| Chapter Eight Patty walked out into the bright sunshine of the May afternoon and headed towards her car. She was bouncing along happily, humming the tune of the new *Nsync song, when she saw someone in the parking lot, pacing back and forth where her car was. Squinting, she saw it was Justin. What the hell is he doing? She thought. �Justin?� She said when she got closer. Justin looked at her, doe eyed. �Hey Patty. Whatcha doing?� �I was fixing to get some lunch. What are you doing?� Patty asked, looking at him strangely. He had a look on his face, a mix of nervousness and fear. �Ahh, nothing. Just about to take a walk.� Patty shook her head. �Oh no honey, it�s too hot. You obviously aren�t from Texas. The heat will kill you if the rattlesnakes don�t first.� He tittered, a high-pitched, nervous laugh. It sent chills up Patty�s spine. Something was wrong with this guy. �I can give you a ride, if you want,� she offered. Justin looked from her to the car. �Okay.� �Where were you headed?� �Anywhere but here.� They got into the car and took off. �I was going home to eat. Is that okay?� Patty asked. Justin nodded. Patty glanced at him. Although he still looked a bit peaked, he was noticeably more relaxed. I wonder what�s up, Patty thought anxiously. They pulled up into the driveway at Patty�s house and went inside. Dawnovan was in the kitchen, making a sandwich. �Hey guys, what�s up?� Dawnovan greeted, licking a bit of mayonnaise from his finger. �Hi Dawn,� Patty said tiredly, giving him a peck on the cheek. �This is Justin. Justin, this is Dawnovan. Is Jade around?� The two men nodded to each other. Justin looked like he was going to be sick. �She�s at the audition today. And I seriously hope she gets it. If I hear �Dammit Janet� one more time, I�m gonna kill her.� Dawn and Patty laughed. Dawn stopped. �Are you okay, man?� Dawn asked, looking at Justin with knitted eyebrows. �Yeah,� Justin squeaked. �Can I sit down?� Patty led him into the living room. Justin sat with his head in his hands; Patty was sitting next to him, her hand on his back. He was breathing jaggedly. Dawn came into the living room with his sandwich and sat down on the recliner across from them. Patty and Dawn exchanged a look like What the hell? but neither said anything. �Justin, what�s wrong?� Patty asked softly. �I�ve just been� thinking,� he said quietly. �About what?� Patty inquired. �Just� stuff.� They were quiet for another few minutes, only the sound of the central air conditioner kicking on and off filling the air. After a while, Justin said, �I�ve been thinking about a girl I used to know.� �Oh.� Patty paused, unsure of what to say. �An ex-girlfriend?� �Nah, nothing like that,� Justin said. �Just someone I used to know. I haven�t seen her in about five years. But I saw her today. I hadn�t seen her since that night.� Justin�s face crumpled and his eyes filled with tears. �What night, Justin?� Patty pressed. Justin inhaled deeply and ran his hands over his short hair. �Since the night I raped her.� Chapter Nine HOME |