Nets and Lies(35)

He crossed the space between us in one long stride. Once again, he grabbed my arms. “I’ve heard the shit you’re saying about Coach T.”

I tried slinging away from him, but his grip was too tight. I knew if he didn’t let go of me soon, I’d be bruised. But I kept my cool and jerked my chin up at him. “Yeah, so? What’s it to you?”

At my response, he shoved me back into the shelf again, sending tears of pain to sting my eyes. “It’s a hell of lot to me, you conniving little bitch!”

I narrowed my eyes. “Look, it isn’t anything to you. We’ve been over for a long time now—even the random booty calls you threw my way have been long gone. So, the way I see it what happens to me is none of your damn business!”

Carson shook his head. “Listen to me. Through his Northwestern connections, Coach T has Kara a scholarship—a f**king full ride, you see? If he isn’t here, she doesn’t get the scholarship, and she doesn’t go anywhere but maybe Harrison Community College.”

“That’s too bad.”

Once again, metal cut into my back. This time I felt blood seeping through my shirt. “Stop it!” I cried.

“Not until you get it through your head, Jordan. My mom didn’t f**k old guys to get rich like yours. My dad’s disabled from that car accident, remember? He can never work again, and my mom is working two jobs just to make it. Kara has busted her ass for four years, and she deserves that scholarship.”

My chin trembled. “He raped me.”

Carson momentarily released my arm. Before I could catch my breath, he sent a stinging slap across my cheek. “He never raped you.”

“Y-Yes, h-he did!”

At my words, my other cheek rang with his slap. “He never raped you. I know you, Jordan. You screwed his brains out. I’m sure of that.”

I shook so hard my knees threatened to give way. I leaned voluntarily against the shelves to keep my footing.

Carson jerked me forward. “Then what? He found someone else or he grew tired of your bullshit games just like every other guy.” He snorted. “Jesus, you’re pathetic!”

“Go to hell.”

His hands tightened on my flesh. “Listen carefully to me. You’re going to go to the authorities. You’re going to tell them it was all a lie, and you’re sorry. You’re going to make things right, so Coach T can have his job back. Is that clear?”

“I’ll never do that.”

“Oh, yes you will,” he countered.

“No, I won’t! You can hit me all you want to. I was your girlfriend for two years, remember? I know what it’s like to be knocked around by you.”

Carson widened his eyes. “We’re not talking about me. This is all about you!”

“Yeah, it is all about me. And I’m sticking to my story, and no one is going to make me change my mind!”

“Even if I promise you’ll get hurt worse than any beating I ever gave you?”

Fighting the panicked sobs that threatened to break my sanity, I jerked my head up and stared coldly at him. Then I reared back and spit in his face.

He stared at me in astonishment. Before he could say or do anything, I said, “If you don’t let go of me, I’ll go straight to the police and press charges against you. Then your own precious scholarship would be in jeopardy!”

Slowly, his hands fell from my sides. “Bitch,” he muttered under his breath.

I started towards the door. When my fingers grasped the doorknob, I turned back to him. “Don’t expect me to feel sorry for you. We both know your old man was driving drunk when he had that accident. Driving drunk after meeting his mistress for a quickie at some seedy, out of town hotel.”

His eyes glowed hatefully at me. “You shut your f**king mouth!”

Bolstered by the effect I was having on him, I cocked my head. “Can’t handle the truth, Carson?” I paused as I collected myself. “I’m glad to see you’re still as big a prick as ever. Beating up girls sure makes you a big man, doesn’t it?”

With that, I spun around and unlocked the door. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. But I didn’t go to the locker-room. Instead, I grabbed up my purse and book bag and headed for the hallway. I had just made it to the landing of the stairs when I felt the presence of someone behind me. But I never got a chance to react. Someone or something lunged at me, and I pitched forward, tumbling down the stairs. My head hit the concrete on the landing, and then everything went black around me.

***

As I started coming to, I had the worst out of body experience. My eyelids fluttered, taking in a small beam of light over my head. That beam of light caused me to panic since I thought it was the light, and I was dead.

But then I heard my mother’s voice raging with profanity, and I knew I wasn’t in the great light. When I tried moving my head, screaming pain seared through me, and I cried out.

“Jo-Jo?” A hand touched my cheek. “Oh honey, are you all right?” Mom asked.

“It hurts,” I croaked.

Mom took my hand in hers. “I know, sweetie. You had a pretty bad fall.”

“I did?”

“Yeah, some bastard pushed you down the stairs!”

It took a lot of effort to open my eyes. When I did, my mom gasped. “Would you look at the size of her pupils? I am going to sue this school for everything that it’s worth!”