Selling the Drama by Theresa Smith Page B

like it. But I heard what you
were both talking about, so there's no need for a recap. I'll talk
to him later. Thanks though, for the cover story. I appreciate your
quick thinking." He kept eating his sandwich, not looking in her
direction at all.
    Charlotte sat, watching him, the silence
stretching between them. "Look at me."
    He gestured to his sandwich. "I'm
eating."
    She reached out and snatched the sandwich
out of his hand. He turned to her then, a look of annoyance
crossing his face. "At last, eye connection."
    "Charlotte, give me back my food."
    "In a minute. Are you alright?"
    "No. I'm hungry. I puked my guts up and then
some an hour ago. I need food."
    "That's not what I'm talking about."
    He looked at her, sighing with frustration
after a few moments. "I don't know. Just give me the sandwich.
Please."
    She handed it back to him, satisfied for the
time being with his response. I don't know seemed far more
realistic than yes, so that was something, she supposed. She got up
so she could get herself the drink she had been wanting before
Jake's visit. He spoke to her as she was leaning into the fridge,
rummaging for a carton of juice concentrate to make up into a
jug.
    "Did you tell anyone about what Damian did
to you last year?"
    She paused, still leaning into the fridge.
Toby's tone was quietly angry, giving her pause to consider the
wisdom of having told him about Damian's assault on her. At the
time, she had been appalled, and embarrassed, and completely aware
of what anyone would have said if she had told on him. She had it
coming, she was a slut anyway, and she probably enjoyed it -
comments such as those, and a whole host more. Truth be told,
Damian had frightened her that night, that was why she had turned
him down. There had been a menacing manner about his advances that
had given her cause for concern. She had thought to herself, while
he was leering at her and attempting to touch her up, that he might
actually hurt her, deliberately, because it would add to the
enjoyment for him. Panic had set in then and she had tried to get
away from him, his resultant reaction a confirmation of her fears.
She just wished she had told Ellie. Then she might have saved her
from the hurt he had inflicted upon her. It was only when Ellie
appeared on her doorstep, sobbing and bleeding, that Charlotte
realised her error in keeping it to herself. Both of them had
spread the word since, quietly warning other girls to steer clear
of him. She thought he knew they had been doing that. He looked at
them both with hate in his gaze and never failed to hiss 'sluts' at
every available opportunity, to have a dig at either of them
whenever he could, just like this morning. Charlotte wondered if he
would be a bit smarter in the future, but she wouldn't go holding
her breath. He didn't entice that sort of confidence.
    She straightened up, the juice in hand,
shutting the fridge and crossing to the sink. "No. I didn't tell
anyone. Later, after he hurt Ellie, I told her and we both started
telling other girls, to warn them. That's why he hates us both. He
knows we've spread it around. We aren't the only one's he's been
pushy with. I think some of the guy's know what he's really like,
but they don't want to get involved. But it's also why they let him
get beaten today. That's why no one stepped in until they thought
you were actually going to get hurt. No one likes him all that
much, not really."
    Toby stood up and crossed to the sink,
leaning heavily against her, his arms trapping her in place. Taking
hold of her chin, he turned her face to his, looking deeply into
her eyes. "It is not okay for a guy to do those things to a girl.
You both should have reported him. Don't you ever, ever let another
guy hurt you and get away with it. It's not okay. Not ever."
    Charlotte nodded, a little daunted by his
intensity.
    "I'm not kidding, Charlotte."
    She nodded once again. "Okay."
    "I don't like what happened today. What I
did. I need to be careful. With