Finally...One Summer (Just One of the Guys)

by Kristi Pelton

  I rubbed down the overgrown stubble on my chin, which I always let grow out before the auction and said, “Who is she?”

  Danny glanced at me with raised brows. “Tell me, dude.”

  I took a premature turn en route back to the frat house so I had plenty of time to tell my story and squash all in one conversation.

  “I’m crazy about a sixteen year old girl, dude. What’s to tell? My father adores her but doesn’t approve. Her father loves me but would probably kill me. Her brother would beat the shit out of me. She’s in high school and still crazy about a guy who broke her heart.”

  Danny’s mouth opened as if he was going to say something and decided not to. He relaxed his head against the headrest. “Whoa…”

  “Yep.”

  “Fuck this other guy, man. I had no doubt meeting her once that she wanted you too. Fight for her.”

  Fight for her? I couldn’t yet…she had to heal from what he did to her.

  Chapter 44—Court

  In the car on the way home, I didn’t feel so hot. Ali kept the vents open allowing the fresh air to breeze over my face.

  “Oh, Ali. I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be silly, Em. You have no reason to be sorry. I thought you’ve handled the break up pretty good.”

  I lay sideways in the seat facing her. “You’re such a good friend.”

  “I won’t lie. It’s hard to watch you go through this. I imagine it being me and it scares me. I don’t know how much longer Ryan and I will last. I’d probably drink too.”

  “I think Ryan likes you…so that’s not going to happen.

  She watched the road as I talked but I saw her smile.

  “You know, Ali. I envy you right now.”

  She shook her head. “That’s a switch. I’ve envied you my whole life.”

  I bent my neck sideways. “What?” Ali was so beautiful.

  “Oh, God, Emma. You’re so perfect. You’re mom and dad never fight. You have the perfect big brother with all the big brother friends and you’re awesome in cross country and all the guys think you rock.”

  “Ali, where is this coming from? My mom and dad do fight and guys don’t think I rock.”

  “Yes. They do. It took Zach to open the door and let other guys know that Ryan wasn’t going to massacre them. You just talk to guys like it’s no big deal. For someone who is so smart, you don’t see yourself the way others do.”

  “I grew up talking to guys…living with them…it’s second nature. They don’t intimidate me.”

  “That’s what I mean. You’re so confident.”

  Wow! I didn’t see it that way at all. The only thing I was confident in was that I was alone…too sensitive for one guy and too young for the other. Austin was right. I didn’t know who I was or what I wanted. But did anyone at my age know that? I was Matt and Katie Hendrick’s small baby daughter. I was the scrawny little girl who couldn’t run because of her weak heart. I was Ryan Hendrick’s kid sister for years. Then I graduated to Zach Owen’s girlfriend. Now…I felt like nobody.

  I stopped calling and texting Zach, which took a great amount of willpower on my part. The phone would tremble in my hand with a brief generic message typed out then I’d quickly close the phone without hitting send. I wouldn’t say the pain lessened. My perspective is what changed. Though I didn’t see it through his eyes, he said he loved and respected me enough to walk away from me. My eyes saw it differently, much differently.

  He’d told me I was the light in his life, but he walked away from the light. It made no sense. It didn’t matter. Zach Owens was at least ten hours away from me now in a place he loved…dreamed about. In return, I would love him enough to respect his decision as well. But I didn’t have to like it.

  After talking to Ali that night in the car, I realized she was right. I’d always seen myself as that weak little girl I once was. In hindsight, everyone treated me that way…fragile. Mom and Dad. Ryan. Ryan’s friends. Over the years, I had felt entitled…special. So the attention lathered upon me was natural, but I never saw myself come out of that person. The day Zach walked into my life, he didn’t see me as that little girl or as Ryans’ kid sister. He liked me and my skewed perceptions forbid me to accept it willingly. I could only imagine his frustration. To me, I was still the dwarfy, skinny chick everyone felt sorry for.

  Today, was February 20th …court day. Cooper Lynch’s fate would rest in the hand of twelve jurors after today. I didn’t know him but felt for him and his girlfriend. Paul Talley had wreaked havoc on their lives more than he had on mine…much more…but Cooper was the man on trial. Where was the justice?

  I stood completely naked in front of my full-length mirror and stared at the image reflected back at me. I bit my lip fighting a smile. In three months, I would be seventeen. My body finally resembled that of a seventeen year old…maybe older. Everyone saw it before me…I had ripened. I’d been a tiny seed for so long…retarded in my growth…until now.

  I slid into my black dress and heels. Mom knocked.

  “Honey. You ready?”

  “No. He’s going to be there. I know it.”

  Mom hugged me. “You look beautiful. Hold your head high and be kind.”

  I took a deep breath and nodded. Be kind? I was worried about jumping on him the moment I saw him.

  “You owe this to that girl.”

  My eyes fell. “I know.”

  “Ladies. We’re going to be late. Let’s roll,” Dad said popping his head in the room.

  Mom followed him out.

  When I’d told them about Paul…well…angry…disappointed…frustrated … upset…scared…I don’t think they knew whether to hug me or beat me. And the fact that it happened on our beach in front of our home was almost too distressing for my dad. Ryan was summoned home that weekend to give his side of the story. He wasn’t mad at me…if anything…I think he was relieved that it was out and over. Then Mom and Dad got into an argument about the lack of supervision on the beach.

  It was funny how everyone wanted to blame something or someone for the event. I finally stopped blaming everyone and everything except for Paul. He was the one that was wrong…not Mom and Dad, not Ryan or his friends, not Zach and certainly not myself. It took me a while to get there, but I did.

  The sun was close and the warmth of the heat radiating from it felt good against the cold wind. Dad fed the parking meter in front of the Medford courthouse. I’d been here two other times in my life…both with Zach. A probation meeting and then when he was released. I silently grinned enjoying the memory. The parking lot was full and my eyes darted from car to car searching for his parents’ car. I didn’t see it.

  We rode the elevators up the two floors. When we stepped off, I gripped hold of both Mom and Dad’s arms. The hearing was to be heard in division six by a Judge Johnson. We followed the signs. The hallway was filled with people, and I flashed over their faces as we walked. In the courtroom, Cooper stood in a black suit speaking with his attorney. A fair-haired girl with wide blue eyes watched between two sets of adults…parents, who spoke with the attorney. He looked at us.

  “Oh. Hello, Emma.”

  “Hi, Mr. Resnik.”

  He and my dad shook hands.

  “Cooper. Mia. This is Emma. She’s the one we’ve talked about.”

  I nodded at them and my eyes hung on Mia’s, whose were scared.

  “If you all want to have a seat, that’s fine.”

  Back in the hall, I immediately spotted Zach sitting on a bench with his elbows resting on his knees, his eyes focused on the tile. His mom stood next to him and his dad sat on the opposite side of the hall. A disjointed rhythm found my heart and I sorta felt sick.

  I retrieved my phone from my purse.

  Hello send

  He pulled his phone from his pocket, glanced at the message and returned it to his pocket. His mother asked him a question and he nodded. She sweetly rubbed his back.

  Youcan’t keep ignoring my texts send

&nbs
p; Same routine. He showed her the message this time as he rubbed across his forehead. Deep slow breaths…I typed again.

  Look up and you’ll see the light again!! Send

  His head snapped up as he shot a look to his left, rushing over the nameless, faceless people in that direction then finally my way. I only stood maybe thirty yards from him, and he immediately rose to his feet adjusting his tie. The California sun had done a number on him. He was tanner than I’d ever seen, and against the white dress shirt, he was breathtakingly handsome. His suit was a soft black and his shoes shined. He had lost weight too. I smiled, or at least I think I did. He hesitated, breaking our eye contact, to momentarily glance at his mom, whose smile was warm.

  I think my eyes too, flickered to her for a short second before they found his again. I was too scared to leave them for long. His eyes narrowed as he took five measured steps toward me. I breathed easier with each step but couldn’t manage to make my feet move.

  “Hey,” I whispered.

  “Hey back. What’re you doing here?” He asked, then answered before I had a chance. “You shouldn’t have come.” One hand rested in his pocket, the other casually at his side.

  “I know the trial started yesterday. I wondered if you’d be here today. I’m going to testify.”

  He didn’t like that. I saw it in his furrowed brow, but he didn’t look at me.

  “I have to. It’s only right. That could be you and me in there.”

  His eyes located me on that one and they saddened me with their lost look. Still no words, which was funny. I was always the one stuttering at a loss for words.

  “Cooper and Mia need all the support they can get.” I didn’t know what else to say, so I stood quietly staring at him.

  “Are you sure?”

  His deep voice echoed in my heart and I had to refocus.

  I nodded. “Definitely.”

  His eyes searched mine, roaming over my face, then back. What was he looking for? I tried to swallow, but it got stuck in my throat. “What?” I whispered so soft I was certain he didn’t hear.

  But he twitched and twisted his neck sideways. “You’re beautiful.”

  I smiled. “Thank you. You…look dashing,” I said attempting a British accent, but it didn’t come out so well. My cheeks flushed as I looked away.

  “How are you?”

  I shrugged unwillingly answering quickly. “Fine, I guess.”

  A look of surprise lit his face. “Good. Good.”

  “And you?”

  The surprised look left his face and his eyes locked with mine holding a gorge of regret. “I’m fine too.”

  “Emma?”

  I heard my mother’s voice but feared if I turned around he’d be gone. He responded to my name.

  “Hi, Mrs. Hendricks,” he said politely.

  “Hello, Zach. It’s nice seeing you.”

  “You too. Mr. Hendricks,” Zach took two aggressive steps past me and shook hands with my father.

  “Emma. They need you,” Mom said pointing to the courtroom.

  My heart leapt into my throat and I nodded. “OK.” I no longer had the strength to hold my head erect, and I somehow moved forward until Zach grabbed my hand and squeezed.

  “Good luck,” he offered a tight-lipped smile and dropped my hand.

  I didn’t realize everyone had followed me in until I took the seat on the witness stand after being sworn in by an older woman who then sat behind a stenograph. Mia sat snuggly between the two families, and for the first time, I saw Paul Talley’s family. His mother wasn’t much older than mine with graying hair. His father was a muscular man. Their faces were thin…sunken in, with dark circles under their eyes. For the first time, I saw Paul Talley as a son…a college student…a brother…no longer a monster. I forced myself to look away.

  Ryan, Grant and Seth paraded into the room sitting behind Mom and Dad. They each patted Zach’s shoulders as they scooted through. Ryan winked at me.

  Since I was a witness for the defense, Mr. Resnik went first keeping his line of questioning fairly direct and to the point. There was no play by play of the incident just a basic of when, what, and where.

  My heart revved as the DA grabbed her legal pad of notes and moved to the podium.

  “Ms. Hendricks. Will you tell me how many girls were on the beach that night?”

  “Well, it was just me for the most part until two girls came up and…”

  “So there were three girls and eight guys?”

  “Yes.”

  She shuffled some papers. “And it was foggy, correct?”

  “Correct.”

  “Was your boyfriend there that night?”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “Where was he, Ms. Hendricks?”

  “Back in Ashland.”

  “And you willingly walked off in the fog with another guy up the beach.” She said it as a statement rather than a question.

  “No.”

  She peered over the rim of her glasses at me with raised brows. “No?”

  “No.”

  “No to which part of that question, Ms. Hendricks?”

  The courtroom door opened and Austin joined the boys on the back row. I took a deep breath. “No. We didn’t walk up the beach. I was going inside and I...”

  “Ms. Hendricks,” she interrupted. “The point to the question was that you willingly walked off with Mr. Talley, correct. You willingly left the group with him.”

  “Yes.”

  The DA took off her glasses and came around to the front of the podium.

  “So you and Mr. Talley left the group together, in the fog, to do what exactly?”

  “I was showing him where to go to the restroom.”

  She gave an exaggerated nod toward the jury. “Ah. I see. Because going to the restroom on the beach is something one would need assistance with.”

  “Objection, Judge.” Mr. Resnik spoke up. “There was no question.”

  “Withdrawn, Your honor. Ms. Hendricks. Why…were you helping Mr. Talley use the restroom?”

  I was getting frustrated. “I wasn’t helping him. I was showing him where to go.”

  “And…did you?”

  “Yes.”

  “And then you left, of course.”

  Of course not. I was too stupid to do that. “No.”

  “No?”

  She acted surprised by my answer.

  “I waited…to show him how to get back to the group but before I had a chance, he grabbed me.”

  She placed her finger on her chin. “OK. Let me make sure I have this straight. You were on the beach with a group of boys. You willingly leave the group, escorted by Mr. Talley to show him where to urinate. Then stay with him to escort him back. Correct?”

  “Basically.”

  “Was anyone drinking or doing drugs that night?”

  I nodded.

  “Ms. Hendricks. You’re going to have to respond verbally for the court to hear your answer. Were their drugs and alcohol on the beach that night?”

  “Yes.” My eyes flickered toward my parents whose eyes were on me.

  “Did you partake in these activities?”

  “No.”

  She placed one of the earpieces from her glasses in her mouth. “Ms. Hendricks, how do you know, it was Mr. Talley that grabbed you if it was so foggy?”

  “Because I saw his face.”

  “When did you see his face if he came up from behind?”

  I glanced over at Zach and he held his fist over his mouth.

  The moisture made my eyes blurry. “When he was on top of me.” My voice cracked.

  “Ms. Hendricks. I’m sure this is difficult for you, but, why if Mr. Talley was attacking you…did he just stop?”

  I had no answer. “There were other people on the beach and I think he got spooked.” This time my eyes flickered to Austin.

  “OK. Let’s say for argument’s sake that this is true.”

  “It is true.”

  “Very well.
Why didn’t you call the police?”

  I wiped the tears that fell over trying to think through this answer. “Well. I was scared,” I cried. “And I didn’t know what to do. I was scared.”

  “But you immediately told your boyfriend, yes?”

  I chewed on my cheek as my eyes darted to Zach again, whose face was angry as he ran his fingers through his hair. His mother’s arm squeezed his shoulders.

  “No.”

  “No? Why not?”

  The judge pointed to the tissues on the stand and I jerked one out wiping my eyes.

  “I was afraid.”

  Mia wept out loud as my words came out and the judge shot her a stern look. Cooper’s hand acted like a vice to his temples.

  “Afraid of…what he would do?”

  My eyes flickered to Zach’s a third time and I blinked away the tears. He nodded unable to conceal his frustration.

  “Ms. Hendricks. Don’t look over there. Just answer the question.”

  Mr. Resnik stood. “Objection, Judge. The witness can not testify to what somebody may have done.”

  “Your honor. I’m merely getting to the fact that this witness kept this a secret rather than telling the one person she would have confided in. Apparently no one else knew what happened…no one witnessed it…and it’s her word against…someone that’s no longer with us.”

  I scanned the back row of all my secret witnesses squirming in their seats. Austin’s jaw was clenched tight, his eyes irritated. Grant and Ryan whispered between glares. Seth’s head was lowered.

  “I’ll allow the witness to answer,” the judge ruled glancing at me.

  I’d almost forgotten the question. “I was afraid of him not wanting to be with me. And yes. I didn’t want him to do anything stupid.”