Page 35 of The Outcast
“Rape is when someone is forcefully taken against their will.”
“Does violence have to be involved in rape?” I asked.
They all nodded.
“Okay, then there’s another difference in our cultures. In France our law is a little different. You need consent to have sex with a person either in words or actions. If your partner turns their head when you try to kiss them that’s a signal they’re not consenting. If they lie passive while you’re on top of them, that’s a sign. The best way to make sure you aren’t overstepping someone’s boundary is by asking them, ‘Do you want this?’”
“But if they don’t want to have sex aren’t they responsible for saying ‘no’ or fighting back?” Bjorn asked.
“No, sometimes people who feel pressured lose their ability to set boundaries. It’s like they retract into their bodies to escape what happens. They don’t fight or verbalize that you’re raping them, but that’s how they’re experiencing the sex act. If your partner shows no participation or enjoyment on their part, you need to stop and ask what’s going on. No one has the right to use someone else’s body without consent. It’s that simple.”
“I like that law,” Bianca stated.
“Good. Because as freaky as you may think we French are, consent is everything to us.”
“But…” Beowulf looked confused. “If a woman brings me to her house, that’s consent, right?”
“No. Think of it as dancing. If you ask a woman to dance and she says yes, that’s fine. But at any time during your dance, she’s allowed to change her mind and stop. Maybe she’s feeling unwell or she’s not enjoying your dancing. Her body is hers and you have no right to keep dragging her around the dance floor just because she initially agreed to dance with you. Even if she doesn’t verbalize her regret, you’ll know because there will be a change in her. Maybe her movements become robotic or she’s dragging her feet. If an encounter ever feels one-sided you need to stop because at that point you’re no longer dancing. You’re violating your sex partner against their will.”
“I hate dancing,” Christopher muttered.
Bjorn elbowed him. “It’s a metaphor for sex, you slow fucker.”
The two men laughed together and didn’t seem to take my warning too seriously. I scanned the others and chills ran down my spine when I saw Keith still staring at Sparrow like a man possessed.
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CHAPTER 11
Best Student
Sparrow
After my experiment with Banni two nights ago, I felt sad that I couldn’t have him, but at the same time there was a new confidence in me. I’d met a new part of myself, my sensuality, and I liked her. She was bold, brave, and fearless.
Banni and I had behaved a little awkwardly around each other today, but I imagined that he worried that I might accidentally reveal something to Aubri or Indiana.
We were two weeks into the program and Banni’s sessions on flirting had changed things at the camp. The eight male candidates practiced flirting on Lilly, Bianca, and me. No one dared try their luck on Aubri since she was the boss and married to Indiana.
All day, I got compliments, from the clumsy ones to the funny ones.
My favorite flirt was Shiva, who was a carpenter by profession and had lost two fingers on his left hand in a work-related injury. Throughout the first week, he hadn’t said much but after we began building the classroom and shower building, he was in his element and he had loosened up.
“What about you, Sparrow? Aren’t you going to be an Explorer?”
“I would like to, but right now, Aubri needs me as her assistant.”
“But if you and I made the same team, we would be sleeping in the same tent. Tell you what, if that happens, I promise to hold your hand if you ever have a nightmare.”
“That’s very kind of you, but I’ll have to stay here for at least a year.”
“So? A year is nothing. I’ll change teams just to be with you and by then I’ll have a ton of experience in more ways than one.”
“You mean as an Explorer?”
Shiva’s brown eyes were full of mirth as he gave a soft laugh. “And a lover. I’m willing to train for a year and then dedicate my expertise to you. What do you say?”
I laughed and noticed both Banni and Keith watching Shiva and me.
