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“I won’t be putting a shirt on for you or any one of your uppity, Belle Fleur buddies. You all think you’re so special,” she said, sneering at them, shaking her head. “You think you’re hot shit because you make good grades, you’re all athletic, and you flaunt your hot bodies for everyone to see. You’re not special. You’re stuck-up snobs who stick together.

“Well, good riddance. Stick together. Keep your big dicks hidden. I’ve got plenty to select from.” She turned and walked across the grassy field, her ass cheeks hanging out the bottom of her shorts. Just as she reached the fence line, two other classmates stepped in front of her, practically salivating at her breasts.

“She’s headed for trouble,” said Patrick.

“Yep. I think we should let an adult know about the pictures,” said Ian. “Especially after that altercation. I wouldn’t want anyone to come back and say we had something to do with it. If you have her number on your phone, block it. I’m going to remove her messages and do the same.”

After a long conversation with Cam and Kate, Ian felt better about how he’d handled the situation with Carla. By the end of the school year, he’d successfully avoided her. Emptying his locker on the last day of school, he spotted Christopher and Patrick consoling their sister, Sadie.

“What’s wrong? Did someone hurt her?” he asked protectively.

“No. They announced in girls’ gym class that Carla was found dead yesterday.”

“Wh-what?” he whispered. Sadie nodded, staring up at him.

“I didn’t like her much, Ian, but she never did anything to me. She didn’t deserve to be raped and left in a ditch.” Ian swallowed, trying not to vomit.

“What do they know?” he asked.

“Only that she went to meet someone that she’d met online. It was the pictures, Ian. Just like you warned her. She sent pictures to some guy, and he wanted to meet up with her. They’re trying to find everything now.”

“Did they call Dad and the others?” he asked.

“We asked the principal if he’d contacted them, and he said the parents didn’t want to. They said, and I quote, ‘it’s a family matter, not something for those rich folks.’”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” he asked.

“We can’t force our help on them, Ian. They either want it or they don’t. End of story.” He knew that his friend was right, but it sickened him to know that it could have been prevented if someone other than him had spoken to Carla.

At dinner that night, both of his parents saw the look on his face, and they knew he was feeling guilty about Carla.

“Is this about Carla?” asked Kate.

“You know?” he said, looking up at his mother.

“We know, son,” said Cam. “One of the teachers called us, but the parents don’t want our help. We worked behind the scenes with the sheriff’s department anyway to try and help. It wasn’t hard to track down the man. It was her uncle. Her mother’s brother. He sent the text message to meet her.”

“Her uncle?” he whispered in horror.

“He claimed she’d been flirting with him for years, teasing him with her body. Even if she had walked through the house naked, it’s not an excuse, Ian. That man will get the electric chair for what he did to that girl.”

“I tried to warn her, Dad. I know enough about what you all do that I didn’t want her to get caught up in something. She thought it was all a joke and called us all prudes and snobby, stuck-up.” Ian shook his head.

“It’s not your fault, Ian. She made her choices, horrible, horrible choices, and no one from her family tried to talk to her. This is why we do what we do. It’s why we exist.”

“Are you okay?” asked Kate, gripping her son’s hand. Ian looked at his mother, then turned to his father.

“Dad? I know that you weren’t always a ‘good boy,’ as Grandpa says it, but did you ever force yourself on a girl?” Cam was almost offended, but the truth was, it was a legitimate question.

“Never. I never forced a girl or woman to do anything, and I never would. I wasn’t a good boy, Ian, because I figured if a girl wanted it, I should give it. I should have turned them away. I should have been strong, but I wasn’t.

“I’m very proud of the way you behaved with Carla. I’m sure it would have been very easy to meet her somewhere and let her do what she wanted. You’d get your enjoyment, but believe me, you’d walk away feeling like shit about yourself and about her.”

“I’m sorry I asked,” he said, shaking his head.

“Don’t be,” said Cam. “When I was accused of something wrongfully in my senior year of high school, everything changed for me after that. I changed my ways, changed the kind of man I was to become. Falling in love with your mother and having you was the best thing in my life.”

“Thanks, Dad. Thanks, Mom.” He kissed them both, moving to the table with his friends.

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