Chapter 10: The Aftermath

Sylvia, Nikki, and Liz met up with us back on the path outside the garden. When I questioned what they were doing there, Liz indicated that they had been standing guard, just in case anyone heard what was going on and tried to investigate.

I had blushed, wondering how much they heard, and Liz had sighed, saying only, “Enough.”

Becky was waiting for us in the lobby of my dorm, arms folded across her chest as she gave us all once-overs. Will and I of course looked like we’d just finished doing something naughty—which of course we had—but Liz also looked a little roughed up, probably from her tussles with Will. Nikki and Sylvia also looked like they’d been running around for an hour: also more or less true.

“Okay, change of plans,” she said, a note of maternal sternness in her voice. “Nikki, Sylvia, escort Will back to his dorm.”

“But—” he started.

She raised a hand, and he paused. “Will, get some sleep. We’ll be in touch.”

He sighed, then turned to look at me, and gave me a small smile. “Love you,” he said, leaning in for a kiss.

“Love you,” I replied, giving him a peck on the lips.

The four girls shared significant glances as we did so, then Nikki and Sylvia gestured for Will to leave first. He did so, and they followed, both Liz and Becky watching them carefully.

Once they were gone, something about Becky’s demeanor seemed to relax. “Let’s head up to your room. Sylvia left me with a key in case we needed to do this.” she said, starting to walk.

I followed silently, Liz behind me. They didn’t try to engage me in conversation, leaving me just to my own thoughts.

Which was probably good, since I was still trying to process the emotions I was feeling from our whole endeavor.

After all, I had just seen a side of my boyfriend that was more than a little scary. That time, it had just been a game, a planned thing. But what if he lost control again?

On the other hand, I played helpless more than I would in reality. I also wouldn’t have friends helping him. If he ended up being a jerk, they would side with me.

And he had been playing it because I had proposed it. It was my fantasy, and he was fulfilling it.

The physical ache was starting to sink in. I had exerted my body far more than it was used to—and on top of that, I had been raped. Not brutally, but still roughly. The bumps and bruises were starting to make themselves known to me; my throat didn’t feel up for much, and my vagina hurt in a way I never knew it could.

Once back up to my room, Becky grabbed a bottle and pulled out two pills while Liz handed me a water bottle. “Take these.”

I swallowed them, and she presented two more pills that I also swallowed.

“What are they?” My voice sounded rougher than it should have. It hurt to talk.

“Ibuprofen. Melatonin. They should help you relax and get to sleep tonight.” After saying it, Becky glanced over at Liz, then back to me. “Now let’s get you in the shower. Normally after a rape that’s not something you should do until after uh... evidence has been collected and all that, but we’re all very well aware of who did it when and where, and I don’t think there’s any contention as to that fact.”

I blinked a few times, then I finally comprehended what she was implying. “I’m not going to press charges—”

“Didn’t say you were. Just saying what we’d normally do. For now, you need a nice warm shower. Do you want help getting undressed? I know it’s a little awkward, but...”

I shook my head. “I can take care of it.” I stumbled into the bathroom—thoroughly glad to have an ensuite instead of a communal—and mechanically stripped off my clothes and used the toilet. It hurt to do that more than I expected, and in the back of my mind I had a small worry about a UTI with the whole thing.

Before stepping in the shower, I looked at myself in the mirror. I was a right mess, my hair tousled every which way, and with some bruises on my arms and body. And my face...

It was red. A little bruised. Right where he’d slapped me. I rubbed it absent-mindedly.

I’d said slapping was allowed in the rules, but it had hurt.

I was surprised it was showing up at all, but I had normally pale skin. Maybe in a couple of hours it would go away.

But that must have been what Becky had seen. What had caused the change of plans.

Or maybe it was the vacant expression on my face.