Page 61 of The Surprise Play
“I’m guessing that’s what you’ve been doing for the last however many months, right?” He huffs, his expression dangerous. “How long has this been going on?”
I don’t respond. No way! He will lose it if I tell him everything.
I glance up in time to see his eyes narrow like he’s trying to study me and read my mind, scan back through my history and watch all those ugly, demeaning situations play out in full color.
That can never happen.
I squirm and shuffle a few more steps away from him.
He closes the gap in one smooth stride. “It was last year, too, wasn’t it? Has she been tormenting you ever since you got to Nolan U?”
I close my eyes and shake my head but wonder if it’s just easier to let him believe that.
“She’s not in your dorm, is she?”
I shake my head, relieved that partistrue.
“Satch?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” My voice is so quiet, I sound like a timid little mouse.
Running a hand through his hair, Wily huffs and looks back over his shoulder, like he wants to chase down the viper and let her have it again. “Shit, I can’t believe you’ve had to put up with that. Where the fuck does she get off anyway? Calling you a hippo and talking about your weight like that. What the hell does that stick figure know?”
Oh gawd, I don’t want to talk about my weight!
“I have to go,” I quickly mumble, trying to dart around him.
“No, no, no, I’m sorry,” he rushes out. “I’m trying to make you feel better, not scare you off.”
“You’re not scaring me. I just…” Gripping the sides of my dress, I give them a nervous tug and glance up with a curious frown. “Why are you trying to make me feel better?”
His eyebrows pucker, his head tipping to the side. “Because… someone was mean to you. I didn’t like it, and I’m sure you didn’t either.”
“I… I…” My shoulders hitch, and I’ve probably just given away the fact that I’m so used to this now. I never like it, obviously, but maybe I’m getting better at shrugging it off? “I don’t know,” I end in a whisper.
“Satch…” Wily rests his hand on my arm. “You know it’s not okay for her to talk to you like that, right?”
I nod.
“And you can’t let her get away with it. So, if that everhappens again and I’m not there, you’ve got to promise me you’ll stand up for yourself.”
My face bunches as reluctance storms through me with a resoundingNo way!
Irritation flashes across Wily’s expression, but his voice comes out soft. “Ignoring them is one strategy, I guess. Walking away works, I’m not saying it doesn’t, but damn… I want you to show that bitch that she has no right to treat you that way. I want you to stand tall?—”
I snicker at the absurdity of that statement.
He stops and takes a second to laugh with me before correcting himself. “Okay, fine. I want you to stand as tall as your body will let you, and I want you to tell that girl to shut. The fuck. Up.” He bends down to catch my eye again. “Can you do that for me, Satch?”
“No.” I shake my head and cringe. “Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.”
He gives me a skeptical frown, his left eye twitching. “Yes, you could. Come on. Say it tome.”
“What?” I bulge my eyes at him. “No way.”
“Satch. Come on. Tell me to shut the fuck up.”
“No.”
