Trust Me

Truth Comes Out

The rest of the summer went by in a blur, Michelle attended the event in the park for the kids but otherwise stayed at home in her room. To her family, she seemed no different than normal, considering she was always in her room regardless. What they didn't know, was that she would stay up at night crying as that day came back in her nightmares. They didn't know that she bought a pocket knife from one of her friends at school, and would lightly slide the blade across her wrists, across the lines of her left palm. They didn't see that her smile wasn't pure, that it never reached her eyes and that her laughs were forced.

As school began again, she immersed herself in her studies, but her friends knew her better than that. They knew something was wrong, though they wouldn't push the matter. They were content on waiting until she was ready to come out with it to them. Except, it didn't exactly happen that way. 

One day after school, Michelle was walking with her friend Lance and Bailey over to the JROTC building since she had some paperwork to do for their senior army instructor. As they walked up the steps to the building, Joey walked out of one of the rooms and looked over at Michelle. Instantly, every muscle in her body tensed up and she tried to hide the fear in her eyes. Joey tried to reach out to her but she took a step back, and Lance and Bailey stood in front of her with narrowed eyes.

"I don't know what you did, but you can bet your sweet ass we won't let you near her again. Just keep walking Campbell." Lance reputed, folding his arms across his chest.

Frowning, Joey turned to walk away, "I just wanted a hug is all. Whatever."

Behind Lance and Bailey, Michelle was beginning to hyperventilate, her eyes wide with fear and tears threatening to spill out. She was clutching her binder against her chest so hard that her knuckles had turned white. Having never seen her act this way before, they pulled her to the side of the building to try to coax her to relax. It was several moments before she could control her breathing and be able to speak.

"H-he..he tried to rape me over the summer...I-I barely managed to get away..." her voice came out as a soft whisper.

Not believing his ears, Lance angrily asked, "he tried to do WHAT? That bastard! Don't you worry your little head hun, we won't let him near you again." 

"We'll be glued to your side whenever you're here at school love, one of us will be there at all times to walk you to class and hang out with during breaks and lunch okay?" Bailey chimed in, a furious look on her face.

Hearing their response made her cry again, happy that she had such great friends to take care of her when she needed them. Michelle hugged them both tightly, managing a small smile. She was so thankful to have wonderful people to support her. A thoughtful look appeared for a moment on Bailey's face before she turned back to Michelle.

"Do your parents know..?" She asked tentatively.

Shaking her head, Michelle stared at her feet, "You guys were the first ones I've told.."

"I'm glad you trust us enough to tell us first, though I do think your parents should know, I won't press it because I want you to do it when you're ready to say something." Bailey replied, giving Michelle another hug.

The trio turned back towards the building, heading into the office so that Michelle could finish the paperwork that the senior army instructor asked of her. Her friends stayed with her until she finished, and waited with her until her mother came to pick her up in the parking lot. Before getting inside the car, she gave both of her friends a hug and thanked them for being there for her.  

The months passed by uneventfully, her birthday was spent playing laser tag and having a LAN party at her parents' house until 2 in the morning. She went out with her family for Halloween dressed as a vampire in a raggedy, grey dress that was a hand-me-down. Thanksgiving was held at their house, her aunt, uncle and cousins came to visit along with their children, leaving the house filled with laughter and empty liquor bottles strewn across the counters. It wasn't until just before Christmas break that things started to become uneasy.