Page 14 of Extracurricular with Mr. Abbot
“Like I was hit by a bus,” I croak. My throat feels rough and sore.
“You will for the next few weeks,” he says. He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “I want you to come home, Erin. I want to know that you're safe.”
“No,” I say, a little louder than I had expected. “I get that you’re scared, and I am too, but I’ve worked so hard to be here, Gary. I’m not being chased away because someone hurt me. Danny can’t get to me again.”
It’s going to take me a lot of time to get to a place where I can feel safe, but I know that if I leave, I’ll be scared to return, and I’m not going to throw everything I have worked my ass off for because a man didn’t like being told no.
Gary’s jaw is tight, but he nods. “I want you to speak to someone and go to self-defense classes.”
I smile up at him. “That I can do,” I reply. “I love you,” I whisper. So glad that he’s here and that he cares about me. I’ve missed him, and I know that he’s going to be even more protective of me now, and I’m okay with that.
“You’re going to be okay,” he promises me.
I nod. I believe him, he’s never lied to me before, and he’s never made me feel as though everything wouldn’t be okay. As long as I have Gary in my life, I’m going to be fine.
SEVEN
JARED
The entire campus is abuzz with talk about the attack that happened on Friday. I had no idea about it until I walked into campus this morning and saw how frightened some of the women were. It was only when I approached my classroom that I heard the details of what happened.
A female student was on her way home and was attacked by a male student. She’s alive, thankfully, someone heard her screams, and they were able to help. Had she not been heard, it’s anyone’s guess what could have happened. The police have the male in their custody, and thank fuck they do, it means he’ll not be able to pray on any more women.
Everyone is walking together in pairs or groups, none of the women are wanting to be alone, and no one can blame them. When things like this happen, everyone bands together and looks out for one another.
As the day has gone on, I’ve become anxious. I’ve yet to see Erin. I’m sure she’s fine, and that I haven’t seen her because she’s in groups whereas she’s usually alone or with Anastasia—whom I also haven’t seen.
I’m in my last class of the day, I’m counting down the minutes until it’s over so I can get the hell out of here. I want to go home and chill with Megan. My little girl is a kindergartener. She’s thriving. She loves it, I was worried, with her diabetes I was scared that she wouldn’t be in a place that she could be cared for if something were to happen. But her school is great, and they know all about her illness and how to care for her if or when she needs it.
She loves being in school, and she's made lots of friends. Every day after school, she tells me about her day and what she did. It’s become the best part of my day. She’s so animated and excited, she loves telling me stories of what happened during the day.
As soon as I dismiss the class, they’re hurrying out the door, dying to get out and go home. But I still see the turmoil in some of their features, they’re scared about what could happen when they leave here.
My brows knit together when I notice Anastasia standing in the doorway, a blank look on her face. Over the past year she’s fallen behind—it must be hard going through college while having a baby at home—but Anastasia will get a tutor and then catch up. She’s never behind in a way that she’s failing, she just needs some extra help in learning the curriculum. It’s not uncommon for her to be standing there.
The moment the classroom is empty, she walks in, her footsteps hesitant. “Professor Abbot,” she says softly as she reaches me.
I raise an eyebrow wondering what’s going on. “Is everything okay, Anastasia?”
She shakes her head, tears forming in her eyes. “It’s Erin,” she cries, and my heart sinks.
“What’s Erin?” I say a little angrier than I should.
“It was her that was attacked,” she cries, and my heart fucking shatters. “She’s okay,” she says quickly. “She’s at home. I just wanted you to know. I didn’t want you to hear the rumors, or to see her and get blindsided, because she looks bad. I wanted you to hear it from me.”
I stare at her in shock, my heart pounding. “What the fuck?” I say through gritted teeth. “How the fuck did this happen?” I demand, needing to know what exactly happened to her.
She shakes her head and swallows hard, her tears falling down her face. “She was coming home from the library,” she says as he pulls in a ragged breath. “She cut through the park. She was pulled into the wooded area by a guy. She screamed as she tried to fight him. Thankfully, people who were leaving the library heard her screaming and managed to stop him before he ra—” She stops, unable to say the word.
I run a hand through my hair. Fuck. I’m so fucking glad that people were there to hear her screams. I’m so fucking angry that someone did this to her. To my Erin. God. I want to throw up. I want to fucking hit something. The anger I have is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. That animal tried to rape her. God, I’d fucking kill him if I ever get my hands on him.
“Is she really okay?” I ask, wondering how she’s dealing with it.
She nods. “She’s putting on a brave face,” she sighs. “Her brother returned home, Erin was about ready to kill him, and he had work to do. He was hovering too much over her, driving her crazy. He’s made her take some self-defense lessons as well as speaking to someone about what happened. It’s going to take time, but she’s going to be okay.”
She glances around. “Erin told me about what happened between you both. I know that if it were Jacob, I’d want to know, that’s why I’m telling you.” She turns on her heel and walks away.
I watch as she leaves me breathing hard, my fists clenched, and I have tears in my eyes. Erin, Christ. I need to go and see her.
