Gabby.
After yesterday's assembly, my day is filled with repeating the same story over and over again to many different people. I was forced to talk to another police officer, our lawyer, the school councilor and my doctor. My dad was forced to hear the story of how his daughter was possibly raped over and over again, every time bringing him to tears. It's terrible watching any man cry, watching your hard-ass dad break down is gut-wrenching. But the worst was when he told my mom. I couldn't bring myself to do it, I just sat in their bed as my dad held me on his lap and told her. She has been crying nonstop ever since.
A report was filed, it was submitted anonymously. I didn't want my name on anything. But most of all... I didn't want Tyler to know it was me. Although I'm sure he would realize it once they mention sex in his car by the lake. There was not enough evidence to arrest him for what he did to me, just an investigation into it that could be compared to the latest attacks on girls from school. Honestly, that was good enough for me. I knew for a fact that he was the one who spiked the punch bowl at prom, which didn't put this in his favor. The punch bowl itself was not laced, but he was near the cups that night.
So Tyler was about to know this investigation was aimed at him, as he was free to walk around. He scared me enough as it was, I wanted to stay as far away from him as I could. Which in a town that is one square mile (not including the lake), was hard to do.
"Can I let him out now?" I hold my hand out to my dad, waiting for him to place the key of the town jail cell into my hand.
Luxberg was small. We didn't have much. Our library was also our City Hall, and in the very back of the building was a single jail cell. Every time I had seen it, it was filled with file boxes and being used for storage. I don't think it had been used once since I had been born.
My dad's glance shifts from his paper up to me.
"Nothing has changed. You are still grounded. I still want you nowhere near him. Do you realize why he asked me to put him there? He was getting angry..."
I keep my hand held out to him.
"First off, I'm grounded because I asked Jax to walk me home because TYLER was scaring me! Second, it's not me he's angry with, it's TYLER. All I'm going to do is let him out of his cage so he can go home. Have you even fed him?"
He pulls off his glasses and rubs his tired eyes with his finger and thumb.
"Of course I fed him. I'm not trying to be a monster here, Gabby. I know he had the right intentions. I get it, I want to wrap my bare hands around Tyler's neck and strangle him. The difference is I know not to. I know when to check the anger and let the law do it's job so that the right person ends up with the criminal record in this situation."
"I'd rather you killed Tyler" I roll my eyes and keep my hand out in front of me.
"Gabby..." he sighs.
"I'm letting him out. He's been there for an entire day because of me. I'm sure he's calmed down by now. Trust me, I'm not very happy with him right now that he told my dad how I lost my virginity... so it will be a straight home type of night."
"I don't want to know why Jackson knows how my daughter lost her virginity" he mutters and pulls his paper back up to his face.
"Dad... please? Let him out..."
His eyes peer back to mine and his body loosens as I watch him cave.
"You watch his temperament..." his eyes are fixed on mine as he pulls the keys out to the library and the cell from his pocket. "If he seems even remotely angry, he stays. I'll give you money, get him something to eat from Mickey's Landing. Then you come home and we go back to him being off limits. Got it?"
"Fine." I take the keys and cash from him and walk to the door.
"Gabby?"
I turn back around to him. He fumbles with his glasses in his hands, pondering a question from the back of his mind.
"How did Jackson know about Tyler? He said he heard about the assembly from Courtney and knew to come find you..."
I frown at him, he muttered that he didn't want to know this just minutes ago.
"I told you, Jax drank water upstairs at Courtney's party. Tyler made us all play that stupid 'I Have Never' game and kept bringing up the night at the lake, forcing me to drink more than everyone else, and he was telling the entire room we had sex in the back of his car and that I couldn't remember it. When I cut myself off and started drinking water, Jax asked why I wasn't drinking with my friends. I told him I was afraid to be around Tyler when I drank because I would get tired and I didn't trust him. I think Jax put two and two together before I ever did. He constantly asks me how much I drank that night..."
My dad nods his head and says nothing more about it, returning to his paper. I put in my shoes and grab my phone.
"Take the keys with the pepper spray on them. Take your phone with you. Take your car, don't walk tonight. Stay away from Kane's. Got it?"
"Dad, Jax will be fine..."
"It's not for Jackson" he looks back up to me again.
Tyler. He's worried about me seeing Tyler.
"Okay" I nod and grab the other set of keys. "I won't be long."
<><><>
This car ride takes all of three minutes. I had three minutes to decide that I was angry at Jackson Parker. I didn't want to tell my dad. I hadn't even come to terms with what had happened yet. He promised he would stay with me and knew I was afraid to tell my dad. My knee bobs up and down the entire car ride, my frustration has been peaking the last twenty-four hours and I'm about to lose it.
I unlock the door to the small library and notice a light on in the hallway that led to the bathrooms and the jail cell. I walk slowly down the hall and see him sleeping on a cot with a book open across his chest. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein rises and falls with every sleepy breath he takes. I almost take a picture but decide against it; he doesn't look like such an angry criminal right now, even if he is in jail. He looks peaceful. Something about Jax has always felt off. It's as if he wants people to look at him as the mysterious town criminal that sleeps around. But as he sleeps, it's as if that wall is down. Maybe it's because of all of our late night conversations, watching movies and hearing him laugh and the dumbest parts with me. Maybe it's knowing what he really did for his little sister and how much he loves his family. Or maybe it's his book choice making me question him; I make a mental note to applaud his choice of British literature.
I pull out the keys and unlock the cell as his eyes flicker open. The cell door could definitely use some WD-40, if the keys wouldn't have woken him the squeak from the door would have. Again, it probably hasn't been opened in twenty years. The file boxes that were stuffed in it are stacked up in the hallway beside me.
It takes him a moment to register where he is before his green eyes meet mine, causing my stomach to do its usual Jax-induced summersault.
"Damaged goods is here to bail you out." I say with a roll of my eyes and let the cell door hang freely open. The creak from the door over exaggerates this a bit, but I don't stop it as it slowly and loudly continues to open wider without my assistance.
He continues to stare at me. I feel awkward, he's sitting there pitying me without even saying a word.
"Do you want out or not?" I motion to the open door.
He takes the book off of his chest and closes it, setting it on the cot and stands.
"Are you okay?" he finally speaks.
"Am I okay?" I force a stubborn laugh. "No, Jax I'm not okay. I wasn't before either. Nothing has changed with me other than now I know there was a reason why I got into his backseat. I still hate him, he still creeps me out. I am the same not-okay girl I was before that assembly yesterday..."
His eyes get big as he watches me ramble. "You seem... pissed..."
"I am pissed!" I shove his shoulder hard with my hand.
"Gabby..." he grabs the area of his body that I pushed.
"You called my dad?" I feel absolutely betrayed by him and it's taking everything I have not to cry. I thought I was out of tears, but they are still there.
"I didn't know what else to do!"
"I still don't even know if I was raped! Do you understand what it's like talking to your dad about losing your virginity?" I shove him again, unable to control my own hands.
"He needed to know!" he growls. The flair of his nostrils shows his anger brewing.
"No he didn't! I had to tell that story over and over again today! My mom knows!" I keep pushing him as hard as I can with every person I mention. "School officials know!" another push. "My doctor knows! Our lawyer, who is also our nosy neighbor knows...!" Three more pushes, "...your sister, I'm sure the Porter family knows!"
"Gabby knock it off" he says angrily as he holds his hands up to block the assaults.
"The librarian who had to babysit you knows!" another push.
"Gabby!"
"The whole fucking town is going to know! My dad's coworkers all know!"
I see the anger in him spiking as I continue to hit him but I can't bring myself to stop. All of it, every piece of anger, every tear I've cried, the sleepless night I had, it's all been coming to a head.
"Damnit Gabby stop fucking hitting me!"
"Why? Will you get so angry you'll push me back, like you did Jimmy's mom?" I push him again but this time he grabs my wrists and holds them.
I'm breathing heavy as I stare at him. His face is red with anger, his grip on my wrists is tight.
"Why are you really mad at me?" he searches my eyes. "He needs to be investigated Gabby... the right people know now and maybe it will prevent another girl from suffering. I don't regret telling your dad and you shouldn't either. And I needed your dad just as much as you did yesterday because I wanted to kill Tyler, shit I still do. So why are so mad that you are hitting me?"
"Because you know!" I scream at him. "I don't want you to look at me like you are right now! I'm the same person I was before!"
He smiles and lets go of my wrists with a chuckle.
"This isn't fucking funny Jax" I hit him again.
"You're cute when you're pissed Books..."
I go to smack him again but he grabs my wrists again, holding them above my head and pushing me up against the bars with his body.
"If you are worried that you don't turn me on anymore, you don't need to be. I know you are the same girl Gabby Brooks..." He sets his forehead against mine and gazes down into my eyes. His green eyes are on fire, causing me to be unable to look anywhere else. Both of us are breathing heavy, chests pressed against each other's. "You said you didn't want to finish this the last time I offered. Unlike Tyler, when I'm told no I take the hint..."
I continue my stare. "We had reasons for not finishing Jax..."
He pushes up against me harder and smiles as my mouth drops open. "What were they again?" he asks as his head cocks to the side.
"Fuck if I know" I whisper.
His lips slam to mine and my body reacts by pushing into his. His hands remain locked around my wrists above our heads. My mouth opens to let his tongue attack mine.
"Books..." he growls into my mouth.
"Shut up and take off my shorts Alfie..."
His eyes meet mine with a smile. "You sure?"
I nod my head yes and smile back, my chest rising and falling quickly. "I'd like to choose who I sleep with for once..."
He drops my hands and they wrap around his neck as I pull him closer to me for another kiss. He takes my bottom lip between his teeth as he unbuttons my jean shorts and pushes them down with my panties.
His kisses move to my neck as I moan. The smell of his cologne acts as my aphrodisiac, it's the same smell on the sweatshirt he left for me. His hand moves down my front until he finds his favorite little spot and begins circling it slowly.
"Oh shit" I moan out. My head drops back to the bars behind me. I am overcome with pleasure by this simple movement of his fingers. My thighs spread themselves further apart, inviting him with better access.
His lips move to my ear. "You're sure Books?"
"Yes" I moan. "I want you Jax..."
His lips push to mine again as the circling stops. He tugs on my t-shirt and I pull away only to pull it off with my bra over my head, tossing it to the cot beside us. I return to him, connecting my mouth to his as I grab the button of his pants, undoing it and pushing his pants and boxers to the floor below.
His erection presses up against me, telling me without words that he is just as ready for this as I am. "I want it Jax" I moan again and look into his eyes.
He smiles and grabs my thighs, lifting me up into the air in one swift motion. My legs wrap around him tight. He pushes my back into the bars of the cell and I reach up and grab a bar with each hand to keep me steady.
He kisses me again and a groan leaves his throat, making the corners of my mouth turn up.
"Eyes on mine Books" he whispers into my ear and drags his nose across my jaw until he's looking at me. The trail of tingles along my jawline make me want him more.
I smile at him and give him a nod. I don't want to look anywhere else right now.
He kisses me again as I feel him enter me. My mouth instantly falls open, unable to hold his kiss.
"Oh my god" I cry out.
"Far from it" he moans and begins pushing into me.
My grip on the bars tightens with every thrust. My eyes don't leave his. I'm fighting their urge to roll into the back of my head as he takes me.
"Fuck Books..." his mouth falls open.
"Yes Jax!" I scream. "Oh yes! Don't stop! Don't stop!"
My breasts bounce every time his pelvis smacks into mine, he takes notice and takes one lightly with his teeth, breaking our stare. I take advantage of this to close my eyes and focus on his thrusts.
"Shit Jax... harder..."
The thrusts come harder, as requested and he begins to moan loudly. "Christ Gabby... you feel so fucking good!"
Neither of us our holding back our sounds, and a smile involuntarily creeps across my face as I remember we are in the library...
I'm sweaty, he's sweaty, neither of us want to stop. He feels better than I could have ever imagined. He fills me and I feel him everywhere. It's like my body is buzzing.
He tugs me away from the cell bars and I let them go, wrapping my arms around his neck tight and kissing him again.
He sits on the cot with me straddling him. I pull off his solid gray shirt, I want to see those damn tattoos in all their glory. Our faces return to each other so that we are nose to nose as we watch each other fiercely, I begin to bounce and grind into him as hard as I can. He keeps his hands on my ass, lifting me and slamming me down onto his erection. There is an orgasm built in me on the brink of an explosion.
"Fuck Gabby..." his eyes close and he puts his head on my shoulder.
"Eyes Jax!" I yell.
I feel his lips smile on my skin as he plants a kiss onto my collarbone and returns his eyes to mine.
His mouth continues to hang open. "Gabby..." he groans.
I nod my head yes. "I'm going to cum Alfie..."
He nods. "Me too."
He wraps his arms around me tight and I take his face into my hands, holding his lips to mine as I grind into him as hard as I possibly can. He feels and tastes so damn good...
The kiss tips me over the edge. My entire body gives into the orgasm and clenches around him. "Oh fuck Jax yes!" I cry out, I keep my eyes locked in his.
He can't take anymore. His grip tightens as I feel his entire body lift from the bed with one giant thrust. His erection begins to pulsate within me, assisting with the waves of the orgasm I'm riding. We can't even hold a kiss. Our mouths are hanging open, pressed together as they moan in pleasure. Our sweaty bodies remain tangled in each other as we finish.
A big grin comes to his face as he pants, attempting to catch his breath. "Gabby Brooks you are the hottest jailer I have ever had..."
I giggle and kiss him again attempting to catch my own breath.
We don't leave our position. He stays within me sitting up on the cot, with me on top of him, legs wrapped around his waste behind him and my arms wrapped around his neck.
I find his eyes again and we both share a smile.
"Jax why couldn't you have been my first?" I set my forehead against his.
His arms wrap around me tighter and he presses his lips to the temple of my forehead. "I was Gabby. I was the first one you chose. That's the only part of your first time that matters."
I nod my head yes. That was the best thing anyone could have told me right now.
His chest begins to shake as a giggle escapes him. An actual giggle has escaped the town criminal. I peer back to his eyes that are fixated behind me. I turn to see a sign on the opposite wall that reads 'Shhh. Quiet in the Library.'
A burst of laughter escapes me as he joins and holds me tighter.
"Let's go eat" I give him a smile and lift myself off of him.
"Your dad will murder me. No way." His laughter fades as he hands me back my bra and shirt.
"We have his blessing for one night, I am to free you and take you to get food from Mickey's, his treat. Then you go back to being the criminal neighbor that I stay away from."
"I don't hear screwing his daughter in the town jail cell as part of that plan..." his eyes lift up to mine with a devilish smirk. "Daddy Dan is going to murder me."
I can't help but giggle as I put on my pants. He is correct, this was definitely not part of the plan. But it was so fucking fun and needed after the last two days I've had.
<><><>
We both take a stool at the bar of Mickey's and grab menus. Very rarely do I eat here, it is much nicer than Kane's, more like an actual restaurant that just happens to have a bar. The entire bar is oak, along with the floors and tables. Burgundy barstools match the booths along the walls. It's well lit, and clean. Honestly, I always liked coming here because every table got an endless basket of popcorn with their meals.
Jax grabs my stool between my legs and pulls it closer to him so that one of his legs is between mine and one of mine rests between his. He leans in and kisses me on the lips and pulls away with a smile.
"This has been quite the night Books" he laughs and tosses his menu down.
I chuckle but feel it fade to a frown as I stare at the bar. "One more Jax..."
He places a finger below my chin, moving it so that I look at him.
"We will make it count Books" he nods. "I don't know if we can top we just did, but damn we will try."
I manage another chuckle and plant another kiss on his lips. As I come back up from the kiss I notice everyone in the restaurant is staring at me and whispering. Jax notices too and he takes my hand in his, intertwining our fingers and giving a little squeeze.
"One day" I sigh. "One day and the entire town knows I was possibly date-raped. And they've seen me kiss you..."
"I don't care that they saw me kiss you." He rolls his eyes. I know he's lying about that, my dad will likely hear and that's not good for him. That's exactly why we weren't going to continue this. "The stares go away after awhile" he shrugs.
"Really?" I look back to him.
"No, not really. They continue, I just wanted to make you feel better. But I Mickey is coming this way with a basket of popcorn so I figure that will do the trick instead."
I burst out laughing as I turn and see Mickey with popcorn. He places it on the counter in front of us.
"How are you doing Gabby?" Mickey looks to me with eyes filled with sadness.
This is the look I'm going to get from everyone apparently.
"I'm okay" I give him an assuring nod.
"Your meals are on the house tonight, what can I get you guys?"
"Mickey no... you don't have to do that..." I wave my hands to him. "I'll pay."
"Yeah I do Gabby" he frowns and looks as if he is about to cry.
Mickey's eyes are currently the same shade of red as my dad's. Suddenly I realize why he's upset. His daughter is in my grade. I know I saw Lily at prom. I did not see her at the assembly or in first period yesterday.
"Oh Mickey no..." my hand hovers over my mouth. Part of me wishes I didn't know who the girls were from prom night. I feel as if I am to blame because I didn't realize this sooner.
"Thank you for coming forward..." tears fall down his face.
Shit Gabby, don't cry. I will not stop once I start. I grab my rubber bands and begin to snap them as Jax stares at my wrists.
"I don't even know if I was though... I blacked out..."
"Anything helps" he shrugs. "Anything that leads them to who hurt my child."
Jax clears his throat and looks to Mickey uncomfortably. "Mickey I don't know you very well... but my sister was sexually assaulted a few years ago. If your daughter needs someone to talk to, I can give you her number. Courtney is a really good listener and I know when it first happened she didn't want to talk to family about it. You need someone you can relate to and let it out..."
I can't help but smile. For me that person is Jax.
"That would be great" Mickey forces a smile and wipes his tears.
Twice in two days I have seen grown men break down. It was heartbreaking.
Jax grabs a pen and his napkin and writes down Courtney's number and hands it to him. For a tattooed devil with anger issues, he could be really sweet when he wanted to be. He really had a bad rep for something ridiculous. This had been twice tonight this man had impressed me, the first being when he told me he was my first because I chose him.
"Thanks" he nods to Jax and puts the napkin in his shirt pocket. "So what can I get you both?"
"Bacon cheese burger basket, no pickles, shit tons of ranch on the side."
"I'll have the same, hold the shit tons of ranch" Jax hands him back our menus.
"You got it." He gives us an appreciative nod and walks with our order to the kitchen.
I frown and look back to Jax. "I don't know what would be worse, knowing you were raped or not knowing. Part of me thinks I got it easy."
He leans in, setting his head against mine and placing his hand on the back of my neck.
"No one who has unwanted sex has it easy Gabby..."
I close my eyes tight and nod my head yes, agreeing him. I know how bad I hurt. There is this pit in my stomach, nagging at me, telling me that I know I was. I want to ignore it. I want to think the boy I grew up with is just a creep and not a rapist. But I know I had one drink. I even made the drink myself and promised myself I would only have one. It had to be the cup, someone put their arm around me and gave me the cup...
"Well Gabby, fancy seeing you here... saw your car outside..."
My entire body becomes tense at the sound of Tyler's voice. I keep my eyes closed tight with my head pressed against Jax's, hoping that he will disappear.
I feel Jax begin to breathe heavy. "Don't you dare let go of me Jackson Parker" I whisper. "Don't do anything stupid. This is my fight, not yours."
"I heard a rumor..." Tyler says loudly, attempting to get the attention of the entire bar.
"Gabby..." Jax mutters angrily. It almost comes out as a growl, a growl saying he wants to hurt someone.
"That you told daddy that we had sex at the lake..." Tyler continues.
I attempt to ignore him and maintain my discussion with Jax. "My fight. You promised you would stay with me and you didn't. You owe me. This is my fight to have and I want it. Got it?" I whisper again.
He nods his head yes and pecks my lips with his, pulling away from our embrace and setting his hand on my leg, giving me some reassurance that he's with me.
I open my eyes and look over to Tyler, who unfortunately really is here. His creepy smile is plastered to his smug face. "You seemed to have left out the part where you begged me to take your virginity..."
Who smiles after being accused of rape?
I keep my mouth shut. I glance around the bar that has become completely quiet. People's eyes wander from me to Tyler. Well this should be the gossip of the year.
I feel my chest rising and falling. "Don't know what you're talking about..." I shrug. "I seemed to have blacked out that evening after having a couple ounces of cherry schnapps and Sprite."
He laughs mockingly. "Come on now Gabby, you know I wouldn't force you to do anything you didn't want to do."
"Like when I tell you to leave my porch and you won't. When I tell you I don't want you to walk me home and you still do. When I tell you I have no interest in you and yet you continue to follow me around asking me for sex?"
"See... I always ask" he holds up his hands playfully.
"And I have never once told you yes." I say through gritted teeth.
"Gabby do you want me to call your dad?" Jax whispers.
I shake my head no, maintaining my eye contact with Tyler. His eyes are black and cold towards me.
"Moved on pretty quick from your prom date Gabs, does daddy know you're out with Thug?"
"Get the fuck out of here!" Mickey appears from the kitchen and yells across the bar. "You aren't welcome here."
Tyler walks closer to me and Jax is up, his chest rising and falling fast in anger.
"Mine!" I say towards Jax angrily.
"Gabby this is bullshit." His green eyes are going red. I don't want him to blow up, not here, not anywhere really. I don't want him back in a real jail cell.
"Thug getting pissy? I can't wait until your dad hears that you two are making out at Mickey's. The town already is thinking you're a whore for spreading it at the lake."
I grab my keys quickly. "Jax let's go."
He wraps his arm around my waist and we walk towards the door.
"You begged me to pop that sweet cherry" Tyler grabs my arm.
Before Jax can even react I turn towards my clutched arm, using the small canister I've had in my hands for the last few minutes and press firmly on it, filling Tyler's face with pepper spray as he screams.
"You fucking bitch!" he lets go of my arm giving me the strength I needed to place both hands on his shoulder and bring my knee to his groin.
I've always wanted to do that...
Everyone in the bar stands and watches, no one offering to help him as he screams and withers on the bar floor. His face is bright red, reminding me of the color of some cherry schnapps I once puked up.
Jax tugs on my arm, wanting to leave.
"You know what's funny Tyler?" I say loudly to the bar, making sure everyone can hear me. "You just told this entire bar that I begged you to take my virginity... but the day I had a large group of people to my house to watch a movie, you said you didn't know I was a virgin when we had sex... in front of everyone..."
"Gabby time to go" Jax smiles at me and back down the boy cringing in pain on the floor. He knows that Tyler just fucked up in a major way and he is thoroughly enjoying that I was the one who inflicted his pain tonight.
I bend down next to the pained Tyler and whisper, "You go right ahead and tell my dad I was making out with thug. You can tell him that I fucked his brains out a half hour ago in the town cell that was being used to prevent thug from murdering you. I don't think he's going to believe you anymore Porter..."
"I'm pressing fucking assault charges Gabby!"
"I'll race you to it Tyler!" I call out behind me as I walk out with Jax's hand in mine.