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Nine

Author: Crystal Steadman
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56
Kai,

"Dakoda, have you heard anything from Stella today? I've been trying to reach her all day through calls and texts, but she hasn't responded, which is unusual. I know she had to testify against that terrible teacher who hurt her in court today, but that should be finished by now."

"No, now that you mention it, I haven't heard from my parents either. Hey... Mac, can you cover for me for a moment? I need to step outside and call my parents to make sure everything is alright."

I follow Dakoda outside and wait as she dials her parents' number. When they answer, Dakoda's face turns pale.

"Why didn't you call me?" Dakoda shouts.

"What's wrong, Dakoda?" I ask, concerned.

She looks at me with wide eyes. "Stella has disappeared."

"What do you mean, she's disappeared?"

Dakoda hangs up the phone and starts crying. "Why does this keep happening to her?"

"Let's go," I say to her.

"What?"

"Get in the car, Dakoda. We're driving to Washington
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  • Unspoken Truth   Eleven

    Kai, Wow, she is incredibly beautiful. I can't believe we almost lost her. I will never let this girl out of my sight again. As I enter her, I can feel her body accommodating me and it's overwhelming. It's been weeks since we were last intimate. "Are you okay, baby?" I ask as I fully immerse myself in her. I have no intention of stopping now. "Kai..." Stella whispers, and I surrender myself to her. After we clean up, we lie back in bed and I can't help but seek answers as to why she thought suicide was the solution to her problems. "Stell?" "Kai." "Will you talk to me, baby? I need to understand what was going through your mind and if there's anything we can do to prevent you from feeling that way again. Please don't shut me out this time, Stella." Stella puts a finger to her lips, signaling for silence, then sits up and gazes down at me. "Kai, the best way to describe what I was feeling is like drowning in my own thoughts and emotions. I was exhausted from th

  • Unspoken Truth   Twelve

    Stella, Kai and my dad have infuriated me at this moment. I'm exhausted from being treated like a child. I've already endured so much, and now they want to control my life as well. Realizing that my dad and Kai are in cahoots, I storm off to my room and begin packing my clothes, reluctantly accepting my fate like a compliant girl. As I reach my room, I recall leaving my phone on the bed before taking a shower. I go to retrieve it, but suddenly, I freeze in place. My hands tremble so violently that I can barely hold onto my phone. Sliding down onto the floor, I call out for my dad, feeling utterly lost and unsure of what to do next. To my surprise, my dad and Kai rushed into my room within seconds. Dad inquires about what's wrong and then hands my phone to Kai. He then pulls me onto his lap, reminiscent of when I was a child. "What on earth is happening?" Dakoda enters my room, casually draped in a bath towel, seemingly unfazed by the situation. "He... he's here," I manage to stamm

  • Unspoken Truth   Thirteen

    Kai, I wake up to the sound of Stella's distressed cries and her restless movements in bed. The nightmares have been plaguing her ever since she encountered that awful professor at school. It has been a struggle to convince her to go to school every day. We constantly remind her that she only has a few weeks left before summer break, when we will all escape to the Bahamas. Hopefully, being away from him for a while will provide some relief. "Stella, wake up, sweetheart. You're having another nightmare. Come on, get up," I gently coax her. Stella abruptly sits up, fear etched on her face. "He's after me," she sobs. I wipe away her tears and guide her back down onto my chest. "Baby, we've discussed this. He won't be able to harm you as long as I'm here, protecting you." "You shouldn't make light of this, Kai. He's a monster. He's capable of anything, even hurting you," she warns. "Okay, you have a valid point, but let's not dwell on that this week. You have prom comin

  • Unspoken Truth   Fourteen

    Stella, "Kai, you look incredibly handsome tonight... I can't believe how fortunate I am to have someone like you interested in me. My mind is in such disarray that I can no longer distinguish between what's real and what's just my imagination. I keep seeing that awful person everywhere, even when they're not actually there, and my nightmares are becoming increasingly worse. Lately, I find myself crying more than I smile. All I want is for this nightmare to end so I can move forward with my life and regain a sense of normalcy as a teenager again." "Stell, where did you go?" Kai asks me, concerned. "Sorry, what?" "I asked if you wanted a glass of champagne. They always have it stocked in the limos, so I thought we could all enjoy a glass before prom." "Just a small sip," I reply. "That's the spirit." Kai pours me a small amount of champagne, and we clink our glasses before taking a sip. "Oh, goodness, this stuff is terrible." My face contorts into an unattracti

  • Unspoken Truth   Fifteen

    Stella, Today is graduation day, and I'm finally going to see Kai after a few weeks apart. He didn't want me to visit him in the hospital or witness his struggles, so I respected his wishes and stayed away. But I miss him terribly. I can't help but worry that the only reason he's attending graduation tonight is because his brother and friends are graduating too. I fear that he may never want to see me again because of what Professor Hamilton did to him, and I can't blame him for feeling that way. The professor caused a lot of damage in a short amount of time, and I'm not sure how any of us will be able to move past what happened. It took some time, but I can finally sleep through the night without being haunted by nightmares of the professor coming after me. I remind myself daily that he can no longer hurt me. I continue to see my therapist twice a week, and it has been incredibly helpful. Opening up and discussing what happened to me has allowed me to move forward and start anew.

  • Unspoken Truth   Sixteen

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  • Unspoken Truth   41

    Stella, After we’re done eating with our parents, we all head into the living room to visit a little longer before we all head home for the night. “Stella, mom and dad have to talk to you about something. Could we go into the study right quick?” “Um- sure?” “Once in the study, dad closes the door, so the others can’t hear our conversation. Stella Professor Hamilton’s daughter reached out to us and would like to talk to you. She wants to apologize to you in person for what you endured. Are you up to talking to her, dad asks me? “NO!” I yell. I refuse to have any involvement with anyone associated with that monster. We are both able to sleep soundly through the night with no nightmares. I don’t care about her apology. Why didn’t they report him before he hurt someone else? I didn’t realize I was crying until Dad hugged me. “It’s okay baby girl, you do not have to do anything you are not comfortable doing.” “Mom and I will let her know it is not a good idea

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  • Unspoken Truth   38

    Kai, The next day we will make a day of adventure. I was having fun until a monkey stole my damn wallet. Oh, Stella thought, it was so damn funny. “You liked that, didn’t you I ask her?” walking up to where she was standing, she knows exactly what I was about to do? “Don’t you dare, Kai she squeaks at me and runs behind her dad.” “Oh, baby do you really think daddy will save you I ask her... raising one of my brows at her.” “I most certainly WILL- not Jim says bringing Stella right where I need her.” I give her my biggest playboy smile and charge her, throwing her right over my shoulders. “Kai, you put me down right this instant.” I do, but not before I slap her on her ass. “You dick she whispers.” “I got your dick.” I tell her, then remove her teeth from her bottom lip and reach down to give her a kiss. “I love you, baby.” I whisper over her lips, and she shivers. We do a few tasks before lunch, and afterwards the girls go for manicures an

  • Unspoken Truth   37

    Kai, “We have a day before we head out for vacation, and I want to propose to Stella on our vacation, so will you guys go with me and help me pick out the perfect ring? I need you mostly Dakoda because you know what she likes, and you... bozos can be my support team.” “Well, it’s about damn time.” Dakoda says, giving me a high five. “Yea... yea, let’s get this done before Stella gets off work. By the way, how did you get the day off?” “Told him I had a doctor’s appointment, but it wasn’t him I had to worry about. It was your girl. She wanted to know why I didn’t tell her and was determined she was going to go with me.” “Stubborn ass woman.” “You’re telling me,” Dakoda says. “Well, let’s hit the road.” The woman in the jewelry store eyed us nervously. But it’s funny once I throw money around. She perks right up, asking what she could do for us. I almost tell her she can kiss my ass and I will take my business elsewhere, but I remember there are no

  • Unspoken Truth   36

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  • Unspoken Truth   35

    Kai, It’s graduation day for Stella and the gang. I haven’t seen her since the time she came to the hospital, so I want to surprise her today at her graduation. She hasn’t told me where she’s going to college yet, but the sky’s the limit with a full ride. That makes me so proud of her and wherever she goes to college, I will still be there with her. We will figure our relationship. “Kai bro, you ready?” Gage asks, coming into my apartment. Luckily, the apartment is on the first floor, so it helps to get in and out with the cane. I’ve done pretty good with the cane that the therapist says I will probably walk without it in a month are two. “Yea, let’s hit the road. Stella doesn’t know I’m coming, right?” “No, she still thinks you’re mad at her and never want to see her again. Gage snaps.” “Where are you going?” Gage asks. “My truck,” I tell him. “No, you’re not. You can’t drive, Gage says.” “The fuck I can’t. I say and move on to my truck and get in.”

  • Unspoken Truth   34

    Kai, “Hey, Kai Stella has called for the third time today. Would you like to call her back or should I keep telling her you’re still sleeping?” Gage asks me, and I know he’s getting aggravated at me, but I really don’t give a shit at this point. Gage doesn’t understand what’s going on right now. I’m really trying to work through all this shit, so I don’t take it out on my girl, because I know this shit isn’t on her. She never asked for her psycho teacher to have an effectuation with her. Then kidnap her not once but twice. She also didn’t ask me to run away from the guy trying to get to her and get shot in the back. No, she never asked for any of this, but I still in the back of my head blame her some, so I want to have a clear head when I see her again. “Just tell her I’m still asleep with Gage.” “Damn it, Kai, how long are you going to avoid her?” “Until I’m out of this fuckin’ bed. Is that what you want to hear, Gage. Just go back to your friends and girlfriend and

  • Unspoken Truth   33

    Stella, “Holy shit, she kicked ass with that speech Gage says.” “So, which one of you said you were going to be a surfer in the six grade I ask?” “That’d been me.... Korey says raising his hand, and we all laugh.” “Did you guys know we were going to get scholarships?” I ask the guys and Dakoda.... we haven’t been at the school for long and I have missed so much. I’m even surprised I graduated with you guy this year. “So, how did you guys pull it off I ask, looking at Korey, the ringleader of all things that gets done around here?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Stella. Contrary to what you believe, I don’t have that kind of pull.” I just give him the stink eye, then walk over to where Kai and my parents are waiting. “So, care bear, have you told Kai what college you are going to yet, or are you going to make the poor guy sweat it out a little while longer? Dad whispers in my ear when I give him a hug, and I just smile up at him.”

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