Chapter 15 Extra Credit #6
“Mhmm. After this semester, I am going to go back to my therapy practice. I still have clients, but I work part-time. I would be a liar if I said that my desire to be with you is not influencing this, but I want to make a bigger difference than just teaching. I want to help people that need me,” he says.
“Helping you reminded me why I started doing this to begin with.”
“Why’s that?” I ask.
“Remember the sister I mentioned?” he asks.
“Yeah…”
“She is a few years older than me. When she was at college, she was drugged, and gang raped. Her attackers did not use a condom and her rape kit revealed ten samples left behind. Based on the area that she was at when she was found, it showed an additional seven DNA samples that were specifically semen,” he says.
“Fortunately, they were all morons and took a video. They didn’t hide anyone’s face and posted it online.
This led to all of them being charged with her rape,” he explains.
“She attempted suicide the week after her rape. Our parents were able to get an ambulance to her in time, but it fucked her up. Our parents ended up having to involuntarily commit her because she simply could not cope. What ended up helping was telling her that it was okay to be traumatized. Everyone kept telling her that she just needed to force the feelings to go away, but I encouraged her to feel every single one of them. I told her that she felt like she had nothing to lose, at least try to make all of those feelings. From there, she learned how to heal. That’s when I decided that I wanted to help people like her.
It didn’t even necessarily have to be sexual assault, but I wanted to help people overcome trauma. She is also a psychiatrist now.”
“Seventeen men? No wonder she had such a hard time. That’s awful,” I say.
“Yeah,” he says. “All of this reminded me of what influenced me back then. I got comfortable with the routine of teaching, and it took over my life. I want to get back to that feeling of helping people.”
“So, what does that mean long term?” I ask.
“Part of me wants to say it’s the trauma, but I have wanted this and more from you since before the rape.
I knew you kept me at arm's length because you felt the same way. I can’t sit here and wallow in self-pity for eternity.
If we both have feeling for each other and we both want this, I refuse to let my rape dictate how I live my life. ”
“Do you think you could handle starting something?” he asks.
“I know I will have good and bad days,” I say. “I know we have obvious challenges ahead of us, like making sure no one knows before the semester ends, but I will face whatever I need to ensure my happiness. I refuse to let myself end up like my mother and let the world consume me.”
“Then we take baby steps,” Keith says. “When to comes to our relationship and anything we do physically, it stays inside this house until after you are done in my class. I will hand in my resignation tomorrow,” he says.
“It should go without saying, but I don’t want you stay in the dorms. I would really like for us to go get your belongings after we sleep for a little bit. ”
“I don’t know what to tell Penny,” I sigh.
“Tell her the truth. Tell her that you were brutally gang raped and you don’t feel safe. The police will recognize me as your advocate, so it’s not a big deal for you living here. The school will have someone else administer tests though.”
“Well... let’s sleep then. I need to do a paper for your class anyway, so I need my laptop.”
“That’s due tomorrow, Bekah,” he says.
“Every assignment in your class I do at the last second,” I laugh. He smiles and shakes his head at me before lying beside me and pulling me to his chest. “I’m going to be so sore when I wake up.”
“Yeah, your bruises are pretty gnarly,” he says. “Later on, I’ll run you a bath. It’ll help relax you.”
“That sounds wonderful,” I yawn. Instead of saying anything, he kisses my head and pulls the covers over us.
Keith and I fell asleep a little after five in the morning and woke up shortly before noon. It took me a moment to get my bearings after almost panicking when I opened my eyes, but he was so patient with me. He is truly amazing.
We are on our way to meet the detective at my dorm room. I’m not sure why she wants to meet there, but she seemed to be on edge. We are bringing boxes with us so I can get my stuff while I’m here. I haven't charged my phone yet so hopefully Penny is here so I can talk to her.
“You ready?” Keith asks as I slide my key into the lock.
“Uh... yeah. I think so,” I say. I push the door open and see Penny standing with Abigail.
“Oh my God, Bekah,” Penny says tearfully as she hugs me tight. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t help. I should have helped.”
“What? Slow down. What are you talking about?” I ask, pulling away from her.
“I saw what they did to you,” she says tearfully. I look at Abigail, and she nods.
“I don’t understand,” I say. She pulls me over to sit on her bed and takes my hands.
“I saw you leave, and the guys left seconds later. Grant said they had some frat bullshit to do. I thought you and Grant were messing around because he would never shut the fuck up about you, so I followed him. They got pretty far ahead of me and... I was taking a video because I was so sure he was cheating on me with you. I just wanted proof... I came around the corner and Grant shoved you over that table... I froze. I didn’t know what to do.
Grant has an explosive temper so I knew going over there could have gotten us both killed if he escalated enough.
.. I just kept taking a video. I knew you couldn’t see them, so I was afraid if I didn’t, they’d get away with it.
“Scott was the second one... when Dylan and Shane started... Uhm... Grant saw me. I freaked out and ran. I got a little ways away when I realized what I had done, so I went back. That’s when I saw you with Professor Bramlett and the police were pulling up.
.. I took the video to the campus police, but they refused to look at it.
They said I videoed them without their permission, so they had no interest in seeing it.
I called you over and over, but I couldn’t get ahold of you.
I went back to them a few hours later and said you never came back to the dorm, and they said if you weren’t back by Monday to let them know. ”
“I... I don’t know what to say.” My voice is quiet, and I can’t help but to look at Keith. I can see on his face that he wants to come over here and hug me, but he can’t.
“I’ve been calling you over and over again. I never thought to try and reach out to him. I feel like I’ve lost my mind,” she says. “I’m sorry I didn’t help. I didn’t know what to do. I never thought he’d do something like that.”
“Can... can you tell it’s them?” I ask her.
“Yeah,” she sniffs. “It’s crystal clear.” I sigh and stand up. I can’t be still anymore.
“I’ve sent the video to the district attorney,” Abagail says, glancing at her phone. “And... I have the warrant for their arrest.”
“Oh my God,” I say. I look at Keith and he smiles brightly at me. “So, what now?”
“Now... I will call for backup,” she says. “Penny?”
“I’m going to call them and tell them that I need to talk to them. I’ll say you just got here and you’re asleep, so they have to be quiet.”
“That’s... gross, but I have a feeling they’d jump at the opportunity for that set up,” I say.
“I’ll be here and Keith, you can stay as well if you’d like. I’m sure Rebekah will appreciate the support,” she says. Penny narrows her eyes slightly before pulling her phone out. I take the opportunity to go over and start packing my things.
“Hello?” I hear Grant say from Penny’s phone. I try to fight off the tears as I pack.
“Hey. We need to talk,” Penny says simply.
“I agree,” he says.
“Are you with the guys?” she asks.
“Why?” Grant asks.
“I’m just confused as to what I saw last night,” Penny says. “I guess I just don’t get why you’d cheat on me with my friend.”
“Have you talked to her?” he asks.
“Kinda. Not really,” Penny says. “She came in a few hours ago in the same outfit. I tried to get her to talk to me, but she wouldn’t. She just got in bed and went to sleep.”
“She’s in bed now?” he asks. His interest in my location and what I’m doing forces tears to run down my cheeks.
“Yeah. Can you and the guys come over so we can all talk? I just want to make sense of things without shit blowing up.”
“Yeah. We can head over now,” he says. “Truthfully, babe... she came onto me when I went to the bathroom. I tried to let her down easily when she was asking if we could get out of there. When she stormed out, we went after her and... I just... I fucked up and let her convince us. I don’t know why I did it. ”
Keith grabs me and pulls me to him just before my legs give out. I bury my face in his chest and sob as I listen to his lies that it was my idea.
“I want to find a way past this with her and you. I know she’s been having a hard time lately so if we can just discuss what happened I’ll delete the video and we can move on,” Penny says, smiling at Abigail.
“What?” Grant asks. “You have a video?”
“Yeah. It’s a short video but I was afraid you’d try to deny cheating so I wanted proof.”
“Have you sent it to anyone?” he asks.
“No. I wanted to just show you guys and her.”
“We will be there in about five minutes,” he says.
“Okay. The door will be unlocked,” Penny says. They end the call, and she turns to me. “Are you two dating?”
“Why?” I ask.
“Because he looks like he’s going to tear someone's throat out and he’s holding you… close,” she says.
“Ask me again in a month,” I say simply.
“Oh, I got it,” she says with a smile. Abigail opens the door to let in two men. One is in uniform, and the other is dressed in black slacks and a white button up with a suit jacket.
“This is my partner, Detective Andrew Jameson,” Abigail says. “That is Officer Charles Windshore. He frequently helps us with arrest warrants.”
“So, how we will do this is we will stand back enough so they cannot see us until they are in the room. The only ones I want them to be able to see is Penny and Rebekah,” Andrew says. “If they suspect anything they could very well run and that obviously poses an issue.”
“The moment all four are in the room, we will take over,” Abigail says to me.
“Yes,” Andrew says. “None of them will get near the two of you but when we step up, I want you two out of the way and with Keith.”
“Okay,” I sigh. We hear a noise outside of the room and everyone moves away so that Penny and I are standing together in front of the door. I am trembling, trying to keep my shit in check. This is not a time to have a meltdown.
When the door comes open, Grant is the first one I see. He steps in and is laser focused on me as the other three file in behind him. “Bekah,” he says with a devilish smirk.
Scott shuts the door and sees everyone else. He goes to yank it back open, but Andrew kicks it shut. Grant lunges for me but Abigail grabs him and takes him down so fast that even he is stunned. He doesn’t fight her once she has his arms pulled behind his back.
“Ow. You're hurting me,” Grant complains when she slaps the handcuffs on his wrists and tightens them.
“Aw. Are they too tight? How ironic,” Abigail says with a mocking tone as she and the officer stand him up. Scott, Dylan, and Shane are now cuffed, and they are all silent.
“Grant Patterson, Scott Michaels, Dylan Shaffer, and Shane Richardson,” Abigail says.
“You are under arrest for first degree rape and first degree kidnapping. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”
When they are led out into the hall, there are dozens of people watching them get led away in handcuffs. I walk over to Keith, and he wraps me in a hug. “It’s over,” I whisper.
“It’s over,” he confirms. “Let’s get your things and go home.”
“Okay,” I look up at him and smile. “Let’s go home.”