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"No," I said.

"So how come you don't tell me your name?" he followed.

"It's Rain," I said.

"Huh?"

"Rain. My name is Rain, okay? Now leave me alone," I pleaded.

"Rain?" He took out his toothpick and nodded. "I like that. Me and my Rain girl. What'cha think, Chumpy?" he asked a heavyset and much shorter boy.

"Rain's a trouble that will follow you everywhere you go, Jerad," he said.

"Yeah, that's right, Chumpy. You wanna be my Rain girl, Rain?"

"No. I want to get my sister and go home," I moaned.

"Now that's not too friendly," he said. "Come on," he said, grabbing me at my elbow. "I'll buy you somethin' to drink."

"No thank you." I pulled out of his grip.

"No thank you? How polite. Ain't she polite, Chumpy?" he asked.

"I never seen a more polite Rain," Chumpy quipped. Everyone laughed. The circle they made tightened so I couldn't look toward the bar or even at the dance floor.

"I bet kissin' you ain't like kissin' rain, though," Jerad said. He drew closer. I backed up into one of the boys behind me who gave me a small shove forward into Jerad, who then put his arms around me.

"Whoa, take it easy. Don't be comin' at me so aggressively, girl," he said with a laugh, but he held onto me. "I'll be here for you. Don't worry."

They all laughed again. I struggled to get out of his embrace.

"Let me go," I said.

"After I get my kiss. Come on," he urged, bringing his lips closer to mine. "I never kissed no Rain before. Come on."

"No, let me go." I squirmed. He looked at the others and they tightened the circle. Panic nailed my feet to the dirty wooden floor.

Someone from behind seized my arms just above the elbows and pulled them back so hard, my books slipped and fell to the floor. I gasped, but before I could shout, Jerad pressed his thick, wet lips to my mouth, cupping my breasts in his palms as he did so, and the group sent up a cry of glee. It drew everyone's attention because when he pulled back, I could see people looking at us and laughing. Beni stopped dancing and gazed at me with amazement.

"Now that was no Rain kiss," Jerad said, "but that there is some treasure," he added, nodding at my bosom.

I didn't move. I never felt so violated; I was terrified.

"Chumpy," he said. "Pick up the girl's books. Where's your manners?"

"Sorry," Chumpy said. He picked up my books and handed them to me.

I wanted to wipe my mouth, but I was afraid of getting Jerad angry, so I turned away and started toward the door. The boys stood their ground.

"Let her go. For now," Jerad ordered and they parted. I hurried out and into the street. Even the littered gutter felt fresher and cleaner than where I had just been. I walked as quickly as I could, my legs trembling, cold tears flowing down my cheeks.

"Rain!" I heard Beni call and turned before I reached the corner. "What happened?"

"I'm going home, Beni. I don't care if you stay there.

I'm going home." I wiped my cheeks and my mouth with the back of my hand.

"Okay," she said, realizing how upset I was. "Wait a minute, will you?" She went back inside and then came out with her books, hurrying up the sidewalk to join me. "What happened? Why did he kiss you?"