• Chapter 10

    The next morning, I woke up with that little, annoying smile that never goes away on my face. I felt like I was drifting in a cloud. I flew to the bathroom and in a smooth rush got ready for school. I was already thinking of sampling some of Ben’s delicious scrambled eggs as I went down the stairs when it hit me: There was neither sound nor scent coming from the kitchen. I jogged down the stairs, my smile gone, and found nothing but ol’ Gerald drinking some Snapple with toast. I froze half way down the stairs as a cold chill crawled up my spine. Automatically, I looked at the driveway. No cars. I was again, alone in the house with this vile, sickening man.
    “Good morning, Jay.” He said, offering a tired smile which I didn’t respond to. I nodded and lowered my head as I walked across the kitchen to the front door. “Wait a sec there, Jade.” I heard him shuffle out of his chair in a rush and jog over to me. I tensed up. “Need a ride?” He placed his hand on the small of my back and I held back a screech.
    “Uh…” I stretched my hand to open the door.
    “H-Hold on…” He grabbed my hand and pulled it back down. “You need a ride, don’t ya? I’ll take you to school. Don’t worry. You don’t have to walk all the way there.” I swallowed loudly. What the heck is wrong with this guy? What the heck is wrong with me that I’m not screaming for my life right now?
    “Uh… um…”
    “Do you have everything you need?” He whispered too closely to my ear. This was my chance.
    “Uh… a-actually… I forgot some notes I left in my desk…” I waited for him. He remained silent. “I better get them.” I shied away from his touch and dashed up the stairs. I closed the door to my room and began having a panic attack. I stumbled to my desk and pulled out some Clorox wipes I’d left behind the last time I cleaned my room and yanked two swabs out of the roll. I rubbed my neck and my lower back. I was sweating and breathing through ragged breaths as my body urged me to scream in disgust. I had to get out of this house. It suddenly felt so claustrophobic. But how? The back door? No. The yard has no exit and I’m not climbing any trees any time soon. I sighed. Mom and Ben aren’t here. Matt, as the morning person he is, left already. It was only me and him.

    I walked down the stairs with my mind on edge. My senses were extra focused so in case of any suspicious movement, I could go dashing out the front door. I looked around and it was empty. He left. I smiled and whispered a silent yes.
    “Ready?” I gasped and turned around. He was in the living room. “Let’s go.” He stood up from his La-Z-Boy and strutted over me. “Hey…” He placed his hand on the small of my back and I froze again. I felt his finger crawl under my shirt and pull at it. “Your shirt rolled up.” He whispered. He pulled it down and rested his hand on my butt. No slyness. No subtlety. Just butt. “My, my… how you’ve grown. You’ve become a very beautiful young lady.” He began kissing my neck. I was breathing ragged breaths again as a panic attack overcame me. If only someone, anyone could just show up. That’s all I need.

    But there was no one there. No one to save me. Not even Matt could rescue me now. I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth. I felt Gerald’s rough hand go up my back to the hook in my bra. He pushed my shirt up high over my head and pulled it down from my arms and began kissing my shoulders. It was the most disgusting, most vile thing I’ve ever felt. If I could just have a seizure right now… maybe… perhaps… I could skip all of this. No.

    Matt would save me. He definitely would. He always did. He would probably pop in through the front door.
    “What the-“ My eyes snapped open. Could it be? Matt? I quickly turned to see James standing in the hall. The back door was wide open and he was holding a pot of orchids (my favorite flowers) and a plastic box with a slice of cheesecake inside (my favorite food in the world). He dropped both items and lunged towards Gerald with the same ferocity he’d used to attack Nick. I pressed my hands against my chest and backed up against the wall as I saw James beat Gerald. I chest was heaving rapidly from the panic attack I was suffering. I clenched my chest. I saw Gerald kick James and he slammed against the island in the kitchen, knocking over the chairs and causing some pens to rolls from the top. Gerald stood up in a defiant pose.
    “C’mon, pretty boy, let’s see what you’ve got. I’ve spent all my life teaching little snot noses like you how to fight.” I saw blood drip between his legs and figured James must’ve hurt him pretty bad. But just then, Gerald’s phone began ringing. Everyone froze. His hand dug into his pocket as he answered it. He turned around and my eyes grew wide open. I cowered deeper into my corner. “Yeah yeah, I’m on my way.” He looked at me and winked before he hung up. He turned to face James who was still on the floor next to the island. “Saved by the bell, kid. Hope we can uh… continue this some other time. It was interesting while it lasted.” He spat out to the porch and grabbed his coat and car keys. He waved his hand and walked out to his car were he drove away. I heard James groan. I turned my face to him. His cheek was swollen and his lip was bloodied. I scurried to him and panicked.
    “Everything will be fine, James. Just calm down.” I stood up and grabbed the First Aid kit on top of the fridge and tended to his need.

    His eyes were closed and he was breathing slowly as I cleansed the blood from his cheek. This man… this guy… came… and rescued me. Not Ben, not Matt, not Nick, not Mom. But James. Without thinking I leaned forward and hugged him.
    “Huh?”
    “Thank you, James. You saved my life.” I felt some tears roll down my face. I was grateful to James.
    “Um… You’re welcome… but Jade… why didn’t you scream? Why didn’t you yell? Why didn’t you run?” I sat back up. That’s when I realized, I still hadn’t put my shirt back on. But James wasn’t even acknowledging my nakedness as he stared straight into my eyes.
    “I guess I was hoping someone would rescue me.” A gust of wind blew through the house and the both doors slammed closed. I looked back and saw the orchid lying in the mound of soil and the cheesecake lying sideways inside in its box. I smiled. “What are those?” I nodded towards the broken items.
    “Those are just… uh… a fragment of my otherwise humongous apology…” He took of his jacket and zipped it around my body.
    “You saved me, James… that means a lot to me…” And it does.
    “I’m sorry, Jade. I mean it. I really am. I know I haven’t been around for a while but I’ve changed. I have. Really. After the judge told me to-“
    “Wait, what? The judge?” He looked at me as if baffled.
    “Well yeah… Nick pressed charges against me. There was no escaping. I had to face it. I’d done something wrong. I was supposed to go to jail but my dad talked to the judge and she sentenced me to some anger management therapies. I went every day because… I loved you… and you deserved better from me and I’ll be better…” He paused. “Today’s my last session… doctor said it’d be the most important one… that by nothing in the world should I miss it but… I want to know if it’s worth going… Do you… forgive me… Jade?” I hugged him and sobbed into his neck.
    “I… I… I already did, silly.” I felt his arms snake my back and push me towards him with kind force.
    "Oh Jesus, Jade... I missed you so much. I'm so so so sorry for the way I'd hurt you. What was I thinking? I swear I'll never do anything like that to you for as long as I live." I felt tears on my shoulders and I gasped. He was... crying? I kissed his tears away and looked at him for a while.

    Now what?