CHAPTER 9-TWENTY THREE DAYS
Monday morning my dad nearly caught Nixon in my room. He knocked on my door to wake me just as Nix slid my window shut on his way out. I rolled out of bed and got dressed, foregoing makeup and hair details. I grabbed my book bag for later and climbed sleepily into the cab of my dad's truck. He drove to the police station and we signed the paperwork to file assault and rape charges on Kenny, met breifly with our lawyer, and Dad dropped me off at school on his way to work.
I walked into the office to check in and found Luke, Chris, Brandon, Tim, and Nixon, who was holding a bag of ice to his face, sitting around.
"What....happened?" I asked, glaring at all of them.
"Talked back to a teacher." Chris said.
"Smoking in the bathroom." Luke replied.
"Again?" I asked. He just nodded in return. I looked to Tim. There was absolutely no telling what he was in trouble for today.
"Too many tardies." he said, shrugging. I wasn't surprised.
"I skipped class." Brandon said. I looked to Nixon, somewhat sympathetic since he was visibly injured.
"Honestly? I'm not even going to lie. I beat Kenny's ass."
My heart stopped. Kenny was there? I couldn't be near him, no way. I felt short of breath, on the brink of a panic attack almost. Fear overtook me, I began shaking, otherwise unmoving. Moments later, I felt Nixon's arms wrap around me and my heart rate slowly return to normal.
"Hey, calm down. The police came and took him away, he's not gonna hurt you anymore. Didn't I promise you? Everything's gonna be fine...trust me. I'll be in class in a little bit."
Nixon let go of me and took his seat while I checked in and headed to class. I opened the door and the room turned dead silent. I handed my note to the teacher and took my seat in the back of the class, took out my books, and tried not to focus on the whispers surrounding me. By the time third period ended, Nixon was back from the office, with three weeks of alternative school to serve starting that Wednesday, and I'd learned to ignore the whispers. We took our usual spot in the lunchroom, away from everyone else, and sat down. His lip was still swollen and his eye was starting to turn dark where Kenny had punched him.
"So, I know the truth...why did the guys lie to me? Why were they in on the fight? They don't know, do they? " I asked.
"They didn't want you mad at them...and no, they don't know. Kenny was bragging to people that the reason you guys didn't come to prom was because you went back to his house and you guys fucked. I was already pissed enough, but for him to say that...to make you out to be some kind of....whore...hell no. Not happening. No one messes with my girl. "
I just stared. I wished in a way that he would stop calling me his girl. In a way it led me on, but in another way, I liked it. Either way, I was still not allowed to see him outside of school, not that we really abided by that rule. Nixon had now spent two nights at my house and I'd asked him to come back again. He didn't know if he could, considering he'd gotten in a fight and had alternative school, and I didn't think I could make it through the night without him. He made me feel safe, and I didn't want the nightmares to return. The bell rang for fourth period and Nixon and I grabbed our books and walked together to pre-cal. Along the way, I got a few dirty looks and snickers cast at me. "Don't pay them any mind. You and I know the truth. That's all that matters." Nixon whispered into my ear. I nodded and walked forward. Nixon was right, I didn't need to pay them any mind. Soon enough the chatter would stop and they'd have someone new to gossip about. Little did I know it would be the very next morning. I walked into school the next day surrounded by chatter about Kenny's arrest. He'd been charged with rape and assault. Who had he raped and assaulted? Was that why Nixon and his friends jumped him? The gossip had my head spinning, but at least the focus was taken off of me. How had the news gotten out so quickly? I rushed to first period and sat down beside Nixon.
"Hey...uh...how did everyone find out about...." I started. Nixon didn't speak. He simply turned around and handed the newspaper to me. Kenny's mugshot and an article were on the front page.
GALLATIN TEEN ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH RAPE AND ASSAULT
A Gallatin teenager was arrested Monday on charges of rape and assault. Kenneth Williams, 18, was arrested and charged with assault and rape of a minor. The incident occurred Friday night and a warrant was issued on Saturday afternoon.
The article went on to say that Kenny had a prior record of three assault charges, and two attempt to rape charges, where he was charged as an adult and let go on parole at the age of seventeen. How did we never know? How did he keep it hidden? How did he get into school with a record like that? Suddenly I felt sick, absolutely nauseated. At least my name wasn't listed in the paper, that was good. I laid the paper on the riser behind me and buried my face in my hands.
"He's in jail. He's not gonna get out. Not anytime soon anyway." Nixon said, still staring straight ahead.
"That's good though...he can't do this to anyone else...ever again." I replied.
"Yeah, it's great...I'm not saying it's not. I'm just in shock. I mean...he had a prior record and they let him in here? In a public school?" he said, leaning back and finally looking me in the eye.
"I know...I can't believe it either. I'm just...glad he's locked up."
"I am too." I replied.
"Yeah...so...my dad grounded me...and I'm not gonna be able to come over at night anymore...."
"I know. I'm sorry...maybe I'll be okay...are you grounded from everything?"
"Not your fault. And no, I'm just grounded from going anywhere...and Dad said he knew I'd been sneaking out at night, and that if he caught me I'd be dead."
I smiled softly at him. He covered a yawn and sat back upright as the teacher came in and called class to order. Days passed by and Dad and I met with the lawyers at least four times in two weeks. Kenny had confessed to the rape, so we were trying to settle out of court. I wasn't worried about money, I simply wanted Kenny locked up, that was all. I was still not allowed to see Nixon outside of school, not that I'd seen him anyway, he'd been in alternative school all the way up until we got out for Spring Break. I was missing my best friend. Something had to be done.
"My dad will come around eventually." I said, sitting on my bed, phone pressed to my ear.
"Yeah, hopefully, cause you know Spring Break starts Monday. You gonna go two more weeks without seeing me? I'm not grounded anymore, so I could come over if he'd let me."
"No. I'll probably just ask him if I can see you."
"You think he'll get mad?"
"I doubt it. He's been in a really good mood lately...and with this whole thing almost settled, I'm sure he'll say yes."
"And we haven't seen each other in how long?"
"Twenty three days." I replied.
Time was not much of a friend at all at that point. I needed a hug, though my temporary depression was gone and I felt much better physically and mentally than I had for the first week. The nightmares were still occuring, just not as intense and not as often. Whenever I'd wake up, I'd call Nixon and we'd talk until I fell asleep.
"Alright, when you gonna ask him?"
"Tonight. I'll call you back. He just got home."
"Alright. Love you."
"Love you too."
I hung the phone up and ran out to the living room to meet my dad.
"Hey Cupcake." he said, hugging me with one arm, pulling his keys out of the door with the other.
"Hey Daddy....can I ask you something?"
"Sure...but I've got something to talk about you first."
"Okay."
"I'm sorry I kept you and Nixon from seeing one another. I know Spring Break is coming and I don't want you to be completely bored, so I think it'd be alright for you two to see one another again. I trust him, and I trust you, I know you're just friends. Now that this mess is almost all over...." Daddy's voice trailed off and I couldn't help but smile.
"Thank you Daddy, thank you!" I said, throwing my arms around him and hugging him tightly.
"You're welcome, sugar. Now what did you need to talk to me about?"
"Oh, nothing, it isn't important. I'm gonna go call Nix. Can he come over tonight?"
"I don't see why not."
I hugged my daddy once more and ran to my room to call my best friend back.
"Yo..."
"NIXON."
"LYNDSEY."
"Smartass. Come overrrrrrrrrrr."
"He said yes?"
"It was his idea!"
"Really?"
"YES! Now come over! Or I'll come over there."
"No, I don't want you walking alone. I'll be there in a few minutes."
I jumped off of the bed and changed quickly, pulled my hair back and ran out to the front steps to wait on Nixon. I was trying not to bounce around too much when I saw him turn the corner. He got out of his car and started walking across the yard toward me, a smile on his face. I felt myself smile my first real smile in weeks. I walked toward him, trying not to run. He wrapped his arms around my waist as I wrapped mine around his neck. We held onto one another for a few moments, just genuinely happy to see one another.
"I've missed you." I said.
"I've missed you too." he replied.
We pulled apart, still smiling.
"What do you wanna do?"
"I dunno. Wanna go for a walk?"
"We can. I brought my guitar. I wrote a new song I want you to hear."
"Okay. Go get it. We'll go walk later."
Nixon and I walked to his car and he got his guitar out of the back seat. We went inside to my room, shut the door, and sat down. He took his guitar out of its case and began strumming a new melody. I felt myself smile at him as his bangs fell down, brushing his forehead as he concentrated on what he was doing.
"You can let your guard down
You're in a ghost town baby
They know no stories, just your name.
So keep your morals unrevealed,
Tonight you're a big deal baby.
You gotta live up to the fame.
They would, be just like me and you....
If they could, make the same mistakes that we do.
Why try to fight it when it feels so good?
We were misunderstood
We are misunderstood.
Why try to fight it when it feels so good?
We were misunderstood
We are misunderstood.
They understand us now.
Here in this ghost town.
If you break her heart now
Here in this ghost town baby
You're gonna get a bad, bad name.
So keep your secrets unrevealed.
Just do as you feel baby.
This city is to blame.
They would, be just like me and you.
If they could, make the same mistakes that we do.
Why try to fight it when it feels so good
We were misunderstood
We are misunderstood
Why try to fight it when it feels so good
We were misunderstood
We are misunderstood.
We are, we are one in the same.
You can lay your head down and know its alright.
So baby lay your head down, it'll turn out just fine.
You can lay your head down and know its alright.
So baby lay your head down, it'll turn out just fine. " Nixon sang. I felt my heart fluttering, butterflies in my stomach, goosebumps covering my arms. The beautiful lyrics spilling from his perfect lips amazed me. He was such a phenomenal writer. He set his guitar down and brushed his bangs away from his eyes.
"What do you think?" he asked, looking up at me, his brown eyes sparkling. I moved closer to him, wrapped my arms around him, and laid my head on his shoulder.
"I loved it. Very much. It's beautiful. Just like my best friend."
"You think? I wrote it for my best friend. For some reason it kinda reminded me of her and me."
"Awwww, really?" I replied, sitting up.
His cheeks were a light pink.
"Yeah....really." he said.
"Awww. You are so sweet." I said, leaning in to kiss his cheek. He moved too quickly though, and I missed. My lips brushed his and I swear there were fireworks. I was breathless. It was completely unintentional, somewhat awkward, and absolutely perfect, all at the same time. I didn't know what to say, and apparently neither did Nixon. Neither of us had moved. Our lips were still centimeters apart, both of us stunned.
"Um..." Nixon spoke first, still unmoving, licking his lips.
"Awkward." I said.
"Definitely."
"Not bad...just awkward.... right?"
"Not bad at all. Just awkward.... good, but strange." he replied.
I nodded and sat back, my heart racing, my breathing still erratic. Nixon sat back as well, his cheeks a darker shade of pink now.
"That was way weird." I said. Weird, yes, but I loved it, I craved more. I needed to feel his lips on mine again.
"Yeah it was..."
"It was like...I dunno...I don't usually kiss my best friends...though my best friends are typically girls...it was awkward like going on a date with Brandon awkward." I said. That was a complete lie, but maybe it would break the ice so-to-speak.
"Yeah. Like...kissing my sister awkward. I don't have a sister...but you know what I mean. It's like, the kiss wasn't bad. It was nice. I haven't kissed anyone in a long time...but...and I don't mean this in a bad way, I don't...I dunno..."
"I love you, but not in that way?" I said, almost like a question.
"Yes, exactly!" he replied. My heart sank. I'd known he probably didn't feel for me like I did for him, but I could hope. This was just confirmation that we'd never be together.
"It would be weird if we ever got together, ya know?" I said.
"It definitely would. You're gorgeous, and funny, and sweet, no doubt, but I'd be afraid to jeapordize our friendship. I'd break your heart." he said.
"Break my heart? You? Sweet Nixon? No way."
"I would." he said.
I shook my head. There was no way Nixon was a heartbreaker. Yes, he was gorgeous, at least to me, and sweet...but he wasn't a bad boy heartbreaker, no way. We went for a walk and talked some more about what had been going on with the Kenny case. He said he was glad it was almost over and he could tell I wasn't as stressed as I had been in the beginning.
"You've lost a little weight." he told me.
"You think?"
"Yeah, a little. Just stress I bet."
"Yeah. I haven't even noticed."
"You're still beatuiful."
"Awww. Nix."
When the sun began to set, we walked back to my house, ordered a pizza, and curled up on the couch to watch a movie while my dad went out with a few of his buddies from work. I was absolutely exhausted and I felt my eyelids getting heavy before the opening credits even finished rolling. The next thing I knew, Nixon was moving, trying not to wake me.
"Where you going?" I asked sleepily.
"I was trying not to wake you. I gotta go home. I'll come see you tomorrow though." he said.
"Mm...kay..." I said, sitting up and rubbing my eyes before standing to hug him and say goodbye.
"You okay? You gonna make it to your room?" he asked, chuckling.
"Uh huh. Of course. I'm just....sleepy. I haven't been sleeping well." I told him.
"I know. I'll see you later, okay? Night Lynds. Love you. Call me if you need me."
Nixon hugged me and kissed my forehead and made his way out the door. I walked behind him to lock up. After I locked up, I went into the living room to turn off the TV before heading back to my bedroom. There was a while piece of notebook paper, folded up on the floor by the couch. Across the top was written, in Nixon's unmistakeable handwriting, two numbers and a word. "23 Days", and below that, twelve more words.
Your kiss was the perfect drug
It gave me the perfect high
My heart skipped a beat when I saw the heart drawn in the corner. KWN/LGC was scrawled inside of it.
"Oh my God." I said aloud.
