niall asked innocently. “I’m just trying to get to know her..”
I held up a hand and turned to Liam, “It’s okay.” Then I looked down at the floor and said as fast as I could. “Iwasgangraped.”
“I’m sorry, what did you say? I couldn’t understand.” Niall spoke.
I know he wasn’t intending to be rude, but I was still a little annoyed.
“I said....Iwasgangraped.”
Niall sighed. “A little louder, Paige.”
Okay, that is it. “I SAID, I WAS GANG RAPED, NIALL! DID YOU BLOOODY HEAR ME NOW?” I got up and screamed in his face as I ran out of the room.
I didn’t know where else to go so I ran to Liam’s bathroom and locked the door.
I sat down against the back of the door. The boys probably all hate me. I probably just embarrassed the hell out of Liam. They probably all want me gone. I don’t blame them. I want me gone too.
Niall’s POV:
I sighed. “A little louder Paige.”
I wasn’t trying to be rude or call her out or anything, but it was truth or dare and I couldn’t ask her a sissy question, especially when she just said not to when Liam tried to tell us to go easy on her. Plus, how bad could it be? She’s at least several years younger than us, so it can’t be anything too traumatic.
Something in her seemed to snap as she got up and got in my face and scream, “I SAID, I WAS GANG RAPED, NIALL! DID YOU BLOODY HEAR ME NOW?” before running out of the room and up the stairs.
I looked over at Liam and he was already half out of his seat, but then reality seemed to hit him and he seemed torn. As if he wasn’t sure if he should stay and explain or go and comfort Paige. So I made the decision for him. I ran up to find Paige, wherever she went.
When I reached the top of the stairs, I didn’t have to look very far to find Paige, I just followed the direction that it seemed the heart-wrenching sobs were coming from. The bathroom.
I knocked on the door.
“Paige?” I call out.
No response.
“Paige, I’m so sor….” I was cut off by the opening of the door and I came face to face with a red-eyed Paige.
She just stood there, broken beyond repair.
“Paige, I’m so sorry. I should never have asked you that question. I was out of line, please forgive me.”
She just nodded and took a moment to compose herself before saying, “It’s okay. You just caught me off guard. But don’t worry about it, I’m completely over it.”
She seemed to shrug it off like it was no big deal, but I knew it was. So I did something that maybe I shouldn’t have. I pressed more. “Then, would you mind if I asked you something?”
She shrugged. “Sure, go ahead.”
Here goes nothing. “When did it happen?”
She seemed stunned for a moment. Maybe I should change the subject, offer her a way out. I should have known better than to ask her more about a topic that was obviously highly personal.
But before I could offer her a way out she asked, “The truth?”
“That would be preferred.” I grinned, hoping to ease the tension.
But all she did was nod and look like she was about to be sick.
Before she could respond I spoke up. “Paige, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up again.”
She looked down at her feet and I thought she was going to start crying again, but instead she whispered, “It h-h-happened l-last ni-ight.”
What did she say? Last night?! What?!
