We exchanged a few words when he spotted me.
When I told him I was heading to the cafeteria, Charles frowned.
"I just saw Ronda hanging around there with a group," he said quietly. "They looked shady. If you've got beef with her, you should probably stay away."
I smiled. "What's there to be afraid of? It's broad daylight. What can she do to me?"
I did not give it another thought and headed for the cafeteria.
On the way, I passed a fruit stand. Zoey liked strawberries, so I asked the owner to weigh out a box for me.
When I arrived, Zoey was already there, sitting alone.
I set the strawberries in front of her and asked, "What's so important that you had to meet here? I brought you these. Try them."
She kept her head down. Fear showed plainly on her face. Her eyes flicked to the strawberries, then she suddenly grabbed my hand. Her lips barely moved. "Run."
Before my brain could catch up, figures poured in from every direction. A group of men closed in fast, forming a tight circle around us.
I jumped to my feet and pulled Zoey behind me. I stood straight, though my nerves screamed.
"What do you want?" I said. "Don't come any closer. I'm calling the police."
They laughed. One of them stepped forward. He looked like the leader. Without warning, he swung and slapped me hard across the face.
My head rang. The world tilted.
"You're the bitch who bullied my little sister?" he said. "Not bad-looking. Too bad you're a broke piece of trash."
"What sister?" I shot back, forcing myself upright. "I don't even know her. Let us go. There are cameras everywhere. When the cops show up, none of you will get away."
"Cameras?" He grinned. "You think I'm scared of cameras?"
That was when I noticed their dyed hair and the tattoos crawling up their necks and arms. These were not students.
"You ripped my sister off for 5 bucks," he said. "Don't tell me you forgot."
The moment he said "5 bucks," everything clicked.
"You messed with my sister!" he snarled. "You're asking to die."
The kick came without warning. His foot slammed into my stomach.
I flew backward and hit the floor hard. The air blasted out of my lungs. I barely managed a gasp before hands seized me again.
Then Ronda stepped out from the crowd. She stared down at me, her eyes brimming with poison. "I told you. This isn't over between us."
She then barked, "Hold her."
Two of them pinned my arms. I could not move.
Ronda walked up and began slapping me, left and right. Each strike landed sharp and deliberate.
She cursed with every blow. "Weren't you so tough before? All high and mighty when you talked to me. You called the cops, huh? Go on. Call them now. Let's see if they get here before you're on your knees begging."
Blood filled my mouth. My head buzzed.
She grabbed my hair and yanked my face up to hers, breathing hard with excitement.
"You slut," she hissed. "Don't you like sleeping naked? Fine. Strip her."
Two of the men stepped closer, their eyes crawling over me.
Panic tore through my chest.
"What are you doing?" I shouted. "Let go of me!"
Hands ripped at my clothes, tearing the fabric apart.
Ronda stood off to the side with her phone raised, filming the scene. She laughed as she recorded.
"Yes," she said brightly. "That's it. Once I post this on the campus forum, this slut will be famous. Guys will line up for her."
She looked thrilled, almost impatient.
"What are you waiting for?" she snapped. "Do something. Pants. Shirt. Strip it all off."
Humiliation crushed me. No one had ever treated me like this. Not once.
When one of them reached for my bra, something inside me snapped. I drew my leg back and kicked him as hard as I could between the legs.
His face turned gray instantly, he doubled over, clutching himself. The sound that tore out of him caught halfway between a scream and a choke.
