Chapter 10: Jake
“You’re what?” I ask, somewhat
in shock. “Are you sure?”
Paloma nods. “I’m pretty
sure.”
I sigh. “I mean, I never meant...
oh, my God...”
“Jake, it’s okay. Just think.
We’re going to have a baby,” Poe says, weakly, but smiling.
“Or...” I trail off at the
thought. “Prima, this may not be my child.”
Poe realizes the same thing I just
have: that this baby might be a product of her rape. She starts to cry. “Jake,
I really want this baby to be ours. But what if it isn’t? What if it’s...”
I know exactly what she’s
thinking, and I know she doesn’t want to say it, in fear that it may be true.
“Don’t think like that, Poe. Right now, we have to get you to a doctor. And
this means no dancing for the next eight months or so.”
She frowns. “Oh, okay.” I smile.
“Come on, are you feeling better?”
“Um, yeah. I think so.” I help
her up, and we go back into the little room that we’ve shared with Angel and
Miguel. Charity’s waiting there. “So this means we have to go, huh?” she
asks, knowing everything.
I nod. “Yeah, we’d better.”
~*~
“Oh, it feels so good to be back
home!” Poe exclaims, as she twirls around on the beach. I smile. “You missed
it, huh?”
“Sure did.” Just then, Jessica
appears. “Jess!” Poe and I yell, as she runs and hugs us. “Oh, my gosh! I
missed you guys so much! I’m so glad everything is good in the world,” she
says. “Even Kay is acting like a human being and she’s leaving Miguel and
Charity alone. And she’s paying more attention to Reese,” she adds, a bit
melancholy.
“Oh, Jess, I’m sorry,” Poe
tells her. “I know how much you like him.”
“I’ll see if there’s anything
I can do, Jess,” I encourage her. “I’d do anything for my best cousin.”
Jessica smiles. “Come on, you
guys, I have to take you home so that we can catch up and everything! Let’s
go!” We all head over to the Bennett house and head in. Aunt Grace and my mom
are reminiscing, as they both got their full memories back.
Chief Bennett is talking to Noah, and Charity and Miguel are in the
living room, talking with my mom and Aunt Grace. We find an empty spot in the
crowded living room and sit down and catch up. Pretty soon, when everyone else
has left the room, we get around to telling Jessica our news. “Jess, we’ve
got something to tell you,” Poe says, smiling.
“What is it?” she replies,
excitedly. “Is it good news?”
“You could call it that,” I tell
her. “Well... Poe’s going to have a baby.”
Jessica’s eyes widen. “What? Are
you serious?”
Poe nods. Jess hugs her and says,
“I’m so happy for you guys! I mean, even though y’all are a bit
young...” she winks, “I know you two are good people.”
But we don’t say anything, because
Jess doesn’t know about that bastard that raped Poe. And then... the front
door opens, and in breezes a tall, muscular guy, with dark hair, and dark eyes.
I know instantly it’s Romeo. Poe’s eyes widen in fear, and Jess just looks
confused. I turn to them and say, “Don’t worry, guys, I’ll protect you.
Jessica, whatever you do, don’t let Poe out of your sight.” Jess nods and
the two best friends cling on to each other.
“I’m here for Paloma,” he tells me.
“Like hell you’re going to take
her,” I reply. “I will never forgive you for what you did to her.”
“But she’s carrying my baby, and
I deserve that.”
“No you don’t! You’re just a
selfish, greedy pig!” Rage fills me and without touching him, I throw him
against a wall, and keep him pinned. “You don’t want to mess with the likes
of Jacob Standish. Not after I rid the world of all evil.”
His eyes widen. “How... how did
you do that?” he says, looking around and wondering why he can’t get down.
“It doesn’t matter. You’re
never going to come near Prima again, I’ll make sure of that. I’m never
going to forgive you for what you did to her. And you don’t know that the baby
is yours,” I say, smirking. “But I do.”
“Jake, you do?” Poe asks.
I turn. “I know. But I’m
not—“ I’m cut off by the guy tackling me. I push him off and start to
punch him. “How dare you!” I yell. “You deserve all you’re getting. And
once your mother finds out what you’ve done, you’ll be kicked out of
Julliard.”
“How do you know all of this about
me? I haven’t even met you before.”
“Romey, he’s got powers. I
suggest you stay away from him... and me,” Poe says, fiercely.
“But I can’t,” he says,
stumbling up. “I love you, Paloma.”
“I don’t!” she yells, as
he’s coming towards her. “I love Jake!”
He turns around and lunges for me,
but I make him levitate. And then I send him out the door, so hard that I can
feel the thud of him landing on the cement walkway, on his back. Jessica is
standing there in amazement, while Poe is crying. “Poe, don’t cry,” I tell
her, hugging her. “It’s okay. He won’t bother us anymore.”
“How do you know that?” Jessica
asks.
“You’ll see.” I smile smugly.
~*~
A few weeks later, we’re watching
the news, when all of a sudden, there’s a piece about Romeo. “The son of
world-renowned teacher Danielle Marcofziwitz
has been paralyzed from the waist down, and also has been charged with rape. He
is to spend life in prison.”
I look
over at them. “Didn’t I say so?”