The Station was loud inside, like Joy expected. She hovered near the entrance, standing on tiptoes to look around the bar for her friends. It didn't look like they were here yet.
She was early, so she pulled her phone out while she waited, to check on her school login for any updates on her assignments.
A tap on her shoulder startled her just as she was moving on to checking her email.
"You need to get away from him"
Joy turned to see a shorter, dark-skinned woman with straight black hair.
"I passed you with Lawrence on the street earlier so I watched where you went and circled back."
Joy looked back at the woman, parting her lips to speak but unsure of what to say. She'd followed her here? Why?
"You need to leave him. Trust me, he's not someone to get close to."
"W--What?"
"Listen, I know he seems like a catch. He's a doctor, he has a nice apartment. He seems all mysterious. But he's a creep, and he'll hurt you."
Joy blinked. Someone could think Lawrence was a creep... they'd think she was a creep too, if they knew what she liked. What they both liked.
Is that what she meant?
"Um. You're-- you used to go out?" She had to talk louder than she liked over the surrounding music and conversation.
"Yeah, we dated for almost a year. Sorry I know it's weird, but I had to say something."
"What did-- I mean," Joy paused. She didn't know what to ask. This woman was probably talking about their sex life, right? Was that okay to ask about?
The woman leaned in closer, her face serious.
"He assaulted me."
Did she mean she didn't want him to? And he had anyway?
But Joy couldn't ask her that. You don't ask if someone wanted to be raped.
She just nodded, noncommittal.
