Page 63 of Distortion
I watch her rummage around in her closet for a minute with the comforter still wrapped around her.
My phone rings. It’s Mav.
‘Hey,’ I say, turning away from the screen. ‘Any updates?’
‘The results were skewed. I’ll have to run the tests again.’
I sigh. ‘How long will that set us back?’
‘A week.’
‘Fuck!’
‘Yeah. I’ll try to get it done faster, but if I rush it, I’ll end up having to do it again.’ There’s a pause. ‘How’s Daisy?’
‘Cold.’
I hear a sigh. ‘Keep me updated.’
I turn back to the camera.
She’s not on it.
Shit!
I bring up the others and find her in the kitchen. She’s asking some of the others if they have any painkillers. They’ve been told not to help her, so all of them tell her they’re out just like I did. She seems not to hear the barely concealed laughter. One of the guys close behind her pretends to start humping her and giggles break out as she whirls around, but she doesn’t see him doing it. Another one does the same and the sniggers get louder.
And then one gets too close and brushes against her.
She recoils instantly and then freezes.
No one’s to touch but us!
I’m out of my room and hurtling down the stairs before I realize it. I force myself to slow at the last minute and when I appear in the kitchen, it looks as if I’m there by chance, not that I’m rushing down to make sure she’s okay.
I walk past her and I hear the juniors muttering to each other as I grab a glass and get myself some water. It’s the usual trio: Marcus, Pete, and Rob plus some of the pledges.
‘Hey, want some more juice, retard? We can play that game you liked so much if you want. How many shots do you think we can trick her into drinking?’
‘At least six before she starts breaking shit and falling over. Fucking lightweight.’
‘I cracked up for hours.’
I don’t react to their taunts even though I want to.
Neither does she, and when I turn back around, she’s still standing there, looking at nothing.
How does she take it without reacting?
‘I think we broke her.’
And then one of them steps close.
‘Hey, retard, wake up!’ He snaps his fingers in her face and she flinches.
She turns away and one of the juniors blocks her escape.
She pauses, and then walks around him, and he laughs with the others as she goes slowly upstairs again.
