#Chapter 79: Stand Together

Ruby They emerge from the dancing crowd, sweat clinging to their foreheads and their faces rosy from the alcohol. Earl holds Beck’s hand as he pulls her behind him. He’s headed for the back rooms. They don’t see me as I quietly follow behind, keeping a safe distance. Beck stumbles a bit, but Earl catches her and holds her tightly around her waist as he weaves through the throng of people to take her somewhere secluded. As I watch her head loll over onto his shoulder, I know that he’s already given her the drug that he’s going to use to take advantage of her. In a way, as I follow them, I feel as though I’m following myself from that night during the student council party when Donna and Earl drugged me and took lewd photographs of me. I had nearly forgotten about it now that so much has happened since then, but now it all comes flooding back like a nightmare, and sobers me. Earl guides Beck past a group of people who are having a rowdy drinking contest, the