Page 39 of When October Starts

“Juni,” Aggie said quietly. “Why haven’t you talked to us about it? We could’ve gotten you out of whatever he pulled you into. I feel sorry for what he did to you.”

“You’re not even listening to what I’m saying! He didn’t do anything I didn’t want him to! Hell, I even started it,” I exclaimed.

“I think she’s a little confused at the moment,” Mom told Benji quietly.

I couldn’t explain the lump of frustration I had inside of me. They didn’t understand, and no matter how often I’d tell them that he wasn’t the bad guy, they wouldn’t believe me.

“Juno, it’s not okay for a teacher to take advantage of a student like that. Has he ever bribed you with, I don’t know…better grades? Or money?” Benji asked.

“Don’t be fucking ridiculous,” I muttered, and Mom gave me a serious look.

“Watch your words, young lady.”

“He never bribed me,” I told them, but they didn’t seem to believe that either.

“I never noticed something going on between your daughter and Ezra,” Benji said to Mom and Aggie. “I was actually friends with him until yesterday, and he always was a kind and good friend. Who knows how many students he has done this with?”

That was it. I had enough of them acting like they didn’t hear what I was saying. Their minds were set on Ezra being at fault here, when I was the one who couldn’t hold back on falling in love with my teacher.

“He’s not done it before.” I looked at Benji, then at Mom and Aggie. “You have to believe me. We’re in love, and I don’t think it’s fair that you guys judge who I’m in love with after all those years you struggled to get even a little bit of respect and validation from others.”

I didn’t care if my words hurt, but they were the truth. And if they kept ignoring me and acting like I was brainwashed, that’s what they’d get.

Mom was angry. Aggie, on the other hand, seemed to be thinking about what I was saying for the first time today.

“If you don’t tell me what happened between you and Ezra, there’s not much left to do. He’s gone anyway, the only thing to think about is if you wanna press charges against him,” Benji said, looking at my mothers.

“Yes,” Mom replied with no hesitation, but Aggie shook her head.

“I think we should talk to Juniper about it first. This is about her, not us.” She surprised me with those words, and suddenly, I felt a spark of hope and joy in my chest.

“Aggie, her teacher has been grooming her since God knows how long. He must’ve already tried to get her to do things she didn’t want to. I don’t think we have to question if we want to press charges against him or not.”

“He didn’t groom me.” I stayed calm.

“Well, did he touch you inappropriately?”

“I wanted him to,” I said in a challenging voice.

“Daria, I think you’re said enough for today.” I had never seen Aggie like this. Normally, she was the quieter and more reserved one. “We don’t wanna press charges against Ezra. I’ll talk to Juno about it at home. He’s not around anymore anyway, and she’ll be taking her finals in two days. Let’s not make this even harder for her.”

Benji slowly nodded, then looked at me with concern in his eyes. “I hope you’ll be okay and that you’ll soon find your peace again.”

It was hopeless. There was nothing I could say that would make him realize that what Ezra and I had was real.

*

“I made you some pancakes with strawberries and raspberries out of our garden.” Aggie was standing on the ladder, with her head peeking up into my bedroom. I looked at the plate she held in her hand, then I nodded to let her know that I appreciated her attempt of cheering me up. It was late at night, and I still had to get over our talk with Benji this afternoon.

“Mind if I come sit with you for a while?” she asked.

I shook my head, and she climbed up to come sit next to me on the bed. She pulled the covers over her legs and placed the plate with the stack of pancakes on my lap.

“I can’t relate to what you’re going through right now, but I want you to know that you can talk to me, all right?”

I stabbed a raspberry with my fork and shrugged. “I don’t think there’s much to talk about anymore.”

She was quiet for a while, then wrapped her arm around me and pulled me to her. I leaned my head on her shoulder and closed my eyes.