This is War

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 - Natalie's P.O.V 

"What?" I snapped, spinning and glaring at the boy who was Noah Hall. 

His face remained stoic, "Why were you with him?" 

I shot at him, "Jealous?" 

Noah laughed, "Not in a million years, Brooks." 

It was a stupid thing to say. Huffing, I folded my arms over my chest, "Are you done bothering me or do I still have to endure more torture." 

"You should stay away from him," Noah said lowly, clenching his fists. 

"Why should I even begin to listen to you?" I spat and he sighed in defeat. 

"Just," He started and his shoulders slumped, "stay away from him. He's no good." 

I laughed in disbelief, "No, Noah. You're no good." 

He swore, "Natalie, he's worse than me, okay? He'll beat up people for fun and take a girl's virginity without her permission. Jason has raped people before. You should be grateful I found you." 

"Now you're just making stuff up," I accused him and he pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. Turning around, I began walking away and to my house. 

"Where are you going?" He called. 

I shouted without looking back, "Home." 

After ten more minutes of walking, I pushed the front door to my house open and was immediately bombarded by mom and dad, "Where have you been, young lady?" 

"At Kate's," I answered with a shrug. 

"Natalie Katherine Brooks!" Mom screamed as I started to walk away and I froze. Slowly turning back around, I found her seething. "You embarrassed your father and I and one of your best friends! You left the dinner without any warning and you are home two hours after curfew! Please, do tell me a good explanation as why you just had to leave to go to Kate's house!" 

"Fine!" I shrieked. "You want to know why I left? Because Kate almost got f*cking raped, mom! She was attacked and almost had her virginity taken away from her, mother! But I'm so sorry I went to go help my friend try and cope with what happened instead of sit at a boring ass dinner with a guy who has made my life a living hell forever!" 

By the time I had finished my voice was rubbed raw and tears were pooling in my eyes. She stood there, looking dumbstruck. Wiping a tear off my face, I brushed past her and my father with a muttered good night and made my way up into my room. 

Splashing my face with cold water, I gripped my sink and tried to take a calm, deep breath. Of course, it turned into a shudder and soon I was curled up into a ball on my bathroom, crying my heart out. I heard a door open and arms wrap around me, carrying me to my bed. 

"Goodnight," Nate whispered, gently pressing his lips to my forehead before walking out of my room and closing the door behind him.  

Walking through the halls of school, everyone was buzzing as per usual. There was gossip of what had happened over the weekend, who hooked up with who, but more surprising than anything, there was talk about a new boy in school. 

"Natalie!" I turned around to find Olivia calling my name, Kate right behind her. Dylan and Logan were quick to follow. 

I smiled at them, "Hey, guys." 

Giving Kate a once over, she nodded at me in reassurance and I nodded back. I just needed to know that she was doing fine. 

"So, how did your date with Matt go?" Olivia questioned, a bright smile on her face. Immediately, my mood plummeted and she seemed to notice-- I had only told Kate and my brother about what had happened on Friday night. 

Sighing, I shrugged, "It didn't. Matt was just a huge prank set up by Noah." 

The three who were just finding this out swore loudly in unison and a teacher scolded them, but they only rolled their eyes. I shrugged, "It's whatever. I got to knee him in the balls, so that was fun." 

Speaking of the devil, I looked up to see Matt walking down the hall, laughing with his friends. When he glanced up at me, his smile faltered and he swallowed nervously. Uncharacteristically, I beamed and waved at him. 

Kate chuckled, "You're gonna give him a heart attack." 

"Good," I huffed. 

"Alright," Olivia clapped her hands together, "Topic change! There's a new guy and damn he is one hot piece of meat!" 

"I have to go to the library, I'll meet you in first period," Kate said suddenly and I nodded with a slightly confused expression. 

Olivia just continued on with her ramble about the new guy, "So, anyways, he's tall with dark hair and these gorgeous blue eyes and he's so toned, uh. I could just eat him." 

"Ew!" I laughed, scrunching up my nose. 

Logan and Dylan both rolled their eyes and the latter said, "Well, you'd eat me too, right?" 

"No way!" She shouted loudly and a couple of heads turned towards us, which we just ignored. It wasn't uncommon for people to focus on our group of friends-- especially lately because of my "disagreement" with Noah Hall. 

"Oh-my-gosh, here he comes!" Olivia squeaked and I looked over to see the new guy, sauntering over with a lazy smile on his face. 

The girl beside my gasped when he slowed and eventually came to a stop right in front of me, "Hey, cutie, I thought I'd never see you again." 

I smiled at Jason, "You know, I was thinking the same thing." 

"I'll see you around, then?" He asks, looking down at me. 

Nodding, I bit my lip, "Definitely." 

With a wink, he turned and continued down the hall, girls swooning as he walked past. Olivia slapped my arm, "You have a lot of explaining to do, miss!" 

Rolling my eyes, I laughed along with her all the way to first period where we found Kate, face flushed and pink (very pink) lips. I wanted to tease her, because she had probably been with Jarrett in the library, but I held back because I knew she'd probably be embarrassed and end up slapping me for bringing it up. 

I settled for giving her a knowing look and she blushed and rolled her eyes as if to tell me to shut up. 

The door was yanked open and Jason walked in, an easy smile on his face. He walked past my desk, whispered, "Hey cutie," and continued on, making a few girls glare at me out of jealousy. 

Turning to Kate, I was about to explain that he was the new guy, but she had turned ghost white, a sheen of sweat on her forehead. Jumping up, she ran out of the room and I immediately followed, throwing open the bathroom door. 

I could her panicked breathing from a stall and I knocked on it, "Kate?" 

"Yeah," She breathed out, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just--just go back to class. I'll be there in a little bit." 

Her voice was shaking and cracking and I sighed, "Please, Kate just open the door." 

After a few moments of silence, I heard the squeak of the metal lock and she pulled the door open, revealing her tear-stained face. 

Opening my arms without a word, she stepped into them and we just stood there for a while, hugging and crying. A few tears even leaked from myself. She was shuddering now, no longer sobbing, just dry heaves wracking her body. 

"Kate, what's wrong?" I asked her softly, my voice gentle and caring. 

"It's him," She whispered back, "The new guy-- he's the one who--who tried to--who tried to rape me." 

∞ 

PLEASE READ: Rape is a serious crime and I hope you all realize I am not using the term lightly. I'm showing how much it's hurting Kate and how distraught it makes her. I originally didn't want to use the rape theme, but it fits well with the story and the dynamic characters, so please bare with me. So once again, I'd just like to say the rape is not something that is to be taken lightly and it is a terrible thing.