Destined

Fourteen

I found all the girls seated at the dining table.

"You've finally showed up," Talia said and I laughed.
"I should be saying that to you," I said. "Maddie, you still look terrible,"
"Gee, thanks," she answered.
"You sure took your time at that store. Why weren't you answering your phone?" Liz asked.
"Oh," I was too busy staring at Mr. Hunky Pants. " Sorry, Vince came..."
"I knew it!" "Oh my gosh," "Finally!"  They all screamed in unison.
"That man has the hots for you," Liz said.
"I know I was drunk, but he was there last night, at Gloria's, wasn't he?" Maddie asked.
"Yes, and you called him Mr. Hunky Pants, twice," I said.
She gasped, "Oh no," she covered her face as the others laughed.
"So, spill," Talia said.
"Nope, You first. You didn't come home last night and weren't in church today," I said.
She smiled, "Tyler took me out to dinner, at some restaurant off campus. Was really fun, food was pretty good, then we went out to a trendy bar, and he introduced me to this tropical drink that you guys just have to try. Then we went for a walk near the Transient Ponds and just talked,"
"And why didn't you come home?" Liz asked.
"That girls is for me to know and you to wonder," Talia laughed and stood from the table.
"Hey, we need details," Liz called after her.
"You're one to talk, where'd you go?" I asked.
She smiled, "That's for you to wonder too," she left the table.
"Are you okay?" I asked Maddie once the other girls were gone.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she stood and took her mug to the kitchen. I followed her.
"You got pretty drunk last night, that's very unlike you,"
"I'm sorry about last night, I was just in a bad place, but I promise I'm better now,"
I nodded, "You know I'm here if you need me, we all are,"
She sighed, "I saw him that night,"
"What?"
"Roger, I saw him that night,"
"At the party?"
She nodded, "We had a fight,"
"About what?"
"The usual, we were back together, dating in secret, but I couldn't handle it. Seeing other girls throw themselves at him because they thought he was available, so when I saw him at the party, the party he said he didn't want to, wasn't going to, attend, well I lost it. And the dude couldn't even be bothered to talk to me. He was in such a rush, he didn't even bother to speak to me, and I slapped him," she laughed humorlessly. "I slapped him and stormed off and the next thing I knew, he was dead," she was crying again.

Maddie wasn't in the mood to talk anymore, especially since she succumbed to her tears and didn't want anyone else to witness it. I sat in my room feeling helpless. I couldn't tell my friend that the reason her secret boyfriend was in such a rush was because he was trying to find his sister's rapist who could most likely be his killer. I frowned. I had to talk to Celine. Somehow, I had to convince her that keeping quiet about what happened to her was doing more harm than good. But what right did I have to do that? I'm not the one that got raped. In the end it wasn't my decision. But the girl needed help and I was determined to give it to her in any way I could.

I didn't sleep that night. I spent a few hours studying but ended up reading Vince's draft. I was up until five a.m. completely swallowed up by his words. Through the sad parts and the happy parts and the parts that made me want to pull my hair out. Once I got to the end, I picked up my phone and called him.

"Kristina," he answered almost immediately.
"I love it," I said. "The book," I clarified. "It's equal parts amazing and infuriating, and...wow, I have so much to say, I'm not sure what to start with,"
"Okay, come over,"
"What?"
"Come over, we'll talk over breakfast,"
"Now?"
"Why not? We're both up,"
"It's five in the morning," I said.
"That didn't stop you from calling,"
I smiled, "Did I wake you?"
"I'm an early bird, so, are you coming?"
"Give me half an hour,"
"Looking forward to it,"

I jumped into the shower, putting extra shampoo in my hair, and got dressed in thick wool leggings and a cute turtleneck sweater over a tank top and under a huge denim jacket. After pulling my hair up into a messy bun, let's face it, that's the only kind of bun my hair is capable of, I pulled on some socks and boots. Grabbing a bag and filling it with necessities and the draft, I left.