Page 121 of I Dare You
“Let’s walk,” I suggest, breaking the ice.
Meeting in a public place is the obvious choice, which is why Kit and I chose the botanical gardens.We’re just like everybody else, enjoying a beautiful, warm day.
Marla wears a hoodie, regardless of the humidity, which speaks volumes to me.There’s no point in small talk.We’re not here for that.
“Marla, I’m guessing your encounter with Jack happened recently?”
Her blue eyes widen in surprise.But she confirms my suspicions when she nods.
“But you, Caitlin, you seem a little more pissed off.”
Caitlin scoffs, instantly going on the defensive, folding her arms across her chest and not saying a word.
“You’ve had time to think about what was done to you.Am I right?”
Caitlin eventually nods.I like her spunk.
“Marla, you’re grieving your innocence, while Caitlin, you want to watch Jack get eaten alive.”
It’s the first time I’m seeing any emotion from Caitlin.
Kit doesn’t speak.
“I understand how you’re feeling because I felt everything too.I still do.One day, I’m sad.On another, I’m angered by what was taken from me.But most of the time, I feel fucking insane,” I confess.
The girls listen closely.
“I don’t need to hear your story.I know that you’re telling the truth.What do you gain from lying?It’s not like you can tell anyone what happened.I mean, who would believe us, right?For years, I never knew who my attackers were.They blinded me and then took turns humiliating me, treating me like I was nothing.
“Only recently, I found out that one of those assholes was Jack Bloom.”
Kit’s hand is still in mine.He squeezes it gently, a reassuring touch.
Neither girl offers sympathy as they know I don’t want it.None of us does.We just want to be heard.
And now is their chance.
It’sourchance.
“Together, we have the chance to expose him for the depraved asshole that he is.One confession is merely a whisper.But two, three, ten?Now, that’s a movement.We can’t do this without the other.
“I know it’s scary going up against the Blooms, but we can do this.”
“No one will believe us,” says Caitlin.“No matter how many of us come forward.The Blooms are invincible.”
I understand her concerns.We’ve all thought the same.But they’ll soon change their mind.
“Rebecca Bloom will change that.”
Both girls turn quickly to look at me.They don’t need to say a word.Their horror is clear.
“Rebecca was the one who organized my gang rape.I was to be her little brother’s ‘coming home’ present because he wanted to lose his virginity.But she did it as revenge for my standing up to her.Unlike most, I didn’t kiss the ground she walked on.And this is the price I paid.
“This can’t happen to another woman.Weare the movement.But I can’t do it alone.I need you.I need you all.”
“How is Rebecca going to change things?”asks Marla, pulling down her sleeves to cover her hands.
“We’re going to give Jack an option.We tell the authorities and the media—we run a town meeting and tell anyone who will listen what he did.Or he can turn on Rebecca and reveal what a fucking horrible human being she is.He’ll save himself by doing that and offer us a bribe for our silence.What you choose to do about it is up to you.
