Chapter 2-Discoveries

Arthur entered his history class late. He slinked into a seat. Sally was facing the board. She didn't notice. The class was taking a pop quiz. The questions were on the board. Arthur answered them easily. He folded his paper in half like instructed. Sally walked up the aisles collecting the quizzes. She froze when she got to Arthur.

"I told you to get out, Arthur. Go! Leave!" she hissed. Arthur shook his head. Sally sighed and took his test. She stormed to the front of the room. She angrilly wrote page numbers on the board before dismissing the class early again. Arthur remained. Sally tried to flee. Arthur stopped her, "I know where we can meet."

"Where?" she asked. Arthur told her his plan: He'd go to the library first, then she would find him upstairs. Sally wasn't interested but Arthur gave her no choice. She agreed and gave him her phone number. Arthur went to the library and found a quiet spot upstairs. He texted Sally. His phone wouldn't send the text. She'd lied to him; she'd made up a number.

Arthur cursed and stared at the floor. He didn't understand why she was so upset. He kicked his foot and watched his shoe strings fly. Then he heard a light knock at the door. Sally was there. Arthur gestured her inside.

"I changed my mind. We do need to talk about this, but you need to move to the other history class. There's a spot left and he'll take you. Please, will you do it?" she asked. Arthur nodded, "But only if you tell me everything." "Deal," Sally nodded.

Sally sat next to him, "Well, after the baby was born we were living alone in Colorado. He told me he had a job there but it was a lie. He just wanted to get away from here and he found a place there. I thought that was okay until he hit me one day. It came out of nowhere during an argument. I thought it was just a fluke, then he beat me one day. He raped me, Arthur, almost every night. He beat me, he called me worthless.

"I knew I had to get out of there, and you were who I thought of. You were a good kid, so down to earth. You wouldn't treat a girl like that. I remembered you liked me, and...I dreamed you'd rescue me, hunt me down and rescue me," Sally smiled, wiping away tears. "Someone else rescued me, a neighbor who heard the baby screaming. The baby I put up for adoption. I don't know where she is now but I know she's safe. I couldn't file charges on him, but he's nowhere near here. I'm safe now, but...I have odd feelings for you, Arthur. I was your babysitter. I shouldn't have these feelings. I'm so much older than you and it's just wrong."

"I'm not a kid anymore, Sally. I'm sorry you had to go through that, but don't worry about your feelings. Worry about healing. I'll leave the class," Arthur said. Sally nodded in thanks. "But I want to know you're helping yourself."

"I got this job to help myself. I went to university and got a degree. Then I came here to teach and get my life back together. So far it's been fine, then you showed up," she smiled. "I'll do what I can, okay? I'll let you know if I need anything, promise. I'm good at asking for help now."

Arthur didn't believe her but he dropped it. He went home and had lunch with his mom. He wanted to ask what she knew about Sally but he kept his mouth shut. He was worried Sally might still be hurt by her ex. He felt his heart pound. He did want to save her somehow. He just didn't know how to do it.

Arthur and Buster met in the Sugar Bowl. Buster was working instead of going to college. He had a job in a shoe store. He complained about his manager being an ass. Arthur was too busy thinking about Sally to respond.

"Hey, Arthur, I asked you if I should report this guy for abuse. What do you think?" Buster asked. Arthur shrugged. "What was that about? You're been preoccupied this whole time. What's up?" Buster asked.

"I can't tell you, not here," Arthur whispered. "Well, let's go back to my place. I don't have work for a few hours," Buster offered. Arthur shook his head; he had class. "Well, give me a hint before you go. Do you like a girl or something?" Buster chuckled. Arthur didn't laugh. "What, already?"

"Not exactly. Look, my professor is an old...friend of mine," Arthur whispered. "I can't say anything else but she'd been through stuff, Buster, and I want to help her."

"You want to save the princess. How fitting, Arthur, but please, you can't get involved in other people's problems," Buster pleaded. Arthur shook his head, "I'm already involved. Let's just say her fantasy was that I'd save her one day. I want to fulfill that if I need to. I'll explain it tonight. I'll drop by your mom's and wait for you if I have to, okay?"

Buster had no choice but to agree. They left the Sugar Bowl. Arthur went to his new history class. He had English right after. Then he went to Bitzi's house. Buster was already there. He'd been fired. He wanted to complain more, but he knew Arthur's topic was more serious.

Arthur told Buster about Sally and her problems. He made Buster promise not to tell anyone. He agreed. He also wanted to help her. Arthur said he didn't know how to. Buster understood. He said he'd look for a job near the college so he could keep an eye on her. Arthur didn't think that was a good idea but he didn't say anything. Buster might be right.

Arthur went home to do homework. His mom made cookies and took them to him. Before she left, she asked if he remembered Sally.

"Yeah, Mom, why do you ask?" Arthur asked. Jane sighed. She sat on the foot of Arthur's bed, "I heard a rumor at the grocery story. I knew she'd been divorced for a few years but I didn't know she was back in town. According to Fern's mom, she was looking for a house with a nursery but she doesn't have anything children or spouses. Weird, huh?" Jane asked.

Arthur thought it was weird but he needed to do homework. When he was done, the house was silent. He went downstairs. He found a phone book and looked Sally up. Her number was listed. He called it. Sally answered the phone.

"Hey, it's Arthur. I-"

But Sally hung up. Arthur felt tense. He wanted to know more. He wanted to learn the information from her. He decided to go to her old class and force her to talk to him. He went to bed and woke up early the next day. He went to the class and sat in the back. Sally didn't notice him until she dismissed class.

"Arthur, I-"

"We need to talk," Arthur said. Sally nodded, crying again. Arthur closed the classroom door and helped her to a seat. "Tell me everything."

"He found me. He kicked out my roommates. He's back to his old ways. I'm...I'm pregnant!" she sobbed. "He wants me to find a house for us. We'll be a happy family. Is this happy?" she cried. She lifted her shirt. Her chest was bruised. "I need help, Arthur, but he can't know. He'll hurt me."

"I'll do what I can, quietly," Arthur said. "Stop crying. No one can know we were talking about him. Word will spread." "Is that why you're here?" she asked. Arthur nodded, "Mom heard a rumor. That's why I called you," Arthur said. "Well don't do that again," Sally said angrily. Her attitude helped clear her tears. She left the room. Arthur left a few minutes later. He immediately went to Bitzi's house to talk to her.