“Edith! Oh, my god, baby!” Jack rushes over to me and picks me up, shoving me behind him and rounding on Daniel. “You fucking little shit! I’ll kill you!” Jack punches Daniel twice before Aiden and Shelby push into my apartment.
“Jack, no. He isn’t worth killing. You’re already sleeping with a student. Stop it!” Aiden yells and I grab his shirt, but Aiden’s words are the ones that actually get him to stop pummeling the little douchebag. His chest is heaving and he looks like he could kill Daniel, which scares me as much as it makes me feel safe.
“Jack, Edie might be hurt. You need to think clearly about this. Let him go.” Shelby is holding me up now, but barely. Aiden stands between all of us and Daniel. My best friend is like a grizzly bear protector, his hands fisted in Jack’s shirt, barely holding him back.
“He hurt her, Aiden.” Jack is breathless as he takes in the scene. Shelby grabs his arm and puts our hands together. Just like that, Jack is holding me and breathing me in. I bury my head in his shoulder and feel the tears start to overwhelm me. “Oh, Edith. Baby, are you okay? I could hear him, but I couldn’t get to you.” Jack is shaking as much as I am.
“I’m okay now.” I hug him tightly before wincing from my injuries, but I don’t care. It’s over. The place that once was my home looks like a tornado imploded inside the four walls.
“Okay, so this is how things are going to go down. I’m going to call this in and report it, but you never saw Jack here. You got that, scum?” Aiden grabs Daniel by his shirt and slams him up against the wall, almost choking him. He releases him when Daniel gives a weak nod. “Jack is going to call Dean Andrews and let him know you’ve been stalking Edith, and that he suspected something might be up with your odd behavior lately. She fought you off as we were coming over to pick her up.” Aiden slams him against the wall again, holding him there. “Shelby, be a dear and call 9-1-1.”
“You bet, sweetheart.” Shelby dials her phone. “Hello. This is Shelby Moore and I’d like to report a break-in and assault. Please come to 11 Birchwood… Yes, my boyfriend is holding the guy who attacked my friend. Her name is Edith Willows… No. No ambulance is needed. Thanks.” Shelby stays on the phone and pushes Jack and me out into the hallway. “Jack, don’t you think you should…?”
She trails off as Jack is shaking his head. “Absolutely not. I’ll explain this somehow. Let’s just worry about Edith.” Jack holds me tighter and the tears flow freely. “I do think she should get checked out medically though. There will be bruises tomorrow.” Jacks leans back from me to look in my eyes, searching. I rest my head on his chest wishing this day away. I should have never let Daniel come here for the study session.
“H-how did you know?” I shiver from the shock and Jack rubs his hands up and down my back, shushing my whimpers. So much of this is my fault.
“I just had this feeling. It doesn’t matter now. I’m here and you’re safe.” Jack kisses the top of my head and holds me as tight as he can for a long moment. I don’t care how painful my stomach feels or how bruised my face might be. I don’t ever want him to let me go again.
***
The police arrive and question all of us. They process and charge Daniel Munson with breaking into my apartment and assaulting me. They haul him away in handcuffs and his stare makes me sick to my stomach. I think back to all those tutoring sessions in the library and how he, more than likely, was planning this all along. I wonder if I could have seen this coming if I hadn’t been wrapped up in my relationship with Jack. They have all of us drive down to the police station to make a formal report and taped statement. They make me repeat my story at least six more times. Telling the story over and over again, feeling my body succumb to exhaustion and pain, I feel this must have been my fault, although no one ever says that to me. It’s just the sympathetic looks from everyone that make it worse. I get a “No Contact” order, and the police let me know my apartment is a crime scene for the next few days while they take pictures. I’m going to Jack’s anyway. I couldn’t stay here even if I wanted to. Still worried things might leak out about Jack and I, Jack takes his car and drives home, while Shelby and Aiden pack a bag for me and drive me over. I’m safe, but still unsettled. When we get there, Jack is on the phone with Dean Andrews, letting him know that his TA attacked me, but not that I’m staying in his house. I’m sure Dean Andrews has an idea that something is going on, but he’s probably too polite to say anything.