Reality Check, PT. 2

His calm demeanor stopped her emotions from spiraling out of control. She hauled in a deep, steadying breath. If Dad had suspected they were intimate, he could have forced his way into the bathroom. That would have been horrific. Maybe Jesse was right and it was something else… Clinging to that slim hope, she asked, “What do we do?”

“I’ll go out the window and come around to the front door. I’ll have to go through yours.”

She pressed her ear to the door leading into her bedroom and walked in to make sure the coast was clear. Her heart was in her throat as Jesse opened her window and climbed out of it. This was what their life had come to? She shook her head and started for the hallway when she heard Jesse say, “Morning, Mr. Davidson.”

She wheeled around, horrified, as their neighbor replied, “Jesse, what are you doing tending to the plants in your fine clothes?”

She bit back a groan. What else could go wrong? She was tempted to linger to make sure Jesse got out of his mess, but the sound of her parent's voices reminded her they were waiting for her. Hands trembling, she started down the hallway and prayed Jesse would hurry so whatever she was walking into, she wouldn’t have to face alone.

The moment she entered the dining room, her parents fell silent.

“Is there something you want to tell us?” Dad asked.

Her skin went clammy as panic engulfed her. “Um, I don’t…?”

It took everything she had not to look at the front door. What was taking Jesse so long? She couldn’t meet Dad’s intimidating stare, so she looked to Lynne for guidance.

“We just received a call,” Lynne said quietly. “Tucker’s in the hospital, being treated for injuries we’re told were caused by Jesse. Is that true?”

The blood drained from her face. Tucker was in the hospital?

“Why did you break up with him?” Dad demanded. “Did he do something and that’s why Jesse got involved?”

“Tucker’s in the hospital?” she repeated, unable to process this information.

Dad ran a hand through his hair. “I knew I shouldn’t have let you date him. I knew he wasn’t good for you, and now he has a fractured skull.”

“Fractured skull?” she echoed and had a flashback of Tucker’s head slamming into concrete. She covered her mouth with her hand as her stomach churned.

“The only reason Jesse would have given Tucker such a beating is because of you. So, I’m going to ask you again, Vi, what did you do?”

The accusation cut her to the quick because it was true. All of this was her fault. She thought her stupidity would stay between her and Jesse, but now it was coming back to haunt her. This was proof that no one ever got away with anything. Would she have to admit that she’d broken Dad’s rules not to allow a guy to touch her and that’s why Jesse doled out that punishment? Knowing how angry and disappointed they would be made her eyes fill with tears.

“Oh, honey,” Lynne said sympathetically, but Dad held up a hand and Lynne stopped in her tracks.

“I need answers,” Dad snapped. “We’ve been lenient with you two because you’ve never given us any reason not to trust you, but I never thought I’d get a call saying Jesse put your ex in the hospital. What the hell happened?”

She opened her mouth, but whatever she was going to say was forgotten when Jesse opened the front door. All eyes turned to him as he entered in gray slacks and black button up shirt. He looked like a clean cut, wholesome Christian boy. She had no doubt he’d gotten out of that sticky situation with Mr. Davidson just fine. No one would suspect Jesse of doing anything immoral or unlawful. He scanned the room with a benign expression, which vanished when his gaze landed on her.

He visibly tensed as he demanded, “What’s wrong?”

“A lot at the moment,” Dad said, crossing his arms over his chest. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”

 “Okay, about what?” Jesse asked, showing no sign of discomfort or guilt.

“About the call I just got saying you’re responsible for putting Tucker in the hospital.”

Jesse stared at him for a moment before he asked, “When did he go to the hospital?”

“Today.”

“But that happened on Tuesday. If he was that hurt, why did he wait so long?”

“Apparently, he thought the pain and dizziness would pass, but his parents finally forced him to get checked out. You gave him a skull fracture and nasty concussion, along with a few other presents.”

“I-Is he all right?” she whispered.

“No, Vi, he’s the furthest thing from all right,” Dad said impatiently. “And what I want to know from both of you is why he isn’t all right.” Dad focused on Jesse. “You want to explain yourself?”

There was a long silence before Jesse said, “I want to talk to you alone.”

She took a step toward him, hand extended to stop him from saying anything.

“Stop right there,” Dad ordered and shot her a hard look. “Start talking or go to your room.” He raised a brow. “What’s it going to be?”

She swallowed hard. She willed Jesse to look at her, to give her some clue about what he was about to tell them, but his gaze was fixed on Dad. Why did he want to talk to Dad alone? He wouldn’t make matters worse and talk about them, would he? She would freaking die if he did. It was bad enough that her rash actions led to Tucker being in the hospital. She didn’t need Dad to know she’d also kissed Jesse, which led to him taking her virginity.

“Violet, go.”

She lingered a moment longer, but had no choice but to retreat. She couldn’t say anything without possibly contradicting whatever story… or truth, Jesse decided to tell. She walked to her room, closed the door, and stared at the window. For the first time in her life, she thought of running away, but that would be short-lived, embarrassing, and even more incriminating if it wasn’t Jesse’s intention to tell their parents everything.

**This is a raw draft of the prequel for Corrupt Idol. Please do not share or distribute.

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