Page 55 of XO

Less than an hour later, Kevin is escorted from class, facing similar humiliation he dealt out on me and to suffer criminal charges for what he’s done.

While a part of me is elated he’s finally getting his comeuppance, there’s a niggling fear at what the school’s next headline with read.

Rosie Reign Strikes Again.

Knocking Yet Another King Off The Football Captain’s Throne.

~

The orange sunset casts its glow in my room as I finish applying the last few touches of purple ink to the watercolor paper. An art project due to be exhibited in the graduation program alongside other student contributions from those who top their class. I’m topping two classes—art and drama—but Ms. Zagwich chose to have Kennedy Stone perform instead of me, so I can concentrate on theTaming of the Shrewaudition with Jacob. Jacob also tops two classes—mathematics and science—the two I despise the most.

I smile when I hear the rumble of his Dodge coming down the street telling me he’s home from picking his mom up from the mall. Stepping over to the window, I watch as he pulls into the drive. The moment he steps out, he looks up, smiles, and waves. I return the gesture until I see Mr. Lynch burst through the front door as if on a warpath. And that’s exactly what’s happening. He shoves an unsuspecting Jacob in the back, sending him stumbling forward.

Panicked, I bolt down the stairs and am running across the road in less than ten seconds.

Mr. Lynch has his son on the ground by the scruff of his neck, his furious face only inches away. He raises his fist and cracks it across Jacob’s cheek.

“You got your stupid fucking stupid ass kicked off the fucking team?” he rages, veins popping in his neck. “Huh?”

Undeterred and almost celebrating the fact, Jacob gives a small smile. “No. I quit before they could do that.”

“And you trying to fucking humiliate me with Mr. Foster gloating how his son now has your prime position. Do you have any idea how you’ve fucked up your life? You were so close, Jacob. All fucking bets were on you to be scouted, and you go and pull this trick, you little ungrateful fucker.” Mr. Lynch prepares for another assault, and I charge forward, ignoring the pleas from his wife. I’m too late, Jacob suffers another punishing blow. He struggles under his father’s weight and wrath.

“Get the fuck off him,” I scream, ripping at Mr. Lynch’s shirt to throw him off balance.

“Fuck off, whore,” he bellows which incites rage within me.

How many women can this guy get away with calling a whore?

“Rosie, leave!” Jacob pleads, but to hell if I’m going to let this asshole lay into his son.

I swing, kicking Mr. Lynch in the ribs. When he falls a little to the side, I do it again, and Jacob’s able to gain traction and push his furious father off him.

Now half-standing, the two continue grappling, Mr. Lynch wrapping his hand around Jacob’s neck. I lurch forward, pulling at him to let go. He attempts to shirk me off, but I hold on. That is until he rotates his arm, releasing Jacob for the briefest of moments, so he can backhand me across the face. Pain sears violently through my nerves, and I’m thrown onto the grass.

Jacob roars to life, landing some decent blows to his father’s eye and nose. When he’s able to create distance between them, and Mr. Lynch attends to the blood streaming from his nose, Jacob helps me to my feet.

“Are you okay?” he asks, eyes and fingers searching and feeling for any structural damage.

“I’m fine. Are you?”

“I need to get you a red cap, fucking superwoman.”

Despite the pain we both feel, we share a smile and chuckle before Jacob turns back to his father. “If you fucking care to know the truth, I quit the team after smashing Kevin in the face. Do you know why I chose to throw it all away and raise my fists? Because…” Jacob continues, not allowing his glaring father a response, “… the asshole tried not once, but twice, to rape Rosie.”

Lynch looks at me with utter disgust. “You think I give a flying fuck what he was doing to her?”

Ouch.

It appears I’m not the only one affected by such a callous comment. Jacob reels slightly, seeing the monster his father truly is. “Kevin lost his chance at captaincy over it,” he continues, but it falls on deaf ears.

“I don’t give a fuck if your little girlfriend is the team whore, and I certainly don’t give a fuck what happens to Kevin Foster.You,”he points vindictively, “… you stupid motherfucker, just blew any chance of being scouted. You kissed goodbye a bright future, and it could’ve been a fucking good one had you kept your dick in your pants.”

14

THEN

The next month passes with ease. Easy because our two main opponents have realized we’re not so easy to beat. Kevin had to front up in court to face sexual assault claims where he received a hundred hours community service, ordered to stay beyond a hundred feet at all times, which meant he often had to take class elsewhere in the school which complied with the terms. He was given two weeks internal suspension. Internal because it’s so close to finals that his graduation couldn’t be jeopardized. And, he also lost his short-lived captaincy, and for that matter, any position on the team. Since he was only in the role for a heartbeat, his name won’t even appear on the Panthers’ plaque which has pride of place in the corridor’s trophy cabinet.

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