How To Stay Afloat (BxB)

Chapter 98: Out of sight, but definitely not out of mind

Noah has been bailed out of jail.

Noah is a free man until the trial. I don't know when the trial will be. Probably in two to four weeks.

Noah is gonna be a free man. He could appear with a knife in hand at the end of my bed any night.

It's like everything else around is drowned out. The noises around me growing quiet and dull and meaningless.

Noah is out. They let him out. Because they think he's not a great threat to the public or to me and Ann.

How can he not be? Whose bullshit idea was it to let him be able to be bailed out?

I'm gonna be sick. I didn't expect that. How can a sadistic, psychotic rapist and killer be let out on parole for a few weeks?

Money. Harry's stupid rich family. It can only be that.

I feel like I'm gonna suffocate. This can't be real. What the hell is happening?

"I'm gonna go to the toilet before the lesson starts." I say, acting as calm as I can. Which isn't that hard actually. I can't get a proper breath in, but my face and voice are neutral.

"You don't care?" Harry asks me confused and Carla boxes him in the ribs as I walk past them.

I hear Austin call out my name and follow me out of the classroom.

"Wait up!" He yells as he runs to catch up to me.

I have to throw up.

I pick up my pace and quickly walk into the bathroom, into a stall and lean over the toilet, throwing up the chocolate milk and the few bites I took off my burger.

I can hear the stall door behind me open and then close and lock.

I feel Austin's hand on my back as he crouches down next to me.

"Shit. Are you okay?" Austin asks me concerned.

Does it look like I'm okay? I hate that question.

I reach over and grab a few pieces of toilet paper and wipe off my mouth.

"No. I'm not." I answer Austin's question.

I lean back, sitting down on the floor against the wall. I should mention that this school has really clean toilets. At my old school I would stick to the ground right now because the toilets were so filthy.

Austin sits down next to me. "Hey, it's gonna be alright. The trial will be in two to four weeks probably and until then we'll just stay together, alright?"

I sigh as I put my head in my hands. "I didn't think he'd actually be able to get out." I admit. "I'm scared of him."

"I won't let you out of my sight. He won't be able to get near you." He assures me.

"I'm so scared." I whisper again. "I'm so freaking scared. I don't want this to happen again. I don't wanna die. He's gonna kill me. I don't- I- I can't-" My breath is coming shorter.

"Sammy. It's okay. Calm down. We'll just stick together, okay? I'll make sure he can't hurt you." Austin says.

I wanna say something, but before I can, I hear a little fart, quickly followed by a loud, long fart coming from another stall.

I look at Austin.

"I'm sorry! Didn't wanna ruin your moment." A voice says. "But I couldn't hold it in."

Austin bursts out laughing and I do too.

I grab Austin's hand and pull him up. "Come on, let's go." I say and unlock the door, dragging Austin with me.