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Hannah was pacing back and forth in her dorm room. She wanted to pick up her guitar and play her stress away. It usually worked; it wouldn’t this time. Garret’s coach and line mates hated him. They all thought he just snapped and went violent. He never would have if Delaney didn’t chirp at him. It’s all my fault, it’s all my fault she thought. She had to fix it. Garrett would never tell any one why he did it so she had to.
Hannah marched down to the stadium where coach’s office is. She was finally standing out side Jensen’s office. Hannah took the deepest big breath and steeled herself for the conversation she was about to have. She has only ever told Garrett; Allie didn’t count she had guessed and she never said the words in the conversation to Allie, just confirmed her suspicions.
Hannah slowly brought up her hand to knock on the wood door.
“Come in” he called.
“Hi”
Jensen quickly schooled the surprise on his face at who had just entered his office. “Philosophy tutor of Graham what can I do for you?”
“Un-suspend Garrett and get the NCAA to overturn the verdict to demolish his standings.”
He shouldn’t have been surprised, of course Graham’s girlfriend what the situation rectified. “Hannah, I can’t do that. It is a justified punishment given his actions.”
“And it’s a justified action given the circumstances.”
“That kind of violence is never justified Hannah. I won’t stand for it.”
“You were confused right? Surprised that Garrett resorted to that level of violence when it is not who he is. He is pointedly the opposite of that. He didn’t tell you why did he? I’m guessing when you asked he said something about it not being his place?”
“Not his story actually. So I’m assuming it’s you’re then?”
Hannah closed her eyes and took a long deep breath. She hated telling this story; she hated that it had defined her for so long. Only by writing her showcase song had she started to move on from the worst thing that ever happened to her. “Aaron Delaney raped me in high school. Son of the mayor. He got my dad fired from his job, got all his friends to lie on the witness stand, smothered my parents in legal fees and therapy bills; he ran me out of town. I have not been back. Garrett knew about the rape just not who it was until Delaney chirped at him that I was a lying slut.”
Realisation dawned on coach’s face. He should have known it had to be something terrible for Garrett to act so out of character. “And then he proceeded to try to kill him.”
“Yes….. it’s my fault. Garrett would never have behaved that way if it wasn’t for me.”
“Alright. If you’re sure you’re okay with me telling the NCAA this, I will try my best.”
“100%. Garrett’s career shouldn’t suffer because me was trying to defend me.”
“I can overturn his game suspension immediately. The NCAA will be harder. I will do my best.”
——————
Garrett phone range next to his bed side table. It was coach. Confused Garrett answered the phone.
“Garrett”
“Yes coach?”
“I’m calling with good news. Your suspension had been lifted and your stats have been reinstated.”
“What? How did you convince the NCAA?”
“I didn’t, Hannah did.”
“Hannah? What do you mean?” Garrett was so confused….. “Wait she didn’t tell you the reason why I did it?”
“She did and she gave me permission to tell the NCAA. I understand now why you said it isn’t your story to tell. I never condone that kind of violence Garrett but I understand why you did it. It also means any game against St A’s you won’t play, I can’t expect you to not want to kill him every time you see him. Hell I would let you if I didn’t get you in jail ridding me of my best player. See you at next practice Garrett”.
The call ended. Garrett stared at his phone like it had all the answers. He texted Hannah to come over immediately.
—————
Garrett leaned on the top of the couch while he waited for Hannah to arrive. The door eventually opens revealing Garretts incredible girlfriend.
“Garrett whats up? Why did I have to race over here?”
“You got my suspension lifted. You told coach”
“What, they reversed the decision?”
“Yes. Hannah you didn’t have to do that”.
“I did Garrett. You only hit him cause of me. I had to do something about it”
Logan, Dean, and Tucker enter the living room. “What are we celebrating?” Tucker asks.
“Hannah got my suspension lifted. I’m back. Coach isn’t bringing on Dean’s greatest archenemy”
a chorus of three “WHATS” rang through the room.
“How?”
“Not important”.
—————
Dean currently had his head in Allie’s all while a movie was on. Allie was threading her fingers through his hair. He absolutely loved the feeling. Though he wasn’t watching the movie, he was playing the conversation he had with Garrett in the weight room over and over. He had a pit in his stomach; the biggest black hole and he hoped to a God that he didn’t believe in, that he was wrong. It would all make sense if it did though.
“Allie”
“Yeah babe?”
“Did Aaron Delaney rape Hannah?”
Allie suddenly stops breathing. “What?” She finally manages to squeak out.
“Hannah got Garrett unsuspended and I keep thinking about a conversation Garrett told me we never had about sex with a girl that was obviously Hannah. So did he?”
The look on Allie’s face was all the answer he needed.
“Fuck!” Dean jumped out of bed. “Fuck, fuck fuck fuck fuck.”
“Dean you have to calm down.”
“Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down? How am I supposed to not kill him next time we face him?”
“Babe you can’t. As much as I want you to, you can’t okay. Come here, i’ll hold you and we can finish the movie”
Dean walks back to the house after the movie finishes. He finds Logan and Tucker in the kitchen.
“Guys we have to talk. We have to forgive Garrett for losing his shit during the game.”
“You know why? Tell us!”
“No. I guessed okay and you can’t tell Garrett or Hannah that I know, just let it go please”
“How do you know you are right?”
“I asked Allie. She didn’t answer but the look on her face told me all I needed to know”.
Logan was prepared to be mad at Garrett til the day he died but if coach and Dean could forgive him, so could he.
————-
Hannah confronted Dean whilst the rest of the house was empty. “You know?”
Dean didn’t need to ask what she was talking about. “I guessed. It’s the only thing that makes sense of all the facts. I want to be wrong but I don’t think I am.”
“You’re not. You a want to hide the fact you know but it’s written all over your face when you see me, you can’t help it. It’s just what happens when people find out.”
“I haven’t told anyone.”
“I didn’t think you would Dean.”