Chapter 42 – Fireworks Time

July – Age 19 – Summer 2 Freshman/Sophomore

Susan and George were helping bring the food out back. They were in attendance to the Fourth of July barbeque hosted by Finn and Santana. George had brought a few bottles of soda and solo cups. Susan made macaroni salad and potato salad. They were waiting for John and Amanda to show up. Amanda bought the ingredient to make a few dips, but would be finishing them at the house. She was a fairly regular fixture around their house, especially after what had happened in May

FLASHBACK

It was around 9 pm when there was a frantic knock on their front door. Finn looked confused by jumped up and looked out of the peep hole. Amanda was practically beating down their door. He opened the door immediately and ushered her inside. "Panda, what's wrong?" She couldn't even answer she was shaking so hard.

"Amanda?" Santana asked. Finn wrapped her in his arms and got her over to the couch. "Tell us what's wrong? How can we help you?"

"M-m-my boyfriend!" she spat angrily. "He attacked me!"

"Attacked you?" Santana asked. "He beat you up?"

'He was trying to..." Amanda began to falter her words. But she got out in a whisper, "rape me."

"Finn, call the police," Santana said firmly. "Amanda, come with me." Santana led Amanda to their bedroom but only got to the doorway when there was more knocking.

"Come out here bitch!" a male voice shouted.

"That's Jeff," Amanda whispered, terrified.

"San, call the cops, and lock yourselves in Charlotte's room," Finn commanded. He grabbed the handle from his car jack and approached the door, he was very grateful he forgot to put it back out in the shed. Santana nodded.

"Be careful."

"Go now," Finn urged.

"I know you went crawling to your friends, you whore!" Jeff yelled.

"You need to leave my house!" Finn yelled back.

"Give me the bitch and I'll leave!"

"Never gonna happen! We've called the cops. Leave now!"

"Maybe I'll just break down the door and fuck your bitch too!" Finn threw open the door and towered over the would-be rapist.

"You come here, after nearly raping my best friend, and threaten my family," Finn growled, grabbing him up by the shirt collar. "Tell me why I shouldn't beat you bloody right here, right now?" The guy could only make whimpering sounds. "If your noise had woken my daughter, you will pay double."

The cops arrived in short order, having been patrolling the area already. "Sir, let the man go."

"He tried to rape my best friend, and then he tried to break into my house to get to her, as well as threaten my family."

"A woman made the call," the officer said.

"My girlfriend took my friend and locked themselves in my daughter's bedroom and called you guys," Finn replied. "Can you take this miscreant so I can check on my family?"

"Yes," the officer said. "Go check on your girls."

Finn ran in and knocked on Charlotte's door softly. "It's Finn, the cops have him," he said through the crack in the door. Santana threw open the door and leapt into his arms. Then she stood back to check him over for any injury.

"Are you okay?" she finally asked.

"Yeah," Finn nodded. "I nearly lost it when he threatened you two."

"He didn't hurt you?"

"I didn't realize how little he is, he couldn't hurt me."

"I'm glad," Santana sighed in relief.

"How's Char and Panda?"

"Charlotte just woke up but she is helping Amanda," Santana replied. Amanda had Charlotte in her arms, rocking her back and forth.

"Panda, the cops have him," Finn explained softly. She looked up, tear running down her ace. "They are going to want to talk to each of us." She nodded.

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The party was in full swing as it was getting dark. The adults took advantage of the slip n slide. They all brought extra clothes and John even had fireworks they could shoot off after it got dark.

They thought Finn was the most responsible one the lot that wanted to shoot off the fireworks. So he set it up at the furthest corner of the back ward to keep everyone safe. They set off a few at first, and Charlotte was excited, clapping her hands. But all of a sudden, there was a yell. Finn fell back on his butt.

"Finn, what the hell did you do?" Santana half chuckled and walked over to check on her boyfriend.

"I burned myself," Finn groaned.

"Where are you burnt?" she asked a bit more seriously.

"My forearm," he said. "I lit it and dropped it in the tube but it burned me."

"Come in, I'll get the first aid kit," Santana said. "John can finish the fireworks." She knew she should be upset with him for being foolish, but she was secretly pleased she got to play nurse.