Falling Behind (Falling Series) (14 page)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Reese

Sitting in the bathroom stall, inside the locker room, I had less chance of interruptions; since all gym classes were done for the day. It was in here that I wrote out what I wanted to say to the entire school in an assembly.

First
, I made a list of what to talk about with Mr. Wait. Then I made a bullet list for Candice’s parents; and finally, I created a detailed bullet list of topics to discuss in a possible “Stand Up to Violence” Assembly. The more I wrote, the sadder I got about doing this without Candice. You’re doing this for Candice, I kept reminded myself.

After practice
, I went home and worked on my packet along with my list of questions for Mr. Wait. The packet contained ten pages– one for each period, plus an extra English paper and two extra Spanish papers. I started on the Algebra 2 worksheet: Function Operations. I let my mind run over the problems, trying to find answers to questions like, (g + h)(1) and (f – g)(4). There were fourteen problems on the worksheet. I figured it would keep my brain busy for a while.

Two hours later
, I doubled checked my answers and was pleased with the outcome. It felt good to be doing homework, again. I am not a straight ‘A’ student, but I got good grades and did my best, at all times. Well, until I started dating Josh. I spent so much of my time during first semester with him, I neglected my homework. I even ditched a few classes to sneak off with him. It probably wasn’t enough to harm my reputation with my teachers and my overall GPA.  But then the whole Orchard incident reared its ugly head, I hoped they didn’t judge me off the ridiculously close rumors.

I checked out the
AP Civics worksheet, it was all multiple choice questions. Easy. I grabbed my Civics book, silently thanking Mr. Wait. After finishing three worksheets and talking to Titus for thirty minutes, I had dinner with my family. Mom had made my favorite—enchiladas, rice and beans. I put a half of an enchilada and a small scoop of both rice and beans on my plate and used my fork to push the food around, taking one or two bites when Mom or Dad looked at me.

“How was school today
, Reese?” Dad asked.

“It was okay
. There were a bunch of rumors going around about Candice. And it got me thinking; well, I don’t think anyone has addressed the school about what happen to her. I was wondering if you and Mom thought it would be okay if I talked to my Civics teacher and Vice Principal about holding an assembly?”

Mom set her fork down and glanced at my dad before looking at me. Her face was weighed down with concern
. “Honey, I don’t think the Warner’s want Candice’s addictions and abuse broadcast to the whole school. Did you think about them?”

“Yes, Mom
, I did.” I dropped my own fork and started twirling a strand of hair with my fingers.
Why would she think that I didn’t think about them?
I continued with a little venom in my voice, “I did think about them. But, I was truly thinking of Candice and the things I heard people saying. I think it would be better if they knew the truth; and then maybe her death could save someone else.”

“Reese, you don’t”
─

My dad started
, but Mom cut him off, −“It’s ok, Dear. Reese, honey, calm down and tell us what you heard and what you are thinking.”

“One kid said she was so high she fell of
f Black Bridge and another said she was kicked to near death. Someone else said she had been drunk and hit by a train, hiding in the alcoves on the train bridge. They don’t know and I think, for the memory of Candice, they need to. I was planning on talking to Mr. Wait about it tomorrow, when I meet with him, and then asking the Warner’s permission. If Candice’s abuse and drug use can save one other person, then that one person and their family will forever be grateful.

“I thought you could go with me to talk to Candice’s parents tomorrow
, after practice. I know Candice; and I know if he wouldn’t have forced her, she would never have done drugs. And, she would have never stayed with him, if she wasn’t afraid. She thought she was alone.” In my passion, I started to stand up, but my dad flicked his wrist at me to sit back down.

“You may be right. Let’s take this one step at a time. Tomorrow
, talk with Mr. Wait when you have your meeting with him. If he agrees, then we will go see her parents and then go from there.” Mom looked to Dad for agreement. His head barely moved, but he nodded in agreement.

“May I be excused, I ‘m finished.”

“Yes, Honey.”

I stood up
, taking my plate to the kitchen and scraped all of my food into the trash.  On my way to bed, I stopped and kissed Mom and Dad goodnight. My sisters both sat very quietly through dinner, which is very unusual for them. “Goodnight, girls, sorry to ruin your dinner.” I offered them a small smile and slipped into my room.

Me:
GNight, Ty

Titus: Sweet Dreams C U 2morrow

I threw on an oversized nightgown and climbed into my bed, ready for this day to end and the next one to begin. It was the only way I could make it right now; one day at a time. Tomorrow was the first day in months that I was actually looking forward to going to school, until my phone beeped.

The nerves that gathered in my stomach at the sound of the beep on my phone had me gagging in reaction. I knew it wasn’t Titus. I would never get another text from Candice
.  That only left one other person and he was the last person I wanted to hear from.

Josh: We need 2
talk. B there 2 pick u up

I didn’t want to talk to him. He was the last person, well
, besides Alex, that I wanted to talk to. Who was he to think after everything he did that I would talk to him? My mind was furiously racing a mile a minute. How dare he? Then my phone beeped, again.

Josh: Never mind coming by 2nite

At that same moment, I heard his truck coming around the corner. This was going to be interesting. Dad was home. He didn’t know what happened between us, but he knew something went down.

I lay in bed listening
. Our house wasn’t huge, and my room is first in the hall. The truck door shut and it was quite for a few seconds.  Even though I knew it was coming, I jumped when Josh knocked on the door. “Who could that be? It’s nearly eight thirty,” Mom asked as he knocked three more times.

“Whoever it is, they’re inpatient,” Dad remarked as he hollered. “We’re coming.” I heard the chair scoot across the tile and his heavy footsteps head toward the door. The door creaked open. “Josh, it’s too late for visitors and I’ve already asked you not to ever come by, anymore.”

Josh turned on his charm. “I’m sorry
, Mr. Milson. I’ve been trying to check on Reese. I wasn’t able to talk to her at Candice’s funeral to see how she was doing. Do you think I could say hi?”

I heard my dad clear his throat
. “Not tonight. She is barely hanging on, right now. She went to bed early. I think it’s best if you just leave Reese alone.”

“Okay
. Again, I’m sorry. Can you tell her I came by?”

“Look Josh, I don’t know what happen between the two of you and it’s none of my business. But
, my daughter does not want to see you. And that is my business. Please don’t make me call the cops, just stay away from Reese.” I could hear the finality in his voice.

“Yes,
Sir. The cops won’t be necessary.”

I continued to listen
as the door shut and Dad slid the lock into place. Immediately, the heavy footsteps came down the hall toward my room. Dad stood in my doorway. I could pretend I was asleep or thank him.

“Thank you for getting rid of him
, Dad.”

Dad flipped my bedroom light on
, temporarily blinding me. “Reese, I’m not sure what happened between you, and I don’t know that I want the details. However, if I need to call the sheriff and file a restraining order, I will. Please keep me informed if he continues to stalk you.”

He stood in
the doorway, looking down at me with concern in his eyes.
If he only knew, everything he had done.
“Tonight is the first attempt he’s made at contacting me. If he continues, I will tell you.”

His forehead creased in concern and confusion. “Tell me before it gets out of hand
, please.”

“Sure
, Dad. Goodnight.”

I left for school early again, eager to meet with Mr. Wait. I sat in the library looking up articles about abuse and I even Googled “date rape”. What I read left me feeling uncertain about what I should do. The article clearly said that
when a person in a relationship with another person is forced or pressured to have sexual relations, it is considered date rape. If a person has already agreed to sexual relations with the person they are in a relationship with, and then changes one’s mind, it is date rape.

I felt numb. I decided that I wanted to talk to him about what happened with Josh. I knew I could. I knew I could trust him and that he would take me seriously.  I didn’t know if I wanted people to know that I was raped. I didn’t even know if I could say it aloud.

After s
everal deep breaths, I was calm enough to shut down the computer and erase the history of my search. I gathered my things just as Mr. Wait appeared in the library.

“Reese
? Good morning, you ready?”

I laughed
; not a real laugh, but a deep nervous chuckle. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Well
, come on. I think if you’ll let me talk to you first, and tell you a few things, you may find it easier to talk to me about some things you may not be able to talk to anyone else about.” He held open the library’s blue doors and we headed down toward his room, on the east side of the building.

He unlocked the door, opened it up
, propping it open with the kickstand, flipping the light on and let me slip in first. Just as I was entering, I saw Josh’s truck head toward the high school from the side of the building.

“I have a feeling you may want to discuss Josh. If that’s the case
, let me explain why I feel that I’m a good choice for both you and Titus to talk with.” He waited for some sort of confirmation from me.

I nodded
, not sure I could speak, yet. I took my normal seat in his class and he pulled a desk around to face me, making me feel as though we were on the same level, instead of him hiding behind his desk in his raised chair.

“Let me say a few things, then you can ask as many questions as you want. If we have time this morning
, we can discuss some of the things going on with you. All right?” He offered me a full-on smile with deep dimples.

“Okay.” I folded my hands in my lap, trying to resist biting them or twirling my hair.

“I have a sister that is three years older than me. When I was a freshman, she was a senior. She was dating a guy in our town who attended our local college. They had been together for a few years and my family loved him. I couldn’t stand the guy. I watched him control my sister and take away her happiness. I watched as he took her away from her friends.

“I tried to talk to my parents about the changes I
had seen in her, but no one would listen. From the first night I saw him hit her, I refused to be anywhere near him and repeatedly tried to get someone to listen to me. I went as far as talking to our counselor at our school.

“Everyone told me that they couldn’t do anything without proof or without my sister admitting it. He broke her wrist. She said she fell. The night of her graduation
, he raped her and my sister became pregnant. When he learned she was carrying his child because he forced himself on her, he left.

“My sister still has nightmares
because she’s never dealt with what she went through. She survived, but only barely. She’s married now, but she and her husband aren’t happy; primarily because of those demons she won’t talk about. I know the signs of abuse. I’ve know how date rape happen. I know how a guy can convince a girl to do things with him and make it seem okay.” He leaned forward on the small desk and his eyes were misty.

I could
barely see the mist in his eyes before mine were overflowing with tears, making everything blurry. He knew what Josh did. He knew that Candice was abused. He would understand and help me set this assembly up.  A huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. My chest felt lighter and I hadn’t even spoken, yet.

“If you’re not ready to talk about what happened with you or Candice, I understand. I
just wanted you to know that I can empathize with you. What I witnessed in the parking lot that day, told me all I needed to know about Josh.” He sat back and rubbed the back of his neck, giving me a few minutes.

“Thank you for sharing your story.” I choked out. “I need to discuss
my relationship with Josh, but first I need to talk about something more important.” I fished in my binder for my list. Mr. Wait sat with his eyebrows raised; trying, I assumed, to figure out what could be more important. “Before we discuss this,” I held up the list. “Can we meet after school to discuss Josh?   I’d like to get that out of the way today, too.