Jemma

A loud beep wakes me. I open my eyes. Worried brown eyes look into my own. I try to smile but it turns into a wince as I shift my leg.

“Are you alright? Does it hurt? Let me call the nurse. I’m so sorry Jemma, you have no idea.”

I feel the reassuring touch of Wes’s hand in mine and my lips turn up. “It’s not your fault. You had no way of knowing what Trent was going to do.”

Wes’s eyes go dark. “No. If I had of known, I would have strangled that—”

“Where is he?” I interrupt, suddenly needing to know what happened after I blacked out.

“He’s down the hall. They wouldn’t take him to another hospital. Or better yet, let him lie in his own blood.”

I gasp. “What happened?”

“Ryan beat the crap out of him, that’s what happened. Finn and Zane had to pull him off actually. Trent will never work in this industry again. The police are with him now. He’ll go away for a long time for what he did to you. Forever, I hope.”

“What about Ryan? Will Trent press charges against Ryan?” I’d really hate for Ryan to get in trouble for protecting me. Even if it sounds like he did go a bit far.

“Ryan will have the best legal representation, don’t worry, Jemma.”

I frown. “So Trent did press charges against him?”

“Yeah, for assault. He has two broken ribs and a broken jaw.”

I gasp. I’ve been through court proceedings when I was assaulted so I know what Ryan faces. I’m still not over having to face my ex in court. I can’t make him go through that, not for me. “What if I agreed not to press charges against Trent in return for Trent agreeing to drop the charges against Ryan?”

“No way, Jemma. Ryan will never go for that, and neither will I. That creep needs to pay for what he did to you.” Wes grips my hand tightly. “Do you want to tell me exactly what happened before the police come in to question you?”

I struggle to sit up. “I need to talk to him before the police get here. Can you help me?”

Wes looks alarmed. “What? There’s not a chance I’m letting you anywhere near that jerk. Just lie back down. Please?”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not letting Ryan go through a trial and risk going to prison.”

“I’m sure it won’t get that far–”

“No, it won’t because I won’t let it.” I grimace as I slide my legs out of the bed. The hospital gown slides up my legs revealing my right thigh, swathed in bandages. I look down at it. “What happened?”

“You don’t remember falling on the broken bottle?”

A flash from the attack assaults me, and I remember falling and feeling the glass slice into my leg. “Yes,” I take a deep breath in, “I remember. Can you help me up?”

“Just wait. I’ll go get Ryan, and I need to call your parents. They’ll want to know what happened.”

“What? No, you can’t call them. They don’t cope well with stress. My Mom had a stroke three years ago and my Dad cares for her.”

“But they know about what happened with your ex don’t they?”

I shake my head slowly. “Why do you think I never went home after I got out of Peaceful Shores? They know I can’t afford to come home while I’m studying.”

“Shoot, Jemma, I think they’re going to notice your scars when they see you again. Just how long did you think you could stay away from them?”

Tears fill my eyes. “You don’t understand. I love them too much to hurt them. Knowing what he did to me would kill them. They had me when they were in their forties.” I smile sadly. “I was their miracle baby. Even before my mom’s stroke, they both had some serious health issues. They need to know that I’m doing well, that I’m happy. I talk to them on the phone all the time.”

Wes’s eyes turn sad. “I bet they miss you. I’m not sure I totally agree with your reasoning, but I guess I can understand.”

“I’d love a hug from my mom and dad right now, more than anything. But I need to put them first. And besides, I am happy. So I’m not lying about the fact these last few months have been amazing.”

Wes stands beside me while I sit on the edge of the hospital bed and gently wraps his arms around me. I bury my head against his warm chest and allow a few tears to escape. Before I let my emotions overcome me I pull back slightly. “So will you take me to see Trent?”

Wes

How can one person go through so much and still have such a positive outlook on the world? As well as such a willingness to forgive those who have hurt her. As much as I don’t want to take her to see Trent, if that’s what she really wants to do, I’ll do it.

“Alright. Just stay there, and I’ll get a wheelchair.” I quickly procure one from where it sits beside the other empty bed in the room. As I gently lower Jemma into the chair, I try to push my feelings aside. Can I really be in the same room as Trent and not strangle the life out of that scumbag? For Jemma, I’m determined to try.

It’s quiet out in the hallway. Finn and Zane took Autumn and Sophie back to the hotel to sleep as soon as they knew Jemma was going to be okay. Ryan stands and comes over as soon as he sees us.

“Jemma, are you alright?” Concern tightens the usually carefree bass player’s features.

“I’m fine Ryan, really. And thanks for looking out for me. It means a lot.”

“Where are you headed? Surely they’re not sending you home already?”

I grip the handles of the chair tighter until my knuckles turn white. “She wants to talk to him.”

Ryan doesn’t need to ask who I’m talking about. I watch as his face hardens, mirroring my own. “What would you want to see that dirtbag for?”

Jemma reaches out to gently touch Ryan’s hand which is gripped into a tight fist. “I’m not going to risk you going to prison for protecting me.”

Ryan looks at me. “And you’re okay with this?”

“I’m trying to be.” I shake my head.

“You don’t need to do this,” Ryan says. “I’ll take whatever punishment the court doles out, gladly. I believe I did the right thing and nothing can make me regret that.”

“Thank you, Ryan. That means a lot to me. But please, let me try it my way first, okay?”

“If this is really what you want.”

“Ryan,” Jemma looks up at him from her wheelchair her expression serene. “You should go back to the hotel and get some sleep.”

“I can’t. The cops still have some more questions for me.”

“Oh,” her smile falls. “Alright then. Let’s go, Wes.”

I push her down the hallway and into the room where the degenerate scumbag is cuffed to the bed. A police officer sits next to him while a second one stands near the door. He lets me through although he glares at me as if I’m crazy. I shrug, letting him know it’s not my idea. The cop by the bed is older. I’m guessing he’s the one in charge.

The older man notices us. “Miss Jones, it’s good to see you awake. You shouldn’t be in here though. I’ll be in to talk to you soon.”

Jemma turns her gaze to Trent. The glare he gives her is enough to test my restraint to its limit.

Jemma seems unfazed. “Trent, although what you did was wrong, I’m considering not pressing charges against you.”

Trent’s gaze turns from anger to suspicion. “And why would you do that?”

“I think you can figure it out.”

The older officer raises his eyebrows. “You realize we can still arrest him regardless of what you want Miss Jones?”

“But without me you don’t really have a case. Wouldn’t you rather go and solve some serious crimes, Officer?”

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Miss Jones.”

Jemma looks back at Trent. “Do you agree this was all a terrible misunderstanding?”

“Yeah, sure,” Trent runs his hands through his mussed hair smoothing part of it back in place.

“And you agree that your injuries were caused when you unfortunately slipped and fell on the spilt beer that also caused the cut to my leg?”

Trent nods slowly. “Yeah, that’s how I remember it all happening. I think I must have hit my head and been a bit confused before, but it’s all coming back to me now.”

The officer shakes his head in disgust, before uncuffing Trent from the bed. “I hope you kids don’t live to regret this.” He stands and walks slowly out the door, motioning for the young officer to come with him. “Fame. It makes people do stupid things,” the officer says loudly enough to make sure we can hear him as he walks away.

I can stay silent no longer. I scowl at Trent. “Just so long as you realize you’re still fired, scum-sucker.”