Chapter 12
"Shoulda"
Three Weeks Later,
"Jury- have you come to a decision?" The Judge asked.
"Yes we have" The head of the jury answered.
"And how do you find the verdict?"
"Guilty in both cases."
"Kyle Robertson, you are to be held in jail for 6 years, with no bail." The judge announced.
Ashley stood up, and hugged her cousin Monica.
She then walked over to Mickie, John, and Randy who were sitting in the third row. She hugged them all very tightly.
Especially John.
--
A week later;
John, Randy and Mickie were at Mickie's home planning Ashley's surprise birthday party.
"Oh kay; so- do we have a huge bash, or should we just have a fun night at some ones house.
"Huge bash!" John and Randy said in unison.
"Randy, how 'bout you hold it then?" Mickie replied
"I can't .. my dad, he's uhm- he's just- I just can't" Randy stuttered. Mickie knew that Randy had been hiding some thing.
"What's the matter with you? You seem nervous" Mickie said concerned.
"Yeah" John joked as he put his hand on Randy's chest.
"Dude!" Randy yelled as he pushed John's hand off. "It's not funny, okay man! You and your drunk mom can go live some God damn happy life! At least your mom has the decency to love you at points!"
Randy then grabbed his jacket and stormed out.
"What the fuck?" John asked so confused.
"What was that about?" Mickie also asked.
"He's just in a bad mood." John began in Randy's defense. "He started being all tense at points when his parents divorced, and he was forced to live with his dad. But his mom stays with them at some points- for Randy's sake." John explained.
"I never knew that. I thought that the parents were just fighting."
"Nah- they divorced when Randy was in 7th grade. He lived with his mom up until the middle of 8th grade. But then his mom lost the custody trial. Now Randy's forced to live with his dumb ass dad."
"Why do you think his dads a dumb ass?" Mickie asked.
"Have you seen the bruises on Randy's body? Where do you think he gets them from? They don't come outta no where."
"I thought he got them from like football season or some thing." Mickie began "Why don't we tell his mom so we can put a stop to this!"
"His mom knows that his dad does that! But she can't stop it because Randy's dad hits her too. She tried going to the police but- theres not enough evidence." John explained.
"Well I'm not just going to sit back and watch Randy suffer when he doesn't deserve too!"
"Mickie- your Randy's girlfriend, not some superhero. Don't get involved with his family- they're screwed up. Listen to me when I say I've seen Randy's dad mad before, I almost pissed my pants. He got mad at Randy for not taking the dog out when we were like in 8th grade. He took Randy in the kitchen, while I was in Randy's room- I heard Randy crying. And Randy doesn't cry easily." John explained.
Mickie sat there feeling terrible.
"Why doesn't he try running away?"
"Tried that like four times. His dad always seems to be able to find him. On the fourth time- when Mr. Orton found him, and took him home; the next day Randy went to the hospital because of a broken rib- Supposedly; he fell down the stairs- At least his dad says that"
She didn't want to sit back and watch her boyfriend suffer.
But what was she to do?
The Police hadn't believed Ms. Orton-
Randy's dad wouldn't let Mickie stand up to him-
Randy's too scared to run away again.
Mickie didn't have a chance at saving him.
--
"How are you feeling honey?" Ashley's dad asked her.
"Yeah Ash, you ight?" Ryan then asked.
Ashley smiled at Ryan's grammar. Her parents hated him talking like that.
"Yeah, I'm okay. He was put away with no bail money, why should I be scared or nervous? I couldn't be happier." Ashley answered
"That's good" Her mother said.
It was 6:30, and the family was sitting at the dinner table.
Mrs. Massaro was setting the table while Ashley, Ryan, Kaitlin and Mr. Massaro sat- ready to eat.
Her mother took a seat, and then they began eating. Her father began feeding Kaitlin.
During dinner Ashley received a text.
"Sorry- excuse me" Ashley got up from the table.
She walked in to the living room, and opened the text.
"Come outside - Randy"
"Can't- dinner time. We can hang out after?"
"No, dude, I seriously need some one like right now. It's really important! - Randy"
"Omg, hold on." Ashley walked over to the kitchen.
"Mom- dad. Can I go outside to get some fresh air?"
"Ashley- your dinner is getting mighty cold.
"Please?" She pleaded.
"Fine." Ashley then ran to the front door.
She saw Randy standing there.
"What is it!?" Ashley then closed the door, and looked straight at Randy. "Oh my God! What happened?!"
"Nothing- I fell .. off my chair in my room, and my face slammed against the desk" He lied.
"Are you sure, that scratch looks nasty."
There was a huge scratch on Randy's cheek, around it there was a swelling bruise.
"Yeah- do you think we could hang out? I don't want to go to Mickie because she was being all protective of me earlier- and John just .. wouldn't understand. Can I just hang with you for a little?"
"Yeah. Come in, we'll go upstairs."
Ashley and Randy snuck upstairs.
They were in Ashley's room with the door shut.
They were sitting on her bed talking.
"Truthfully; what happened to your face?"
"Nothing ... Ash- please, just stay out of it" Randy pleaded.
"Yeah, of course- but in the long run, you can always trust me. Whether it's some thing stupid or if it's the biggest secret of your life ... you can always trust me"
"Speaking of trust-"
"What is it?" Ashley asked.
"I feel like I like some one else- like other then Mickie"
"Who?" Ashley asked confused.
Randy looked Ashley in the eyes for a few seconds, and then looked away.
"Never mind."
"Randy-" Ashley, NOT flirtatiously, put her hand on his arm. "Trust me- I won't tell any one."
Ashley suddenly got the desire to kiss Randy.
"I-" Randy stopped then
"Like you?" Ashley finished his sentence for him.
Randy nodded, and the two then kissed.