Page 9 of Lexi, Property of Rhyder

“Hey, Zane, didn’t know you were coming tonight,” I yell above the music.

I had finally broken up with Zane after the rape. It was my plan to, anyway, and let me tell you he didn’t take it lightly. He was devastated and kept insisting that we could make things work, but I told him I needed space and that right now I didn’t have time for a boyfriend. We’re friends, but it’s hard when I know he wants more, and I can’t give him that.

“Where else would I be? It’s graduation.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll have a Coke, please.”

Zane looks at me oddly. “A Coke? You do realize we’re at a bar?”

I smile. “Yeah, I know, but I’m underage, remember?

“Oh, I remember,” he says winking. He then leans in and whispers in my ear, “But I have my fake ID.”

He hands me his fake ID and I take it from his hand and read it.

Name:Philip Jones

Date of Birth:June 24th1998

I look up at him. “Really, Zane?”

He laughs. “So, what’s it gonna be?”

“Still just a Coke, please.”

Zane shakes his head then searches for the bartender, but before he can order anything, Diane interrups, “I’ll have tequila, please.”

“And a Corona for me,” Stacey asks.

“What the…”

Stacey places her hand on Zane’s shoulder and bats her eyelashes, “Pretty, please.”

Zane smiles, then turns to the bartender holding up a hundred-dollar note, which immediately catches the bartender’s attention. “What can I get you?”

“Two tequilas, a Corona, and…” he looks at me then back at the bartender, “… a Coke. Thanks.”

Smiling, I accept the soda and sip from it right away. I turn my back to the bar and look out at all the people dancing. The song ‘Don’t Start Now’ by Dua Lipa plays loudly catching my attention. I love dancing. My mom started dancing lessons when I was five years old, but I gave it up when I was sixteen because I couldn’t keep up with it with all the studying. I still love to get my dance on, though.

“Wanna dance?” Zane asks when he notices me moving around the spot.

I smile up at him. “No, thank y—” I’m suddenly nudged hard and turn to yell at Stacey who has a big smile on her face. “What the…”

“Don’t be silly. Go! Dance with Zane. He’s the hottest guy here tonight.”

“Sorry, did you say I was thehottestman tonight?” Zane asks.

Great, how am I supposed to get out of this?

“Here, give me your drink.” I sigh, a big sigh, and narrow my eyes at Stacey handing her my Coke. She has a big smile on her face when she says, “Enjoy.”

Zane skulls his tequila, then slams the shot on the bar. He grabs my hand linking our fingers together, then walks me out onto the dance floor. We begin to dance, and I look around me noticing some of the students from school who wave and smile. Zane’s jock buddies are watching us, and I can’t help but feel we’re giving people the wrong impression, and that we’re back together. I just hope he doesn’t think that it’s a possibility.

The song changes to a slower one. I turn to leave.

Zane grabs my arm turning me in his arms. “Dance with me, Lex, for old time’s sake?”

I look up at him as his arms snake around me landing on the small of my back, pulling me into him. Flashbacks of that night come back in full force when the two boys held me down on the ground.

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