Beyond the Reasons || JUSTIN FOLEY

Six

FLASHBACK
LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL GYM
THIRD PERSON'S POV

"Finally, as your outgoing student body president, it is my distinct honor to announce next year's president-elect. . Imogen Jensen!" Courtney exclaimed, and Imogen's eyes widened, because she didn't think that she was actually going to win. All of her friends around her, Jessica, Alex, and her brother Clay all had wide smiles on their faces as they turned to her, and everyone in the gym was cheering for her. Imogen stood up and walked out to Courtney who was standing at the mic with a smile on her face. A smile of excitement, and shock.

Courtney smiled while clapping her hands as Imogen approached and the two shared a hug before Imogen took a stand at the microphone. "Thank you. Uh. . thank you, uh. . I know my speech was. . Well, people had different opinions on my speech." She said.

"Boo." Some of the jocks up front said, which she ignored.

"And yeah, the administration did talk to me about it, but the thing they were mostly upset about was the profanity. I was like, 'Seriously? That's what you heard?' Fuck that! I'm pissed off. I'm gonna be pissed off until things actually change. Until the predators and the rapists are gone for good." Imogen said, and then a random girl stood up.

"Fuck rapists! Fuck Bryce Walker!" She exclaimed. A few people got silent at the mention of Bryce's name, but Imogen only politely smiled and kept it professional.

"Never again."

―

"I think your sister is awesome. . and sort of terrifying." Ani spoke to Clay after the announcement was over. Jessica and Imogen were talking to the girl who stood up and said, 'fuck Bryce Walker,' and a few other girls, while Clay stood off to the side, watching.

"You're right. . try living with her." Clay said, which made Ani laugh a little.

"Look, the other day you tried to warn me about Bryce. . I thought I knew the whole story, but. . when that girl shouted Bryce's name just now. ." Ani trailed off, and Clay turned to her realizing what she was trying to say. She knew Jessica and Imogen had been raped.

But she didn't know Bryce was the one who raped them.

"Jessica and Imogen never told you?" Clay asked, and Ani shook her head.

"They never said who it was." Ani said.

"And you never put it together?" Clay asked.

"I didn't think it was a girl at Liberty. I didn't know the whole history." Ani said. Like she told Clay, she read online about what happened with Bryce, but like Clay said, the online story doesn't give the full story, because online, it doesn't say in specific who Bryce assaulted, just that he was on probation for sexual assault.

"Yeah, there's a whole history." Clay said.

"I'm sorry. . that I shut you down. But now it makes sense why you were so adament about it. He hurt your sister. For that, I'm sorry too." Ani said, and Clay shook his head.

"It's alright. I. .-I have this thing where I think I know what's best for everybody, and I keep not learning my lesson that I actually don't know shit. When Imogen first came to terms with what happened, that was the biggest lesson to learn, that in that moment, I didn't know what was best for her. But, she's better now, and that's all I've ever wanted." Clay said.

"I think you know a lot. You know the whole history."

―

NEXT DAY
LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY