Model Student

by C. J. Washington

  A nurse comes in. We surge towards her naturally. “Bow Bells hasn’t fully come around yet but she is mumbling some names…” She looks at her board “Dad, Ash and tiny Ralph are the only clear things she’s said so far.”

  I can’t help the smile that pulls at my lips. She’s saying my name. Thank god. My heart aches that she wants her Dad and he can’t be here for her. I hear Michael’s booming laugh and Ralph’s throaty chortle at the nurse saying ‘tiny Ralph’. Bow obviously means ‘Tiny’, her nickname for Michael because there’s no way you could describe Ralph as tiny.

  The nurse is still stood there. “She’s been moved into a large private room with visitors’ facilities per her insurance information. It’s got plenty of room for you to visit. However, you must let her rest. If you all follow me, you can see her now.”

  I’m the first in the door. I rush to the bed and there she is, my soul mate. She looks so small. I can’t see any injuries other than her bruised arm. The gown she’s wearing and the bed sheets cover her body and one of her wrists is heavily bandaged. I take her hand.

  I can only imagine what she’s gone through. We haven’t heard any details off the police yet. They’ll still be questioning the bastard who did this and they’ll want to speak to Bow at some point. They’d better keep that prick far away from me. If I see him face to face I’m likely to kill him.

  “Dad….” I hear Bow hoarsely whisper out, she sounds like she’s pleading. I move closer and see her bottom lip quiver and her nose scrunch up. She starts crying in her sleep. Tears roll from her closed eyes into her hair. What do I do? Do I wake her up? I can barely stand to watch this. Ralph is on the other side of her bed. He heard it too. He leans his head down to hers and is whispering something in her ear while drying her face with his fingers. Whatever it is he said, it works. Bow sighs and her tears stop, there’s just the odd sniffle now. I look at Ralph. I want to know what he said. He’s only looking at Bow though and for the first time since this happened I see his wet cheeks and tearing eyes. He’s found his breaking point.

  An hour passes. Ralph and I are still keeping vigil at her bedside. The guys are a few metres away sat in the room’s living area watching the coverage on the news. I hear the odd curse as some news channels report falsehoods. Glen is still remotely linked to the security cameras at Oddball and is monitoring activity.

  I’ve had hundreds of calls to my cell phone. I know a few will be from my Dad and Thea, the rest from a quick glance I see are off people from college. I know they’ll be wanting the scoop. Well, they can fuck off. They’re not getting anything from me, now or ever.

  The hospital administrator came in earlier to speak to Ralph. He informed him that a lot of press are out front and more are arriving all the time. He wanted to know if he should make a statement of behalf of the hospital. I thought Ralph was going to strangle him, using this as a reason to get publicity is evil.

  Ralph suddenly spins around newly focused on Bow. I’m wondering if he heard something I missed when her hand twitches in mine. Her eyes start to flicker. Then they open. I beam down at her. Fuck, it’s good to see those beautiful eyes again.

  Bow

  I wake up out of a deep sleep to see Asher smiling above me. I smile back. Ralph is here too? Why is Ralph here? Then I remember again. I search the room in confusion. I’m in a hospital. They got me out. A kaleidoscope of emotions beat at me and I burst into tears. I try to pull myself up when an excruciating pain in my leg makes itself know. I scream, it’s getting worse. I want out of this bed, out of this hospital, I want to go home.

  Ralph and Asher try to restrain me but I fight back. They can’t keep me here. He’ll find me again.

  “Let me go!” My shrill scream shocks even me. What am I doing? I wish I knew, panic and fear are running my body now.

  “Baby, calm down.” Asher is trying to reason with me. I can’t listen. He doesn’t know.

  Ralph grips my face between his hands, his eyes piercing mine. “Stratton’s don’t panic, they deal. Dig deep Bow. They’ll put you out if you carry on like this.” I see he’s crying. I can’t do this to him and Asher. He’s right. I’ve got to get through this. I take deep breaths trying to calm my heart and my nerves. I see a doctor and three nurses rush in. I force my body to relax and I slump back. My panic attack has drained me. Over Ralph’s shoulder I see most of the guys. They’ve just witnessed my breakdown too. I would never have said that Michael could look pale but he manages to now. I’ve scared him. I hate that.

  I focus on Asher, he’s my anchor. I pull on his hand until he leans down so that I can wrap my arms around his neck. I plant my face into his neck and breathe in his scent. Nothing calms me more than that. I’m holding him so tight, my arms are aching. He strokes my arms and shoulders and lets a little bit of his weight settle onto me so I feel more secure.

  “I love you.” I shakily whisper just for him.

  “Oh baby, I love you too. You’re safe now. I’ll never let anything happen to you again.” His tears wet my skin as he kisses around my face and plants a small soft one on my lips.

  I say the words I’ve said before. “I believe you.” And I really do. Determined and protective Asher is not someone to mess with. I ease my hold when the doctor tries to get my attention.

  “Bow, I need to check your leg and wrist. It’s been reported to us that the room you were held in was filthy. We’ve cleaned your wounds and given you a dose of antibiotics. However, I still want to check for visual signs of infection. I’m going to give you something for the pain first so you don’t feel anything.” I nod. I’m dreading seeing my leg. I remember the scalpel clearly in my mind. I have to ask.

  “Ryan had a scalpel. He injected me with something as he was threatening me. Did he use it on my leg?” I hear a few hisses and curses beside me.

  “I’m afraid so. Yes.” I nod. Silent tears fall.

  “Is it bad?” My voice is shaky again as I ask. Do I really want to know?

  “At the minute it looks a lot worse than it is. Most of the cuts weren’t overly deep. A renowned plastic surgeon stitched up the areas that needed it. He promised there would be minimal scarring and when it’s all healed up any visible scarring can be easily removed with a cosmetic procedure.”

  “That’s good.” It is. I thought I’d be horribly disfigured. No one else seems to share my relief. They didn’t hear his threats.

  “Keep that firmly in your mind when you see it.” Oh shit. It must be bad.

  The doctor starts to cut the bandage around my calf. When it falls away, I whimper. There’s writing on my leg, it’s stitched up and swollen like Frankenstein’s monster. I’m about to lose it again when Michael hits the wall so hard with his fist it leaves a dent. He’s crying and pacing. Colby and Anthony have turned away and Glen looks livid. Ralph hasn’t moved his eyes from it, neither has Asher who is gripping the bed railing. I stroke his hand and he looks away from it to me.

  I try and smile but don’t pull it off. So I settle for the truth.

  “Looks pretty grim, eh?”

  “You heard the doctor, it’ll get better. You’ll be skipping around in your skyscraper heels before you know it.” Asher tries to assure me but his face tells a different story.

  “What does it say?” I’ve got to know. I don’t want to though.

  “Meretrix.” Asher says through gritted teeth.

  “Like on that photo you showed me.” He nods. “What does it mean?”

  “Whore.” Asher barely gets the word out before Michael punches the wall again. It was never going to be a nice word. I should be grateful he only got to do my lower leg. I know he would have carried on if he hadn’t been caught.

  “Tiny, come here!” He walks to me with his head hanging down.

  “I’m sorry, B. It’s just that you’re my best friend and seeing this…. I want to kill the son of a bitch that did this to you.”

  “You’re my best friend too. Do you know why?” He shakes his head. I squeeze his hand
until he looks me in the eye. “Apart from being the sweetest guy I’ve ever known, it’s because I know you’d kill the son of a bitch for me, not giving one single thought to the consequences for yourself. But I need you around, Tiny. Not in jail. I’m going to face this bastard in court and you’re gonna be standing right behind me, having my back like you always do.”

  He nods and gives me the gentlest hug, it brings fresh tears to my eyes. “I love you, Tiny.”

  “I love you, B.” He smiles a real smile now.

  I tug Asher to sit beside me on the bed while they clean and redress my wrist. He nuzzles his head to mine. I can feel tension radiating off him. I know nothing I say will help. This is just the start of things really. I know that. With him beside me though I can get through it.

  “You’ll get me through this.” I tell him. His face softens and his eyes bore into mine. He can see my faith in him.

  “You know it, baby.” His determination is a living thing.

  Chapter twenty four

  Bow

  I’m so glad to be leaving the hospital today. Asher and Ralph are with me to take me home. I’ve spent the last two days recounting everything over and over to the police. It was hard. The first time was barely audible through my sobs. Then I thought of my Dad and strength filled me.

  The first time he heard it, Asher nearly crushed my hand. I know he’s not handling this well. I’m hoping he’ll feel better once we are back at home. The media is all over this still. A picture of my leg was leaked to the press yesterday by a nurse who snapped who secretly snapped a picture of it with her phone while my doctor was redressing it. Luckily she wasn’t very bright and it was traced back to her within an hour. She was fired straight away.

  Asher was furious when the picture showed up on the news. I explained it didn’t bother me too much. I mean it bothered me a lot but at least now the paparazzi won’t be hounding me, trying to get a shot of my leg for the next few weeks. They’ll leave me alone sooner now they have this. Ryan is locked up and no bail has been set yet. I’m praying it doesn’t for a while. It’s bound to happen eventually and when it is I want to be at Oddball.

  I can walk fine. My leg feels tight with all the stitches and they pull at my skin a bit when I move. Asher won’t let me try some heels on. I don’t really want to but I keep teasing him that I need slippers with heels as that’s all he’ll let me wear on my feet at the moment. Ralph is staying for a couple of days when we get back.

  When I was having a weak moment I wavered about going back to college and he convinced me to give it another go saying that I get to do it as myself this time. I’ve already made friends and I’m in a solid relationship. I don’t need to worry about anything being false, I’ve got everything I wanted and more.

  Everyone else is already back at Oddball. I knew Asher wouldn’t leave me and there was no need for us all to miss college. Michael rang to tell me that they are now the reluctant popular crowd and that newspapers and magazines have been offering them outrageous sums of money for an exclusive about living with Bells Stratton.

  Glen keeps turning on the sprinklers randomly to stop people from standing on the front yard and he shouts threats about pressing charges for trespassing. The police have helped to move people on too. Janie rang me all proud when a bully from her high school tried to meet up with her and she got the opportunity to tell her to suck it. I’m glad everyone’s taking this in their stride.

  The flight to Houston wasn’t long. It took nearly the same length of time to get through the airport when we arrived. There were loads of paparazzi, reporters and fans waiting when we got off the plane. I kept hold of Asher’s hand, smiled and waved while he gave everyone the stink eye, making me giggle. I told him he looked sexy and brooding, not angry. That got me a grin. He was referred to on the news as a ‘college heartthrob’. The guys will never let him hear the end of that.

  It’s good to see our street again. It feels much longer than three weeks since we were here last. Driving towards Oddball, I see a crowd on the pavement spilling into the road. Michael and Glen come out of the house and start trying to move people. It won’t work. People aren’t pushing just crowding. When I get inside it won’t matter what they do. I won’t be coming outside for a few days. I’m sure they’ll be bored by then and will have moved on. When my car door opens they all cheer and clap. Making our way through the crowd I recognise a few of them from around college.

  Then I see the group from the sorority that taunted me at the start of the semester and in marketing class. Asher has me tucked under his arm and is leading me to the front door when the ringleader, Sylvie, steps directly in front of me. I pause, even though Asher is still trying to move me along. She gives me a big smile and gushes.

  “Oh my god! Bells Stratton I’m your biggest fan. I’m also president of our sorority.” She’s acting like that should impress me and points to the group of about ten girls stood behind her, they smile and wave. They’re all wearing tight pink t-shirts with the sorority insignia stretched across their chests. Classy indeed. “We would love it if you joined.”

  “I thought you said you were looking for a certain class of girl and that I wasn’t it?” Everyone is quiet now and I can see phones pointing in our direction.

  “I beg your pardon? I don’t understand.”

  “You can beg all you like you’re not going to get it. I tried to pledge your sorority when I first got here and that was what you said to me. I believe you called me a skank at one point too.”

  “I…I…”

  “Don’t try to form a complete sentence and over tax yourself. I never want anything to do with you or your sorority. Don’t approach me again for this or anything else. I’m not interested.” With that I shift past her to louder cheers than before. Her reign as a tormenting bitch queen is over. That’s my good deed for the day done.

  “Feel better now?” Asher grins.

  “Yeah. I always wanted to take her down a notch or two after what she said. Then I saw her kissing you that night after the game and since then I’ve wanted to slap her silly instead. Now I feel light as a feather.” I giggle.

  The front door closes behind us. Everyone is gathered in the family room. It’s so great to see them all. Pepper runs up with Janie and sandwich me into a hug. I haven’t seen them since it happened.

  “It’s so good to see you two. I’ve missed you loads.” We have a little cry and then pull ourselves together.

  We all go outside to the back yard and I show Ralph our photos from the road trip. The ones of us roller skating are hilarious. The faces we’re pulling as we try to skate are seriously unflattering. I need to make an album of them all really. It was a fantastic trip. I can separate it from what happened at the end. I’m not sure these guys can. There’s one way to find out.

  “Hey guys, how do you feel about a road trip around California in the summer and then going to Hawaii for a week?” They are all stunned silent. “I know what happened is hard to deal with and we’ll all be facing the consequences of it over the next few weeks but I loved our road trip. I know you all did too. It’d be great to have another to look forward to when we put all this behind us.” Ralph is nodding along with me. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to. I’d just like you to give it some thought.”

  “I’m in. The road trip was awesome, you’re right. I say we also head back to New Orleans for mardi gras, finish what we started.” Michael says. It’s my turn to whoop now.

  They all agree and we talk about where to visit. It’s just what we need. Something else to focus on.

  Asher

  I’m so proud of Bow. This terrible thing happened to her and she’s the one comforting everyone and bringing everyone together. She never thinks of herself. I notice Ralph is filled with admiration for her giving spirit it shows in his eyes every time he looks at her. My girl has no idea how to be selfish.

  My Dad, Thea and Carly are coming tomorrow to visit. Thea wanted to come to the hospital to see Bow but I
convinced her to wait for her to be settled at home first. Bow was so happy when I told her, she thinks of them as her family too. I know I’ll be making it official some day in the future.

  We spend the evening outside all together, laughing and reminiscing while eating barbecue. It was a classic Oddball night. Bow shrieked and clapped when Pepper sat on Colby’s lap and they kissed. She’s been championing their relationship since the beginning.

  Colby told me later that after what happened Pepper turned to him for comfort and since then it’s progressing everyday. I’m happy for him. Like me, he always swore he’d never settle down. We didn’t know what the fuck we were talking about back then. It’s Bow or no one for me now and I know Colby feels the same way about Pepper. The Fort Bend boys settling down, who would have thought it possible?

  ***

  Two months have passed and things are finally back to normal. Everything regarding Bow calmed down and everyday life has resumed. Bow still gets lots of attention at college, that’s just the way it is now. It won’t change and I’ve learned to live with it. She’s always happy nowadays and that’s why I hate what I have to do now. I consider it good news, but I don’t know how Bow will take it.

  “Hey, baby.” She’s chilling by the pool in a hot as fuck pink bikini. I make love to her every night and most times at some point in the day too and I still get a raging boner when I see her like this.

  “Hey. Come lie down with me.” The loungers are huge and fit two easily. I put my arm behind her head and she snuggles into my side, fitting me like a matching puzzle piece.

  “There’s something I’ve got to tell you, Bow.” I know I sound serious and she momentarily stiffens before relaxing again.