The Night We Met
Disclaimer: I don't own anything and I'm not making any money. And more cursing, some in Italian.
Author's notes: Thanks for the reviews everyone. I'm doing my best to keep up with and finish this story soon.
Jane's patience ran out about two seconds after Garrett had summoned the mysterious Maura.
"Screw this, we need an ambulance, now!"
Jane's urgency was undercut when the girl in the bed moaned and sat up. She turned her head to survey the entire room, including the onlookers in the hallway who were craning their necks to see inside.
"Hi," she breathed out, eyes groggy and vomit clinging to her chin.
The sea of onlookers then parted and two girls ran into the room. Their worried chatter and enveloping of the girl on the bed identified them as her friends.
Just as fast as they had entered the two girls, with their friend in tow, exited the room and presumably from the house.
Jane stood in the middle of the room and saw all eyes on her. Without any reason to remain she made her way towards the door. She was blocked by Garrett.
"I think you owe us an apology," he said.
Jane stared at him incredulous. Garrett continued. "That girl was fine. You falsely accused my brothers and you owe them and the entire fraternity an apology." Scattered voices agreed.
Jane stepped up into Garrett's face. "Your brothers dragged an unconscious girl into a bedroom and started to take off their clothes before I got here. Just because she walked out of here doesn't mean they aren't sick fuckers who should have their dicks chopped off in the name of public safety."
The response from the onlookers was immediate and decidedly not in Jane's favor. Several people tried to push through the crowd to get into the room and to Jane. There would be no easy escape from hostile territory now.
Garrett's calm demeanor evaporated. "Those are my brothers you're talking about you fucking bitch! They're worth more than any slut or spic dyke," he said as he gestured to Jane.
There was a gasp from the doorway but Jane was already moving. She punched Garrett square in the nose, feeling it move at an unnatural angle beneath her fist. She then used his body as a battering ram to get through the crowd in the doorway, scooting past the shocked onlookers and down the stairs. She turned back to the balcony as she reached the front door.
"And I'm Italian you racist shit! Andate tutti a 'fanculo!"
Jane ran out and away from the frat house and kept running until she left the area that housed the fraternities and sororities. She was in a quieter neighborhood where more locals and less students lived. Adrenaline pumping from her escape, Jane couldn't stop moving. She threw air punches and karate kicks at imaginary foes. Her voice rang out in curses directed towards nobody. She couldn't believe what she and just done. She had punched her way out of a frat house and through a mob while telling everyone left behind to go fuck themselves in Italian.
She couldn't wait to tell her brothers.
"Excuse me?"
Jane whipped around towards the voice which had penetrated her celebratory mood. A dark haired girl was standing way closer than she should have while going undetected. Jane faced her, breath coming out in gasps. The stop in movement must have done something to her because Jane became instantly dizzy and wobbled on her feet. The girl quickly made her way to her side.
"Tachypsychia," she murmured.
"Huh?," Jane responded while she sat down on the ground.
"Your body's response to what happened back at Gamma Delta Omega. This is the after effects. Just sit for a few moments. It will pass, just try to calm down," the girl said.
Jane did as she was told and after some time felt better. The girl remained at her side, rubbing her back and encouraging her to take deep breaths. Finally what she had said penetrated Jane's brain.
"You were at the party?"
The girl nodded. "My boyfriend is a member. The president, actually. Or I should be more precise and say ex-boyfriend." The girl paused. "I broke up with him after hearing what he said to you before your dramatic exit. There is no room for prejudice in my life, so there was no room for him."
Jane rubbed at her eyes with her fingertips and combed her hair back from her face. "Garrett," she said absently. "You were going out with that tool?"
The girl looked at Jane with a confused expression on her face. "Yes, we were dating. But he is a human being and not an inanimate object. Were you hit in the head tonight at any time? Perhaps you have a concussion. Confusion and certain disorders are common symptoms of concussions."
Jane stared at her then shook her head. "No, I just meant he's a tool like a jerk. It's a saying."
"Oh," the girl replied in a small voice. "Of course."
There was silence while they both sat in the middle of the street. Jane spoke first.
"Did you follow me?"
The girl shook her head. "No, I actually live a few houses away. I was walking home and recognized you from earlier in the night. I just wanted to apologize for how you were treated."
Jane furrowed her brow. "You don't have to apologize for those dickheads. Especially after you dumped that tool's ass."
The girl smiled. "Yes, I did dump that tool's ass." She seemed oddly proud of her actions as she repeated Jane's phrase. "We were only together a few weeks, so it was not a great loss." She paused. "And I don't think his nose will ever be precisely straight again after you broke it."
Jane smiled into the dark. "Fuck yeah," she whispered. She turned to look the girl in the eyes. "You shouldn't be out this late at night by yourself. It's dangerous."
The girl smiled. "It's safe enough."
The smile and the warmth in her eyes made Jane smile in return. Probably for the first time all night.
The girl grabbed Jane's elbow and stood up, pulling her up with her. She kept her hand there while Jane steadied herself. It was only when the girl moved her hand away and stepped back a pace that Jane realized how cold it was outside. November in Boston was usually cruel and this year was no different.
Jane must have given herself away somehow because the girl erased the gap she had just made between them.
"You're cold," she stated with finality. Jane did not bother to deny it. She was freezing and she nodded her agreement.
The girl moved her hand towards Jane's elbow again, paused a split second before contact, but finally grasped it. "Come with me to my house. I want to examine you more thoroughly."
Jane's head snapped up from the patch of ground she had been staring at. "Huh?"
"Your head. You might have a concussion."
Jane was positive she had not hit her head, at least not that night. "I'm fine. And I don't go home with strangers."
Jane realized a second too late how that sounded. She blushed.
Though it was too dark to see her blush, Jane thought the girl must have somehow sensed it. Her voice was just a bit wicked when she spoke.
"My name is Maura. So now we aren't strangers. Come home with me."
Author's note: I don't speak Italian, so I make no guarantee that saying is correct.