Torn by Eleanor Green

in the corner and took
it before looking around.
    “ I don’t see Jill or Alexa
anywhere, do you?” Katie shouted over the noisy crowd.
    Maggie shook her head. “They’ll
probably be late. Let’s go ahead and order drinks.”
    Branson waved over a couple of his
friends. “This is Cam and Ryan. This is my girlfriend, Katie, and
her friend, Maggie.”
    Katie smiled. She knew she and Branson
were an item, but it was the first time she had heard him address
her as his girlfriend. “Hi, nice to meet you.”
    When the drinks arrived, Mike lifted
his beer to make a toast. “Here’s to the end of exams and a long
winter break!” Everyone clinked their glasses together in
celebration and took a drink. The crowd was electric as the music
played and students celebrated. Katie watched as Maggie and Mike
shared awkward small talk over the thumping bass.
    Jill and Alexa found the table and
walked over. “Looks like you guys started without us.” Jill said,
ogling Mike already. Jill Palermo and Katie met in the Nursing
program. She was a pretty blonde with hazel eyes and a flirtatious
personality. You either liked her immediately, or were turned off
completely.
    Maggie watched as Jill flirted with
Mike and suddenly felt competitive. “I love this song. Dance with
me.” Maggie pulled Mike onto the dance floor.
    Well, that was
easy. Katie thought. She looked at
Branson, who must have read her mind since he gave a knowing wink
before tipping up his Samuel Adams for a long drink. Katie felt
goose bumps rise as his hand rested on her bare knee. She looked
out across the dance floor instead of at Branson, knowing that one
glance would have them searching for a dark corner.
    “ I’m going to visit the
ladies room.” Katie stood. “You’re all mine out there as soon as I
get back.”
    When Katie returned, “Adorn” by Miguel
was playing. She made her way to the dance floor and motioned for
Branson to join her. She moved her body to the music as he finished
his beer and began to walk toward her. Without warning, she felt
someone grinding behind her and whipped her head around to see who
it was. A stranger with dark eyes and a wicked grin pulled her
against his body like he had been intimate with her for
years.
    Katie raised her hands in protest.
“Whoa, buddy.” She tried to pull away.
    “ C’mon, our bodies are so
compatible,” he said, pulling her in and grinding his body against
hers.
    “ I said no—I’m not
interested.” Her rejection seemed to spur him on as he pulled her
in tighter and roamed over her body with his hands. “Don’t touch
me!” Katie tried to pull away, but he was too strong.
    She suddenly felt his body being
jerked away from hers, causing her to stumble backwards into
another couple. “I’m sorry.” She apologized and got her balance
before looking around to see what had happened.
    A rage came over Branson, like a
thick, deep fog as he watched another man force himself on Katie,
touching her as she tried to free herself from his grasp. He
grabbed the jerk by the arm, pulled him away from Katie and punched
him. “Next time a lady says ‘no thank you,’ back off,
prick!”
    The guy got up and lunged for Branson,
but two of his friends held him back, eventually leading him out of
the club.
    Katie ran to Branson. “Are you all
right?” She noticed him rubbing his knuckles. “I can’t believe you
punched him!”
    “ He had his hands all over
you,” Branson answered, the anger still present in his voice. He
watched as the man left the club and his anger receded. He held
Katie’s chin and smiled. “I’ll always fight for you, you’re worth
fighting for.”
    Katie kissed his sore knuckles. “Thank
you. I feel safe and protected when I’m with you.” She looked down.
“I’m sorry that ruined our night.”
    “ What? I’m not letting
that worm ruin anything.” He pulled her in close and began to move
as “Ho Hey” by the Lumineers played.
    “ We can’t slow dance to
this song,