Insecure

Chapter 23

Russell and his ex-wife laid next to each other with the sheets tangled in between their bodies. Their bare, weary bodies were intertwined while they tried catching their breath. Russell felt Jeanette turn over in his arms to look at him.
"That was amazing," she said, rubbing up his arm.
"I know. I forgot how good you were," he replied.
"Oh shut up."
"Seriously though. Damn."
She smiled, shaking her head and looked over at her phone that was peeking out of her back pocket of her pants that made it on the bedroom floor. She reached over and read the message as Russell kissed on her.
Where are you???
"Shit!" Jeanette jumped up, grabbing her clothes.
"What's going on?" Russell asked, concerned.
"Nothing, I just have to go."
"Jeanette."
"Russ. It's nothing. I just have to go home to take care of my uncle."
"What?"
"My uncle is sick. It's already 4:30. I usually have his dinner made by now."
Once she was dressed, she ran her fingers through her hair and made her way to the door.
"Jeanette, wait!" Russell jumped up and followed her. "You can't leave me hanging like this. We need to----"
"Do what, Russell? Talk about us?"
"Yes."
"Well, I don't have time for any of that."
Russell slammed his hand on the door which made her jump. "Why the hell did you come here then?"
"I don't know, okay? Maybe, I'm having feelings for you, but I can't deal with it tonight. We'll talk later," she said, opening the door.
"Later?" Russell smirked and backed away from the door. "You keep saying that, but you know what? One day, it's going to be too late."
He turned around and walked back to his bed and lied down when he heard Jeanette's car pull out of the driveway. He sighed and thought, What did I get myself into? First, Laura, now this.
He shot up. Laura! Shit. He grabbed his phone and dialed his sister's number. Then, he put the phone to his ear, hearing it ring and ring. After four rings, she picked up. "Yes?"
"Thank god!"
"Russell? What do you want?"
"Listen. You know a girl named Laura Collins, right?"
"You mean that poor girl you've been messing with? I'm familiar with the name."
He rolled his eyes. "Yes, her."
"Didn't I tell you to leave her alone?"
"Yes, but I have another problem."
"And that is?"
"I'm going to jail."
"What?"
"They're going to put me in jail."
"You shouldn't be in there that long. You just broke into her house, right?"
Russell was silent.
"Russell?"
"I've gotta go."
"Dammit, Russell. What did you do?"
"She's the girl that got me fired."
"You got fired for harassing....."
It hit her. "Oh my god. You are such an idiot."
"Thanks, appreciate that."
"Seriously Russell, what the hell?" She sighed. "Okay, let me get this straight. You've been stalking this girl for what? 5 years?"
"Sorta."
"You attacked this girl because she reminded her of your wife. I get if you miss her and whatever, but to harm someone else? That's stupid and messed up."
"Look, I know. I called for some support."
"Support? Russell, you did wrong. That's all there is to it."
He nodded. "I know what I have to do."
"Good, just don't get yourself in more trouble."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeanette pulled into her driveway to see her ex-boyfriend's car in the driveway. After parking her car, she got out and surely, there he was. He had his hands in his front jean pockets, his black hair slicked back, one leg across the other as he leaned his body against his porsche. She sighed as she approached him. "What are you doing?"
"What am I doing?" he repeated, smirking. "Well," he continued. "I came by to see if you were free tonight."
"We broke up, remember?"
"Yeah, but..."
"Why are you asking me out anyways?" She stopped to think about it. "Do you just need me, so you can make your other tramps jealous?"
"Baby, please."
"Don't call me that," she demanded.
"Breaking up with you was a mistake---"
"Was cheating on me a mistake too? Many times?"
"I'm sorry."
"Tell me the real reason you're here," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"The truth?" he replied? He straightened out his stance, walking closer to her and said, "There's rumors going around that you're seeing your ex-husband."
"What are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. There are people that saw you at a restaurant with him, and then you went to his house."
"You have people stalking me?"
"That's not the point. The point is----"
Jeanette stopped him. "The point is is that what I do is none of your goddamn business. You don't get to be in my life anymore, so get over it. You screwed up."
"Things obviously didn't go well with that Russell guy since he's an ex. Didn't he screw up, too?"
"No. he actually loved me. We just argued a lot," she said, then looked up at her ex. "But, one thing is for damn sure. I was the only woman he ever thought about sleeping with."
"Jeanette, I made a mistake, but I'm telling you that this guy is bad news. He's been messing around with a 17-year-old," he said, looking in her eyes.
"You're lying."
"Why do you think he's not teaching anymore?"
"Why are you telling me this?" Her voice grew quiet.
"I'm worried that something bad will happen to you."
"Thanks, but I don't need you, of all people, to be concerned," she said, pushing past him.
He grabbed her arm and said, "Jeanette, I will always be worried because I'm still human. I'm sorry, but you need to believe me."
"Believe you?" Jeanette asked, disgusted. "Believe me when I say this," she said, jabbing her finger in his chest in between words. "You broke my heart, left me broken in a million pieces, but as soon as you heard I was involved with someone, you had to get involved," she took a deep breath and stepping back, she continued. "It didn't matter who it was. It could've been a successful businessman or could've been a loser I met at Burger King. You were just lucky enough to have dirt on Russell. It killed you, knowing I moved on so quickly," she smiled, tears swelling in her eyes."Believe me when I say it's over, and there's absolutely nothing you can say or do to change that."
She turned her back and said, "Good-bye."
As she approached the house, she heard him shout, "He'll hurt you! Don't you get it? He'll kill you!"
She turned and said, "Anything would be better than sharing another ounce of oxygen with you." And with that, she slammed the door. She sank down to the floor, her back sliding against the door and tears slipped their way down her cheeks. Outside, she heard him curse her name and slam his foot on his breaks, speeding down the road.
Jeanette shook her head and started thinking about Russell. It can't be true. He wouldn't do that. I mean, it's completely sick. That can't be. He never showed interest in younger girls...
She stood up and logged into her laptop and searched Russell under the school he used to work for. I'm surprised this login still works. The school probably doesn't realize we have this. She clicked a few buttons, and she was on recent news page. She scrolled down, farther and farther. She clicked on the 1st link that was related to her search, and it took her to a page that had Russell's face on it that said: Teacher fired.
"Oh my god." It's true. She covered her mouth, clicking out of the page. She stood up and tried controlling her tears. "That's why he had to quit."
She sat down on her couch, pulling her knees to her chest. "If they knew what he did, why wasn't he put in jail?" she thought out loud. "Did he make some sort of deal of with the principal? That wouldn't be right?"
"Dammit, why didn't I see this? It happened after our divorce was decided....."