The Power Academy

Chapter 19- Finding My Voice

A/n

Thank you, everyone, for being so understanding about me wanting to skip chapter 18 and come back to it. Here is a little overview of what I am planning on doing with said chapter when I get to it:

Chapter 18 will be all about Greg's defense coming at Kayla with full force. They are in no way playing fair of any kind and bringing up arguments such as clothing, the way she acts, her innocence being ignorant, and then they basically turn it into a "the academy wouldn't survive without his father paying the teachers salaries" information bomb. I am sorry that I had to spoil it for you and you didn't get to discover it. Thank you for allowing me to write at my own pace and support me during a hard time. Let's not keep ya waiting anymore, here is chapter 19!
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Kayla's PoV:

I had to bite my tongue to keep myself from sobbing at the words pouring out of the defense. Sebastian nearly had to be carried out about halfway through because he was screaming at them about how insane they sound. I look back for support, and only Gemma is there. My heart sinks and it hurts to know that Jasper isn't here to support me. Why would he after I pushed him away like I did before all of this?

The defense rests, as Madam Carter returns to the stage. "Before we give concluding statements, we are going to give both sides the chance to speak for themselves. Kayla, are you ready?" before I could even think to form a response, Sasha stands up and asks for a recess. He is granted one, and with ease moves me into a private room next to the auditorium. The second we get alone, I drop to the floor and sob, letting go of all of the emotions I have been holding in from the moment the defense stood up. Sasha makes sure that the door is locked and envelops me in a hug. I feel like I have sunk passed rock bottom and reached a whole new level of low. How am I supposed to stand up there in front of everyone and tell them what happened?

As I cry I hear banging on the door and Sebastian yelling to be let in. I just cry even harder, not able to handle him seeing me like this. Sasha picks me up, moves me to a chair, and goes to the door. "Bastian, you need to leave. She can't handle this right now."

"Handle what, Sash, it's me."

"Exactly. You are her best friend here and it feels like she is losing everything. She doesn't want you to see her like this. Please, just let them know you've calmed down and then go sit down and support your friend" Sebby grumbles for a few more minutes, but leaves, giving me time to breathe and calm down before Sasha comes back to talk to me, "You know, I can tell them you don't want to do it right?" I shake my head and lookup. I must look terrible because his eyes were full of pity.

"If I do that, then he wins. Even if they vote in my favor, he's taken my voice and he will know I wasn't strong enough to defend myself... I have to do this" Sasha talks me through what he wants me to say, describing what happened to me, and how it affected me. I agreed to the plan, and once I got some mascara and a baby wipe to fix the running makeup, we walked back into the room. Madam Carter indicated for me to take the stage, and I nervously walked up to the podium.

"I am sorry that what happened to me caused all of this disruption to our days. I want to take this chance to thank the professors for taking this so seriously, as this has been one of the worst experiences for me. I want to talk about what-" I am interrupted by a door in the back opening, and I watch as Jasper stands in the back watching me. "I uh-, no, I actually want to talk about something else. Everyone dreams about the first time they have, hoping to have that perfect experience, maybe not with someone they love, but with someone that they care about and the feelings are reciprocated. Sadly, my first experience in this community was taken away and scarred into my brain as this horrible event I am having to overcome. I know I am supposed to be addressing everyone, but I just want to take the time to say, Gregory, you won't win. I am not done healing, but you don't get to count me as one of your victims or count this as some sadistic victory for you. I should run for the hills after the trauma you put me through, but you will not be the winner here. These people know what you did to me, and they know what you did to all of these other women. I don't need to sit here and cry for you all to believe me, Sasha has done an amazing job at proving what happened, and hell if you need more proof I can always take my clothes off and show you the bruises. This moment will shape me, but it will never define me in the way that Greg wanted it to." I stand up and walk to my seat as everyone sits there either impressed or stunned.

"Well, you went off-book... Good call" Sasha says and subtly fist bumps me. I tune out whatever last remarks Greg says and the final statements go by in a whirlwind. The crowd leaves as we wait for the jury to come up with a decision either way. It could take as short as a half-hour to taking as long as a week. As I was walking down the hall with Sasha, someone grabbed my arm and yanked me into the girl's bathroom. I am gently tossed into the bathroom and Gemma locks the door behind her, making sure we have privacy.

"Girl talk. What the hell did you say to Jasper?" she asks as she goes to grab a paper towel and puts some water on it.

"What do you mean?" She rolls her eyes as I answer and goes to dab the wet towel under my eyes, helping with the puffiness and the running makeup.

"Obviously something happened when you two were alone, he is acting like a completely different person, he's all distant and sad now," I instantly get remorseful and sad, feeling guilt that I am causing her pain.

"Gemma, I ended things completely with him, I could tell you were uncomfortable with something happening, so I didn't want to step on anyone's toes." Gemma laughs as I try to explain.

"Hun, I wasn't upset because you were obviously showing your feelings for him, I was upset because I wasn't the center of attention. I am a poly switch with narcissistic tendencies, I just want all of the attention on me."

"Are you sure Gems?"

"Of course, Jasper is going to need to have someone to deal with all of the crazy. That is if you still want this dynamic..... Do you?" That is a very good question, one I don't even know the answer to.

A/n

Here is a little something to thank you all for being so understanding about me skipping a chapter. It feels so good to be able to sit at the computer and not be enveloped in pure anxiety from writing that chapter right now.

Love you always,

Lizzie