The Gifted Student Pt 03

I was about half-way back across campus when the adrenaline faded enough for me to reassert some self-control. My head was full of contradictions. I was simultaneously wanting to run and hide in the shadows, and also find the biggest crowd I could to get lost in. I wanted to scream for help while swearing I would never tell a soul what had happened. I was arguing with myself that I was alright while feeling irreparably broken. But mostly, I just wanted the day over.

"Are you okay?" A girl in a cat costume had walked up to me.

"Yes!! Yes!! I'm fine. Perfectly fine." I said way too quickly.

"You sure?" She wasn't convinced.

Pulling a sliver of calm from some hidden place, I replied, "Yeah, I am just on my way home. Thanks for asking."

I could see she wasn't sure, but she let me go. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

I nodded, and she walked away. After she had gone about 20 yards, she looked back again. I waved and started walking. I had to master myself to even do that. I had no clue what the right thing to be doing was, but I knew I didn't want to be the hysterical girl campus security picked up. I slowly made my way back to my dorm.

As I approached the door of Lincoln House, I prayed "Please, don't let any of my housemates be back yet..."

Entering the common room, the only person present was Keily, my RA. She had her feet up on the couch, surfing the internet on a tablet. "Hey Tara!"

I pulled myself together as best I could. "Hi Keily. Why are you hanging out alone?"

"Ehh, it is one of the days the administrators like us to hang back. Sometimes, some of the older townie kids like to explore the 'trick' portion of 'trick or treat.' You know, egging places on campus or other cretinous pranks. We basically have to catch them red-handed in order to do anything about it, so we keep the RA team close and work together."

"Really? Sounds like a pain."

Keily shrugged. "It's the job."

I just wanted to get upstairs. "I'm tired, so I'll see..."

Keily interrupted me. "The administration also said during my RA training that Halloween is statistically one of the days that some of our freshmen will most likely need some help." She put down her tablet, and stood up. "Combine a bunch of parties and opportunities for fun with freshmen still learning the ropes, and it can get a bit messy." She took a step towards me. "Messy, you know, like your makeup." She then reached out and lightly stroked the hem of my top. Looking me straight in the eyes, she continued, "Add that to the fact you are running around campus with your clothes inside-out, and I have to ask, is there any way I can help?"

I opened and closed my mouth a couple of times, trying to find the words I needed. I must have surely looked like a fucking goldfish.

Keily took me in her arms, and whispered in my ear "Embers, it's me, Red. You can tell me."

And I just started bawling in her embrace.

****

"That son of a bitch!"

Keily was boiling. We had retreated into the privacy of her apartment, and I had told her everything. How I had been crushing on Zach, how Mia got invited to the party, and what happened there. As I told the story to her, some of the things that had confused me started to come clearer. First, he knew the room he took me to was going to be observed. Worse, it wasn't just some drunk voyeurs perving from a closet, that room was a stage. Between the flashbulbs and the ease with which they put the picture of me twirling my top on-screen meant it was all DESIGNED for that. Zach wasn't shocked there were flashbulbs, he was pissed they went off. He knew Charlie was located behind the bi-fold doors of the closet. Zach was a willing participant in this scheme, and he thought so little of me that I wasn't even worth telling about it. One thing I still couldn't explain was his infuriating line about how being of Chinese descent equated with being a Jap, but I had to admit Zach being a cultural ignoramus was a minor issue at this point. As I wrapped up my tale, I was feeling a touch better, but Keily was on the warpath. You could tell she was attempting to be professional, but her strength as an RA was in her utter passion for the job and her complete love and devotion to her charges. One of them had been wronged, and she was ready for battle and vengeance. She held to a professional line, but her fiery nature showed through her eyes.

"So, I have to be formal for a few minutes. Are you safe now?"

I nodded, "Yes, I am safe." I knew I was going to have to help Keily with the box-checking her training demanded. However, I suspected I was better off here than officially "in the system" with the campus police.

"Do you need any medical attention?"

Outside of being tired from overdosing on panic adrenaline, I knew I was fine. Zach had pawed me some, but I knew I was physically okay. Neither of us had even got our pants off. "No, I don't need a doctor."

Keily continued, "How do you want to report this to the police? Because we can get this all documented, and drag the bastard through..."

I cut Keily off. "I really don't want to go there."

While I was telling the tale to Keily, I realized how bad of a position I had put myself in. If Zach, Charlie, or any of the other members of the team had an ounce of sense, all evidence I was ever at the party was already gone. It would be my word against many other people that I was even there. Add to that the normal disinclination for the authorities to find issue with athletic department members, much less a sports star like Zach, and I didn't have faith that the issue would even be taken seriously, much less be resolved in my favor.

"I think this issue is best left to die here. I am safe, and I am not hurt. If we chalk it up to experience, I think it is just as good of an ending as I can hope for."

I could see Keily was not happy with me. "You sure? This is your opportunity to put on the record what really happened. Otherwise, he wins. Can you live with him across the hall from you, knowing what a fucking creep he is? Can you stand to hear him tell all the bros how good of a lay you were, that he fucked you at the Halloween party? Even though that isn't what really happened?"

Some of these thoughts hit home. Allowing Zach to define me as easy was not an appealing thought, but most of the various outcomes of the situation were unsavory. If I couldn't win against Zach, the sooner the resolution, the sooner any pain would be over.

"I can endure it, I guess," I said quietly.

Keily shook her head. "You shouldn't have had to endure it. But you are more fortunate than you could possibly know. You won't have to deal with his abusive bullshit for long. I was called into a special meeting this afternoon. Tomorrow's newspapers will announce Roxbury College's soccer star Zach Powers has been signed by VfB Stuttgart of the German Bundesliga league. He will be withdrawing from Roxbury immediately to join his new team in Stuttgart."

"Wow..." That was something that changed things. Having told the story to Keily, I had started thinking about how things would turn out, and I really wasn't happy with my prospects. I was stuck with Zach in many ways. At best, he was going to be living across from me, being a persistent reminder of my own foolishness. However, as I had more time to think about it, Zach wasn't going to be the generous type. Living with him was much more likely to be a personal hell pit. The only question was how bad it was going to be. But him leaving Roxbury changed all of that. If I could just get through the day till he was gone, I would be able to control the situation myself, and make it go away.

"So can I get you set up to report him to the police?" Keily asked hopefully. "You see, you truly only have this one opportunity to properly tell your story. Otherwise, he's going to slip out of your grasp."

I thought about it. "No! Don't you see, if he leaves, I'm free! If I can maintain the present status quo till he is gone means I win, that I get to write the history books."

Keily looked at me with a look of sadness that said she knew she was going to lose the argument, even if she was right.

I continued, "See, it will be as it never happened. Zach goes far away, and I stay here. If he tries anything on the way out the door, I have some options, but it is really for the best. I just want it over."

"I'm sorry, Tara. If you think this will blow over, that you can pretend life doesn't happen, you are wrong. Life rarely has the clean cuts you seem to believe you are making. But if you want to proceed this way, we can. I can cover for you, but don't forget I was the one to tell you it won't be like you think it will be."

I hugged her. "Thanks. You're the best, Keily."

As I gathered my things, she said with a knowing sigh, "If I were the best, you would have listened to me from the start."

****

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Boys and Girls! We are proud to present The Amazing Zach and his Disappearing Act!" The crowded theatre burst into applause as the spotlight focused onto Zach, who was wearing a classic magician's top hat, tails, and, unusually, red soccer cleats.

Zach and I were standing on stage in a huge rococo auditorium in front of a packed house. I was stage right, dressed in a Victorian magician's assistant's outfit. As I raised my arm above my head in the classic pose presenting Zach, I was glad to see my outfit was staying put.

"Thank you, thank you. I came today to demonstrate a classic of the mystic arts, Disappearance!" Zach bellowed as he held up a coin.

The crowd applauded. As Zach visibly threw the coin onto the stage in front of him, he continued, "But the problem with classic tricks is that you have seen a hundred magicians do them a thousand times. I will not bore you with such rubbish. After all, I am a football star! I will perform a trick that only The Amazing Zach can do!"

In my hands, I found I held a soccer ball. Wearing an assistant's huge fake smile, I walked in front of Zach as the crowd applauded again. I bent over slightly, holding the ball in front of me, posed so that Zach could easily kick the ball from my hands.

"Help me count it down." The entire crowd joined in as he shouted "Five! Four! Three!"

Suddenly, the audience gasped, and started to titter and point... at me. I found my outfit had totally disappeared, and I was frozen solid like a statue.

Zach laughed loudly, and the audience joined him. "May I present my assistant Tara Li, doing a trick SHE likes to do!" Pantomiming speaking in confidence, he said, "Really gents, she loves doing this! She has been doing this trick since before I fucked her silly at my team's Halloween party. A round of applause for Tara, who makes herself ... I mean, that trick, look so easy!"

As the laughter turned to catcalls, I fruitlessly struggled to move. I could make some low volume vocalizations, but otherwise I was helplessly immobile. "I promised you a disappearance trick! Here is the object we will make disappear!"

The audience applauded as Zach crossed in front of me. In a manner only possible in dreams and poorly done photoshopping, his engorged cock was now on the outside of his otherwise immaculately tailored trousers. I heard more than a few feminine interjections of awe and approval though the thick applause.

Zach continued, "While Tara's pussy was enjoyable all that evening, tonight The Amazing Zach will prove he can score in the tightest of corners." Realizing what he meant, I implored him, "Zach, please, no!" as Zach stood behind me, grasping my bare shoulders, lining himself up with my sphincter.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present, The Backdoor Goal! Please, help me count!" Zach bellowed. With each count from the audience, he thrust himself remorselessly deep into me. I yelled "NO!" each stroke in response through my clenched teeth. "ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FIVE!"

"NO!!!" I sat up in bed with a start, throwing my blanket almost completely off the bed. As the dream faded, I heard applause, and Zach's laughter fall away.

Laura was sitting on our couch, holding a book. "Goodness! Are you okay? What happened?"

I took a deep breath. "Just... just a nightmare."

"Must have been a doozy," Laura said.

"Yeah. It was." I finally started gathering my wits. Yeah, Laura, the experience of getting forcibly sodomized in front of an audience of a thousand fully qualifies as 'a doozy' of a nightmare.

Laura looked at me closely. "So what happened to you last night? Where did you end up?"

I almost wished we could go back to talking about the dream. "Hmm. Can we not talk about that?"

Laura looked a bit disappointed. "Keily said you might not want to talk."

"When did you see Keily?"

"She was waiting for us in the common room when we came back last night. She pulled all of us aside and said you were upstairs safe, but you had had 'an experience' you might not want to be talking about and to give you a bit of space."

I silently blessed Keily. Her covering that that detail would make things so much easier for me. I would not have to do the 'where were you' conversation half a dozen times. "It wasn't a night I plan on repeating anytime soon."

Looking completely forlorn, Laura stared at me. "You know, you can tell me anything, right?"

Internally, I cringed. Laura was a solid roommate, but her naive, religious nature made her a poor confidant in this case. "Thanks, Laura, I appreciate that."

Seeing I wasn't going to follow up, and the hypocrisy embedded in my statement, Laura sighed.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. "We're up! Come on in." Laura called out.

Baz came in excitedly. He looked at me, and in other circumstances it would have comical watching him trying to calibrate his reaction. "Hey Tara, are you okay?"

I tried a bit of optimism. "Sure, I'm good."

He glanced at Laura, who flashed a confused 'I don't know' shrug. His excitement overwhelmed his caution. "Did you guys hear the news? Zach got signed by a pro team!"

"Really," Laura said excitedly. "Who with?"

"The internet is saying he signed with Stuttgart in Germany's top league. I stopped in to see if it was true, and Toby said he hadn't seen him yet this morning."

"Wow! Imagine that! We know a real star!" Laura said.

"Incredible." I tried to inject the right level of excitement, but couldn't quite pull it off.

Out in the hall, we heard a commotion. Apparently, the word of Zach's success had already spread, and he was returning home to a hero's welcome.

"Danke, Danke. Yes, it's all true. I am on my way, but I won't forget all my dear friends at good ol' Roxbury!"

I looked around at the fawning crowd, and wondered if I was the only one hearing the 'So long, suckers!' his faux celebrity sincerity was conveying.

"Thanks, there will be a good-bye party later tonight. But right now, I have to get myself packed. My flight leaves for Germany tonight!"

I turned and went back into my room. Getting Zach on that airplane couldn't come fast enough. His insincerity was so fucking obvious, and no one seemed to notice. I was beginning to wonder if this had happened a week ago, would I have been one of the precious little sheep following him around?

As I stewed, I heard a scuffle breaking out in the hall. Laura was futilely trying to stop Mia from charging into the room. "Stop a second, Mia. I need to tell you something!"

Mia threw down her overnight bag as she made a beeline for me. "Laura, Bryce told me downstairs," Mia said as she took me in a bear hug. "What happened? Are you are alright?"

I had hoped to talk to Mia privately to help control her reaction, but that opportunity had passed. I pulled out of her grasp and said, "Nothing has happened, Mia. Nothing."

Mia wasn't buying that. "What happened? Really?"

I had no choice but to support my lie. "Mia, I'm fine. Nothing happened."

Mia's face, almost always relaxed and smiling, was a thundercloud. "What the fuck! I leave for 36 hours and suddenly one house mate is a German soccer stud, and my best friend is serving me that weak shit?" She turned to head out the door, "Let's go talk with Zach, then."

Shit. "MIA!" But I wasn't quick enough to catch her before she was out the door and banging on Zach's door across the hall. Toby answered the door, and Mia pushed right past him. When Toby caught sight of me, I could see he was concerned about me, but I had to stop Mia before she gave away the game.

Zach was tossing his clothes into a suitcase on his bunk. He looked up, "Hi, Mia! Good to see you!"

"Hey Zach! What's happening?" Mia asked sharply.

I could see Zach shrewdly sizing up the situation. "Hi Tara, I haven't seen you for a few days."

Mia shot me a questioning glance.

Fucking prick. Pretending I hadn't been at the party with him last night. At least he was telling the right lie. I nodded to Zach, "Hey."

"Yeah Mia, I assume you have heard I'm off to Germany. Got a sweet contract with Stuttgart."

Mia continued plowing ahead. "Good for you, Zach. Did you have a good time at the Footballer's Ball last night?"

"Sure, it turned out to be a bit of a personal celebration when the news leaked early. I wish you all could have been there. It would have been good to party once last time with you all."

Mia looked around the room at Toby, Laura, and me. Even if she didn't know I was bluffing when I said I wasn't at the party, she had to know something was up when Zach said he wanted to party with Toby and Laura.

A bit of a smile crossed Mia's face. Sweetly, she said, "Well Zach, I wish you the best of luck."

"Thanks, Mia, good luck to you too."

Mia embraced Zach in a hug, and suddenly kneed him hard in the balls. The twin looks of shock on Laura and Toby's faces were meme-worthy.

The storminess that had returned to Mia's face was scary. "I don't know what all is going on, but I suspect you have earned that."

Still bent over from Mia's direct hit, Zach pointed to the door. "Out, you bitch."

"Gladly." Mia strode off, and I followed closely.

Once in the hall, I said, "Mia..."

She pivoted so quick I took a step back. "Tara, I am just as pissed at you. I suspect you are lying to me, and having me doing the dirty work you should have handled yourself." She reached into my room and grabbed her bag. "I don't trust you right now. Come find me when you think you can change that." And she slammed her door in my shocked face.

As I stood there shocked in the hall, I heard Zach and Toby's door gently close behind me. Laura stood there staring at me, but when I looked back at her trying to find the words, she lowered her gaze, and silently walked past me into our room.

Completely ashamed, I just walked down the stairs, and outside to the courtyard beyond.

****

Zach's impromptu going away party took place at dinnertime. A dozen plus pizzas, including salad, breadsticks, and drinks were delivered, no doubt financed by one athletic angel or another. I sat in the back of the room alone. I really didn't want to be there, watching Zach hold court, but I figured my absence would be commented on. Hanging back, though, I got a bit of perspective. Seeing Zach glad-hand the crowd disgusted me. He was signing autographs and telling people "Sure we'll keep in touch." I understood his insincerity was just his nature, but I was a bit unnerved watching all my housemates dote on him. I couldn't blame them. I was aware it was less than a day ago I was throwing myself at him, a fellow member of the disgusting throng.

"Some show, huh?"

Keily had sat down beside me. I gave her a wan smile, and nodded.

"So, how are you doing? Keeping it together?"

"Barely. Mia's super pissed at me. She basically caught me lying to her. Debbie is supporting Mia. I think she is just upset because Mia is upset, but can't figure out quite why we're fighting. Laura is so disappointed I won't confide in her she can barely look me in the eye. Liv is unnaturally quiet. I think she senses more than most of them. I think she knows I'm lying, at least in part, but can't figure out what I'm lying about. Most of the rest of my friends are treating me like a Faberge egg. I am some exotic, fragile thing that they don't want to break." I heaved a big sigh. "It sucks."