Destined

Twenty Eight

Celine was staring at me like I was holding a gun to her head.

"I really hate to bring this up again, it's just bothering me,"
"Krissy, you're scaring me, what happened?"
"Nothing happened. I'm just trying to tie up loose ends,"
"Why?"
"Just humor me, Celine," I said. "Tell me, in as much detail as you can, what happened the night your brother was killed,"
She sighed, "I told you. He'd gotten home from somewhere, I don't know where. He seemed...happy I guess. I left him in the kitchen making a sandwich and I went up to my room. And that's where I had an episode and started crying. Roger must have heard me, because he barged into my room, which it seems I forgot to lock. He tried to calm me down, but I was inconsolable. I told him what happened,"
"What did you tell him?" I asked.
"That I had snuck out the week before. I went to a Grazier House party. And while I was there, someone raped me,"
"What do you remember about the rape? I'm sorry to have to put you through this,"
"I was outback, trying to get away from the noise so I could call a cab. I'd just connected when someone grabbed me. Next thing I knew, I was on the ground and someone was kissing my neck,"
"Did he say anything?"
"Not at first, but as he started to move my dress around, he started mumbling, stuff like, 'I've been watching you all night' and 'I've been dying to have you,' I was fighting him off, but he had my whole lower body pinned to the ground, there was no escaping that. His one arm had my hands above my head and his other was...."
"You don't have to tell me that. Did you hang around any of the guys specifically?" I asked.
"No, my friends and I kept to ourselves mostly,"
I nodded, "What did Roger say when you told him this?"
"He flipped out. He got angry. Then he told me he'd be right back,"
"He just left?"
"Yes, he said he was going to find whoever did this to me and make them pay. And then he was gone,"
I nodded, "Okay, thanks Celine,"
"What loose ends are you tying up, Krissy?"
"I don't want to bring your hopes up, Celine. Just trust me, okay?"

She nodded and got out of my car. Next, I went to see Matthew at his dorm.

"Hey," he opened the door with a smile.
"Why didn't you tell me you and Liz were together?" I asked walking in.
"She didn't want anyone to know,"
"It was her idea?"
"Yeah, well, we were just fooling around at first, but the more we hang out, I started to really like her, but she got...crazy,"
"Crazy?"
"The night of your party, she claimed I was toying with her and it was you I wanted,"
"Is that true?"
"Is what true?"
"Do you like me?"
He inclined his head, "I did, once, like back in high school,"
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because back then, you were with that retard, Joshua, and then you were so sad when you guys broke up, it didn't seem like the right time. Then we met again here, but I was with Alya. And then Alya and I broke up, but I didn't want a relationship at that exact moment, I wanted something, less, and you're not the type of girl who does....less,"
"And Liz is?"
"No, I don't know. Look, she kissed me that night, of the party, I blamed it on her being drunk, and I wasn't going to pursue it. But before I knew it, you and Vince were everywhere and I just wanted to get rid of what I was feeling,"
"So you used Liz?"
"Well, she didn't mind,"
"Because she freaking likes you," I hit him with my bag.
"Ouch," he rubbed his arm.
"How could you, in good faith, play with her feelings like that?"
"Oh no, you're not going to victimize her. I didn't know she liked me. For me, I thought we were just two people letting off steam. That's how she put it anyway. The whole thing was her idea anyway. And she chose to keep it a secret. I was only respecting her wishes. And then I started to like her, and I told her I did. She's cool and fun and crazy, in a fun, never a dull moment kind of way. But she shot me down and now she won't talk to me,"
"What? When did you tell her?"
"A few weeks ago. She said she liked how things were. And she started acting weird. She didn't want to see me as much. And when she did, she'd find something to fight about. But then, there were times she'd be super cool. We'd hang out, a movie, the beach, or just study, and talk for hours on end. She has this way of just lifting my mood. She'd come over after practice and... I don't know, Krissy. She's just been up and down,"