Page 347 of Small Town Firsts

"Just go, Emmy!" Gabe snaps, turning and stomping off to God knows where.

I sniffle, turning to look for Sterling so I can ask him to take me home. I don't know what I did to suddenly make Gabe mad, but I clearly did something.

Frantically, I move through the crowd, looking for Sterling, but he's nowhere to be found.

I reach for my phone, but then remember it's in his car. It's not like this dress has pockets.

"Hey, baby," an unfamiliar voice calls out as I pass.

"What?"

"Wanna go upstairs? My cell has a great camera."

"No. Oh my God. No!" I shove away from him, only to be jostled into another leering face.

"I'll fuck your mouth any day!"

I reel back, the panic washing over me as people move closer. It feels like everyone is looking at me, laughing at me, mocking me. Some have pity in their eyes, while others size me up like they know exactly what’s under my dress.

It feels like I'm in a waking nightmare.

"Come on, Emmy," Zach murmurs, alerting me to the fact that he's still with me. "Let's get you out of here."

"What's going on?" I ask, on the verge of tears. "Why's everyone looking at their phones?"

"Fuck!" Zach pinches the bridge of his nose. "Come on."

It's too much. I sway on my feet, thankful I wore boots and not the heels Stella claimed I needed. "Sterling..." I whimper his name.

"I'll find him," Zach says, alerting me to the fact that he didn't storm off with his boyfriend.

Finally, I see him, but before I can make it to him, the music gets cut and a familiar voice crackles over the PA system.

My voice. It'smyvoice.

"You won't break me.”I hear myself say as sounds of sex fill the room.

Filthy sounds.

Animalistic grunts and pleading groans. The sound of skin slapping skin.

"I'm so close. Oh, God, please."

My gut churns and bile crawls up my throat at the sound of my begging.

I don't even realize I'm crying until the tears dripping from my chin splash against my chest.

My heart races and my legs shake as the obviously and poorly edited sound clip plays.

I spin, looking for the nearest exit, only to find something so horrific, it renders me immobile.

On the far wall, there's a projection screen, with my very own and very non-consensual porno playing for all to see.

It feels like everything is closing in around me, and for the first time since Rob raped me, I feel like I want to die.

It's too much. Everything's too much.

My watery gaze clashes with Sterling's from across the room. He looks stricken, but I know better than most just how deceiving looks can be.