Seeking to mend the rift between us, Brad places his hand over mine, his touch tentative yet apologetic. 'I want us to be alright, Rose. I'm so sorry I overreacted earlier,' he confesses. 'You could wear a potato sack and still be one of the most beautiful girls at the academy.'
I raise an eyebrow, slightly taken aback by his remark. 'Er, thanks... I think?' I respond, unsure of how to interpret his words. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I can't help but ask, 'One of the most beautiful girls at the academy? Who else do you think is beautiful?'
Brad shrugs, his eyes focused on the road. 'Well, everyone knows you, Janie, and Martha are,' he admits casually.
'Oh...' I reply quietly, the realisation sinking in. His response leaves me feeling mixed emotions, but I push them aside for now.
'So, we're okay, right?' Brad asks, parking the car across the road from Neilson's house. His gaze locks with mine, a blend of hope and urgency shining in his eyes, begging for forgiveness. I can see his vulnerability and the depth of his care.
My heart swells with happiness as it beats faster. 'Of course, we're okay. We're great,' I assure Brad, squeezing his hand tenderly.
A smile graces Brad's face as he leans in and kisses me. 'Thank you, Rose,' he murmurs, parting from the kiss. He exits the car and opens the door for me, extending his hand. We walk hand in hand toward the front door of Neilson's house.
Half a dozen guys and a few girls from the academy are in the front yard drinking and dancing to the loud music blaring inside the house. Before we reach the front door. I hear Imogen call my name. She runs up behind me and hugs me.
‘Hey, Imogen,’ I smile, and we enter the house.
Imogen doesn’t waste any time. She enters the loungeroom and starts dancing with random people from the academy.
‘Should we dance?’ I ask Brad.
‘Sure,’ he smiles, placing his hands on my waist. He slams my body a little too hard against his and rocks his hips to the music smiling at me.
I’ve never danced with a guy before, and I feel a little disappointed that I'm so uncomfortable dancing with Brad. I should be enjoying it and smiling and laughing naturally, not forcefully.
It doesn’t help I feel there’s more to his agenda, as I can feel his crotch leaning harder against my body as if he’s trying to turn me on.
Jackson, Neilson, and Jarrod enter the room and give each other a strange look as they see Brad grinding his body against mine as we dance. Brad stares at them, then quickly grabs the back of my head, slamming his lips into mine and kissing me forcefully. It’s hurting, just like it did by his locker. I instinctively bite his lip. Brad pushes me off him, startled by the pain. He wipes his bottom lip with the back of his hands and stares at the smear of blood momentarily before staring into my eyes. Neilson, Jarrod and Jackson laugh and point at Brad adding to his humiliation.
Jackson elbows Jarrod, and Imogen stops dancing, realising something is wrong. With my ears perked under my beanie, I hear Jackson talking to Neilson and Jarrod, ‘Looks like Brad’s luck has run out after all. That money and Rose is mine for the taking,’ he says, smiling and rubbing his hands together.
I glower at Jarrod. He stares at me, wondering if I heard him and if so, how I had managed to hear him past all the music and partying in the background.
‘What the hell, Rose,’ Brad says, grabbing my wrist and leading me out of the room towards a staircase. Martha, Sandra and Tori enter the house and watch as I’m led up the staircase to a less noisy room. Brad reaches past and shuts the door behind me.
‘You bit me!’ he shouts.
‘You were hurting me. I had to,’ I reply.
Brad's initial anger quickly fades as he closes in on me, trapping me against the closed door. My heart races with fear as I feel his breath, pungent with the scent of onions, hitting my face.
'There's still time,' Brad says, his voice now laced with a strange tone.
Confusion fills me as I cautiously ask, 'Time for what?'
Imogen's voice grows louder outside the door as she bangs on it. 'Rose, are you in there? Are you alright?' she shouts, concerned for my well-being. However, Brad completely disregards her presence, focusing solely on me.
'For me to forgive you, Rose,' he says, his words carrying a false sense of affection. 'You know I love you, don't you?'
I nod slowly, uncertain of where this is going.
'And I know you don't mean to make me angry, do you?' he adds, trying to manipulate my emotions.
Shaking my head, I deny any intention to upset him.
'Then take off your clothes,' Brad commands abruptly, his request catching me off guard.
'What!' I exclaim, shocked by his audacity.
Imogen's voice breaks through the door again, filled with concern, 'Rose, I can hear you're in there. Please tell me you're okay.'
Just as I'm about to respond to Imogen and assure her of my safety, Brad swiftly covers my mouth with his hand, preventing me from answering. It's a suffocating gesture, silencing my voice.
'Let's show each other how much we mean to each other,' he continues, his words oozing with entitlement. 'Let me make love to you, Rose. Right here, right now.'
I pull away from his hand, my eyes wide with disbelief. 'Are you crazy? I'm not going to make love to you,' I assert firmly, summoning my courage and standing my ground.
Enraged by my refusal, Brad strikes the door with a forceful punch, creating a hole beside me. Instinctively, I crouch down, shielding my head with my arms, trembling in fear.
'Damn it, Rose! Why do you have to be like this!' he shouts in frustration.
Imogen's voice reaches us again through the hole in the door, concern evident in her tone. 'Rose! Open the door.'
'As you can tell, Rose is busy with me right now, Imogen, and I really need the money, so rack off,’ he yells.
Imogen takes a few steps back in fear but doesn’t leave. While Brad grabs my arm, roughly standing me up. He focuses his eyes on mine, and everything starts to make sense.
‘It’s the bet, isn’t it?’ I whisper, tears streaming down my face as the realisation hits me hard.
Brad looks away for a moment, realising I’ve caught on. The truth spills out of him, revealing the ugly reality behind his actions. His words cut through me like a jagged knife.