Page 28 of Behind the Bars

I’m not a whore, I’m not awhore…

My mind was fogged, and one of Todd’s followers looked my way. “Everyone knows you love screwing around with guys,Hollywood.”

“Leave me alone.” I started walking away, unsure where I was heading, unsure what had happened toElliott.

“You just committed social suicide,” Todd barked. “You might as well go hang out with that fucking loser in thestable.”

I paused. “What did you do tohim?”

The guys started laughing, and Todd raced his blood-tinted hands through his hair. “Let’s just say he got himself into a shittysituation.”

My hands balled into fists, and I started back in Todd’s direction. “If you hurthim—”

“He hurt himself by being a little bitch. Come on, guys. Let’s go find some chicks withoutherpes.”

Assholes.

I darted toward the stable, unsure what I would find when I entered. As I opened the door, my stomach formed knots and I hurried inside, checking each area in search of Elliott. The smell of horse poop was strong, and I covered my nose with my T-shirt, trying not togag.

“Eli?” I whispered, my voice low as I saw him balled up in the corner. He hadn’t looked up once and was rocking back and forth with his head tucked between his knees. I hurried over to the gate and unlocked it. “Oh my God…” I started in his direction, and he stood quickly, completely thrown off. As he turned around, he flinched, as if he was terrified it was someone else coming into the space. His eyes were wide, and I noted his earbuds werein.

When he realized I wasn’t one of the jerks, his shoulders sagged. Then, the embarrassment setin.

“It’s okay,” I told him, taking a step in hisdirection.

“No!” he ordered, holding both hands up. “Don’t.”

I stood still and watched him gag, spitting up. When he was done, he blinked hard and walked past me, hurrying outside. I followed afterhim.

“Elliott!” Icalled.

He paced back and forth. “I sh-sh-shouldn’t have come! I shouldn’t h-have come!” he stuttered over and over, his handsshaking.

“We just need to get you cleaned up,” I said calmly, my hands up in an attempt to comfort him. “It’sokay…”

“There’sshitin mymouth!” he shouted, his anger strong. Then, he took a breath and turned my way. His eyes were filled with sadness and apologies. “I’m s-sorry I c-cussed atyou.”

Oh,Elliott.

It was my fault. I should’ve never forced him to come to the party. I should’ve never pushed him into a situation like this, but I hadn’t had a clue anything like this would happen. I mostly figured he’d have a chance to stand up to the bullies and I’d be there to back him up, but I wasn’t. I wasn’t there for him when he needed me the most. He had trusted me, and I’d let himdown.

“I c-can’t go home, not like this. I can’t go home. I can’t. My sister, my mom…I told them it was better. I told them the bullying stopped. I-I-I told…” His voice shook and shook as my gut twisted inknots.

“Come to my place,” I toldhim.

He paused his pacing. “What?”

“You can come to my place and shower. I can give you some of my mom’s boyfriend’s clothes. Your family won’t even know what happened, Ipromise.”

“But your familywill.”

I shook my head. “No. Ray took my mom to a concert and then to network afterward. They’ll be out all night. No one’shome.”

He grimaced. “You’ll have to smell me the whole waythere.”

I gave him a tiny smile. “I’d rather walk next to a poop-smelling Elliott than ever look at a poop-looking Toddagain.”

He gave me a small grin back. I walked over to him, took the sleeve of my shirt to wipe his faceclean.

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