Chapter 8
Seb
I find Sunshine sitting under the live oak tree in the backyard when I arrive at her house. We know she’s seen the texts already, and Nick filled us in on the update. “Sunshine,” I sing.
She looks up at me and gives a wave, but says nothing. That’s not like her. I hope she’s not closing down or shutting us out. “What’cha reading? How was your day? Did Nick bug you all day? What’s for dinner?”
“Just reading this book for class,” she responds.
That won’t do at all. I pick her up and set her on my lap. She lays her head on my shoulder and sighs. “Talk to me, Sunshine. I was worried about you all day.”
“I’m fine,” she responds quietly.
“No, you are not. That’s a lie. Nobody would be fine in your shoes. What can I do to help?” She simply shrugs, offering no answer. Time to put my detective hat on. “You saw the texts already. Is that what you’re thinking about?”
“Yeah.”
“What about them?”
“You guys all saw them,” she tells me.
“We did. I don’t understand how people can be so cruel.”
“Do you see me differently now?” She asks quietly, not lifting her head.
“Heck no. You’re still my Sunshine. Those texts mean nothing to me. Sunshine, someone violated you. Jessica, Ben, and Cara all need serious help.”
“The others?” She asks. She’s worried about how we’ll all respond. What does she think we’ll do?
“The others are furious on your behalf. They see you no differently. I promise.”
I feel a tear hit my arm. Looking down, I see both her cheeks are wet. I pull her tighter into my arms as she cries quietly. I rock her gently, telling her how much we care about her.
Her tears eventually slow down, so I loosen my hold. “Everyone has seen me practically naked. I thought I had left all that in the past.”
“The important parts are blurry, so you can’t really see anything.
The girls here show more skin in their bikinis.
Heck, it was modest compared to Cara and her friends,” I say, squeezing her again.
“A simple internet search will show the truth about the accident. As for the slut and whore writings…that’s pretty unimaginative.
Don’t give it a second thought, Sunshine. ”
“You don’t understand. When it happened in Virginia, I was propositioned daily. Guys harassed me really badly. I…didn’t cope well with it all,” she tells me.
My poor Sunshine. She’s been through a lot.
She doesn’t realize how remarkably strong she is.
“Zander, Sarah, and Sue are here for you, along with us. You’ve got a police officer and a lawyer.
Holly, Jaxon, and Gabs will support you, too.
In Virginia, you didn’t have all of that. You have your own army now.”
She looks up at me with her thinking face on as she wipes her cheeks. “I never thought of that,” she says.
“See? I’m not just a pretty face,” I say, winking at her. “I’m smart too.”
I get rewarded with a genuine smile for my efforts. “Come on, let’s go inside before they find us,” I say, standing and helping her up.
“Is everyone here?” She hesitates.
“Yup, let’s go visit,” I reply, taking her hand.
Summer
I’m scared. Facing my friends feels like trying to climb Mt. Everest with a protein bar and a raincoat. What if the guys treat me differently now? Will they distance themselves and suddenly be busy? One moment at a time, Summer.
They’re all mingling around the living and kitchen areas when we get inside. Bay and E both give me a hug, and I get a smile from Alex, allowing me to deflate a little at the normalcy.
“I copied my notes for you from class today and brought your homework, Summer,” Alex tells me.
“Let’s get homework out of the way,” E suggests, so we spread out between the island and the table.
Zander offers to grill us dinner while we’re working. There isn’t much homework for me tonight, as it was lab day today. The guys still aren’t acting any differently towards me, and it’s like a cool breeze on a hot summer’s day.
As we’re cleaning up dinner, the doorbell rings and Zander goes to answer. I look up to see Mr. MacLeod and Sean following Zander inside. “Sean has an update for us. Everyone gather around the couch,” he tells us.
Alex and Seb grab two dining chairs and place them in front of the fireplace as we settle around the room. I end up between Bay and Nick on the couch.
“I interviewed Cara and Ana today,” Sean begins.
“Though Cara remained silent, Ana broke down, even with her lawyer’s attempts to silence her.
She confessed that Ben and Cara planned the kidnapping.
She said she didn’t know what was happening until she was in the girls’ washroom.
Despite her initial reluctance, Ana ended up helping.
Using a window left unlocked by Ben the previous night, they gained entry to the gym through the baseball coach’s office.
She also verified that Ben had an office key from the coach’s desk.
Ben gave the girls the chloroform rags, then hid in the boy’s washroom next door.
They waited several hours for you to show up.
Cara picked up Ana, driving a rental car that her cousin was using while visiting the family.
We have the vehicle description and arrival time. ”
“I also have restraining orders for Cara and Ben in place, Summer,” Mr. MacLeod adds. “The superintendent has suspended all three students pending the outcome of the charges that have been filed today. They will not be in school for the remainder of the year.”
“So it’s over?” I ask, disbelief clear in my tone.
“Yes, it is until the trial. That is scheduled for the end of May,” Mr. MacLeod responds.
“Will the kids have to testify?” Zander questions.
“I don’t believe so. They are welcome to if they wish, but the evidence should be enough on its own, assuming Sean provides me with video surveillance showing the two vehicles coming and leaving the gym that day,” he says, pointedly looking at Sean.
“I already have Ben’s vehicle covered. Our tech guy is working on the other vehicle now,” Sean responds.
“Are they in jail now?” Seb asks.
“Cara and Ana are free on bail. Ben is still in the hospital under guard. I don’t expect him to post bail, so he’ll remain in custody until the trial,” Mr. MacLeod responds.
“Are there any more questions?” Sean asks us. No one speaks up, so he and Mr. MacLeod excuse themselves and walk to the front door with Zander.
It’s over, but I don’t feel any different. I thought I would be relieved. Maybe I am a bit, but it’s anticlimactic.
“How are you now, Sunshine?” Seb asks.
“I’m not sure, the same?”
“I imagine it will take time to process Summer,” Alex tells me.
“Are you staying home the rest of the week or coming back to school?” Bay asks.
“I don’t think I'll go tomorrow, but probably Wednesday. There’s no point in staying home now. I’m going to call Sarah,” I say, getting up to walk to my bedroom.
My laptop is charging on my desk, so I unplug it and kick off my shoes to get comfortable on the bed and dial Sarah on a video call. “Hi Summer,” she smiles.
I fill her in on what we were just told and tell her I’m not feeling any different. “I’m numb. I should be more relieved, right?”
“That’s okay for now, Summer. Are you concerned about seeing them again?”
“No, there’s a restraining order for Ben and Cara, and they’re out of school for the rest of the year with suspensions. The only thing I’ve been worried about is the backlash from the photos at school.”
“Remember your support system and your strength. One moment at a time. You will worry about that until you begin school again. How are you sleeping?”
I look down at my lap. “Not good,” I tell her. “The nightmares are nonstop. The only sleep I’ve gotten is the first night when I fell asleep on Nick.”
“Perhaps we can try a sleeping pill for a short time until you have dealt with all of your emotions?”
“I don’t know,” I say, feeling uneasy about taking something like that. I survived the past year without pills.
“I can prescribe a very mild sleeping pill that won’t make you feel groggy, and it’s not addictive. Zander won’t be comfortable with you sleeping with one of your friends every night, and that's not a permanent fix for the issue.”
She’s right, as much as I want the guys to stay here, so I reluctantly nod. “I’ll try it.” We discuss returning to school, me mentioning that I can’t attend track or gym classes because of my very colorful chest area.
“I’m so sorry, Summer,” Sarah says, with sadness in her eyes. “You can wear layers until you heal. A doctor’s note will be required to miss gym class. I’m sure Dr. Croft can write one for you.”
“Yeah, good idea,” I nod. “I still think I should be screaming or crying or something, Sarah.”
“Not necessarily. Every trauma is unique. Let’s get you sleeping first and go from there. I’ll contact the pharmacy right now. I want to schedule you in for Wednesday after school, but please call if you need to talk before then, okay?”
“I will, thanks, Sarah.” Closing the laptop, I rest my head against the headboard.
Is this what my life is going to look like forever?
Trauma, survival mode, living again, then more trauma on a never-ending loop?
Realistically, I know life is a rollercoaster and peace isn’t a guarantee, but damn, I want a break.
The accident, hospital stay, losing Mom and Lily bee, Jake in a coma, bullying, foster homes, moving, Ben at the party, the kidnapping.
When I list it all like that, it feels overwhelming.
No, Summer, stop it. I get up and sit at my desk to make a list of all the good parts: Sue, Mal, visiting Jake, Zander, the guys, my friends, and track. Not to mention my wonderful childhood. I force myself not to focus on the bad. I’m blessed in so many ways.