New Girl in Town Pt. 22

"Yeah," Jake answered as he shook off the memory.

"You went all pale for a second and you started to breath really quick like you were having a panic attack," his dad told him. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm okay," he answered. "I think I just remembered the crash or parts of it at least. I remember feeling a bump or two then we crashed. So someone hit us."

"Not just someone," he stated. "It was Patrick. Patrick Greene walked into the sheriff's department with his mother and lawyer and confessed that he hit you. It took him until yesterday to come forward."

"He what?" Jake asked and suddenly felt sick to his stomach.

"I'm not sure about the details but I'm hoping to find out more when he faces a judge today," his dad explained. "I'm not sure that I'll learn anything other than how much his bail is but if I do I'll let you know."

"I can't believe that he did this to us," Jake said. "Does Jessica know about this?"

"Her dad and I found out yesterday," his dad said. "We didn't want to put a damper on her happiness with you coming back to us so we chose not to say anything when we found out. I'm not sure if they've told her yet or not. Want me to ask?"

"No, it's fine," Jake shook his head. "I'll ask her about it when she comes to see me today."

"Before all the homework?" his dad smiled.

"Yes, before all the homework," Jake nodded. "She'll need some time to process this. I guess that I do too. I can't believe it was Patrick."

Jake's dad nodded then reached down and patted his shoulder.

"Try and get some rest, Jake," he told him. "I'm heading to the courthouse. Your mom will be here soon. Don't think about it too much. I'll let you know what I find out."

Jake nodded and leaned back into his bed. He watched his dad walk out then contemplated if there might be something on television to watch but decided against it. He wouldn't be able to pay attention to much anyway. Too many thoughts ran through his head. He took a deep breath and tried to sort through them while he waited for his mom to return.

****

Jessica walked into Jake's hospital room and straight to his bedside. He smiled and started to open his mouth to greet her but she leaned in and planted a kiss on him. It was a passionate one that lasted for several moments before she pulled away from him.

"I needed that after today, Jake," she said as she sat on the edge of his bed.

"So did I," Jake smiled. "Bad day?"

"I just missed you," she smiled. "That and Staci being Staci."

"That could mean anything when it comes to Staci," Jake said.

"Overprotective Staci is something else," she told him as she started to spread out their books on his bed. "I was shocked that she almost let me go to the restroom on my own."

"Almost huh?" he grinned.

"Someone had to hold my pocketbook," she grinned. "Ready to tackle all of this work?"

"Jess, there's something I need to tell you," he started.

She sighed and slid the books to the side.

"There's something that I need to tell you too, Jake," she said.

Jake suggested that she go first so she told him about what C.C. had overheard from her mother. Jake expressed surprise that word hadn't gotten all over the school.

"With Somer being involved so was I," she admitted. "She really has changed it seems. She even gave me a list of, as she put it, potential suspects ," she told him. "She caught me at my locker when school let out and gave it to me. Do you want to look it over? There's a name on there that you wouldn't believe!"

"I wouldn't bet on that," Jake sighed.

Jessica had the piece of paper Somer had handed her in her hand. Jake took it and placed it aside while he still held her hand.

"Jess, it was Patrick," he told her. "He did this to us."

"What?" she asked. "How? How do you know? Are you certain?"

"Jess, he confessed. It was him," he shared. "My dad told me this morning."

"How does he know? When did this happen?" she asked.

Jake explained how his dad had come in that morning and told him. He then told her how both his dad and hers knew about it the day before.

"How could they not tell us?" she asked then it hit her. "You had just came back to us. That's why isn't it? They didn't want to ruin it."

"That's what my dad said," Jake nodded.

"I have a million questions but I kind of don't you know what I mean?" she asked as she took his hand.

"I'm just glad knowing that I didn't do this to us," Jake said. "I thought that I had done this to us but when dad said that we were hit I remembered the crash. Well parts of it at least."

"Seriously?" she asked. "I had a full on panic attack when I remembered it. The bright light, the bumps then flipping through the air. We were very lucky, Jake."

"So they tell me," he nodded.

Jessica paused for a moment then rubbed his hand again.

"Do you, maybe, remember what happened before the wreck?" she asked him.

Jake smiled and the blanket that covered the lower half of his body shifted. Jessica noticed and gave him a wicked smile.

"I see that at least part of you remembers that night," she said. "He still works right?"

"Don't tease me right now, Jessica," he sighed. "Our parents could walk in and see that he seems to be working just fine."

She giggled then looked over her shoulder to make sure that no one was at the door. She slid her hand under his blanket and found his erection. She gave him some feathery strokes then gripped his shaft firmly.

"I can't wait to get him again, Jake," she whispered.

"Jess," Jake groaned out. "I just... told you that Patrick tried to kill us."

"He'll get his, Jake," she told him as she stroked him again. "Right now I only care about that you're awake and my friend here is awake as well."

"He was a primary concern huh?" Jake chuckled.

"He is now that you're back with us," she smiled and give his head a squeeze. "He needs to rest now though."

"He does?" Jake asked disappointed.

"Yes," she answered as she pulled her hand away. "We have homework now and he'll need his rest because when you get out of here he's going to be all mine again, Jake."

****

Friday

"I cannot believe that it was Patrick," Staci said at the lunch table with the misfits. "Well I mean that I can because it's Patrick and he's a giant asshole but you know what I mean."

"I can't believe that he confessed," Shelly said. "That was very un-Patrick like. Did anyone actually hear what was said in court? I've heard everything from Patrick has already been released to he's going away for ten years."

"It was the arraignment," C.C. said. "My mom told me that the judge read the charges, Patrick entered a plea then he was released to his parents on promise to appear."

"Promise to disappear is more like it," Bobby snorted angrily.

"Guys, can we not go over this right now?" Jessica asked. "I've heard enough about Patrick and all of this for a day."

Jake and Jessica's parents had sat down with them in Jake's room after they completed their homework and told them about Patrick together. She knew the charges were hit and run, leaving the scene of an accident with injury and driving under the influence. Their parents had met with the district attorney before the arraignment and had argued for attempted murder but they were told that would be difficult to prove. The DUI charge was a reach without a test being available but Patrick had copped to it in his confession so they included it.

"Sure, Jess," Staci said. "Are we still on for a workout this afternoon? You know, considering all of this about Patrick?"

"We are," Jessica nodded. "Ashley is coming by to show me some stuff I can do with weights after school and since they are leaving tomorrow to go home I kind of have to."

"Sorry, Jess," Staci said.

"It's fine, really," she answered with a smile. "She's really funny and sweet so it's not like it's going to be a burden. Then we're taking them out to eat since it's their last night in town."

"Aw, that's sweet," Shelly said.

"I just wish Jake could come along," Jessica said.

"So you can tease him about drooling over your hot recruiter and her equally hot doctor friend?" Ray chuckled.

"That would be a perk," she smiled. "I'm leaving him in all of your capable hands for the night. Try not to make out with him, Staci."

"I can't," Staci said with a exaggerated pout. "The guys declared it to be guys night with Jake. No girls allowed."

"That's not what we said, babe," Ray said.

"Totally not what I said," Bobby added as he gave Marybeth's hand a squeeze. "You're always welcome."

"I know, Bobby," Marybeth smiled. "We all know that Jake must need some time with his guys."

"Try not to pick on him too much," Jessica told them.

"Don't worry, Jess," Bobby smiled, "we'll save some leftover for you."

"You know it!"

****

"Knock, knock," Ms. Langston said as she knocked on Jake's hospital room door.

"Come in," Jake called out.

She, along with Ashley and Ken all walked in together. They saw Jake's mother and Jenny were there with him.

"We're not interrupting are we?" Ms. Langston asked.

"Not at all," Mrs. Gibson said as she got up and greeted her with a hug. "Please come in and have a seat."

"We heard that you got moved around this morning, Jake," Ms. Langston said. "How did that go?"

"Good," Jake answered. "It's almost the most I've moved since I woke up."

"Almost, huh?" Ashley asked.

"Sarah," Jake smiled. "She had me moving all over while she's on my bed."

"She's adorable," Ken commented. "A lot less machines now too. You must be feeling better about that."

"Totally," Jake nodded. "Have you guys met Jenny?"

"I think that we have," Ms. Langston said. "You were here the last time we came by right?"

"I was," Jenny nodded. "It's nice to see you all, again."

"What brings you by?" Jake asked.

"Ashley wanted to have one more look at Jessica's x-rays before we go by the school later," Ms. Langston answered.

"She's ready to start working out," Ashley said. "I wanted a look at her fracture again to see what I feel is best for her so she doesn't run the risk of making it worse."

"Don't think that you're there too, Jake," Ken warned. "I saw that twinkle in your eye when working out got mentioned. I know that you're an athlete and being confined to a bed feels bad but you have to give it some time."

"He certainly has you pegged, Jake," Jenny giggled.

"As soon as they moved him to a regular room he started asking how long would it be before he could get on his feet," Mrs. Gibson added.

"I'm going to get bed sores," Jake joked.

"Not likely, Jake," Ms. Langston said. "Your Golden girls won't allow that."

"No, they certainly won't," Jake chuckled.

"The other reason is that we wanted to come by was to see you," she told him. "We head back home tomorrow and wanted to wish you the best before we left."

"That's very sweet of you," Mrs. Gibson said. "We appreciate you coming by. Don't we, Jake?"

"We do, mom," Jake nodded. "I appreciate all that you're doing for Jessica too. It really means a lot and it shows that we made the right choice when it came to picking a college."

"Aw, you're sweet, Jake," Ms. Langston said as she ruffled his hair.

Jake tried his best not to blush and failed miserably as the beautiful woman smiled at him.

"Got any message that you want us to pass along to your Jess when we see her?" Ken asked to give Jake a break.

"That I'm glad to get a break from all the homework she's been bringing me," Jake laughed.

His mother swatted his arm which caused the room to break into laughter. Jake rubbed the spot as he joined in with the laughter.

"I'm glad that we got to see you laughing, Jake," Ms. Langston said. "I know that Jessica is glad to see it too."

"They were very lucky," Mrs. Gibson commented.

"That they were," Ken nodded. "We've seen the pictures of the car and... well, lucky is the best word for it."

"I'm guessing that I don't want to see those pics," Jake said.

"Not anytime soon, Jake," Mrs. Gibson told her son. "There'll be plenty of time for that when you get out of here."

"Sounds like I'm going to need a new car," Jake commented.

"Plenty of time for that later too," Mrs. Gibson said, "but try telling that to your father, Jessica's father and Mr. Fishel. All three have started looking around for a new beast for you."

Jake started to ask what they had found but knew that he had guests so he asked questions about the UCLA campus instead. Ms. Langston's smile blossomed onto her face as she launched into what Ken had started to call her sales mode . Ashley would jump in here and there to include or add to what she said while Ken would either nod or shake his head when Jake would look over at him for clarification of something they had said.

"Just because you didn't get invited to parties doesn't mean that there aren't ones every weekend," Ashley argued with him at one point until Ms. Langston cleared her throat.

"Maybe not a big selling point with a parent in the room, Ash," Ken chuckled. "And I got invited to plenty of parties, thank you very much."

"Dungeon and Dragon parties don't count," Ashley countered then nudged Jessica. "Tell him, Jessica."

"Thankfully Jake's mom has seen this little act of yours already otherwise she would be sending Jake to USC," she said.

"Y'all are fine," Mrs. Gibson assured them with a laugh. "It would take a lot more than that to keep Jake from following his Jessica. Parties or not."

****

Saturday

The morning air was cool but not as cold as it would usually be in January. Jessica bent at the waist to stretch and watched her breath crystallize in front of her.

"Do you need help stretching, Jess?" Staci asked as she jogged in place beside her best friend.

"I think that I've got it, Staci," Jessica assured her. "Thanks though. I appreciate you coming out with me. All of you."

The track at the high school was filled more than it usually was on a Saturday morning. Jessica's volleyball teammates were all there along with Staci, C.C., Ray and some of his football teammates as well.

"It's cool, Jess," Antoine said. "We could always stand to work on our cardio."

"I still appreciate you coming out," she said. "I was told to start off slow so feel free to take off and leave me behind."

"Not me," Staci said. "I'm going to have to jog to keep up with those long legs of yours, Jessica!"

"You can go sit in the bleachers with Roxie, Shelly and Jody if you want, Staci," C.C. told her. "They have coffee."

"Mmm, coffee sounds good but if I drink any I'll need to pee," she said.

"You can use the restroom, silly," Tonya called out. "They open the gym until one on Saturday's so the teams can work out if they want."

"We could even fit the weight room in if we hadn't done that yesterday with Jess's doctor," Tabitha said. "Grab yourself some coffee then catch up with us."

"Jess might need me out there," Staci said.

"My legs still work fine, Staci," Jessica assured her.

"I'll stay with her, Staci," Caitlyn told her. "You know, just in case she needs help putting one foot in front of the other."

"How long is this over-protectiveness of me going to go on?" Jessica asked as she finished her stretches.

"I'm thinking until you graduate," Tonya answered. "Tabby?"

"I think Staci will be up on the stage making sure that Jessica doesn't slip on her grown or valedictorian sash," Tabitha joked.

"I may not win valedictorian, Tabby," Jessica said. "Jake is still in the running."

"And you aren't going to let him get too far behind you are you, Jessica," she giggled.

"Maybe just a little," Jessica grinned.

"UCLA," Staci announced out of no where.

"Pardon me?" Tonya asked.

"I think Staci is suggesting that she's going to follow me all the way out west," Jessica surmised.

"I'm thinking that California will look good on me," she answered as she did a twirl. "You'll need help navigating the ins and outs of college life like what sorority to pledge, what to wear to all the parties and that sort of stuff."

"Are you hearing this, Ray?" Jessica asked. "Your girlfriend is going to pack herself up in my stuff and ship off to California with me and Jake."

"Oh I hear it, Jess," Ray grinned. "I guess that means I'll have to find some Clemson girls to keep me warm while she's away with you."

"I'll beat those bitches asses," Staci warned him. "Beat your tight ass too, Ray!"

"Only if you can catch me!" Ray shouted as he started to race down the track.

"Get back here, Ray!" she shouted as she took off in pursuit.

"That's one overprotective helper down," Jessica giggled. "Tonya, where is Scott?"

"Not happening, Jess. He's at work this morning," Tonya said. "You are stuck with us."

"Yep," her sister Tabitha agreed.

"And I'll be following you to UCLA after next year," Caitlyn pointed out with a grin. "There's no escaping me."

"I wouldn't dream of it, Caitlyn," Jessica told her as she gave her a quick hug. "Now let's go catch up with Staci before she kills her boyfriend."

They caught up to Staci who, after she got a quick kiss from Ray, jogged with them. The girls followed the guys around the track and many comments were made about the physiques that were on display in front of them. Jessica mostly just shook her head at the comments or giggled when one of them struck her fancy.

"You know," Tonya said with a sly grin," if we turn this into a race I know someone that will get really horny if we let her win."

"Let her win?" Tabitha asked. "We're doing our best just to keep up with Miss Long Legs here, sis."

"Ooo, are you going to get all naughty with Jake today, Jess?" Staci giggled. "Have you gone too long without his..."

"Staci!" Jessica shouted as the others giggled.

She looked down at the track in the hopes that they wouldn't see her cheeks as they flushed red. Staci noticed right away.

"Oh my god, you already have done something!" she announced gleefully. "Damn girl, you've gone from not knowing if you want to do anything to going right after that dick!"

"Shut it, Staci," Jessica said. "I haven't done... much."

"Much implies some," Tonya jumped in. "You know that you have to tell us all about it, Jessica."

"That is not a requirement, Tonya," Jessica said.

"You know that it is in my mind, Jess," Tonya laughed. "Now spill what you've done."

"I... just gave him a little squeeze," Jessica answered. "Checking to see if his... everything still worked like it should."

"And did it?" Tonya asked.

Jessica looked around the pack she ran with and saw that they all waited for her answer. She smiled and kept silent for a few yards before Staci spoke up.

"Well!?" she asked when her patience ran out a nanosecond later.

"It all seemed to be in working order," she answered. "I'll check again soon. You know, just to be sure."

"Ooo, we bet that you will, Jessica!" Staci said.

"We expect a full report," Tonya giggled. "You know, once you've tested him fully."

"That should give me some time then," Jessica said. "We don't even know when Jake can go home."

"I'm sure that it will be soon," Staci smiled. "Sooner even if you keep your naughty hands on him."

Jessica shook her head as they completed a lap.

"Why do I ever tell you anything?" she wondered aloud.

"Because you love us," Tonya giggled.

"And we all love you, Jess," Tabitha added.

"Especially when you tell us things," Staci jumped in with a giggle. "Now come on and let's catch up to the guys so we can look at more butts!"

****

Jessica and Staci walked into Jake's room and were surprised to find him seated in a chair by the window instead of in the bed. Jenny and Tommy were there with him.

"Oh good, you're here," Staci said when she spotted Jenny.

"Where else would I be?" Jake joked. "They won't let me leave."