Sex Crimes Read Free Page A

in a Shaggy from Scooby-Doo sort of way. He’s usually so laid back he’s nearly asleep so he really freaked me out when he grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me into the photography room.
     
    ‘We need to talk,’ he’d almost growled.
    I wasn’t scared. More like a bit alarmed. I’d never said more than a handful or words to him unless we were paired up for some impro during open classes.
    ‘What’s the matter, Chester?’ I said. ‘Let go of me.’
    He let me go roughly and I stood facing him, leaning back against the long bench-desk and raised my eyebrows, indicating that I’d like some answers.
    ‘Brent told me that you’ve been whispering around school that Libby O’Neil is pregnant.’
    His eyes were wild and he looked like he was shaking a bit. I just shrugged lamely.
    ‘That’s really cruel and bitchy. Saying that kind of shit really can mess with a girl’s reputation. What’s she ever done to you!?’ he fumed.
    I took a deep breath. Shit. This business was getting out of hand. I’d only told Jacinta. That’s all. And maybe Hayley. But it was Abigail doing most of the whispering as far as I was concerned. But this was not my problem, it was Libby’s and I’d be damned if I was going to cover her arse.
    ‘Chester,’ I said slowly. ‘I would never be such a bitch. I only know what I’ve been told and I have it on good authority that Libby O’Neil is in fact, pregnant. And word is that she is keeping it.’
    He looked at me intently. Scanning my face. Reading me. He cocked his head, his mousy brown hair falling over his face and he looked completely spooked and even more like Shaggy.
    ‘Shit!’ he muttered.
    ‘What’s it to you anyway?’ I asked and stood up to leave. ‘Since when did you give a crap about Libby O’Neil and become her champion or whatever?’
    He shrugged and didn’t look at me. I bent down trying to figure what the hell was his problem and saw that his face was pink and his eyes were, yes, his eyes were wet.
    ‘Are you crying?’ I asked.
    ‘No!’ he snapped back. ‘I’ve got a cold.’ And he gave a wet sniff as if to prove it.
    ‘OH. MY. GOD.’ I said heavily as it dawned on me. ‘You. It was you! Did you do Libby O’Neil? She’s in Year Ten and you’re a senior. Ew.’
    ‘I…it wasn’t,’ he stammered and I knew I had him.
    ‘I won’t tell anyone. Abigail told me, well, as much as told me that it was someone Libby met at that Drop Dead Gorgeous gig last month. That was obviously just to throw me off the scent.’
    ‘But are you sure, Lola? This might be just a stupid rumour or Libby trying to get attention. She is a drama queen.’ Chester stammered.
    He had a point. Libby O’Neil was a bit of an attention seeker. Actually more than just a bit.
    ‘True. But I think it’s real. She’s going to the school counsellor next week and she’s telling her parents then.’
    ‘Oh, shit!’ Chester shook his head. His blue eyes were hectic, darting this way and that. ‘I’m going to be in the shit. When my parents find out…oh shit. Why doesn’t she just…you know…have a termination?’
    I shrugged.
    ‘You’d have to ask her.’
    ‘Say nothing, Lola. If you blab…I’ll tell everyone that you gave Hobbsy a blow job in the dark room.’
    I looked at him. Shocked. Bloody Michael Hobbs must have blabbed to his mates. Arsehole. Chester looked wild and I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to follow through with his threat.
    ‘Fine. Your secret’s safe with me,’ I said and I really meant it.
    I liked Chester. He was actually really cute when he got animated. I hadn’t noticed that before.
    We walked back out into the sunshine together and I gave him a little pat on the arm. His skin was warm and the light hairs on his arm were soft.
    ‘It’ll be okay, Chez.’
     
    I had to finish Wuthering Heights for English so I took myself off to the big fig tree in the courtyard and sat against the trunk and began reading. It was a good story but the language