Captain smiles. “You were amazing, Janie. I hope someday you remember it. Because you should be very proud of yourself, like I am of you.”
Janie closes her eyes.
Finally she says, “Cabe, can you step out for a minute?”
He gives her a fleeting look, then goes.
“Captain,” Janie says, “did anything happen? You know. With me?”
Captain holds her hand. “Nothing below the belt, kiddo. When Baker and Cobb found you, your sweater was off your shoulder. That’s it.
The doctors did an exam. You stopped them, Janie.”
Janie sighs in relief. “Thanks, sir.”
6:23 p.m.
Cabel drives Janie to his house.
“Twenty-one positives on the GHB, Janie.” Cabel’s voice is harsh.
“Everyone at the party was drugged. Durbin even drugged himself.
Rumor has it, the drug is known to enhance stamina.” He pauses.
“Ewww.” They both shudder. “When Baker and Cobb and the backup crew arrived, Durbin had three female students in his bed with him.”
Janie is quiet.
“He’s going to jail for a long time, Janie.”
“What about Wang?”
“Him too. Sadly, he raped Stacey before Baker and Cobb got there.
They found his DNA. She asked for the morning-after pill. She doesn’t remember anything that happened last night.” Cabel’s hands grip the steering wheel. His knuckles are white.
Janie’s quiet. “Fuck,” she says.
She should have done better.
Done better for Stacey.
Janie’s headache dulls by evening. She eats everything Cabel gives her, and then declares herself fit. “Stop babying me already,” she says with a cautious grin. She knows Cabel hasn’t slept.
Cabel gives her an exhausted, lost look. Sucks in a breath as his face crumbles. He nods. “I’m done,” he says. “Excuse me.” He walks out of the room, and Janie hears him in his bedroom. Yelling into his pillow.
Janie cringes.
Realizes now she was in way over her head. And, maybe, so was
Cabel.
After a while he is quiet. Janie ventures a peek into his bedroom, and he’s asleep on his stomach, fully clothed, glasses flung on the nightstand, his arm and leg hanging off the edge of the bed, tears still clumping his eyelashes, cheeks flushed. Not dreaming.
Janie kneels next to the bed, smoothes his hair from his cheek, and watches him for a very long time.
March 9, 2006, 3:40 p.m.
The uproar at Fieldridge High School has settled, some. Janie’s three substitute teachers are less than exciting. Which is okay, because
Janie’s having trouble concentrating, anyway. Not because of Mr.
Durbin’s party. But because of what happened after, with Cabel.
After school Janie’s at home, lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling, when Carrie pops her head inside Janie’s front door.
Janie sits up and forces a smile. “Hey. Happy, happy. Did you do anything fun for your birthday?” She hands Carrie a small gift bag that’s been sitting on the coffee table for days.
“The usual. Nothing fancy. Stu thinks I should go register to vote, of all things. I hope he’s joking.”
Janie attempts a laugh, even though she feels numb. “You should register to vote. It’s your right as an American.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my god!” Carrie exclaims, slapping her hand to her mouth. “Did I miss your birthday?”
Janie shrugs. “When have you ever remembered it?”
“Hey! That’s not fair,” Carrie says, grinning sheepishly. But Janie knows it’s true. So does Carrie.
Not that it matters.
That’s just the way things are with them.
Carrie ooohs over the CD Janie bought her. And they are okay. But
Janie knows that things are changing rapidly.
Carrie doesn’t stick around long.
Janie has no plans for the evening.
Or for the rest of her life, it seems.