I kick him hard enough in the right place and he releases my hands with a groan.
I jump down from the counter and run for the door. His hands are around my waist, and he throws me to the ground. My head bounces off the tiled floor, blurring and doubling my vision. But I see the unmistakable outline of a gun. He straddles me and I struggle against his eager hands. The strap to my dress rips. I scream again through the cloudiness and he shoves the gun at my throat.
I hear the door burst open and someone tackles Adam, pulling him off me. The gun drops and slides across the floor. I cower near the bathtub and see Casper punching and threatening Adam, his eyes wild with rage. Within seconds, Adam falls unconscious.
A couple of guys rush inside the bathroom and talk to Casper, but I don’t know what they’re saying. They grab Adam and take him out of the bathroom.
Casper turns to me and his brown eyes soften. He moves next to me and checks me for injuries. I can’t stop the tears or the violent shaking. He wraps his arms around me and pulls my head against his chest.
“It’s over,” he whispers. “It’s okay.”
I cling to him.
He picks me up and carries me out of the bathroom. I can probably walk, but I don’t want to let go of him. My head thumps with the bass of the music so I rest it against his shoulder. He walks down the stairs, sets me on my feet, and fetches my coat. At least, I think that’s what he said.
The music is too loud. There are too many people surrounding me. The lights blind me, and I have no idea where Cherry is. I have to get out of here. I can’t breathe. I hold the strap to my dress and walk out the front door. A few seconds later, Casper places my coat around me.
My head throbs. My back stings like it’s been cut and my face tingles. Somehow, we make it to his car. I don’t remember the walk, but every little noise makes me jump and I can’t stop shaking.
I don’t know what to do. I want to curl up in a ball and cry.
“I’ll take you to the hospital.”
He opens the door for me, but I reach for him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Thank you,” I say through thick tears.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re safe.”
My arms are still around him. It’s like I can’t let him go. He holds me tight around the waist, almost protectively.
“I don’t want to go to the hospital.”
“You have to, Megan. You’re bleeding. We have to tell the police.”
“I don’t want my parents to know.”
He exhales. “I’ll take you to my house. My mom can help. And don’t argue.”
He helps me in his car, and I lean against the seat, but it hurts too much. It feels like the glass from the mirror is stuck in my skin. I shuck off my coat, hoping there isn’t too much blood on it. Casper climbs in and starts the engine.
He curses and removes his shirt, revealing a white t-shirt underneath and lightly presses it to my back.
“You’re bleeding badly,” he says and speeds away, racing to his house.
I have to call Cherry. I reach into my bag and pull out my phone. I click on her name and she doesn’t answer. I call again. No answer. I call again. No answer. I type in a text for her to call me.
Casper and I are quiet on the way to his house. I bite my lip hard, trying to keep myself from crying. I don’t want to cry. I can’t. I refuse.
I wish Cherry would call me. I need to talk to her. When we pull into Casper’s driveway, my phone rings. I relax a little when I see Cherry’s name.
“Meg!” she shouts into the phone and I can tell she’s had more alcohol. “Sorry I missed your call. We were...well, you know. Where are you?”
“I left already.” I bite my lip to keep it from quivering. “I—”
“What? Why? Are you with Casper?”
“Yes. I was—”
“You went home with him?”
I clench my teeth, but I quickly lose my anger. “Cherry, I was…attacked.”
She gasps. “What? Where are you? Are you okay? What happened?”
“I’m at Casper’s. His mom’s a nurse.”
“What? Aren’t you going to the police? What happened?”
“I’ll tell you about it tomorrow. I wanted to tell you where I was.”
“I don’t trust him. You shouldn’t go there. Let me take you to the hospital.”
“I’ll be fine. I promise. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Megan.”
“I’ll call tomorrow.”
“Fine,” she says and hangs up.
My heart sinks. I can’t help the tears as they fall like escaping ants. I cover my face with my hands.
I feel Casper’s hand on my shoulder.
Most of the lights are out in Casper’s house and we come in through the kitchen again, but this time he leads me upstairs to his room. The last time I was in his room, he yelled at me because he thought I was performing some sort of witch magic on him. And now he saved my life. I can’t imagine what would have happened had I not invited Casper.
He shows me his bathroom, which is enormous. The bathroom has double sinks, a garden tub with a window, a separate shower, a closet toilet, and a closet further back. If this is his bathroom, I hate to see what the master looks like.
“I’m gonna get my mom,” he says. “Here are some towels.” He rushes out of the room and a few seconds later comes back with a woman my height with blonde hair, like Casper’s. She has brown eyes that are immediately worried
