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The following Monday the vibe of school was hard to explain. Something felt off. There were whispers in the hallways of something that had possibly happened at the dance. No one was really sure what, so there were guesses, such as the spiked punch causing an accident. Basically everything at this point was just a rumor, small town gossip.

I wasn't paying attention to anything being said anyways. I was much more focused on getting to class early and getting a seat far from Tyler Porter. There was now a light black, blue and slightly yellow bruise where he had grabbed my arm on Friday night. I was just hoping there was a matching one across his left cheek.

I hadn't seen anyone since prom, other than Felix of course. He had left again last night to return to Cedar Falls for his last few weeks of his sophomore year of college.

I walk to my first period biology class and sit in the back row beside Morgan. Any other day I would sit next to Courtney, but I'm not waiting for her just to have Tyler take her spot beside me, because that is definitely something the jerk would do.

"Why is your dad here today in uniform?" Morgan raises a brow to me. "Did something happen? People are weird today..."

So it's not just me... the vibe is off.

I hadn't seen my dad yet today. He was already gone when Sydney and I left for school.

I shrug my shoulders. "I didn't realize he was here. Did something happen at the dance? I left early..."

"I left early too" her shoulders also give a shrug.

The intercom begins to crackle overhead, pulling our attention away from our conversation, and we hear our principal begin to speak.

"Attention students. This morning we are having an assembly for our ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade classes. This will be held during first period and then class will be dismissed for these students for the day. I would like all females of these classes to proceed to the auditorium and all males to proceed to the gymnasium. Thank you."

The crackling halts and Morgan and I look at each other, just as everyone else in the room is doing. They are separating us and then dismissing us? This is not a common occurrence.

This can't be good.

We stand from our seats and pile out of our biology classroom. All the males begin moving to their right, proceeding to the gym and the girls begin walking left to the auditorium. I spot both of my parents standing in the hall and I walk straight to them with Morgan at my heel.

"What's going on?" I look to my dad. "Did something happen at the dance after I left?"

He sighs. "Just go to the assembly Gabs. It won't affect you... I'm so glad you left when you did."

"Jesus me too" my mom shakes her head and places her hand over her mouth.

I find myself confused, because neither of them said anything when they got home from the dance. Felix didn't mention anything either. Nothing was said all weekend. So obviously they had just heard it too.

Morgan and I walk into the auditorium and find Courtney.

"What's going on?" Courtney asks as we sit.

"I have no clue. Something at the dance. You and Felix stayed right? Did you see something happen?"

She shakes her head no with a smile. "Gross Court, I don't want to know what you and Felix did" I laugh.

She blushes and giggles, "don't worry, I won't tell. Just promise I will never hear details of what you and Jax did..."

"Deal" I nod.

Teachers begin filling the stage as well as a female police officer that I recognize, she's worked with my dad for a few years. There is not one male in this room. Everyone is buzzing about what could have possibly happened. There is also a woman on the stage dressed in scrubs, like a nurse.

"Everyone calm down please" our vice principal motions her hands up and down to end the speculation chatter.

Once the buzzing is manageable she begins.

"Ladies we are here today to discuss prom and after-prom." She frowns at all the female students in front of her.

Suddenly I feel nervous. My left hand gravitates to my right wrist where I begin plucking a pink rubber band.

"This morning, school officials were made aware of three separate instances, of females who were sexually assaulted during our school activities..."

The pink rubber band between my fingers snaps, falling to the floor. Instantly, I feel ill. People's heads begin turning, looking towards their friends. I feel Courtney's body go tense as she watches the stage. I'm sure anytime she hears things like this it has to be painful. I grab her hand with mine and give it a squeeze.

"Now anytime we learn of any type of assault, we take this very seriously. Whether it happens on school property or off, we want our students to know they are safe and they can talk openly with us..." Mrs. Williams continues.

"Now typically, we would keep this a private matter, but we have growing concerns with similarities with these girl's stories. Each of the girls were handed their drinks by males that they do not remember. These girls did not have dates to the dance. They proceeded to become intoxicated very quickly, to the point of blacking out, and woke up off of school property. They were taken to the hospital by their parents where it was determined that they had been assaulted..."

I begin breathing heavy. I feel as though my throat is closing and I can't find air. My entire body breaks into a sweat. I let go of Courtney's hand, wrapping both my arms around my own stomach.

"There was a similar instance of this reported over homecoming weekend. We believe these attacker's are using a date-rape drug and putting it in drinks of their female peers. We believe there is more than one male doing this" she continues.

The female police officer stands and begins to speak. "These actions are very troubling. We want to make sure our small community is safe. We realize that there are victims that likely have not come forward out of fear or they don't realize what may have occurred. We are asking people to come forward with any information that may help us find these assaulters. Every girl in here is going to be handed a card with a phone number on it. It connects you to a police officer aware of the situation. You can remain anonymous or we can come to you, you can come to us, whatever makes you feel comfortable. If you feel you are a victim we are begging you to speak up. If you think you have details about last Friday that may assist us in apprehending someone, I beg you, please speak up."

I'm going to throw up. I'm fairly certain. I feel like the room is spinning, I'm dizzy.

The nurse stands and begins her speech. "I want to discuss what this drug may entail. As mentioned, if could be drinks, food, a pill... it's side effects happen quickly. You will feel drunk, tipsy, dizzy, losing balance is common. You could have black out episodes or fall asleep completely. It can make you nauseated, sick, blood shot eyes. You won't think rationally when on it and that's what can make this so scary. If you even remotely think you may have been in a situation such as this, please come foreword and help prevent this from happening to someone else..."

Mrs. Williams approaches the front of the stage again. "We are releasing you all early today. Go home, if you believe you have knowledge to assist your peers find their attackers we beg you to come forward. You are dismissed."

Courtney, Morgan and I walk out of the assembly hall together, stopping at our lockers to grab our things back out and then walk outside. The guys don't appear to have left yet because not one is in sight.

"Want to come over? We get the whole day off..." Morgan looks to me happily.

How can someone look happy to have the day off after they heard the reason for it?

I can barely speak words.

"I'm grounded." I walk away from both of them before they can say anything else. I feel their eyes on me as I walk home.