Chapter 7
It had been nearly four months since “the incident”. Jon helped me move my things from the dorm while my roommates were in class. I’d simply told them that my father insisted I get an apartment. It was rare that girls in the school were allowed to do so, but not unheard of. When I’d returned to school a few days after my beating, there were rumors flying around, but I refused to deny or confirm any of them. Living with Jon had proven to be fun thus far. He treated me like a friend or kid sister when we were at home, but as a student as soon as we got to school each day.
My “friends” in the school merely shrugged when I’d informed them that I was no longer in classes because I had become a library assistant. I know they didn’t believe me, but it wasn’t a complete lie. In addition to my regular studies, Jon had been teaching me how the library operated. Within a month I was now in charge of putting away all the returned books and occasionally helped the other students find the books they needed.
I’d never been much of a reader, but Jon was teaching me to love written word. For English lit class, he’d had me reading Shakespeare’s plays and writing essays on them. When at home, he’d shown me his personal library and suggested books I might enjoy for entertainment. I’d even taken up writing on my laptop. I didn’t dare show him many of the things I’d written, fearing he would discover my love for “kink and smut”. The work I did show him however, he approved of.
The teachers who observed me could barely believe the change in my personality. I overheard Jon telling one, “She just needed more guidance and control. She truly is a bright young woman if you can keep her from getting bored.”
I still got into minor trouble, though most of my pranks were aimed at Jon. In addition to all of my library duties, I’d also started making his tea throughout the day. This change occurred after he’d gone to fetch a new cup and a bunch of freshmen started using books as spitballs. I’d tried to stop them but because I was only a student, they refused to listen. My most common prank was to put heaping tablespoonfuls of sugar in Jon’s tea even though I knew he hated it. Most of the time he laughed it off and made me drink that cup and fetch him a new one. Occasionally I spent time in the corner for it. He was never truly angry though.
The marks from my beating were almost all faded by this point as well. There were only two left that had scarred, the deepest ones, and those seemed to be fading a bit each week. Jon had taken photos for the police of my marks. They were horrifying to look at and I had only looked once.
I’d had nightmares for a few weeks after the incident, but those had become less and less frequent. I was finally happy and comfortable with my new routines just as graduation snuck up. It hadn’t crossed my mind that after graduation that I would have to move out. The realization hit me the morning of graduation.
My parents had come into town for graduation and they looked so proud of me. I hid my sorrow behind a smile plastered on my face. It was a sweltering day. The school had decided to hold the ceremony outside this year and had rented a giant tent for the affair. The end result was nearly hundred degrees in the tent. The heat didn’t bother me too much, even though most of the other girls complained nonstop.
I was too lost thinking about having to say goodbye. Jon and I had spoken about it briefly that morning, but had decided that we’d talk later. Or, rather, he had decided we’d talk later. I had wanted to get it over and done with.
I was nervous but excited as I stepped onto the stage to receive my diploma. When it was handed to me, I beamed over at Jon, who was sitting with the other teachers. I knew that had it not been for him, I wouldn’t have made it this far. He smiled back at me and gave me a “thumbs up”. I don’t remember much else of the ceremony. As proud as I was that I’d managed to graduate, the looming future was more pressing on my mind.
After the ceremony, my parents found me. My father looked filled to bursting, “Congratulations Shannon. I’m proud that you’ve finally made it. I have a surprise for you. I’ve never told you that you had a trust fund. Surprise kiddo! It became available for you to use the moment you graduated. Congratulations!”
I was shocked. I had always expected that my parents would help me after graduation, but a trust fund was definitely not something I had expected. I was still stunned silent when my mother, the perfume monster, attacked. She pressed her sticky red lips against my cheek and smiled. Mom started to say something, but her ringing cell phone took priority.
A few friends came over to say their goodbyes. They were all headed off for college. I hadn’t applied anywhere yet. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and had decided that a few years working wouldn’t hurt me. The entire time I kept scanning the crowd looking for Jon, but couldn’t find him anywhere.
I was about to go check the library when my father tapped me on the shoulder, “I wish we could stay kiddo, but we’ve got a flight to Paris in a few hours.” The plaster smile slid back into place as I hugged my father, “Thanks for coming Dad. Tell Mom thanks for me when she gets off that phone of hers.” My father smiled and hooked his arm in my mother’s, leading her off to their car. She waved to me as they left and as soon as their backs were turned I ran off for the library.
The library was dark except for the glow from the computer monitor on the desk, slightly illuminating Jon sitting there. I walked slowly over to him and perched on the edge of the desk, “Are you okay?”
He forced a smile, “I’m okay. I hate crowds.”
I smiled sadly, “Me too. My parents are gone already. Can we go home and talk?” He nodded at me and came around to the front of the desk, pausing to hug me tight before putting his arm around my shoulder and leading me off to the car.
