The Only Exception

by Magan Vernon

  Barbara closed the door behind us and then took a seat behind a giant oak desk. The room was just a small box with floor-to-ceiling windows at one end that looked over the square. But I wasn’t in the mood to look at the square. I kept my eyes on Joey’s head as I took my seat next to Trey. I had to be strong. I wouldn’t let him see me falter. My hands shook, and my heart beat so wildly in my chest that I thought it was going to burst out. I was glad that I was sitting because my legs didn’t feel like they could move. Like they were still pinned underneath Joey.

  Barbara shuffled some papers on the desk, and I slowly turned to see her put on a pair of reading glasses and look over the papers at me. “Now, Mr. Chapman has brought me here because Monica Remy would like to bring up rape charges against one Mr. Joseph Elder, and that president Joshua Franks knew about this situation.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Trey said, folding his hands on his lap and crossing his ankles. “Miss Remy has voicemail messages and emails that were exchanged between Mr. Franks and her that said, and I quote, ‘If you bring this up to anyone, no one will believe you because you are such a slut.’“

  Trey must have gotten to my emails when I left my computer open, and probably the voicemail that I thought I deleted. I would be furious, but he had the fuel that would set the fire in motion, and I couldn’t be mad at that.

  Barbara shifted her gaze to Josh. “Is this true, Mr. Franks?”

  I had only talked to Josh a handful of times. He always hit on me whenever he saw me. He didn’t look like the guy that walked with extra swagger through campus. In the light of the office he didn’t look as threatening as I thought he was. More like he was defeated and just waiting for the final blow. He knew what was coming.

  He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing, but he never looked up. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “And Mr. Elder,” Barbara continued, shifting gears to Joey. “Are you aware of the accusations that Miss Remy is bringing forth?”

  Joey hesitated, shifting back and forth in his seat before he wiped his hands on his pants. I knew they were sweaty because that was how they felt when he had them pressed against my back and pushed me down. I closed my eyes trying to ram those memories to the back of my mind. Trey put his hand on my knee, and I tried to concentrate on my breathing instead of looking at Joey.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Joey squeaked. He wasn’t the guy that I had been afraid of for so long, but was now a scared little boy. I knew at that moment that I was in the power position. I finally didn’t have to run scared anymore but would have redemption. I opened my eyes and saw that Joey’s head was down as well as Josh’s, like they couldn’t bear to face the facts.

  Barbara looked at me, her eyes slightly squinted. “Now, Miss Remy, are you looking to press charges against Mr. Elder?”

  Trey opened his mouth to speak, but Barbara put her hand up. “I asked Miss Remy, Mr. Chapman.”

  I looked over at Trey and he nodded, squeezing my knee. Slowly, I shifted my gaze back to Barbara. My hands shook, and I had to think about every movement that I made, hoping that I didn’t break right there. I swallowed hard before I finally nodded. “Yes, ma’am, we will be heading down to the precinct after this meeting.”

  “Very well,” Barbara said, taking out a pen and scribbling on one of the sheets of paper in her hands. “I will report our findings to the station as well, and will contact Alpha Mu Nationals regarding the removal of these two members and the suspension of their charter.”

  I widened my eyes. That was all that I had to do for them to be punished? It couldn’t be that simple. I glanced over at Josh and Joey, and they just kept their heads down, still not saying a word.

  “Mr. Elder, Mr. Franks, do you have anything to say for yourself?” Barbara asked. They both shook their heads and Barbara looked back at us, standing up and putting her hand out. “Mr. Chapman, Miss Remy, you are free to go. I still have some matters to discuss with these two gentlemen, but good luck at the precinct.” As she shook our hands she offered the only smile I’d seen her with all day.

  Trey stood up first and gave me his hand to help me to my feet. I was still shaking, but able to stumble to a standing position. I took once last glance at Joey and Josh, the fear still creeping into my body. It was that easy? For months I’d been living with the memories, and now they were finally going to be punished.

  “You know, it hasn’t been easy these past few months,” I said, my voice coming out as a whisper.

  Trey grabbed my shoulder, but I didn’t look at him. Joey and Josh didn’t look at me either.

  “I’m glad it was this easy for you two to cave when someone finally called you out on it, but just know that just because you got away with it for a few months doesn’t make it right. I hope that you both remember this moment the next time you think it’s okay to take advantage of some girl.”

  The tears stung in my eyes, but I kept going before someone would stop me. “Joey, I thought you ruined me forever. I never thought I’d get over it. You may get thrown out of the Alpha’s and maybe even thrown in jail, but that doesn’t even feel like enough. I hope someday you actually realize what you did was sick and that someday you can actually live with yourself; because I wouldn’t be able to if I did what you did.”

  “Okay, Miss Remy, I think that’s enough.” Barbara stepped in between me and Joey. Before she could completely block his face he looked me in the eyes. The eyes that had once haunted my nightmares looked like nothing more than hollow shells.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Brown.” I nodded and turned, walking out the door with Trey by my side.

  Chapter 28

  I was in a daze as Trey led me down the stairs, but as soon as we exited the front doors he scooped me up in his arms and hugged me close, lifting me off the ground and spinning me around. I laughed for the first time in what seemed like forever and then he put me down, placing his hands on either side of my face. “You did it, Mon. You faced your fears, and now those guys got what the deserved.”

  I shook my head slightly and leaned in toward him. “No, you did it. You’re the reason I’m here; the reason I’m going to be okay.” My lips trailed to his in a brief closed-mouth kiss that still ignited all the passion that was flowing through me. Trey loved me. He helped me face my fears, and now I wouldn’t have to be afraid anymore.

  I broke the kiss and took his hands. “Now, how about we get the report out of the way and get on to Chicago?”

  His smile wasn’t the all out dimpled one, more like a tight-lipped forced one. “Well, we still have one more stop after the precinct.”

  “One more stop?” I raised an eyebrow.

  “Come on.” He tugged my hand, and we walked back to the car.

  “Where else could we be going?” I drilled him with question after question, but he didn’t answer, even when he put the car into drive and pulled out of the parking lot. I kept wondering where we were going and could barely concentrate on my report at the precinct. I wasn’t expecting any sort of an engagement, too early for that, but he had something else planned.

  When we left the station, he didn’t get back on the highway, but turned onto North Avenue. I knew exactly where we were going.

  “You aren’t seriously taking me to the Kappa house, are you?”

  Trey swallowed, nodding slowly. “I talked to Brittani as well; she is expecting you.”

  “WHAT?” I shrieked and Trey winced, gripping onto the steering well.

  “Look, it didn’t turn out as bad as you thought it would facing the Alpha Mu’s, so this shouldn’t be as bad either.”

  I scraped my fingers through my hair, my breath coming out in slow, shallow breaths. “Seeing those guys was one thing, but you want me to go back to my supposed sisters who abandoned me?”

  “Mon, a good politician knows that whatever they do in their past will always be brought up during election time. You have to know what skeletons are in your closet and exactly how you want to face them. If someone else finds out about them, then it’s just te
n times worse.”

  I shook my head. “But I’m not a politician. I’m just freaking Monica.”

  He looked at me from the corner of his eye. “The same rules apply in life. You can’t run from your problems and expect them not to catch up with you.”

  ***

  Greek Row was nestled off campus in what was probably, at one time, a residential neighborhood but now was lined with Greek houses and other student apartments. The Kappa house was an old, purple Victorian that was kept up by the large number of members they recruited and generous alumni. It sat in between two other sorority houses that also were former residential homes. They all had their perfectly manicured lawns and big signs with their letters, but the Kappa house always stood out to me.

  Trey pulled the Mustang in front of the house and suddenly it didn’t look like the beautiful, purple wonder that I saw during recruitment, but more like a haunted house from the movies. Trey came around the side of the car and opened my door, helping me out. My legs felt like gelatin, and it became hard to breathe.

  “You can do this, Mon, I believe in you,” he whispered into my ear and placed a small kiss on my cheek before he put his arm around my waist, and guided me up the stone path to the house.

  We walked up the small, white porch and faced the stained glass door. It was a gift from one of the alumni years ago that had the purple dove symbol painted on it and the Kappa Beta crest with our letters. Every time I saw it, it usually brought good chills, but this time it just brought me a sense of dread.

  Trey rang the doorbell, and it seemed like forever before I heard footsteps behind the door. It swung open and there was my former house mom, Dorota. She was a short, chubby Ukranian woman who was always like a second mom to all of us.

  “Miss Remy, I haven’t seen you in forever and a day, as they say!” Dorota said in her thick accent.

  “Yeah, I’ve transferred to a new school.” I tried to force a smile.

  “Oh, well, it’s understandable,” she replied, but I could hear a twinge of hurt in her voice. When I left I never said goodbye to her either. I just sent her an email that I was leaving.

  “Hi, I’m Trey Chapman.” Trey extended his hand to Dorota.

  She shook his hand slowly. “Ah, you must be the new man in Miss Remy’s life. If you hurt her, Miss Dorota will come after you.”

  Trey released her hand and put his arm around my shoulders. “I wouldn’t dream about it, Miss Dorota.”

  “Now you come in. I’m sure the girls will be excited to see you.” Dorota moved away from the doorway, and we stepped into the foyer.

  Trey and I followed Dorota down the small hallway to the common room, which was a former parlor, off of the entryway with a big bay window. The room was decorated with purple period couches and framed photos of alumni. Sitting on one of the couches was Brittani, the president, and Amanda, the vice president, who was one of the girls that was at the party with me.

  “I’ll leave you all to chat. Call me if you need me. Good to see you again, Miss Remy.” Dorota patted my back before she shuffled out of the room.

  Brittani and Amanda were every bit the same Barbie dolls they were when I left. Brittani had her long, blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail and even though she was in sweats, they were designer sweats, and her makeup was perfect. Amanda was no different with her blonde hair styled into a pixie cut and wearing a pair of fitted jeans and a pink letters shirt.

  “Hello, Monica, and this must be the boyfriend that we’ve been hearing so much about,” Brittani said in her baby doll voice, but didn’t move from the couch.

  Trey moved forward and extended out his hand like a good politician-in-training. “Trey Chapman, good to meet you.”

  They both shook his hand and put on their best fake smiles. The same ones they had for recruitment every year. I didn’t want them to be fake in front of Trey. I wanted them to be real.

  Amanda cleared her throat and stared at Trey. “I hope you don’t mind, Trey, but even though you set this up, I think we’d like to talk to Monica alone.” Amanda’s tone was no nonsense and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

  Trey swallowed and looked back at me. “Only if that’s okay with Monica.”

  I nodded, slowly. I didn’t want him to leave, but I didn’t think I had a choice.

  “Okay,” he said and walked back over to me, placing a quick kiss on my cheek. “I’ll be out in the car if you need me.” He then turned and waved to the girls. “It was nice to meet you.”

  They smiled and waved until he disappeared around the corner.

  “Monica,” Brittani said. “Won’t you have a seat?”

  I leaned against the window. “I think I’ll stand, thank you. I hope this won’t take too long.”

  Brittani put on a tight-lipped smile. “Very well. Trey emailed me and said that you want to talk about what happened last year. I got a text from Gabe at Alpha Mu saying that you brought charges against Joey for rape? What the hell happened, Mon?”

  I let out a small breath and put my head down, plopping on the window seat. “It’s a long story.”

  “We’ve got time,” Amanda pushed.

  I wasn’t sure if I was ready to tell them. At one time I told these girls everything, but times had changed. I was different. They were different. But just like I had to face Joey, I had to face them. I took a deep breath in to steady my beating heart and then recounted the details as best as I could; trying not to let the tears flow from my eyes. I couldn’t go into all the nitty gritty, but I told them what happened with Joey at the party and even about trying to get the morning after pill.

  When I finished the air felt so thick between us that it was like a giant wall. Brittani finally spoke. “I’m sorry, Mon, we really had no idea.”

  “I know you didn’t, Britt. I’m sorry I ran away without talking to anyone.”

  My gaze flitted to Amanda. She was there that night. She saw me mouth ‘help me’ and just turned her back to keep dancing. I was never really close with her, but now that I was looking back on it, I felt like she should have done something.

  “Amanda, you were at that party, weren’t you?” Brittani tilted her head to the side like a confused Cocker Spaniel.

  Amanda’s voice cracked. “I was.”

  “Do you remember any of the other girls that were there that night, maybe the ones that would have seen something happen? It could totally help Monica with the charges.”

  Amanda bit down on her lower lip, fiddling with the hem of her shirt. I didn’t think she would admit it, and I couldn’t wait for life to pass me by.

  “You were dancing with me and some of the others that night, weren’t you, Amanda?”

  Amanda let out a big sniffle before she finally spoke. “At first I thought maybe you wanted to sleep with Joey, but then seeing your face when he took you in that bathroom spoke volumes. I didn’t want him to hate me by saying anything, so I kept my mouth shut.” She sniffled and then spoke again. “Layla from Central contacted some of us, and I was so pissed at you for leaving, so Tara just told her that you were embarrassed because you were a slut. It was stupid and childish, and I wish we could all take it back.”

  I felt the tears prick my own eyes. “I don’t know what to say.”

  Brittani shook her head. “I’m sorry, too. When you left I should have reached out to you. I should have done something. I can promise you that Tara will be sent to Honor Council for what she did.”

  I nodded slowly. “Okay, but no one has to be punished because of me.”

  Brittani tilted her head. “Well, isn’t that what you came here for? Redemption?”

  I shook my head. “No, I came here to heal. I’d been holding all of this in for so long that it was affecting my life. Now I can finally let it go and move on.”

  Brittani’s eyes trailed to the window where Trey’s red Mustang was in clear view. “It seems to me like you’ve moved on pretty well. I just didn’t expect the wild child of the house to end up with
the conservative governor’s son. Are you turning into a Republican now?”

  I bit my bottom lip, which did nothing to stop the smile from spreading across my face just thinking about Trey. Yes, he was conservative and the governor’s son, and he drove me crazy with his politics, but he still loved me and today showed it. “No, still the classical liberal, but Trey is the exception. The only exception.”

  ***

  Hugs and tears were exchanged between us and then finally I bounded down the steps and into Trey’s car.

  “Hey, how did it g—”

  Before Trey could finish his sentence I grabbed his face and pressed my lips to his, crackling the fieriest kiss I could. At first he just sat there but then his lips slightly parted letting my tongue in while he wrapped his arms around me. I was in love with Trey Chapman, and it wasn’t just about our banter or the sex. He really got me. He tried to make me a better person even when I was reluctant. He really was my exception to every rule.

  Trey broke the kiss and looked at me, his breathing shallow. “Well, I take it that went pretty well?”

  “Why don’t you get us to Chicago and once we get up to that hotel room, I’ll show you how thankful I am for what you did.”

  “You don’t need to thank me, Mon, it was all you. You’re the survivor.”

  I placed another kiss on his lips and then pulled at his bottom lip with my teeth before I slumped back into my seat. “And you are the best thing that could have happened to me.”

  He grinned an all out dimpled grin before putting the car in drive while I put my seatbelt on. “To Chicago?” he asked.

  “To Chicago,” I said, putting my hand in his.

  Chapter 29

  Chicago was everything that I hoped for. Trey booked us a fancy hotel suite downtown that gave us breathtaking views of the city. We dined on expensive food, held hands through Lincoln Park, and took pictures at the ‘Bean’. But as magical as the weekend was, when we got back to campus I knew that I had to finish working on the debate.