Health Class

“Hey, how was it last night?”

I scribble notes on my pad.

“The party? It was alright.”

I erase a mistake.

“No. I mean, how was she?”

My ears turn to the back.

“Oh! Amazing.”

I roll my eyes.

“How drunk was she?”

My ears turn again.

“Wasted.”

I hear a hand slide on another.

“She would have never let me if she were sober.”

I bite my lip.

“You mean?”

I put my pencil down.

“Ashley!”

I look at our teacher.

“Please pay attention.”

I begin to open my mouth.

“No buts.”

He continues talking about the penis.

“Did you wear protection?”

Silence.

“You didn’t?”

My eye twitches.

“Why would I?”

My heart stops.

“She’s sitting right there in the corner, you know.”

I look over the bowed female heads.

“The blonde.”

Jade.

“Nice.”

I put my pencil down.

“Ashley!”

I turn to the teacher again.

“I’m not going to tell you again.”

I put my head down.

“If you’re not going to listen, you can leave.”

He continues talking about the penis.

“She wanted it.”

I clench a fist.

“Yeah?”

My head is pounding.

“She was basically asking for it.”

I hear them snicker.

I nudge Regina’s arm. Jade’s friend.

“Hey.”

She turns to me.

“Do you hear this?”

Her pencil is still writing.

“No.”

Tears brim in her eyes.

“Not a word.”

I put my pencil down.

“Ashley!”