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Brice had been watching the show. He was burning with anger and frustration. He should have been prom king. His buddies had all voted for him. They’d even thrown in a couple of extra votes. He hated Jesse, who had humiliated him, ruined things between him and Janice and called the cops on him at the wedding. Brice openly glared at the group.
“We’re being watched,” Cora said, nodding toward Brice.
“He has been all night,” Janice added. "Richard, you don't know him, but he is more than mean; he's cruel and vicious. His dad's a big wig and the kid gets away with it every time. He beats up his girlfriends... he's just plain wicked."
When the music ended, they went back to their table. Jesse took off his crown and put it on Katy.
“I’ve never been a queen,” she said. “Maybe I'll leave it on forever."
The group laughed and the boys went to get punch and snacks for everyone.
“Where's the restroom?” Katy asked.
“Come on, I’ll show you,” Janice said.
“No, that’s okay. Point me in the right direction. I’ll find it.”
“Go to the doors where you came in and turn right. It’s down the hall on the left past the water cooler. Sure you don’t want company?” Cora asked.
“No, I’m fine. I’ll be back in a minute. Here, you can guard my crown,” Katy said, laying it down and waving to Jesse as he stood waiting in the line for punch.
Brice watched Katy leave and saw Jesse at the refreshment table. He meandered behind the tables and behind the kids on the dance floor. He saw Katy walk into the girl’s restroom. He waited for her by the water fountain.
When Katy walked out she was brushing lint off her skirt.
“Well, well, if it ain’t Jesse’s little whore.” Brice sneered, stepping in front of her.
Katy looked up, startled. Then fear set in. She was alone and knew what he was capable of. Even if she screamed, who would hear her with all the music and chatter in the gymnasium?
“Okay, I'm sorry,” Brice said, changing tactics. “Maybe we can start over. How about I give you a little tour of the classrooms so you can see what a real school looks like?”
“Brice, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Her voice was shaky and it gave her away. She tried to step around him. “I have to get back. The others will wonder what’s keeping me.”
“Just one classroom...” Brice took her arm and pushed her across the hall to a door. “This is Miss Toliver’s English class. She’s teaching Romeo and Juliet now.”
Katy felt it might be best if she went along with it. Maybe he would let his guard down, and she could get away quickly. She realized her mistake in the next instant. Brice led her into the classroom and locked the door behind him. Katy heard the click and her blood turned to ice.
“Now, Katy, don’t be afraid,” Brice said taking her by the shoulders and drawing her close. He whispered in her ear, “I only want what you’ve been giving out to Jesse.”
“I don’t do anything with Jesse; nothing like that!” She tried pushing him away.
“Of course you do,” Brice said, lifting her skirt. Katy slapped his hands away, but he was much stronger. He pushed her to the floor and jerked her skirt up. She fought him, pushing and clawing. He rolled her onto her stomach and straddled her. With one hand he opened his buckle and unzipped his pants.
Katy screamed! “No, I’ve never done anything with Jesse! You can’t do this!
“Stop fighting, you little bitch,” Brice hit her so hard her ears rang.
She felt blood trickling down her cheek. Katy screamed. How could she stop him? She felt him shift his weight and her skirt was pushed over her head.
“Don’t you know once a guy starts, he has to finish!” His hands were on her. He tore her panties. She screamed again!
The sound of breaking glass made Brice turn. Jesse reached through the broken glass and unlocked the door. The others were behind him.
Jesse launched at Brice knocking him over. Brice was on his back, his clothes in disarray exposing him. He rolled over and tried to get up.
The girls ran to help Katy.
Jesse knocked him back down with a punch to his eye. Brice winced, but came back swinging. Jesse pounded him fiercely.
Hank stood watching, shifting his weight from foot to foot, like a boxer eager to jump in.
Brice's lip was split and bleeding. The whites of his eye was already turning red. Jesse grabbed him by his tie, swung a fist as hard as he could, connecting with his jaw and Brice fell back and laid still.
Jesse had his tie and was ready to swing when someone grabbed his arm.
“Enough, Jesse,” Mr. Miller said, his calm voice sounding so out of place in this room so full of anger and violence. Jesse took a deep breath and let his arms fall.
Brice was coming around. Hank and Richard took him by the arms.
"Let him go, boys," said Mr. Miller. "You," he said, pointing a finger at Brice. "Straighten your clothes."
“Don’t you know who I am?” Brice covers himself, tucking and zipping as he talks.
“You’re a rapist who likes to beat up on defenseless girls.” Hank said.
“Wait until my father hears about this. That little bitch wanted it. She asked for it.”
“No I didn’t. I begged you to stop,” Katy said, her breath hitching.
“Boys," he said to Hank and Richard. "Take Brice to my office and stay with him. Do whatever you have to in order to keep him there. I’ll call the police and Mr. Bachlund. The rest of you stay here, and I’ll be right back.”
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Mr. Miller returned in a matter of minutes. “The police are on their way. We're still trying to reach Brice’s father. Will someone please tell me what went on here?” They all started talking at once. “One at a time, please.”
“Jesse since you were throwing the punches, let’s hear your side. I gather that Brice Bachlund was up to no good and you stopped him?”
“Yes, sir. He’s had it in for me and my friend Katy for a while now. Mr. Miller, if we hadn’t found her... You know what would have happened.”
Jesse looked over at Janice, but she looked away. Nonetheless, Mr. Miller noticed the exchange.
They were interrupted by shouting and scuffling in the hall. Miller went to check.
The police had arrived and were taking Brice to the station.
Brice was struggling. “I’m going to sue every one of you! Officer Jamison lost his grip on Brice who took a swing at him. The police pushed him to the floor and slapped handcuffs on him.
Brice was still shouting, “I’ll get you for this. You won't have a job in the morning!"
They pulled him up and were walking him out. "You have the right to remain silent, you have the right to an attorney..."
“You!" Brice shouted at Jesse as he was pushed along. "Don't think I’ll forget this."
"Oh, will he come after us, Jesse?” Katy was worried.
“Nah, he won't get out of it this time. The police have him now.”
Cora pulled Janice into the hall. “We need to talk.”
Jesse put his arms around Katy. He drew her close and kissed her on the forehead. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry. I never thought Brice would try anything tonight with everyone around. Your father is going to kill me.” Jesse handed her the handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the blood from her lip. She wiped it gingerly.
“The girls offered to come with me, but I said no. I didn’t even think about Brice.”
“How does your face feel? You've been cut. We’ll have to talk to the police. Should we call your dad?”
“No. Let's tell Dad when we get home. Brice has ruined enough of this night.”
“Whatever you say,” Jesse continued.
"How did you ever find me? I knew he wasn't going to stop. I didn't know what else to say to him. I just kept screaming."
“The girls noticed that Brice was gone. The guys helped me look for him. I heard you scream." He kissed her. "You’ve got good lungs, girl... Thank God.”
Mr. Miller returned. “The police have taken Brice to the station. Do you feel like talking to them tonight?”
“Do I have to?” Katy wiped her eyes.
Jesse looked at Katy. Her dress was torn, her hair was a mess and her cheek was cut and bruised. “Could we go to the station in the morning?”
“Yes, I'll suggest that to Sheriff Hayward. He's very understanding. But be prepared for a lot of questions.” Mr. Miller started to leave. “Brice was talking about pressing assault charges against you, Jesse. Hank and Richard told us what they had seen though. That will get you off the hook. They also filled us in on how Brice has been harassing the two of you, and there will be enough witnesses from the wedding, I understand." He looked at the faces of the kids. “The officer took statements from Hank, Richard, Cora and Janice. It looks like Brice will serve jail time for this one. Mr. Bachlund was not happy when I spoke to him just now. He’ll see Brice at the police station.”
They thanked Mr. Miller and he left.
“I wish we could go back to the dance.”
"I wish we could too," Jesse said, and took her hand. "I wish we could dance all night and into daybreak and forget this whole awful incident."
She kissed him.
"We'll have to bring our parents tomorrow. We can't shield them from what's been happening any longer."
Katy slipped into the restroom to tidy up while Jesse and the boys waited in the hall.
“Thanks for standing up for me.” Jesse rested against the wall, rubbing his sore and bruised hands. He had a cut over one eye and would have a black and blue shiner for weeks.
“Brice deserves all the jail time he gets,” Richard replied.
Katy joined the boys. Quick footsteps and chattering caused them to turn. The girls were running toward them.
"Everyone heard Brice shouting and that he's been arrested." Cora said, a little breathless.
"Cora said that I should be tough now and tell the police what Brice did. And then several girls came up to me. They kind of knew what had happened to me, because something like that had happened to them too. They offered to give statements. If we all talk to the police now, they'll listen. We want Brice stopped! Together we can make it happen."
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Jesse opened the door of Malinda’s car for Katy. But instead of getting in she turned to him.
"Kiss me, my king."
He pulled her close. His lips pressed hers, his tongue encouraging her to open her mouth to him. He sighed when she surrendered to his touch. He felt a heat build and his pants were becoming too tight. He wanted more, but...
Parting, Katy whispered, “You make my toes curl.”
“I can’t even tell you what you do to me,” Jesse said, holding her.
