Page 66 of Pretty Cruel Love

“What were you wearing that night?” he asks. “Did your attire scream ‘I’m just here to have a good time,’ or did it scream something else?”

Clothes can’t fucking talk…

“Mr. Sorenson, I’m telling you the truth. Jonathan Baylor raped me in the bathroom, and he knows he did because he said, ‘Sorry. Always wanted to know what you felt like,’ when he was finished.”

“That doesn’t sound like my son at all.” His father fumes, but Mr. Sorenson shoots him a pointed look.

“Let Miss Pretty finish telling her story. No more interruptions from you, please.”

I nod and walk them through the night step by step, every second of that terrible party the football team invited me to.

The very moment when I slipped into the bathroom to order an Uber and was met with the unwanted delivery of Jonathan’s cock instead.

As I speak, I can’t help but stare at Jonathan’s huge hands. He flexes his fingers gently, far softer than he did when he plunged them deep inside me.

His state championship ring stares at me in defiance, and I can still feel the way its rough ruby jewel scraped my inner flesh.

“Okay, Miss Pretty.” Mr. Sorenson nods. “Thank you for telling your side. Now, before I make my next move, I want you to know that an allegation like this?—”

“A lie like this.” Jonathan’s father interrupts. “It’s a lie, sir.”

“Yes, well…” The principal avoids my gaze. “Let’s not get distracted by the semantics. This honestly sounds like nothing more than a ‘he said, she said’ case, and I’d hate to see a young person’s life ruined over it.”

Jonathan’s hands finally stop moving, and I slowly look up at his face.

There’s no remorse in his eyes, not a single shred of guilt.

His lips curve into a slow smirk and I know right then and there that he could sexually assault me on this floor, in full view of Principal Sorenson, and never suffer any consequences.

“I heard you’re here on a partial scholarship,” Jonathan’s father says. “Is that true?”

I don’t answer him.

“I imagine it must be stressful having to balance this high level of academics, along with a double art track and your part-time waitressing job…” He pulls a wallet from his breast pocket, then tears off a check for the principal.

“Please see to it that the amount you write is enough to cover Miss Pretty’s tuition in full. Also throw in an extra twenty-five thousand to give to her upon graduation. She might want to take a fun and relaxing gap year before college.”

More words are said between us, fake apologies about the “misunderstanding” are uttered, and then promises about this incident never being recorded are smoothed over with a handshake.

I’m left alone to “think things over” in the attached study room.

Math has never been my favorite subject, but I know that the cost of tuition and twenty-five thousand dollars will never be enough to make me ever forget about being raped…

30

SADIE

Day Eleven

The truth serum doesn’t make me feel as loopy or out of control this time.

Probably because Ethan administered it himself.

It’s still potent, but I think I could lie my way around Robin if she tries asking about sex again.

I smile at the memory of Ethan taking hold of me in his bathroom, wishing he’d do it all over again—wishing he’d done it a lot sooner.

“Miss Pretty,” he says, looking at me through his mask, “are you ready for today’s session?”

---