Chapter 33

So this is technically the last chapter. But I do have a sort of epilogue/ bonus chapter to post, which is why this shows 34 chapters and not 33.

But yes, thank you to everyone who took the time to read this! :)

"Oh my god," I whispered, my eyes still glued to the screen. My mind immediately went to some sort of limbo, because I had no idea how to process all of this. Should I be happy? Should I be fearful?

"What's wrong, babe?" Vic asked, concern clear in his voice. If anyone could pick up on my tones it was him, and I was grateful for that.

"They got him," I said, slowly. It was such a weird mix of emotions, too. Obviously I was glad because this meant he was one step closer to getting jail time, but I was nervous because it meant I would have to see him again in court to testify. The thought of being in the same room as him again made me feel extremely uncomfortable.

"You okay, Kellin?" Alex asked, cautiously. He had seen the headline as well. I tore my gaze from the television and came back to the conversation at the table. It took a moment to focus on the people around me, and I had to glance back up at the television once more, only to see that it had gone to commercial break.

"Yeah, I'm just . . . wow," I breathed. I shook my head, still trying to tell myself that this was all just one step closer to being over and done with.

The next few days seemed like they were all blurred together, to be completely honest. I was on multiple phone calls with Officer Elmakias, I had to get a lawyer, and everything was just in a whirlwind. I was forced to talk about things I didn't want to talk about. Needless to say, it wasn't as triggering as it used to be, and I was getting better at it, but it was still exhausting. Stress slowly took over my mind and it almost made me wish that they never caught him in the first place.

"Shh, Kells, just calm down," Vic told me, his voice soft and soothing as he held me. We were in his bed at his apartment, and I clung to him as I cried. Everything just seemed to be getting to me in that moment, and I ended up just breaking down. I guess I was especially anxious because it was the night before I

would have to face Zack again. I couldn't stomach the idea of seeing him, much less testifying against him in front of people.

I was nervous because I also didn't have much time to mentally prepare myself. I guess because Zack was being accused of raping multiple people, and because they had a plethora of evidence against him, they wanted to get the trial underway as quick as possible. I think it also had something to do with the university and with PR. Who really knows?

"I'm scared," I admitted, sniffling a bit as I held onto Vic. He had remained as my rock through all of this. He kept his firm arms around me, gently rubbing my back as I continued to sob into him. There was a wet spot on his t-shirt from my tears. "I'm sorry, I know I'm being ridiculous, I just can't help it."

"No, shh, you're not being ridiculous at all," he assured me, his voice low and comforting. His lips brushed against my forehead gently. "You have every right to be nervous, but you know what? You're going to be perfectly fine. I'm going to be there, and when it's over, I'm still going to be there for you no matter what happens, okay?"

"I love you so much," I told him, kissing his chest because I didn't feel like loosening my grip on him enough to kiss his face.

"I love you, too, sweetheart," he whispered.

--

I felt like a ghost the entire next day. I barely got any sleep the night before, and when I finally got to the courthouse, it felt as though I had to wait an eternity before they finally called me to the stand. I shook as I spoke, and every time the judge asked me another question, I felt like I was about to faint.

However, I did a good job of concentrating on him, and not looking at the monster on the other side of the room from me. I definitely deserved some sort of award for that, because it was difficult beyond reason. But I knew if I dared look over at him, I would fall apart.

When they told me I could go sit back down, I swear I had never felt so relieved in my entire life. My legs felt weak. My arms felt heavy. It was like I just finished an intense workout or something. I left the room

and found Vic, who was waiting for me just like he said he would. He stood in the hallway, leaning against a wall as he waited. I walked straight up to him and wrapped him in the tightest hug possible.

"How'd it go?" he asked, his arms still tight around me.

"Oh my god, it's over," I gasped, fresh tears brimming in my eyelids. They were happy tears, mostly. Relieved tears.

"Oh no, don't cry," Vic sighed, placing a kiss against my temple. His hands ran up and down my back affectionately. "Kells, you did it, see? You made it, and I swear I couldn't be prouder of you."

"I can't believe it," I told him, honestly.

It probably took longer than it should have for Zack to be sentenced, but when he was, I was pleased to hear that he was being sent to prison, because he was found guilty of several charges. His mother tried to argue that he was young and prison would ruin his life. I saw her on the news because there was footage of her crying on the stand. It hurt, but I think she was just refusing to accept that her son was a despicable person. I went through so much because of what he did and I was sure the other victims had too. Once the trial was over, the University finally came out with an official statement which disbanded that chapter of Alpha Sigma Sigma. It was like all of my prayers had finally been answered and I was amazed .

I thought it was so crazy that just a few months prior to all this, I literally thought that my world was ending. There was a point in time where I genuinely thought that everything was bad, and that it was always going to be that way. Finding out that I was wrong about that was quite possibly one of the best feelings in the world.

And now that I was out of that darkness, I was surrounded by the beauty that was just life . I went to a great school, I had found great friends in people like Justin and Alex, and I knew that Vic was someone I was truly in love with. The best part about all of that, was that I finally knew I deserved it.

--

"Okay, are you sure you're ready?" I asked Vic, nervously gripping the canvas I held. He just laughed and told me that he was sure. His lips were still upturned in a playful grin. "Okay, close your eyes, no - darn."

"Yeah, sure, gotta make sure I'm not looking, right?" he laughed, playing along and clasping his hands over his eyes. I rolled my eyes and let out a lighthearted huff.

"You're silly," I laughed, finally just going over and sitting next to him on my bed. "Okay." I handed him the painting slowly, actually legitimately nervous.

"It looks lovely," he joked, and I rolled my eyes at that one. He smiled and went to put his arm around me, but I didn't let him.

"No," I said, taking his hand in mine and leading it to the canvas, which was heavily built up in paint. I held his fingers over one of the sections.

"That's interesting - wait . . ."He knitted his eyebrows together for a moment, suddenly seriously running his fingertips across one of the red shapes. His grin faded, and he looked more shocked than anything. "It's red. Is it actually?"

"Yeah," I breathed, still a little nervous. The thing was, I made the work completely abstract, yet used the paint as a way to add the raised braille letters that also represented the colors. It was a little weird, and I got several curious looks from my classmates. Alex loved it, though.

I watched carefully as he moved his hand to another section. He smirked.

"You spelled 'blue' wrong," he said, causing me to frown and sit up straight. I was about to insist that I hadn't when he started laughing. "No you didn't, I'm kidding . . . Kellin, this is amazing. Incredible."

"I'm glad you like it," I said, letting out an air of relief. "It took me so long to make."

"It means so much to me that you spent that kind of time . . . like, wow . . . But honestly, I'm just so happy I finally get to experience your artwork," he said, actually sounding a little choked up. He was right though. I always tried to explain my paintings to him, but I always felt bad doing it because no matter what he wasn't going to be able to see that.

"Oh, don't cry," I said, making him laugh again. He set the painting aside and held his arms out for me. Of course, I happily complied and scooted towards him. He hugged me tight and I hugged him back, just breathing him in and remembering that everything was going to be just fine.

"I love you so much, Kellin," he told me, still holding me tight. "Don't ever forget that." "I won't," I whispered. It was a promise."I love you, too, boyfriend."