Morgan

Malia...protector of Lily?

 "Stay the fuck away from me, Morgan!" I tried to sound as threatening as possible, but it came out as barely a whisper. I just wanted this to end. This execrable abuse was going to deteriorate me slowly. Whether she's around or not, I feel my flesh melt into undefinable fragments as the vile memories swarm my thoughts.

"You're adorable." She scoffed. "I know you want me around." She drew her hands out of her pockets and placed them directly onto my waist, heaving me against her. She was tall, scary, and beautiful. I hated her more than anything. I shoved her off of me with every drop of strength in my body, nearly losing my balance. "You think that was a good idea?" I cowered as she smirked and let out a poisonous chuckle. She got even closer to me and bent down to bring her mouth dangerously close to my ear. She sealed her hand around my throat and pushed my body against the lockers. She bit the top of my ear and my whole body cringed. "Still think that was a good idea?"

She peered at the open, empty hallway. It was 3:30, a half hour after school had ended, and of course- Morgan had waited for me. I had to stay late to finish up a project with my assigned partner, Malia. Morgan was in that same class. She knew we would be staying late. I had seen her in the corner of the library the whole time I was working. She pretended to be busy with her own project, but we both knew why she was really sitting there. And once we had stepped out of that library and Malia headed down the other way, she decided the coast was clear. She ran to catch up with me in the hallway and took her hands and sneaked them up the front of my shirt.

So now, I was here, gasping for air. "Stop, just stop. Please." I barely managed to say, as her hand was still gripped around my throat. "Stop! Fucking let go of me!!" My throat finally released the shaky words when her grip slightly loosened. She just laughed in response. I couldn't even bring myself to push her away. I was terrified. "Get the fuck off of me!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, tears drenching my face. I was waving my hands and kicking my feet as hard as I could. It was no help.

"Don't talk to me like that." A tighter grip around my throat. "Because trust me, I know you fucking like it." She took her hands away from me completely. But, they were back on me seconds later, in the form of a punch. Her fist impacted my gut. I doubled over and began gagging. "See you tomorrow, beautiful. I'd play with you some more, but I've got to get to work. I love you." She ruffled my hair and pulled it as she forced her lips onto mine. I didn't give in, as usual, which always makes her mad. She shoved my body against the locker, like a rag doll. I felt my shoulder almost pop out as I heard her footsteps get more and more distant. I closed my eyes and felt my cries shaking through my upper body, squelching the pain in my shoulder. I heard the footsteps start running towards me now. Fear rushed through my body. I whipped my head up, but it wasn't Morgan.

"Oh my god, Lily..." She gasped, staring down at me. It was the girl I had to stay late to work on the project with - Malia. I hoped to god she didn't see what happened. We weren't close friends. We weren't even friends to begin with. We just got stuck working on a project together. It's not like I didn't not like her, though. I just didn't know her. I had no idea what she was about to say or do. "Are you okay?"

"To be blunt, no." I shook my head as tears fell from my eyes. My throat was already sore. She sat herself down and put her arms around me. I slumped against her, accepting the hug, and let my tears fall heavily against her shoulder.

"How long has this been going on?" She finally asked.

"A few weeks." I breathed out. Hold on, Lily, don't lie. "Since October."

"What!? That's more than a few weeks! It's May!" Malia cried out. I slowly shushed her, worrying that Morgan was still close by. "Sorry." She whispered.

"I don't know what to do." I sighed. "I'm so sorry you saw all that. I know it's not my fault you saw it but, fuck, I'm sorry. I'm just...embarrassed."

"Don't be sorry, or embarrassed, what the hell? I'm glad I did. You can't just stay silent about this type of thing. I just witnessed you get sexually assaulted, Lily. That's not something to be embarrassed about." I shivered when she said those words. She didn't even know the worst of it. That little act was barely anything. "I had no idea Morgan Harris was a piece of shit like that. I'm still in shock from witnessing that!" She looked around the hallway, unsure of where to even place her eyes.

"Just, please don't tell anyone. Pretend you didn't see that, and pretend we never had this conversation, okay?" I got up quickly despite the pain and straightened myself out. She gave me a confused look. I sighed. "Look, Malia, school is almost done. We're seniors. After graduation, I'll never have to deal with her again. There's no point in getting people involved at this point. I can handle it for a few more weeks."

"Are you sure about that?" Malia had also stood up, and matched my gaze.

"I'm positive." I offered her a weak smile.

"Does your boyfriend know?"

I let out a sarcastic laugh that felt raw on my throat. "No. Morgan would be dead if he knew."

"Maybe that's not such a bad thing..." Malia raised her eyebrows in thought. Her statement caused us both to start laughing lightly. "You should tell him. Then, you can at least finish out your last few weeks of senior year in peace." My stomach dropped at the thought of telling Gavin, or anyone in general. I was worried Malia was going to go do it on her own.

"I don't know what would happen. I just don't want to end my senior year with drama. I'll be fine."

Malia inched herself closer to me and grabbed my wrist with force. "You shouldn't have to put up with it. You are living with drama either way." I abruptly yanked my arm away. "I just want you to hear my words, loud and clear." She kept her distance from me this time.

"I hear your words. Loud and clear. But, I'm going to finish out my senior year the way that I want to." I grabbed my backpack off of the floor and started heading out towards the student parking lot. I heard Malia's footsteps behind me.

"I'm walking you to your car." Her words made me come to a halt in the middle of the hallway. I stood there, waiting for her to catch up to me. Once she did, we both looked at each other.

"Thank you." I finally said, and we continued out of the building. My first instinct was to look around me and then to Morgan's parking spot, but I didn't see her or the car anywhere. Malia walked alongside me as we headed towards my spot. Even though Morgan was gone, it felt otherworldly to have someone by my side that knew what I was going through. "Do you see her anywhere?" Malia asked.

"No, she left for work, I guess." I shrugged. She nodded in response and soon enough, we arrived at my car. I heard a sputtering, rusty engine in the distance and immediately looked in the direction of the noise. I saw Morgan staring at Malia and I from the road. As soon as we locked eyes, she sped off. I felt my whole body shiver. Malia didn't seem to notice, she just opened up my car door for me. We talked a little bit more about the project, since it still needed to be completed, and eventually made my way back home.