Honor Student

chapter Thirty-Two

The plane landed and I stepped out in to the airport. I wrapped my arms around myself and waited for my bags as I stared off into nothing. I gathered my things and stepped out onto the sidewalk. I had nowhere to go. My aunt was not expecting me home for days. I grabbed my phone and looked the screen. I had no missed calls, no messages. I sighed as I scrolled through the small list of numbers on my phone.

Can you do me a favor?

I clicked send and waited for a response. A few minutes later my phone rang and I smiled nervously as I answered.

“Hey, Jeff” Everyone else I knew was on vacation celebrating graduation. Jeff had mentioned that he would have to stay behind. We talked for a few minutes.

“Thanks, I really appreciate it.” I sat down on the curb and waited for Jeff to arrive. I slipped a flat orange container from my purse and pushed a tiny pill through the foil and popped it in my mouth. I realized that I was on the sugar pill week of my birth control, but I took it anyway to keep routine. My stomach was twisting in pain. I closed the pack as I thought of William. If he had known I was on the pill he wouldn’t have flipped out the way he did, but in a way I was glad it happened. He had turned cold and heartless at the drop of a dime. I couldn’t be with someone like that. Jeff’s car pulled up to the curb and he grinned from ear to ear when he saw me. I smiled back, trying to look happy. He jumped out of his seat and quickly took my bags, loading them into his trunk.

“That should do it.”

“Thank you, Jeff. You really helped me out here.” I smiled. He gave me a one armed hug. I almost pulled back from him but it was nice to have someone care for me. I turned up the radio as soon as we got in the car to avoid the awkward conversation as to why my eyes were puffy and red and I needed a place to stay.

“This is it.” He said, pushing open his apartment door. It was small and dark but he kept it clean.

“It’s nice” I smiled. He scratched the back of his head.

“My roommate is gone for vacation, so if you want you can take his room he won’t mind.” I nodded my head as I looked down the hallway.

“Thank you, Jeff.” I drug my back back to the room and sat it on the bed before walking back into the living room.

“So…” He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at me.

“I’ll explain it over a beer, okay?” I held up my hand, not wanting to let my thoughts linger on William.

“Deal” Jeff flashed me a smile and grabbed two beers from his fridge, making sure to open my bottle before handing it to me. I chewed on my lip as I pulled my legs under me on the couch. I took a long sip as Jeff stared at me.

“So?” He said, trying to get me talking. I explained my situation, leaving out certain details like names and sexual habits.

“Wow” His eyes looked down at the floor.

“yea” I sighed, afraid to look him in the eye. He pushed off the couch and made his way across the room. He returned a few seconds later with a bottle and two small glasses.

“We are going to need something a lot stronger.” He smiled and I immediately relaxed. I had judged him a little too harshly when I had first met him. He was going out of his way to help me and make me feel better.

“Thank you” I said, my eyes pressed shut as I gasped. The liquor burned my throat and for a minute I thought it was on fire. Jeff laughed and drank back his. “So, what about you?” I asked, watching him pour another round.

“I really liked a girl once, but she was busy carring on a secret romance with some a*shole who broke her heart.” His eyes flashed up to mine. I smiled nervously and took the glass from his hand.

“To a*sholes and the idiots who fall for them.” He bumped his glass against mine and we drank them down. My phone rang and I froze in place, my eyes wide as they locked onto Jeff’s. He shook his head and grabbed the phone from my hand.

“She doesn’t want to talk to you. You missed your chance.” He hung up the phone and held it out for me. My jaw fell open and I blinked several times trying to erase what had just happened. My phone rang again and I quickly hit the switch on the side to mute it.

“Another?” Jeff asked, holding up the bottle. I nodded, handing him my glass. He filled it and I slammed it back, holding my hand out for a refill.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” he laughed and filled our glasses again, spilling some on my lap. The shots slid down my thoat easier now and my head was beginning to feel light. Jeff stumbled into the kitchen and grabbed a rag to clean up his mess. He rubbed it on my lap, his breath reaking of alcohol on my face.

“Woah! I got it!” I took the rag from his hand and rubbed it on my jeans. “Shit” I muttered.

“I’m so sorry.” Jeff stumbled to his feet.

“I should go change.” I stood up, falling back against the couch to catch myself. I stumbled back the hall, leaning against the walls for support. My phone lit up and vibrated in my hand.

“What?” I slurred into the phone. William was breathing heavily.

“What’s wrong with you?” He hissed angrily. I made a face at the phone.

“What is wrong with me?” I pointed to myself as I stumbled into the bedroom.

“Are you drunk?” He asked, sounding concerned.

“Hey, if you need a shirt or something I can grab you one of mine.” Jeff called from the doorway.

“Who the f*ck was that?” William yelled in my ear. I pulled the phone back from my face.

“My friend” I said as angrily as I could.

“I’m five minutes away. Come outside now!”

“How did you…” I rememebered he was able to track my phone and rage boiled inside of me.

“Here” Jeff held out an oversized Kippling shirt.

“Thank you” I took it from him and stumbled. He caught me by my arms.

“I think you should lay down.” He said, inches from my face. I pushed him back from me.

“I’m fine” His grip didn’t loosen as he pushed me back towards the bed. “I said I’m fine!” I lost my footing and tumbled back onto the bed. Jeff landed on top of me, his hands groping at me. “Get off of me!” I screamed. A loud banging came from down the hall and in an instant Jeff was pulled off of me. William slammed him against the wall, causing his head to crack loudly against it.

“Mr. Honor?” Jeff slurred, in shock. William pulled back and hit Jeff hard across the face. Blood flew from his nose on impact. He held him by his shirt and leaned in close to him.

“If you ever hurt her again I will kill you.” Jeff pressed himself against the wall, terrified. William stared at him for another minute before letting him go and holding out his hand to me. I slipped my fingers in his and he grabbed my things, dragging me from the apartment. As soon as we reached the sidewalk I lurched forward, vomitting all over the ground.

“Well, I guess you know that you’re not pregnant.” He said dryly. I looked at him for a long moment.

“I knew all along.” I glared at him. He swallowed hard and opened his car door.

“Let’s go” he said, no anger in his voice. I slipped into my seat and slammed the door.

“Just take me to my car.” I felt his eyes on me and he took off fast down the road. My stomach was churning and I wanted to beg him to go slower, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.