Chapter 39
Life Continues
Did you know our Queen Bee Janet failed a drug test this morning?
! She's kicked off the squad until further notice.
She told her second in command that she better not get too comfortable in her spot because she'll be back.
She swears that the test was tainted. Daddy's money will vindicate his little girl... more to follow soon. #Imnotwithher
The following days go by swiftly. Benji resigned from the football team shortly after his fight with Jake.
Jake is still on the team, but he has thirty more hours of community service.
He also has to be the defensive player's water boy at practice for the entire season.
Jake says it was worth it and that community service doesn't bother him.
He helps out at the local children's hospital whenever he can anyways so he’ll just do extra shifts there.
Unfortunately, Benji is still a student here at school. He's an active suspect and has been questioned several times by law enforcement, but no other arrests have happened. It’s so frustrating but with no actual evidence, what can they do?
The head detective on the case told me he believed my version of the story, but until Jeffery confessed the whole truth or they uncovered more evidence concerning Benji, they had nothing on him.
I knew that would be the case, but it still makes me so mad.
It's one thing to think that the worst possible outcome will come true, but when that outcome comes to fruition, you can't believe it's happening to you and you want justice.
What if Benji never has to pay for his involvement in my case?
What if he decides to kidnap me again? It's not fair that I've lived through this terrible experience, and now my behind-the-scenes captor is free as a bird.
As bad as I hate to admit the truth, I'm scared.
I can't go anywhere by myself except to the bathroom, and I wish I weren’t alone in there either. I don't want to be this person.
Hopefully, after strenuous therapy, and an arrest warrant for Benji, I'll be able to resemble my life as I once knew it.
I don't want to have to look over my shoulder every ten seconds for the rest of my life.
With him being out and about, I can't deal.
I haven't told Jake or anyone else, but I've caught him several times watching me while he lurks in the shadows.
I've never seen him on campus this much.
Every time I catch him, he always gives me that signature smirk.
Maybe he thinks it's cute, but it's not, far from it.
I want to punch Benji square in his mouth to wipe that damn expression off of his face.
I can't tell anyone because if it gets back to Jake, I'm scared he'll do something rash.
Jake hates Banji even more than I do. The time will come when we have to deal with these raging feelings, but until he's in prison, how can we?
The first couple of times I saw Benji, I ran, and to my absolute horror, I heard him laugh.
The traitorous wind carried every bit of that laugh and planted it softly into my eardrums. After that, my pride wouldn't let me run any more.
Last night I even smirked back at him as we left the library.
It took every ounce of courage in me, but the expression that crossed his face was priceless.
It started with anger, then turned to what looked almost like admiration.
His reaction is scary now that I'm thinking about it.
Note to Self: Self! Don't smirk at criminally insane guys!
The days have turned into weeks, and finally, finals are in one week.
Jaxon and I took a big Biology test yesterday.
It's the last test before the big kahuna.
Grades will get posted tonight and I'm not nervous.
I think I nailed it. I've thrown myself into studying as it helped shut out any feelings of me dealing with the uncertainty of my situation, and it made me not notice the constant stares and whispers going on behind my back.
Jake has been great, and we are leaving after our Lit essay to visit his parents for a few days before the college preseason games start.
Granny Betsy Jean and mama weren't happy when I told them I wasn't coming home for my mini break before fall classes started.
Surprisingly, they wound up being okay with me continuing to go to school here.
However, I think it had more to do with Toby coming to school this coming fall semester and not so much my constant begging and crying.
It's a win, and a win is a win in my book!
Sasha, Toby, and I will all be roommates in the fall.
Jake and I will still stay together, but I told him I needed my space sometimes, and he reluctantly agreed.
Besides, on some weekends, he’ll be gone for games in other states.
I want to stay in my room on those weekends.
Sasha felt the same way, and Toby needed roommates. So, here we are.
The Lit final was easy, and our professor came up to me afterward and asked if I would like to be her TA. I wholeheartedly accepted. It was an honor considering I thought only juniors or seniors got invites to perform those duties. Maybe teaching is what I'll wind up doing.
I hear a soft knock on the bedroom door. "Come in."
It's Jaxon. "You looked at our grades yet?"
I laugh. Jaxon knows me pretty well. “I've refreshed the page every thirty seconds since leaving Jake’s room! Finally, ten minutes ago, the grades magically appeared. Congratulations, by the way. You beat me by one measly point."
He chuckles. "No reason to be snooty! Science is my thing. 97 is not a terrible grade."
I make a face at him. "But 98 is even better!"
He sticks his tongue out at me and does a little dance. "It's not bad, that's for sure. All packed up and ready to go, I see."
I smile. "Yes and no. Jaxon, I'm more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of people in rocking chairs."
He laughs. "That came straight from Granny Betsy Jean, didn't it?"
I nod. "You know it."
"Georgia, I know you didn't meet his parents under normal circumstances, but they honestly adore you. I heard him talking with them the other night, and they couldn't wait to get you to California. His Mama wants to take you to the beach and cook you her almost famous banana pudding."
I smile from ear to ear. Jaxon, my bestie, always knows what to say. "Thank you, my second favorite." I give him a big hug as the door opens and Jake appears.
We both laugh as Jake gives Jaxon a dirty look. "He's your best friend and also one of mine. Be nice, my Jakey."
He laughs. "I'll always be jealous of you and anybody you hug. Jaxon is not scared of me. Although I don't know why, I'm very menacing when I want to be."
Jaxon rolls his eyes. "Yeah, on the field, but out here in the real world, you're just a big ol' softy, my Jakey!"
Jake pushes him out the door and threatens his life if he ever calls him that again. I saunter to him and wrap my arms around him. "You about ready, baby?"
"Yes, ma'am. Thanks for packing for me. I'm so ready to bring you to Cali. My sisters are so excited, hysterical even. We're going to go out on the boat, and catch some fish, might even catch some fresh shrimp. We'll see if the tide is right."
"Sounds like a dream. I looked at our grades before Jaxon walked in. We both made A's! I got a 99 for my essay in Lit and 97 for my test in Bio."
"Damn, little Mama. You got the beauty and the brains."
"I do, and don't you forget it. You're not going to ask about your grade?"
He shrugs. "I might’ve already looked."
I laugh. "Who's the nerd now?"
"You. I only made a 96." He pouts.
"You're still a winner to me, Jakey."
"That's all that matters, Sweet Cheeks. You ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." I give a playful shrug.
We walk out and head to the airport. I'm nervous but excited. This is a big step toward our future together. Our families are essential to both of us. Hopefully, they will still adore me after this long weekend.