It Happened Last Year

The sixth-period bell rings, releasing us from the classroom. Everyone shuffles out, eager to move onto the last class of the day. Mrs. Hilliard, my English teacher, says her short goodbyes to the students passing her desk. They chime in my ear as I pack up my things.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Goodbye.”

“Don’t forget to revise chapter twelve.”This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

“Quiz on chapter twelve is Friday.”

I sling my backpack over my shoulder and walk past her, but she stops me. “Hailey, you got a great score on your quiz last week, best out of all my classes.” She places the perfect score in front of my eyes, sliding the graded quiz across her desk. “Do you have a strong interest in Lord of the Flies?”

I shrug. “I like English, I like to read, that’s all.”

“Well, I’m impressed. Keep up the good work,” she smiles and I wave as I pass through the door.

English has always been my favorite class, and I started trying extra hard after entering Mr. Russ’ classroom. I strived to impress him.

I walk along the hallway, it is a little emptier now, as the last bell is about to ring any second. As I pass the locker room doors, I hear quiet voices.

“I have to get to class,” the female voice says in a light tone.

I glance at the Male Locker Room sign on the door, then roll my eyes.

“Harrison, I have to go, really.”

I stop then, my eyes shooting back to the door. I reverse and press my ear to it.

“Harrison,” she says more firmly. “Harrison, stop.”

Harrison, I mumbled as he kissed my neck, maybe we should go back to the party?

I was feeling the alcohol now, my head spinning as we sat together on his bed. He shushed me quietly then gripped the bottom of my shirt. My face flushed and I quickly held my clothing down, stopping him from pulling it up.

What’s the matter? He asked.

I didn’t know what to tell him. I was a virgin, I didn’t know the routine he did. All in one night I had had my first flirtatious conversation, my first kiss, and then make out. He wanted more, and I ran out of ideas. How was I supposed to tell the most popular, most attractive guy in school that I wasn’t ready, even though he wanted to?

I want to go back to the party, I lied, I need to find my friends. They wanted to meet up-

My eyes shot to the clock. It read: 10:57.

They wanted to meet up at eleven, I finished.

He pulled away. Come on, Hailey, let’s have some fun. You’ll like it, I promise, Harrison said.

Without thinking, I push the door open and storm into the boy’s locker room. Right in front of me, against the lockers, Harrison stands, almost hiding a girl behind him. He turns at the sound of the door opening, and his eyes are surprised to find me.

The girl slips out from underneath him, cheeks rosy red, and she scurries past me and into the hallway. I have seen her before, she a junior on the dance team, Holly. She must be embarrassed that I have caught them.

The door closes behind her, leaving me with my tormentor.

With all the courage I have, I stand tall and say, “she asked for you to stop.”

He looks utterly annoyed, and he crosses his arms. “You think you can just barge in? You shouldn’t be here, Hailey.”

I swallow. “Holly asked for you to stop. You didn’t stop, did you?”

Harrison stalks towards me, and my back hits the wall. He leans in. “You should have never come back here. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll fly back home to your Daddy.” With that, he swings the door open and disappears into the hall.

The bell rings, and I jump, then I start to cry.

At least he didn’t see me cry.

At that party, a year ago, he held me down when I tried to leave for the door. He grabbed my thighs and told me to relax. He leaned in, kissed me passionately. He laid me down, my head resting on his pillow. He slid up my shirt. He kissed my neck. He grabbed my ass. He grabbed my chest. He held me down.

He didn’t listen when I told him to stop.