Chapter Twenty Three: Goner by Twenty One Pilots

One of Rose's favorite things about the cheer off-season was that it gave her time to do other things. This afternoon, for example, she sat in the New York Public Library reading a book while Jack was at work.

She loved to read more than anything, and she was the only one in left in that little room in the library. It didn't bother her, it just meant a more quiet atmosphere. Finally, her phone buzzed.

J: Done with work. I'm on my way to pick you up.

R: Okay, see you soon.

Rose kept reading until she got another text from Jack, saying that he was outside. She quickly gathered her stuff and got up onto her crutches, about to leave, when someone stopped her.

It was Cal. "Cal, what are you doing here?" Rose asked.

"Hey, Rose," said Cal. "I want to talk to you."

"I don't want to talk," said Rose. "I have to go."

Cal smiled. "Oh, Rose. I don't think you're going anywhere."

"I have a boyfriend, Cal," Rose said. "I'm with Jack now."

"Who cares?" He walked towards her, as she backed away from him.

She finally hit the wall, and Cal kept walking towards her. He touched her face. "Don't touch me!"

He didn't listen. He got even closer. "I said don't touch me!" Rose yelled as she hit him in the crotch with one of her crutches.

"Ouch!" Cal yelled. He fell back, and Rose tried to get away, but couldn't (she was trying to use her crutches, which wasn't easy). He moved back over to her and slapped her across the face. "Someone has to shut you up."

He pushed her onto the floor as he climbed on top of her. Rose was still struggling, but he was too strong. She started to cry. All she wanted right now was Jack.

Jack was waiting for her outside. He had been waiting for a few minutes. Maybe she was talking to someone? Checking out some books? Jack waited a few more minutes.

Rose would have texted him. He knew that she would have texted him if there was any delay. She never wanted him to just stand there waiting for her.

Jack ran into the building and heard the sound of glass shattering and a struggle. He ran faster up the stairs until he saw Cal on top of Rose as she was screaming and crying.

"Hey, get off of her!" Jack yelled as he pulled Cal off of Rose and punched him in the face. The two library employees heard Jack yell and rushed into the room and held Cal down on the ground. Jack rushed back over to Rose. "Rose, I'm so sorry."

She was shaking as Jack held her in his arms. He kissed the top of her head and she leaned against him and cried. "It's okay, I'm here, you're safe," he whispered. He looked at her cheek and saw the large red hand mark from Cal's slap. "You're okay." They sat there until the cops showed up and took Cal away to the police station.

Rose talked to the police officer about what happened, and Jack took her home. "I'll meet you in your room in two minutes."

"Actually… can you help me up the stairs?" Rose asked quietly.

Jack nodded. "Right, I forgot about that." He scooped her up in his arms and Rose wrapped her arms around him. She put her head against his chest.

He walked her upstairs and carefully put her down on her bed. He put her crutches next to the bed. He kissed her lovingly. "I love you so much, Rose."

"You're coming back, aren't you?" Rose asked.

Jack smiled and nodded. "If you want me to."

"I do," she whispered.

Jack kissed her forehead and left. A few minutes later, he climbed through the window, and Rose wasn't there. "Where's Rose?" Jack asked.

"She's taking a shower," said Helga. "She asked me to tell you she'd be out in a few minutes."

"Okay, thanks," said Jack, and he sat on her bed.

"I'm going over to Fabrizio, see you later," said Helga, and she left.

A few minutes later, Rose came out of the shower. She was in pajamas and Jack's Yankee hoodie.

"I love that hoodie on you," said Jack.

Rose smiled. "It makes me feel safe," she said quietly. "As do you."

She walked over to him and sat down next to him. "What can I do?"

Rose looked up to him with tears in her eyes. "Hold me."

Jack kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her. "You're safe, Rose. You're safe now."

"I was so scared, Jack," she cried against his chest. "He-he climbed on top of me… and all I wanted was you."

"Oh, Rose," said Jack.

"And you really came through," said Rose. "You saved me."

"I'm glad I was there," said Jack. "But I can't believe that asshole came back."

"I don't want to talk about him," said Rose. "I love you."

"I love you too," Jack whispered.

They sat there for a few minutes in silence while Rose just felt Jack's protective arms around him. She felt so safe with him.

"I know I said I didn't want to talk about him, but I need to know," said Rose. "Did the police say what they were going to do with him?"

Jack shook his head. "They said that the chances of getting him locked up or charged are… slim. His father's a really wealthy business owner."

"I know," said Rose.

"Right," said Jack. "It really doesn't matter what they do to him, though. He's not coming near you ever again. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

"Thank you," said Rose.

"And I'm so, so sorry that I couldn't protect you better before. If I had just come up a few minutes earlier-"

"Stop it," said Rose. "If you hadn't come up at all, it would've been far worse. You saved me. It doesn't matter if you could've come up a few minutes earlier."

Jack smiled. "I love you."

"I love you too," said Rose. "I told Molly what happened."

"What did she say?" Jack asked.

"She told me she'd let me know if the police say anything," said Rose. "She also said we could take the day off tomorrow, if you're interested."

Jack smiled. "I'm very interested," he said, and he kissed her lovingly.

•••

Jack and Rose were sitting in the girls' home living room, right before Molly came over to talk to them. "Rose, can I talk to you for a second?" Molly asked.

"Oh, anything you have to say, you can say it in front of Jack," said Rose, taking his hand.

"Okay, well," Molly began, sitting across from them, "I've been in touch with the policeman that came to the library, and he told me that they initially thought they wouldn't be able to charge him."

"I know," said Rose.

"Well, things have changed," said Molly. "Nathan Hockley doesn't want anyone to know about what happened with Cal, so they're settling."

"Wait, what?" Rose asked, astonished.

"This is not Cal's first offense," said Molly. "And that said, Nathan Hockley said he will have his son committed to a psychiatric facility, since he doesn't want the Hockley name."

Jack looked down at Rose, who was deep in thought. "Well, that's a good thing, isn't it?"

Rose nodded. "Yeah, it is."