The Bachelors: a tiktok story

113: Cooper

*JOSH'S POV*

Josh paced around the lobby of the precinct, a nervous wreck. He wasn't worried for himself... no for once all of his thoughts were on the girl he fell more in love with every moment of every day. He turned to pace back towards the bench she'd left him at and came face to face with a familiar face carrying a load of files.

Cooper was shorter than Josh and carried himself in a much more awkward demeanor but he was a sweet kid with a very kind face, framed with messy brown hair. He had worked in the police department as an executive assistant to the Chief of Police for a year now. Josh and Noah used to tease him that he was a glorified secretary but secretly, Josh was proud of him for taking a step towards his dream of someday joining the police academy.

Cooper: "Hey, bud! What are you doing here?"

He followed Josh's worried look towards the pretty young girl being led towards one of the interrogation rooms in tears and instantly understood.

Josh: "Before you ask, no she didn't break the law, they are questioning her about Noah's case. God, I just wish I knew what was going on. Why didn't you tell me why Noah was arrested?"

Cooper hung his head in disappointment:
"You know I can't do that, man."

Josh wrung his hands together as he relented:
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm just worried. Wait- What was Nessa doing here? Does it have something to do with Noah too? Nevermind. I know, I know. Can't tell me."

Cooper could see his oldest childhood friend on the verge of storming in the room and getting himself arrested and decided to cut him a break. He leaned in and whispered:
"Look, you didn't hear it from me but Noah is in some deep trouble. There are multiple victims and a dozen charges. If these girls can prove what they say he did, Noah is looking at 25 years plus."

Josh stumbled back in shock, finding the bench catching his fall. Even without particulars it was easy to piece together enough information from that to know that he was facing serious charges. He always knew Noah was a jerk and a hot-head but had chosen to stay friends with him anyway. He'd never really done anything wrong to him personally... well until he'd walked in and caught him in bed with his girlfriend of a year and a half. Was it possible that the guy he knew to be arrogant but generous, moody but funny, creepy with women but a ladies man none-the-less... could he have been a predator all along? Anything was possible with what he now knew Noah had done to her.

Cooper: "Josh, I can get in a lot of trouble for telling you that so you can't say anything to your girlfriend, or Nessa, or anyone, okay?"

Nessa? For the first time the thought crossed his mind that what he'd walked in on with Nessa and Noah, maybe hadn't been what he thought it was.

*END JOSH'S POV*

You spent the next few hours detailing everything that happened to the officer. Your foray into online dating and meeting Noah. His Prince Charming daydream personality quickly turned to a nightmare once you told him you weren't interested in seeing him romantically. You told them about your Mom walking in as he got aggressive with you and then the New Year's Eve party a few days later. Finally you told the officer the story of everything that happened the day in question on your back porch.

The female officer had stayed in the room with you and placed her hand on your shoulder as you tried to choke out the more graphic details of what he did and said and most importantly what your best friend was able to rush in and stop from happening. You got chills just thinking about what would have happened if Chase hadn't shown up when he did.

The officer stood up and pushed a button on the wall, calling to someone outside:
"Can you send officers over to her family residence to take pictures of the backyard and speak to the parents?"

You: "Do you have to do that?"

The last thing you wanted was to involve your parents. Your mom and you had already had in depth talks about Noah's crossing of boundaries but the thought of her or God forbid, your father, hearing intimate details of what almost happened on that back porch was mortifying.

The officer nodded his head and you knew it was inevitable. Soon everyone would know what happened anyway if there really was a trial. The officer taking your report had mentioned other complaints and building a case and for the first time it occurred to you that maybe you weren't the only victim. Your stomach turned as the female cop helped you up and led you back out to the main area of the precinct where you saw Josh sitting on a bench in the corner with his head in his hands.

The moment you saw him, the last of your wall came crumbling down and you ran into his arms. He jumped up and held you as you sobbed.

Josh: "Are you okay?"

You: "I just want to go. Please, Josh. Can we leave?"

Josh kissed the top of your head and said:
"We can go wherever you want to, baby. My place?"

You nodded as he led you outside and loaded up in the car towards home. On the drive, you broke down again, telling Josh everything that happened in the interrogation room.

Josh: "Wow. So you don't know who made the report?"

You: "Nope. They refused to tell me but it's going to come out if this goes to court so whoever went behind my back better tell me first."

Josh: "You know it wasn't me, right? I would never do that to you."

You grabbed his hand, gently but turned to look out the window before saying:
"I am pretty sure one of my parents had something to do with this. Can you actually take me home? I have to deal with this before I explode on the wrong person."

Josh made a u-turn at the next light and headed towards your house.

Would you like to see Cooper have a further role in the story?