“Your friends?” I thought about Viola and Kerry.
Were they her friends, or was one of them her girlfriend?
I felt like an asshole for even thinking it. But I wanted to understand what exactly was going on.
As though she could read my mind, Delaney said, “It’s not Kerry or Viola, if that’s what you’re thinking. They’ve been … distant, ever since I told them.”
“That was incredibly brave of you.”
“Yeah, but now the boys treat me funny, like it’s ‘hot’ that I like girls so they tease me about it. And the girls look at me weirdly, like just because I’m friendly toward them, it means I’m interested in them … like that, you know?”
“How did they find out?” I asked, tentatively. I was afraid to say anything wrong, afraid of doing something that would halt the conversation completely. It felt good to have her opening up to me but hearing the truth of what she was going through with her peers, made me furious … and heartbroken.
“Because I’m dating someone.”
This is news to me.
“Oh? Is it anyone I know?”
Truth be told, I barely knew anyone in Delaney’s life anymore, besides Kerry and Viola.
Delaney shook her head. “Her name is Mary. We met in science lab.”
I waited for her to say more.
“Kerry and Viola acted weird about it. Asked me if I ‘had a thing for them too’. I told them I didn’t and when they asked if I was a lesbian, I tried to explain to them that I was bi. Next thing I know, the whole school is talking … and …”
“And?” I reached over and took her hand in mine. For once, she didn’t pull away from me.
Delaney reached behind her and picked up her phone. I watched her enter in the same code I’d put in the other day, wordlessly.
She held up the same naked photo of the boy I’d seen the other day. But, wait … no, it wasn’t the same. It was a different photo, but similar. No face, just the lower half, and a boy gripping his penis … only different, from another angle …
I felt sick to my stomach.
“Who is sending those pictures?”
“A boy from school. Sometimes he sends messages with them like, ‘Come back to the dark side. You can’t say no to this dick. Better yet, bring a friend along’.”
I cringed, listening to her mimic those hateful, nasty words.
“That’s so horrible.”
“Can I change my number?” she asked, eyes brimming with tears.
“Of course you can. I’ll call first thing in the morning and get it done. But about school … I know you don’t want me to say anything, but we have to do something. Will you at least tell me who this boy is? I could call his parents …”
“Just let me handle it, okay?” Delaney wiped her tears away and sat up straighter, her ego returning.
She flinched when I reached in for a hug, but I pulled her in to me anyway.
“I love you. You are the most amazing girl I know. And you’re strong. So freaking strong. We’ll get through this, I promise.”
And just like that, her body loosened in my arms.
Tears were sliding down my cheeks, but all I could feel inside was my chest boiling over with rage.
I should kill that fucking kid for hurting my daughter.
Startled by the thought, I tried not to think about the last time I’d felt this angry, about how those angry thoughts could easily morph into something darker …
Chapter 26
1993 - Andrea
It was two o’clock in the morning when my uncle stumbled through the front door. Philomena and I were side by side, squeezed together like two sardines beneath a braided quilt on the couch.
My uncle was off balance, dropping his keys on the floor, then knocking his hip on an end table as he struggled to turn on the lamp and pick them back up.
“What the hell are you still doing up?” He bellowed. He stared at me with that drunken red squint of his, then his eyes darted over to Philomena.
“And who’s this? You got a lesbo girlfriend you didn’t tell me about me, sweet cheeks?”
I hated that nickname, sweet cheeks. My face burned with shame when he said it. I could feel Philomena’s hand under the quilt, squeezing mine.
“This is Philomena, a friend from school. I hope it’s okay she stayed over …” I said, clearing my throat.
Uncle Phil let out a loud, long burp and, saying nothing, stumbled on into the kitchen. I nodded at Philomena.
My silent words: It’s time.
I stood up slowly from the couch, pushing the blankets aside. Philomena stood, too, clutching the cast-iron skillet in her hand in case we had to knock him over the head with it. She’d been gripping it under the cover for hours, trembling non-stop beside me.
“Uncle Phil?” I tiptoed towards the kitchen, where I could hear him shuffling around.
“What?” he belched. I heard the refrigerator bang open, slam back shut, then the pop of a beer can opening.
When he finished chugging his beer, I was standing in the doorway of the kitchen in the dark.
“What is it? Shouldn’t you go on to bed now, girl?”
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Well, go on then.” He crushed the can in his hands and burped again.
“Two of my other friends came over, too. They’re in the bathtub but they won’t come out.”
“Huh?” he looked at me strangely, one eye open and one eye shut. He was usually drunk when he came home, but tonight, even more so than usual. My guess was that if I let him, he’d pass out in the next few minutes.
“They won’t get out of the bathtub,” I spoke, louder this time.
“They’re in there together?” Phil chuckled. “I knew it! Young girls experimenting, having a little fun … Well, why don’t I check on them for you then, sweet cheeks?”
As he strolled toward the closed bathroom door, Philomena came to stand behind me.
“You ready?” she whispered.
“I think so.”
Uncle Phil twisted the knob and opened the door.
“Why y’all taking a bath with the lights off?” He fiddled with the switch, but nothing happened.
“What on God’s green earth?” he mumbled.
“The bulb over the sink was loose earlier. It might need tightening. I hope they didn’t pass out in the tub …” I called.
“Stupid asses,” he grumbled, stumbling around in the darkened bathroom to get to the sink.
“Now!” Philomena shoved me hard from behind.
I slammed the door to the bathroom shut while she started pushing the cabinet over.
“Hurry!” I shouted, as my uncle shoved on the door. I held the door with all my might, but he managed to get it open a crack. I pressed up against it with all my might pinching his hand in the door in the process.
My uncle howled, a horrible, animalistic sound …
“Just a couple more inches …”
Philomena was beat red as she managed to cover the door with the heavy cabinet. I bent down, and together, we pushed it tight against the surface of the door.
“What the fuck is going on!” Phillip bellowed, pounding the door with both his fists. “This isn’t funny, girls! Stop being little bitches, why don’t ya?”