Page 55 of Every Hidden Truth

Caroline introduced her date, and we shook his hand before taking our seats. I hung my coat on the back of my chair, flushing when Ben batted my hands away and pulled out my chair like a gentleman so I could sit.

Jordan showed up soon after with his date, a junior named Amber from theater, and Julian and Iris appeared moments later. Ronnie and Esther were the last of our group to arrive. When she allowed Ronnie to take her coat, revealing the strappy purple dress under a black cardigan, I waltzed over and hugged her in greeting.

“You look beautiful,” I whispered in her ear.

She surprised me with a chaste peck to my cheek. “Thanks. Love the suspenders.”

After our meal, we split into our separate vehicles again and headed to the school. Light snow drifted from the black sky as we parked in the already full lot. Overall, I didn’t love Indiana winters or snow, but a white Christmas was always better than dreary rain—the usual alternative.

“I miss the warmth of California.” Ben stared into the sky as the snow dusted his hair like powdered sugar. “But the snow here is beautiful.”

“Yeah, it is,” I agreed as I gazed at his gorgeous self, the snow melting in his curls until they glistened. He caught me staring and blushed.

Without preamble, I snagged his tie and tugged him down to my height, kissing him soundly. He returned the affection, his thumb grazing my jaw.

Something flashed behind my closed lids, and I pulled back to investigate. Headlights from passing cars illuminated us periodically, and I ducked my head, hoping no one was staring.

I wasn’t ashamed, but I felt protective of this. I’d spent nearly four years having these people stick their noses into my business or try to shame me for who I was. I didn’t want them invading this. Ben was too important, and they had no place here. This was mine—ours.

“Enough softcore porn!” Ronnie bellowed from across the lot, ruining our next snowy kiss, and Ben grimaced.

“He’s your friend,” I said, and he rolled his eyes, disentangling us and hauling me toward the school where a bass rhythm pumped through the open doors.

The cafeteria had been decorated as a winter wonderland, sparkling paper snowflakes twirling from the ceiling as glittery gauze draped over the columns storing the room partitions. It looked nice, all things considered.

Music pulsed through the room, and in the center of the linoleum, swarmed a sea of dancing bodies. A table stood to the side holding various hors d’oeuvres. Our principal hovered over the punch, eyes sharp as a hawk. I pitied the fool who even contemplated spiking the drinks.

Two round tables had been claimed by our party, and Ben and I joined the chattering group, taking the two seats between Esther and Julian. Sipping at punch, we talked and laughed with the group, playing a game of musical chairs as we moved around to mingle. Eventually, Caroline and Kim dragged their dates onto the dance floor, and Jordan followed, yanking a somewhat begrudging Amber behind him.

I grimaced at the mass of gyrating bodies, and before Ben could ask me to join them, I decided to take a pee break. The men’s restroom wasn’t overly full, and I used the stall quickly, ignoring the shuffling of too many feet coming from the one next door. Someone giggled and dress fabric peeked from underneath the partition as a girl knelt on the dirty floor.

Gross!

I escaped the bathroom quickly, gagging as two younger boys hovered near the occupied stall to listen to some nameless girl giving head. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t against blowjobs, but doing it in a messy bathroom with numerous people creeping around was not my idea of a good time.

Exiting the restroom, I hesitated at the sight at the end of the hall opposite the cafeteria. The familiar meathead from Boyt’sposse, Thing One—or was it Shawn?—towed a tall, lanky girl down the corridor. She wasn’t resisting him, but the pressure he had on her arm appeared too tight. And she was shaking her head.

It wasn’t my business, yet I couldn’t walk away. I stood rooted to the spot as the girl dug in her heels. “Shawn, not here,” the girl was saying, her tone more annoyed than frightened. “You’re hurting me.”

“Come on, baby, don’t be like that. You’ve been teasing me all night, and you look so fucking hot in that dress.” He leered at her, leaning for a kiss which she dodged.

“I want to dance. Can’t we go back?”

This time, she tugged out of his grip, and his face darkened. “Erin, I swear to God.”

He grabbed at her again, and her cry of protest thawed my frozen feet. “Shawn, no.”

“Stop being a prude.”

“Hey!” I barked, and the duo stilled, rubbernecking in my direction. “Dude, she said no.”

Erin flushed in embarrassment, and she stepped closer to Shawn as she eyed me distrustfully. Shawn, on the other hand, glared. Cementing her to his side with an arm around her waist, he squared his broad shoulders.

“Mind your own fucking business,” he snarled, and Erin’s eyes jumped between us, indecisive.

My fists clenched, and I took a hesitant step forward, unable to truly separate myself from the girl across the hall. Ben had stepped in for me that night, and maybe I could pay it forward. I didn’t know this girl, but it didn’t matter. If she needed someone to back her up, I would do it.

“No means no, asshole. If she doesn’t want to go with you, then let her go.”

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