Page 80 of Dreams and Desires

I squeeze her hand, offering a reassuring smile. “Whenever you’re ready.”

Juniper takes a deep breath, steadying herself. The past she’s kept hidden, the secrets she’s guarded so fiercely, are about to come out. And I’m right here, ready to face them with her.

As she begins to speak, I hold her hand tighter, grounding her, and silently promising that whatever she shares, we will face it together.

Chapter Forty

Juniper

Sitting on the plush leather seat of Zade's private jet, I stare out the window, my mind a whirlwind of memories and emotions.

“What happened in high school?” he had asked.

My chest aches as anxiety winds itself tighter around my ribs. This is the moment I've been dreading. But if there's anyone I can trust, it's Zade. His hand is warm around mine, grounding me, and I draw strength from his presence.

“I was always a wallflower in high school,” I begin, my voice trembling slightly. “People bullied me a lot for being fat. I used to think I was invisible, just another face in the crowd. But I had a best friend, Dominique. She was always there for me, supporting me when no one else did.”

Zade's thumb strokes the back of my hand, urging me to continue.

“In our senior year, I fell for this guy, Brian.” Hearing his name, Zade’s eyes widen.

I nod. "Yeah, I’m talking about Brian Ellis. He was the high school heartbreaker, the town's mayor's son. I never thought a guy like Brian would be into me, but he showed interest. Over the summer, we fell in love. Or at least, I thought we did.”

A bitter laugh slips from my lips, more a release of the tightness in my chestthan any real humor. “Dominique tried to warn me that Brian was a jerk,” I admit. “But I was too smitten, too desperate to believe her. One night, we were chatting on Facebook, and he asked me for something... intimate.” My ears burn as I say the words, shame curling in my stomach. But when I glance at Zade, the unwavering support in his eyes gives me the strength to continue. “He asked for my nudes,” I confess, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “I refused so many times. But he kept pushing, kept threatening to break up with me if I didn’t. And in my stupid, naive way, I thought it was what I had to do to keep him interested.”

I inhale sharply, feeling my chest constrict as memories surge back. “So, I sent them,” I admit, my voice quivering with shame. “For a while, I convinced myself it was fine. Brian and I had this thing, just messing around—nothing more than first base. But then one day, he asked me to meet him. I thought it would be just us, like always. But when I got there, his friends were with him too.”

My voice cracks, the weight of the memories pressing down on me, and I feel Zade’s grip tighten protectively around my hand. “They tried to assault me,” I manage to whisper, the words barely escaping my lips. “Brian... he said things, cruel things. Like, how could I ever think a guy like him would actually fall for someone like me?” My throat tightens, but I force myself to continue. “He wanted to do something they called 'hogging.' He wanted to let his friends have a turn.” Tears well up in my eyes, the shame and pain flooding back as I relive the horror of that day.

My voice shakes as the memories hit me hard, and Zade’s grip tightens around my hand. “They touched me. They groped me,” I whisper, barely holding it together. “Brian... he spat in my face, like I was worthless. They laughed and called me disgusting names. I felt so helpless, so trapped, and I just couldn’t stop it,” Tears blur my vision, the pain and humiliation all too real again as I let the words spill out.

I stare out the window, trying to hold back the tears. “But then something in me snapped,” I say, my voice barely steady. “I fought back. I grabbed a rock and smashed it into Brian’s head. He went down, unconscious, and his friends were too freaked out to stop me from running. I ran all the way home, terrified, and told my parents everything.” My voice cracks, and I swallow hard. “But they didn’t believe me. They thought I was making it up. Like, how could someone like Brian, someone so ‘perfect,’ ever be interested in someone like me?”

I wipe my eyes, steadying my voice as the painful memories spill out. “The next day, the police showed up at my door. Brian had woken up and twisted the story, saying that I was the one who lured him to meet up. He told them that I tried to make a move on him, and when he rejected me, I snapped.”

Zade’s hand tightens around mine, grounding me as I push through the memories. “No one believed me. Not my side of the story. All because of how I looked.” I take a deep, shaky breath. “And then they sent me to juvie.”

Zade’s jaw clenches, and I can see the flash of anger in his eyes and the way he’s barely holding back. I know he’s fighting to stay calm.

“But when I got out, six months later, something worse happened.”

“What happened?” Zade’s voice is sharp, filled with a tension that mirrors mine. His eyes search mine, demanding to know and needing to understand.

“Every kid in school suddenly had access to my nudes. The ones I stupidly sent Brian.” I say. “It spread like wildfire. Overnight, I became the town's biggest disgrace. Parents wouldn't let their kids even look at me, let alone come near our house. My parents were social pariahs, and they blamed me for everything, day and night.”

Silence fills the jet’s cabin as I finish speaking. Zade's eyes are dark with anger, but I can see the compassion and understanding there too.

“My parents kicked me out on my 18th birthday, just a week after the photo incident. With nowhere else to go, I just left. I had to get away.”

“I'm so sorry, Juniper,” he says softly and I can feel the remorse in his tone. “You didn't deserve any of that.”

I nod, tears streaming down my face. “I know. But it took me a long time to believe that.”

Zade pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly. “You're safe now. No one will ever hurt you again. I promise.”

Chapter Forty-One

Zade

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