Mask

12 Years earlier - It’s my senior year of high school. I’m ready to be done with this hell hole. It’s a few weeks until spring break and Mr. Sellington assigned us a group project for our English class. Feeling the anxiety build as he hands out papers with the names of everyone in each group that covers different parts of British Literature. Mr. Sellington hands me mine and I get excited when I see the topic of Jane Austen, then I see who’s in my group. Two other boys and one girl, Jake, Todd, and Katie. Mr. Sellington tells us that we are to work after school on the project and we have 2 weeks to work on it and for us to exchange numbers so we can create a group text and make plans to work on the project. Reluctantly I do so.

Later that night, I sent a text to the group chat.

Ava: Don’t worry about making plans for the project.

I’ll get it done this weekend and put all of our

names on it. It’s not a big deal anyhow.

I waited for about an hour, hoping at least Katie would respond, but no one responded.

The next morning, my phone goes off as I’m leaving the house for school. I look down and see Jake texted back in the group chat.

Jake: Nah, Mr. Sellington would have our ass

If we didn’t all work on it together. We’ll meet

Up this weekend and get started. Right Todd?

Todd: Yeah, what Jake said. I really need to

Pass this class so I don’t get benched for

Baseball.

Ava: Umm ok then. It really is no problem

For me to do the work. I know you all are

Pretty busy and that.

Jake: it’s all good. We can make time.

Katie: I can’t this weekend, big sis’s wedding.

Jake: We’ll fill you in later then

Todd: saturday 7pm, my house?

Jake: that works. Ava?

Ava: Ok. Just send me the address.

Ok I was not expecting any of that. I figured they would just take me up on the offer to do the work by myself.

Todd: I’ll come pick you up instead.

Ava: Ok, Thank you.

Todd: No prob.

Ok now that was weird. No one has ever offered to pick me up.

Saturday morning comes around and I’m feeling very uneasy. I open and close the group chat at least 20 times before mom has breakfast ready, half tempted to cancel the meeting with the boys to do the group project. But I can not fail this class. I need to maintain my GPA so I can get a scholarship for college far away from here. Mom insists on family breakfast every Saturday, followed by her and I going thrifting at some random town nearby. Today is no different, the 3 of us eat a full breakfast, mom and I clean up the kitchen afterwards. Dad goes outside to do yardwork. Mom and I leave to go thrifting.

“You’re quiet this morning Ava. Everything ok?’ She says as she takes a quick glance in my direction.

“Yeah, just a little nervous. Mr. Sellington assigned a group project and my group wants to meet tonight to start working on the project.”

“What’s the subject for your project? She says.

“Jane Austen, it’s due just before spring break.” Mom knows I devour all of Jane Austen’s literature I can get my hands on.

“You got this in the bag kiddo. But why are you nervous?”

“Come on mom, when have I had any form of a social life since I’ve been in middle school? People talk shit about me all the time.”

“They’re just jealous because you have morals and a natural beauty they have to try to mock by piling crap on their face.”

“Ava, don’t let it get to you. You’ll be done here before too long and in 20 years from now you can look down on these kids and know you made something of yourself. You already know most of these kids won’t actually leave town as it is. Just get through this project and it’ll be easy sailing from there.”

“I know mom. I’m trying not to let it get to me. I’m probably just getting myself worked up for nothing. Right?” I’m telling myself that more than to my mom. “Can we get some iced coffee before we leave town?’

“Best idea of the day!” She says just as she pulls into our local coffee drive through.

After a several hours and a few stores later, we are just finishing up a late lunch/early dinner.

A few hours after I finish help cleaning up, I got a notification from the English project group chat.

Todd: We’ll be there in about 30 min Ava

Ava: Ok, yeah. That gives me a few

To get everything together.

Todd: See you shortly

I grab my stuff and walk out to the living room. “Hey mom, dad, I’m about to take off to work on the english project. I’m not sure exactly when I’ll be home but it won’t be late. Maybe an hour. They’ll probably just agree to let me do the project myself like I offered in the first place.”

“Now why would you offer to do that?” Dad asks.

“Just easier that way. Not like any of them know anything about Jane Austen or her writing style.” I say

“Ok well if you need anything just give us a call kiddo. Love you” Mom blurts out to end dad’s probing questions.

“Will do. Love you too. See ya later” I say as I head out the door just as Todd pulls up. I get in the passenger seat to see Jake in the back seat. That uncomfortable, eerie, warm feeling envelopes my stomach the second Todd puts the car in gear. Something just doesn’t feel right about this. I try to breathe through it as I watch the town pass by while I stare out the window.

About 20 minutes later, we pull up to a beautiful modern two story home that I assume is Todd’s house. We get out and Todd informs me that it’ll just be us 3 working on the project tonight. Reminding me that Katie is at a wedding. I take in my surroundings as we walk upstairs to Todd’s room.

I start to get my stuff out of my bag when Todd jumps up, scaring me to death. “Want something to drink? Soda, water, beer. Wine?”

“I’ll have a beer.” Jake laughs and looks at me. “I’ll have just a bottle of water please.” I squeak out. My nerves are shot right now.

“Alright then, I’ll be right back” Todd laughs and gives a strange look. He leaves the room and Jake is staring at me. It’s awkward as hell and I don’t like it. I continue to get my stuff out, trying really hard not to let my nerves get the best of me.

“So why do you keep to yourself all the time?’ Jake blurts out, startling me.

“Um, because I like it that way. I don’t plan on staying here after high school.” I say nervously.

“I call bullshit. You must want friends. A boyfriend? Or are you just sampling the flavors before you settle down?”

“What? No. No one likes me in this damn town anyhow. I just want to graduate and get the hell out of here. And flavors? What are you talking about?” I stammer out. What the hell is taking Todd so long to get back here?

“Oh you know, fuck buddies? Fuck without the relationship. That kind of thing.” Jake says as he gets comfortable.

“Nope, no sex for me. Still a virgin. Can we get started on the project now?” Ok now I’m very uncomfortable. Thanks Jake I say to myself. Todd finally comes back up and hands Jake a beer in a glass, a clear sports bottle of water for me with mostly ice, and a beer for himself.

“So what did I miss?” Todd plops down on the floor looking at my stuff for the project. I guzzle so much water I get a brain freeze. Hoping the cold water helps calm my nerves.

Jake doesn’t miss a beat and blurts “Just trying to get to know our partner here. She’s a closed book though. Claims to be all work and no play.”

“Man, leave the girl alone. Not all girls are the same.” Todd laughs “What’s all this?” he asked me.

“Oh just stuff for the project. I’ve read a lot of Jane Austen’s publishing's since I was a kid. So that’s why I offered to do the project myself. It’s really no problem at all.” I say nervously then take another long drink of my water.

Todd grabs the paper Mr. Sellington gave us, with what the project was about and reads it over. Jake chugs the beer and just stares at me. It’s really kind of weird.

Todd and I go over the project details and what we should cover. My nerves are starting to calm down thankfully. About 30 minutes later Jake blurts out “I want to play true or dare. Whatcha say Ava?”

“Umm, no thank you. I’m good. I should probably get home pretty soon.” Well there went hoping my nerves were calm.

Jake starts to prowl towards me on his hands and knees. “Truth or dare Ava?” Todd leans over behind me like he’s grabbing something until I go to move away from Jake and is met with Todd’s chest firmly against my back. “Just a few rounds Ava, then I’ll take you home. I promise.” Todd whispers.

I suddenly move to pack all my stuff in my bag as fast as I can until Jake traps my hand. “Truth. Or. Dare. Ava?” He growls between his teeth. Now I’m officially freaking out. I blurted out “Fine, truth.” Not wanting to make the situation worse by making them angry.

“You’re not really a virgin, we all know that. So why lie about it?” Todd whispers.

“Fuck you! I’m not lying about that! Why would I lie about that? You guys know I haven’t dated anyone, like ever!” I yell.

“That’s bullshit, Caden said your pussy is so loose you could probably take 2 big cocks in your cunt at the same time. Now why would he lie about that huh Ava?” Jake growls even louder.

“Caden has never been in the same room as me outside of school since elementary school for Emmy’s 9th birthday party. So that’s a fucking lie.” I stammer out.

“I think we’ll need to test Caden’s theory out, don’t you think Todd?” Jake leans up on his knees.

“Truth or Dare, Ava?” Todd groans in my ear.

“None, I want to go home now. You promised Todd.” I damn near sob out.

“One last time Ava. I promise. Jake is just messing with you, aren’t you Jake?”

“Yeah, what he said. One last time Ava.” Jake looks at me sheepishly.

“Truth, then you’re taking me home Todd.”

“Did I hear dare? I think I heard dare!” Todd says. “Hmmmmm, chug your water Ava, then I’ll take you home.”

Easy enough, what could possibly be wrong with that. So I chugged my water. Grabbed my stuff and stood up. Waiting for Todd and Jake to stand up. “Come on, please just take me home now.”

I don’t like this. I don’t like how they are looking at me. I just want to be alone and in the comfort of my home. “Okay, okay. Let’s go. I’ll take you home.” Todd says as he stands up.

Jake gets up as well and says “I’m just fucking with you Ava.” giving a wicked grin that does absolutely nothing to calm my nerves.

We head out to the car and Todd opens the passenger door for me as Jake gets in behind me. All of a sudden, I start to feel shaky, like I haven’t eaten all day. Something is not right here. Todd gets in the driver’s seat, starts the car and as he puts it in gear, he glances at me. I glanced at my phone, I wasn’t even gone 2 hours, and we got absolutely nothing done on the project. I knew this was going to be a disaster. I rest my head against the window and just close my eyes and focus on my body. It doesn’t feel right.

“Ava! Ava!” I hear a feminine voice calling.