The Female of the Species

It’s easier to like animals than people

But boys will be boys, our favorite phrase that excuses so many things, while the only thing we have for the opposite gender is women, said with disdain and punctuated with an eye roll.

I hold my phone tightly, too aware that the present is all we have if I can’t mention the past and she won’t talk about the future.

“I’m telling you, Claire. It doesn’t matter. What you were wearing. What you look like. Nothing. Watch the nature channel. Predators go for the easy prey.”

Physical attractiveness has nothing to do with it. You were alone, isolated, and weak. The three of them had been watching girls all night, waiting for someone to separate from a group. It happened to be you, but it could’ve been anyone. Opportunity is what matters, nothing else.”

“Nah, the art teacher told the principal it was for my final and that it was a peach and if he saw something else that was his fault, not mine.

And I think, yeah, he would’ve raped me, and Branley too, because who wants to be crushed when you can do the crushing?

I almost laugh, but the sound gets stuck in my throat. Alex watches me for a second in silence. “Kidding,” she adds. “I have criteria.”

Then I’ll kill her.”

And even if it is—fine. She’s no different from you and me; she wants to have sex. So let her.”