Free That Summer (Part One) by Lauren Crossley Page B

afraid about anything, Serena. No one
will bother you or say a single thing that will upset you, I promise you that.”
    He
speaks with such certainty and sincerity, it’s almost impossible to doubt him.
    “Ok.”
    “Goodnight,
Green.”
    “Goodnight
Cole. Thank you.”
    “You
don’t need to thank me, Serena. Not now, not ever.”
    He
places a delicate kiss on my forehead before he leaves and I find myself still
stroking that same spot where he kissed me one hour later in bed.
    I
instinctively know that something has changed. Something has shifted inside of
me and although I can’t figure out the right words to define it… I just know
things will be different.
    My
life has changed.
    It
will never be the same.
    And
I couldn’t be happier.

 
    Chapter Four
    Walking
into school the next morning is nothing short of terrifying. Lisa sent me a
text the second I woke up informing me that she was going to pick me up in her
car. I guess she must have decided to drive into school again and decided to
accept her offer so we could share the journey together. The last thing I
wanted to do was venture in by myself.
    However,
even the knowledge that I have Lisa by my side as we make our way through the
main entrance is not enough to extinguish my overwhelming fear building up
inside my chest. I still haven’t told my best friend about Cole’s late night
visit, nor have I told her anything else about the indescribable feelings I now
have for him. I will do so eventually but for now, I’m more than happy to keep
quiet and cherish my little secret for a while longer.
    “Are
you sure you’re going to be ok?” She asks, linking her arm through mine as we
make our way through the busy hallway towards our lockers.
    “I’m
sure. I know I might be the centre of all the gossip going on today but it’s
bound to be old news by tomorrow, right?” I speak optimistically, feigning
confidence and positivity.
    “Of
course it will be. Everything will be forgotten about by tomorrow.”
    Lisa
offers me a weak smile. It’s obvious that she’s uncertain but is choosing to
remain bright and cheerful for my sake. She takes hold of my hand and squeezes
it tightly, assuring me that she will be waiting for me in the cafeteria at
lunchtime. Her first class is in the opposite direction to mine and she has to
hurry if she wants to make it on time.
    I’m
left alone and make my way to my locker, struggling to keep my head held high.
I know I have nothing to be ashamed of for what happened yesterday, I just wish
that everyone else felt the same way. I truly believe that no matter what she
does, a woman cannot win. If she enjoys sex and has it freely, she is called a
slut. If she chooses to remain a virgin, then she is known as being frigid. If
a woman chooses to flirt, she is labelled as a tease and if she decides to turn
someone down… she’s a bitch.
    No
matter what we do… we cannot win. We are disrespected and ridiculed for the
same actions that men are applauded for. It’s an unfair world and it still
remains unequal… maybe now more than ever.
    I
approach my locker with caution, fighting back the tears when my eyes land on
the graffiti that now resides on it. Someone got there first and decided to
carve the word ‘slut’ and ‘whore’ right across the front of it. The ugly, vile
letters stare back at me, unforgiving and cruel.
    A
crowd of people have now gathered around me, some of them seem to be just as
shocked as I am when they notice the way my locker has been vandalised whilst
others start to laugh and whisper amongst themselves maliciously.
    I
quickly realise that I have two options. I can panic and flee, removing myself
from the excruciating situation I have come to find myself in or I can stay and
fight. I can open my locker, deposit my things and make my way to my next
class.
    I
choose option two.
    The
rest of my day is beyond painful. I am stared at and discussed everywhere I go.
The girls glower at me and the guys throw