Beyond The Pale

bargains

Raina's POV

Don't get me wrong, I love my friends/students. They had been nothing but helpful the last week or so, coming in and out everyday, bringing me gifts, spending time with me and Ashe. But, I was starting to feel a little smothered. So, when The week of Christmas came around, I was so stressed out and of out sorts, I hadn't even put up a Christmas tree or anything.

I'd called my mother in hopes that Ashe could spend some time with her in Oakland while I Christmas shopped, and she was more than happy with that. So, she drove up to get him early the morning of December 21st, and I had until Christmas Eve to make a Christmas miracle happen.

I was patiently awaiting a counter offer from the Walker family as well. We agreed on a plea bargain, so long as he served at least 6 months in jail, and registered as a sex offender. Not to mention, my lawyer was making them pay me a hefty amount of restitution. The district attorney didn't agree with their first offer. Considering their son tried to rape me, and they were fucking loaded, the judge said with my "outstanding personal record" and the fact that I worked in the school system, he wouldn't accept an offer any lower than 50,000$ for pain and suffering.

The first part of my Christmas miracle happened as soon as my mother left. It was a strange sight to see, Mrs. Walker coming to my door and asking if she could speak with me. But, mother to mother, I wanted to talk to her, so I let her in.

"I'm sorry we're meeting under these circumstances," she began, awkwardly standing in my kitchen. I poured us both a cup of coffee, and we sat at the table. "I want you to know, this is not the young man we raised. As his mother, I feel personally responsible. I know... I know we owe you restitution. But on top of that, I want to make sure you know that what I'm about to do is out of respect, and in no way a hush offer."

She then asked me for my account and routing information. I didn't really hesitate before I gave it to her, and after a few clicking of buttons on her phone, she spoke again.

"This... is from my personal account. I can't take back what my son did to you. And money doesn't help. But, mother to mother, money pays the bills."

Unsure of what to do, I got on my banking app. 

Bryce Walker's mother had transfered fifty thousand dollars into my bank account.

"I hope, in time, you can forgive us, and move on.. And I also hope that you don't tell anyone how you came across that money. Consider it a Christmas gift...Mother to mother."

She left the rest of her piping hot coffee on the table and was out the door without another word.

I sat, dumbfounded. I pinched myself to make sure I was still awake. Sure enough. This was real life. My phone went off, knocking me out of my reverie. A text from Jess.

J: Christmas shopping date?

R: I'll get my purse.

J: meet you @ the mall in 30?

R: sounds good, I need ur help for a gift for the guys. I wanna get everyone something

J: love u, see u soon

R: love u jess

Monty had left for the first time in a week, and I assumed he'd went back to his parents house, just to touch base with them. They typically didn't care what he did, so he was going to spend the majority of his break with me, and I was perfectly fine with that. We were closer than ever.

I drove to the mall and managed to get a spot relatively close to Jess's car. She shut off her engine and joined me as I walked up, and we were both so excited. I loved Christmas.

We shopped the majority of the day, and I made a mental note of gifts I'd bought for everyone, with a lot of help from Jessica.

Alex: pro elite Xbox controller.

Justin: new basketball shoes

Zach: fancy jacket

Clay: collection of star wars movies

Jeff: new cleats for baseball

Tyler: new camera lenses

Jess: a super gorgeous necklace, since she helped Monty pick mine out.

My gifts for Ashe and Monty, I saved for last. Plus, I'd bought everyone a stocking, and I was filling it with candy, cute little personalized keychains, and gift cards to different places based on the person.

Ashe had asked specifically for Mickey mouse stuff, so I bought him a few different play sets, some other toys, a few outfits, and a baseball bat and a baseball. He was getting super into baseball, mostly because of Monty, and I knew he would really love it. Monty's gift, on the other hand, I wanted it to be super special.

Jess and I had searched the jewelry stores endlessly for a watch. I desperately wanted to buy him something expensive, just because I got the feeling no one ever had. We saw a few we liked, but at the very last store, we found one that we loved.

It was a black, elegant Gucci watch. It was intricate in design, and very unique, and I knew he had to have it. So after 6 or so hours of Christmas shopping and having all of our stuff gift wrapped, we were done, and of to my house to celebrate a successful mall trip.

The closer I got to my house, I could tell something was up. I could see Monty's vehicle from down the street, so when I pulled in and could see multicolored lights through the window, I had to check it out. Jess pulled in behind me, also curious.

"What is this boy up to?" I questioned as we walked though the door, and when I spotted him, my jaw hit the floor. In my living room was a fully decorated tree, lit up and beautiful. There were also mounds of presents underneath. "Don't worry, they aren't all from me. The guys wanted to get you and Ashe gifts, so... These are a few. None of mine are under here yet." Monty shot me a wink, and I hugged his neck. "Thank you." I whispered gratefully, as Jess began unloading presents from my car and hers. Let me help you." He said, following me to my car.

"There are so many damn presents." I said after we'd unloaded them all and hung the stockings. Jess took off after bringing her group gifts and putting them under the tree. We were going to have a Christmas party at my house on Christmas Eve, but I still had one more present to get everyone for that occasion. Monty and I were drinking coffee, watching The Grinch on the couch, the lights from the tree twinkling so gorgeously.

"So.. I want to give you one of your presents early." Monty announced, and I looked at him, beaming. "Fine. If you do, then I'll give you yours too." He ran to his Jeep and I dug his present out of the pile, making a mental note to get him another present to open the day of the party. He came back inside, a smile never leaving his face.

"You first." He said, and I scoffed. "This was your idea!" I argued, playfully pushing him. "Mine is the best for last," he defended, so I handed him his gift, and he opened it up, falling completely silent as he took the watch out of the box. I was looking so hard, trying to catch a glimpse of his reaction. When he finally looked up at me, I could see the tears rolling down his freckled face as he tried with shaky hands to put the watch on his wrist. Once he got it on there, he pinned me on the ground and smothered me with kisses, mumbling "I love you's" and "it's perfect" between every kiss.

He looked so nervous, and I was curious as to what had him so shaken up. "My present is...different, kinda." He explained. He took my hands, looking me square in the eye.

"I love you. So fucking much. And I want to see you, every single day that I'm alive. So.. I figured to make sure that happened, I'd...give you this." He pulled out a ring box, and my heart started to beat rapidly. "It's not what you think. Not yet anyway. This one is just a promise. A promise to make you my wife, eventually. After graduation, you'll get the real deal. But for now," he opened the box, and there was a beautiful solitaire diamond on a rose gold band, waiting for me to put it on. "This is my promise to you, to take care of you, and Ashe. For as long as you'll let me. Sound good?" He slid the ring on my finger, and I realized when he went to kiss me that I was crying my eyes out. "Montgomery, I love you so much."