“Maybe they shouldn’t have been canoodling in public, Franklin,” Gabby’s mother says, a sneer curling at her lip.
“Yeah, exactly! It’s not like they were in a private bedroom. What I did was legal.”
“Unfortunately, that isn’t the case,” my father responds. “It was at a private gala. And considering the hosts of the gala are the parents of one of the individuals in the video, I’m guessing they would agree it should be extinguished.”
“Your assumption would be correct, Franklin.” I look across the room as Stacey’s father, Alfred, steps forward. His wife is by his side, her lips pursed, but she doesn’t deny the statement. Alfred adjusts his jacket and says, “We would politely ask the perpetrator to delete all evidence, or their family will no longer be invited to our events. That seems like a fair barter.”
Stacey stands by their side, surprise flickering over her features. “Dad?—”
“You’re my daughter. No one is allowed to come into our event and harass you.No one.”
Even from here, I can see the gloss over her eyes. I want to run to her, comfort her, but I know this moment between them is needed. She is seeing her father in a whole new light, and it’s amazing to witness firsthand.
“This is ridiculous!” Gabby shrieks. “She shouldn’t get to win this! She cheated on her boyfriend withthat!”
I only laugh as she points at me, my amusement causing her face to bloom even redder.
“Stacey and I were never good for each other,” Brent says in the crowd, standing in his spot. He looks at me, a small smile forming on his lips. “I didn’t treat her the way she deserved to be treated. I know Axl makes her happy, and that’s all that matters.”
Gabby squawks. “But she embarrassed you! She went behind your back with this FREAK!”
The word echoes across the hall, and everyone freezes. Many individuals in this room have uttered that word toward me, toward my father who housed and fed me, but now in this shiny hall, the word seems to rumble with something unspoken. Some kind of shame seeps into the room, the tension almost unbearable.
“My son is and always has been himself,” my father announces. “I know you all have had your opinions over the years. Many times, you have all given me unsolicited advice on how I should raise him, on how to change him, but he does not need to be changed. He is amazing just the way he is, and that makes me so goddamn proud of him.”
Now it’s my turn to get bleary-eyed as I look upon the man who raised me. Who saved me from poverty and a life in the foster care system in Oakson, which I have heard is absolutely terrible. His hand goes to my shoulder, squeezing in solidarity.
“Hell yeah, Mr. Ritchie! You tell ‘em!” someone calls from the back, and I look to see Ledger sitting there with his mom, his smile huge as he throws the rock n’ roll symbol in the air. His mother tries to hide behind one of her hands. I crack out a laugh at him. I had no idea he was coming, but I should have known. Not only is he supportive, but he loves to witness any kind of chaos.
Gabby looks like she is losing at all angles. Many people inhere probably agree with her, hold her same values, but too many people are standing up, fighting for justice in our case. Besides, if someone can record us and get away with it, what makes anyone think it won’t bethemnext time? Fear is a powerful motivator, and these people have a lot to lose when it comes to their reputations.
I’m sure there are a lot of people with secrets in this room.
“Gabby, just take the paper so we can go,” her father hisses at her.
“But… I didn’t do anything wrong!” She practically stomps her foot, and her parents look even more frustrated with all of the attention their daughter’s tantrum is getting.
“You are not spending a dime of your inheritance on this just because you can’t let itgo,” her father mutters.
Her mother turns to my dad, embarrassment flooding over her cheeks as she accepts the folder on her daughter’s behalf. “Forty-eight hours, you said?”
He nods. “Yes, Doreen, or it’ll be legal compensation of one hundred thousand dollars. Each.”
Gabby lets out a sob at that, completely falling apart.
Doreen gulps. “Good. I will call you when we talk some sense into her.”
Except for Gabby’s wailing, silence falls over the room.
“Alright,” Mayor Greenwood says from the podium, his face a picture of absolute annoyance. “Since that is now cleared up, meeting adjourned.”
Everyone stands up, walking out and going about their day. Gabby’s parents escort her out, her cries echoing through the town hall as they go. I can’t help the triumphant feeling in my chest, and when I look at Stacey across the aisle, it grows even bigger.
She practically runs to me, not bothering to check who is watching or who might judge her, and jumps into my arms. Thereality hits me that we don’t have to hide anymore. Everyone knows about us, and whether or not they accept us doesn’t matter, because I have the prettiest girl in the world plastered against my body, placing kisses on my cheek as her arms wrap around my neck, andsheis the only thing that matters in the entire world.
Stacey pulls back and beams, her smile lines prominent as her cheeks widen. “We did it.”
She looks so relieved, so joyful. I hold her close, kiss her forehead, let her white gardenia seep into my clothes that I will never wash out. “We did it.”
