Chapter 10: High School Part 2
The following Monday, the two girls arrived at school earlier than usual. Maura had felt guilty about missing two days of school. The fourteen year old high school sophomore had never missed a day of school.
The incident had made Jane almost paranoid. The tall brunette had parked in a new location. A vacant house that was separated from the elementary school playground by only a large wooden fence provided the perfect hiding spot. The savvy teen parked her Bel Air in the backyard. Then, the Italian brunette and a honey blonde hopped the fence.
The girls needed to talk to Sister Mary Teresa. The incident of the past two days had troubled the couple. The ice cream party had led to several new revelations.
Maura's mother told them how the thugs had seized control of the Isles Manor. The three gangsters broke into the house about a half hour after the two girls had left for school.
It seemed that Jane's policy of alternating their departure times saved Maura from being there when the kidnappers arrived. The reality was the tall Italian had promised her blonde friend breakfast at the Copper Kettle, a small dinner on Tulane Avenue.
The Copper Kettle featured the best short order cook in New Orleans, Angela Rizzoli. Since, her conversations with Maura in the restroom on mothers, Jane decided it was time to have a talk with her own mother. So the two teens left early to eat runny eggs, grits, boudin (Cajun blood sausage), fresh biscuits and coffee with chicory. Maura actually chickened out on the strong coffee and settled for orange juice, leaving Jane to drink her coffee.
The second, third and fourth revelation of Constance Isles was why the couple had arrived at school early. The girls went straight to the good Sister's classroom. When they got there, the two anxious teens found Sister Mary Teresa and Miss Mitchell, the new Math teacher, laughing and talking and generally enjoying each other's company.
Jane knocked on the doorframe. The street wise hoodlum was interrupting an interesting teacher's conference. The smirking brunette laughed, "Good Morning, Sister. We hate to interrupt, but can Maura and I talk to you about something…in private?"
The impish sister replied, "Sure, Jane…uh…Maura. Agnes, I'll see you at lunch."
Maura hated causing anyone any inconvenience, much less a teacher she liked. So, the innocent girl said meekly, "I am so sorry to trouble you, Sister. However, what we want to discuss is so vitally important."
As the new Math teacher left the classroom, Jane closed and locked the classroom door. The young nun was very surprised by the troubled teen's action. Suddenly, the good sister became very suspicious and uneasy with the direction of this inquiry.
The beautiful nun asked, "What's going on Jane? What is this all about?
The older girl responded, "Well Sister, it's like this. Do you know what happened last Wednesday?"
The kind woman thought for a moment and queried, "Do you mean what happened in the restroom?"
The obvious speaker of the pair answered, "No, what happened after we went home early?"
The confused sister shook her from side to side and waited for brunette teen to continue her story. Jane proceeded to relate the details of the home invasion. The non-repentant tough even related how she stopped Maura's kidnapping. Finally the dark teen said, "You do see how if word good out. I could be in a lot of trouble."
The wary nun answered, "Yes, I just don't see what you girls what to talk about. If you need absolution, you have talk to Father Tim."
Jane smiled, "Sister, I don't need forgiveness for taking out the trash. I would do it again and again for Maura, for her mother. No, it's what happened after we need you advice."
Maura interjected, "Sister, Jane told me about your life before you took your vows. We need advice from your former self, not your saintly self."
Alarm passed over the young nun's face. The angry sister looked accusatorily at the young gang leader, but didn't say a word.
Jane looked pleadingly at her fellow confidant and begged, "Please listen! We really need you to keep an open mind."
The tall teen told the nun about the ice cream party and the change in Mrs. Isles after Jane saved her, "So you see Sister, Mrs. Isles rewarded me for saving her and Maura. She opened a trust fund in my name for me to go to law school. It was for $100,000."
The good sister smiled, "That's great Jane. I whole heartedly agree. You should go to law school. You will make a wonderful attorney."
Maura stopped the gushing nun, "No, Sister, that is not why we need to talk. We need to discuss what happened over the weekend."
***SE***
The three girls spooned ice cream into their mouths. They were all smiles, but saying little. Mrs. Isles had just explained how the thugs had invaded her home and forced her to give all the servants the day off. The older woman said, "It was fortunate you girls had left earlier than usual. I have no idea what would have happened if Maura had been here."
Jane, you saved us and I have to express my gratitude properly. I know my husband and I have promised to pay your College tuition. However, I would like to do more. What do you plan to do with your life after high school, young lady?"
The wily brunette thought for a moment and answered as she wiped a bit of runny ice cream from her chin, "I want to be a lawyer. Mr. Bev tells me a lawyer can steal more money in an hour legally than a bank robber or jewel thief can steal in a year."
The gorgeous brunette with the stunning blue eyes laughed at the comment before shaking her head in agreement. Mrs. Isles announced, "Well, I…er…we want you to go to the best school money can buy. So this evening, I had my attorneys, robber barons most likely, open a trust fund in your name for $100,000. Additionally, we would love for you to consider us your second family. You are always welcome wherever we may live. I personally want to thank you for avenging my humiliation and my injuries at the hands of those ruffians.
Jane nearly dropped her pint of ice cream. The young woman had to order her mouth closed as she digested both the ice cream and the revelation. Tears ran unwantedly down the dark girl's cheek. Maura and her mother had the good grace to ignore to ignore the tears. The normally eloquent brunette responded, "I can't accept it. It's too much. I did what I did for my friend and her family. I did it because I promised to protect Maura. I didn't do it for money,"
The ravishing beauty put down her ice cream and took both the girls hands and look into chocolate eyes and said sincerely, "I know that! I know something else of which you may not know or even be aware of. I am not doing this for just you. I am also doing this for my daughter. I know she will insist on staying with you through college at the very least. I want you and by extension my daughter to go to the very best schools. So, the trust is done. I told you I had the attorneys' draw up a trust fund this evening. Therefore, you will take it, because you love my daughter more than you love your pride."
Jane sat stunned and unmoving for about 10 minutes. Then she watched the older woman impishly spoon ice cream into her perfect mouth. Maura looked at friend expectantly. The young blonde didn't know how to process this new information, but she did know her mother was right about one thing at least. The young teen would never have let Jane Rizzoli go. Maura thought about the implications and she started to blush and moisture formed between her legs. The sensation was strange and wonderful at the same time. Maura was confused and spooned more ice cream into her mouth to cover her embarrassment.
Maura's reaction was not lost on her statuesque mother. Constance Isles thought, 'I knew it! This girl was just the person to bring her daughter out of her shell. For the longest time I have wondered if my daughter was so socially inept that she would never find any friends, much less one like Jane.'
Jane thought about what the bright eyed woman had said and was about to deny it, but stopped herself. The facts were the normally emotionally detached brunette was on very emotional around the innocent blonde, No one has ever affected the young Italian like Maura Isles.
Jane has had several female lovers since her rape. The dark teenager assumed she was a lesbian. That didn't bother her; the tough gang leader had accepted that. But the beautiful brunette never thought she would get emotionally involved with another human being. No, Jane had to admit to herself at the very least, she did love the girl.
***SE***
A half hour later Constance Isles left with the tray of empties and went to her own bedroom, leaving the two high school girls alone. Jane was nervous. The normally outgoing extraverted brunette was shy around this younger innocent child. The warm Italian didn't know how to handle this situation. There was something in this honey blonde with such magnificent eyes that begged to be kissed. How could she take advantage of such innocence? It would be like what Horace and those boys did to her; only worse because Jane knew what it was like to have your innocence taken from you. No, the young woman had to run, she had to leave.
Jane leaped up from the bed and started to run from the room as panic had gripped her. Until she saw the hurt in those lovely hazel eyes with the gold and green flakes dancing playfully in them. The young tender teen had tears welling in those fantastic eyes, ruining their allure or were they improving that allure. Jane stopped and walked back to the young girl and caught a tear as it rolled down her cheek. All the tough, street harden, battle tested, girl stud could say is, "I'm sorry. Please don't cry."
Maura sobbed softly, "Why were running away? Why were you leaving me? Please, do not ever leave me. You are the person. You are the one I have been for whom I have been waiting. I have waited my whole life for someone to see me, for someone to love me, for someone to make me whole. I sat and read about the glory of life, but all I saw was the loneliness, the pain, the injustice of it all. I have never been good with people. Most people find me boring and dull. Most people are intimidated by my intelligence. You are so different. All you see is me."
And with that said the young innocent teen lowered her head and sobbed uncontrollably. Jane sat down and drew the child into her arms and let her weep deeply into her breast. The young tough hoodlum who had caused so much pain rocked the young innocent gently and would do everything she could to ease this one person's pain even if it took her life.
***SE***
The next morning saw two fully clothed teenage girls sleeping on Maura's giant four poster bed locked in each other's embrace. Maura had cried herself asleep still holding Jane tightly. The love struck Italian didn't want to disturb her. So, she just leaned back into the soft rich matrices and fell into the deepest and most content sleep the harden gangster had had in three years.
Jane woke first. She glanced at the ornate grandmother clock in the corner of the room, it was nine o'clock. The young tough couldn't believe it. She never slept like that. The slick hooligan lived on five hours slept and a lot of caffeine. Her arm was numb from the weight of the young girl, who slept peacefully next to her. Jane watched the sleeping angel. It was so peaceful, it was so right. Honey blonde locks camouflaged her face, but only added to the young girls allure. A bit of drool hung from her lips and the harden warrior just flicked it away with the tip of her pinky finger.
Her arm really began to ache from the young girl's weight, but what was pain. Pain was just in the mind to be controlled. The battle harden veteran of so much violence knew pain and would never succumb to it. Pain was for the weak and Jane could never be weak. It just couldn't happen.
So, with her arm screaming for relief, Jane watched her Maura sleep the contented sleep of angels.
It was 10:16, when the tender blonde stirred from her slumber. Her gentle hazel eyes opened to the sight of chocolate brown eyes staring tenderly down at her. Maura stifled a gentle moan and did something impulsive. The young innocent teen pulled down the face that had awaken so many emotions in her and gave her a caste kiss on the lips.
Jane was caught off guard. Before she knew she was doing it, the desperate Italian deepened the kiss. Maura lips parted and Jane explored the warm of the innocent girl's mouth. The experienced lover felt the flow between her legs and longed to explore more with this girl, but it was too soon. Maura had to understand the consequences of being a lesbian. Jane was tough enough, but was Maura. And Jane desperately needed to protect Maura.
So, the young Italian broke the kiss and whispered, "Morning sunshine, I need my arm back. It is protesting its treatment."
Maura moaned in disappointment and replied, "Do we have to get up? I love right where I am."
Jane pulled her dead arm from behind Maura's back and sat up from the embracing girl. Turning slightly, the nervous brunette stated, "We have to talk before this goes any further. I have to tell how it is in this world for girls who love each other. It is not an easy path. I want only the best things for you."
Maura reached up and cup her Italian's cheek and said, "You are the best thing for me. I LOVE YOU."
***SE***
Jane looked the young honey blonde in her gold flaked hazel eyes and said, "I think you need to hear a story of how it is for women like me out in the real world. You have no idea what you are talking about until you are better informed. I don't want to see you hurt. So, will you listen while I talk?"
Disappointed that her fervent declaration hadn't met with more excitement, Maura pouted shamelessly. The tough Italian was like butter under such a pout. The dark girl said, "Maura, there is nothing in this world I want more than to be with you, but if you want a relationship and not a friendship then we need to talk, because you have to understand what that entails. It won't be easy. For instance, in public, we would have to look like two very good friends. The people out there hate homosexuals. They fear them. They think that homosexuals taint their image of normal. So, I want you to fully understand the consequences of such a relationship."
Tears were welling in Maura's eyes, but Jane remained resolute and said, "Give me one hour of your undivided attention and then you can tell me what you think we should do. I want you to know one thing will never change, no matter what you decide. I LOVE YOU! Your mother had me nailed the minute I walked into this house. I guess I have always loved you. I think I fell in love with you, when I saw you slip your shoes off in the park in anticipation of trouble. I knew then you were special."
The young blonde mumbled, "What story do you wish to impart?"
The street hardened gang leader was in new territory; she never betrayed a confidence. The dark Italian was famous for keeping her word. So, the tall teen was torn; on the one hand Maura really needed to know what she was getting into and on the other Jane had given her word never to reveal the full story. Looking at the hopeful and innocent face of Maura Isles decided the issue for the teenage Italian lover.
Jane announced, "I'm going to tell you the story of the Love of Anne Parsons."
***SE***