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with Skylar.”
    Jacob laughed, but it was a forced laugh. “Dude, Skylar is…tainted, if you know what I mean.”
    Narrowing my eyes at him, I shook my head. “No, I don’t know what you mean.”
    Jacob let out a sigh and looked around. “She has an older brother who’s in the Marines. He was always worried about Skylar because she was so innocent yet beyond beautiful.”
    He looked over toward Skylar, and I couldn’t help but notice the quick look of sadness that passed over his face.
    “She had no idea how many guys wanted to be with her and probably still do. Before her brother left, he asked his best friend, Charlie, to ‘watch over’ Skylar while he was gone. Well, he watched over her all right. Charlie talked her into going to a movie with him one night. Her mom and dad didn’t have a problem with it since they knew Charlie, and he was their son’s best friend. Well, Charlie and Skylar had some pretty heavy-duty sex in his truck. Next day, he bragged all over town about what a good piece of ass she was. Problem was, Sky said he drugged and raped her.”
    Jacob stared over toward Skylar, and I swore, his eyes misted over.
    My heart started pounding, and I balled my fists together.
    “Sky’s brother came home and found out about it. He beat the shit out of Charlie before he had to leave to go to Iraq.” Jacob looked down at the floor. Clearly, he didn’t believe this line of shit he was spilling out at me. It was almost as if it had been rehearsed. Looking back up at me, he shrugged. “Charlie told everyone that Skylar lied and that she begged him to have sex with her. Mostly everyone took Charlie’s side, and Sky ended up with…well, with a bad reputation. Most of the girls were jealous of Sky, so they took off with the story Charlie had told, and they spread it around like wildfire.”
    I looked at this kid and shook my head. “Did you know her well before this happened?”
    Jacob glanced down at the floor again as he nodded his head. “Yeah, I, um…I used to date her.”
    “You ever have sex with her?” I asked.
    He looked up at me, shocked. “Jesus Christ, dude. I’m not going to talk to you about that. Sky’s not some tramp who just screws a guy and moves on. We dated. It was different.”
    “Yet you stand here and tell me she’s tainted . That’s pretty messed up. Sounds to me like the only problem Skylar had was a bunch of asshole friends who turned on her when she needed them the most.”
    Jacob just stood there and stared at me.
    Mike let out a gruff laugh. “Dude, you don’t get it. Charlie said she wanted him to fuck her.”
    Jacob glared at Mike. “Shut the hell up, Mike. If Wyatt wants to talk to Skylar, let him.” He turned to me. “We’ll see you on the football field, dude.”
    Jacob started for the table where Jenny and a large group of kids were sitting.
    Mike shook his head and held up his hands. “Dude, it’s all on you if you want to talk to her. We warned you.”
    Mike followed Jacob as Jenny watched me while I headed over to Skylar’s table.
    The next thing I knew, Jenny was standing in front of me, blocking my way. “Hey there. Why don’t you come and sit with us? You can get to know some of the cheerleaders and other football players,” she said as she bounced around, making sure her breasts were moving all over the place.
    I wanted so badly to tell her to shove off, but I smiled politely. “Thanks, but I think I’m actually going to sit and get to know Skylar a bit better.”
    Jenny turned and looked at Skylar, who was deep in conversation with her friend. “Really? Skylar? I don’t think you understand, Wyatt. Skylar is a bit of a…whore. Like, if we could, we would plaster a big red A across her chest,” she said with a laugh.
    What a bitch. “Wow…”
    She nodded her head and smiled. “I know. Good thing I warned you, huh?” She turned and looked over at Skylar and then back at me as she gave me a quick wink.
    “No, that’s not what I was