As soon as I get out of here, I’ll deal with her. I hope she’s enjoying her little victory for now because it won’t last. A busted windshield is going to be the least of her worries when I get done with her. Next time I’ll break her face, but I’ll make sure there are no witnesses to see it. “Are you ready? You’ll go before the judge in an hour.”
“Whatever, just get this door open.” I hid the fact that his answer had gotten to me. I know I shouldn’t, that I should know better, that after years of being put on the back burner, I should be used to it by now, but it still stung. How many school recitals and important parent-teacher meetings had they missed? How many times have I heard ‘I’m sorry’ from the two of them?
The sound of the cell door opening was one I never want to repeat in this lifetime. I tried brushing past the cop who came to open the door, but he stopped me in my tracks. “Not so fast, young lady.” He held up a pair of cuffs, and I stepped back out of the way as the lawyer stepped forward.
“Do we have to do that?”
“Sorry, it’s procedure.”
I didn’t give him the satisfaction of arguing, just filed his name away in my head for later. My father’s guilt for not being here when I needed him would lead him to make a sacrifice on my behalf, and this cop was just added to my list.
“I’ll see you in the courtroom.”
“What? I’m not riding with you?”
I’d forgotten that an election year was coming up soon, and my dad would be on his best behavior. This is the time when he remembers that he has a daughter and comes up with a whole new list of rules for me to comply with to protect his image. So, the blame for my second ride in the back of a police car can be laid at his door.
At least there wasn’t a long wait once we made it to the courthouse, which wasn’t that far away, and no one saw me getting in or out of the car, not today anyway. I’d finally got my phone back from the stupid cops but turned it off again because of all the texts, but mostly because of the school’s social media gossip rag where my arrest was the big news.
My name had been dragged through the mud while everyone seemed sympathetic to Lisa and Cody. There were stories about me that I didn’t even know others were aware of; things I’d done years ago were now coming to light, and my fear that mom might not be able to keep this one from getting back to dad’s ears grew.
Mom had promised not to tell him the whole story this time, not even the other players involved, which wouldn’t be the first time. I didn’t expect much to happen there since he’s never really cared before, just enough to admonish me not to soil his image.
Even as we walked into the building, I was expecting someone to stop us and tell us that it had all been taken care of and there was no need for us to go forward. I only realized the severity of the situation when the lawyer actually opened the door leading to the courtroom and walked in.
Things only got worse when they read off the charges. I felt my head spin and would’ve fallen into my chair had the lawyer not held me up. “I thought we were here because of the car window. What’s all this?” They knew about Cody’s drugging and were throwing in a case for attempted sexual assault as well as stalking. Who the hell did I stalk?
When they started talking about court dates and bail, that’s when real panic set in, and I realized how alone I was. “What’s going on? Do I get to leave?” I’ve never paid much attention to these things before, but this is the first time things have gone this far.
“Yes, your mother has already made preparations for bail. She asked me to relay the message that she’ll get in touch with you sometime today.”
“So, what do I do now?”
“Go back to campus and wait for her call.” Damn, even the help was giving me attitude. This did not bode well.
His indifference was making me even more nervous than the stupid judge, but I just had to keep reminding myself that dad wouldn’t want anything to go wrong. He wouldn’t let things go too far. He wouldn’t want his vaunted public to know that he’s human, after all, with a college-age daughter who does college-age stuff.
I crept into the sorority house after the driver dropped me off and breathed a sigh of relief when there was no one else around. I wasn’t in the mood for their stares or stupid looks, and I certainly wasn’t going to any of my classes today. I wasn’t afraid to face ridicule or anything else any of the filth around here threw my way; I just hadn’t thought of my approach as yet.