“ He placed his hand on my throat and told me to stop now or else. He proceeded to rape me. I told my parents the following morning. My father insisted we met with his parents. My father didn’t want to get the police involved since I was drinking too. I found out that his parents paid my father to keep quiet and then they moved. Forty million reasons to hate that family in one check. When I saw Spencer’s story I had to look deeper into it. When I saw the connection, we couldn’t keep quiet. As much as I hated it I respected my father. I didn’t think I had a voice. Especially since my father and his father worked hand in hand. I understand why he made the decision, but I can't keep my silence, especially with the Me Too movement. Forty million or more is not worth the mental state I had to endure for months. My mother left my father and took me with her. ” Brielle explains what happened.
“I reached out to a judge on my own. Judge Morris. He said word for word. Nathaniel came from a great family, excellent school, with astonishing grades and on the sports team. Pressing any kind of charges would destroy the boy’s life. And then he kicked me out of his office. I was alone and couldn’t do anything about it.” Brielle added.
Darcey takes a deep breath. “Wow. That was powerful. I cannot believe your father accepted money over your wellbeing. I am so sorry. So, this family decided to pay your family and start fresh in a new city. He was able to start at a new school and he even has a girlfriend and is living a good life, but have you moved on? Have you been able to live life normally again?” Darcey starts getting upset. “I have not.” Brielle answers. “Exactly. This issue should not go unnoticed. Especially when the same thing happened with his friend and teammate at his new school. What is the coincidence? The Rose family went to extreme lengths to hide a rape. Ladies and gentlemen. When is enough, enough? She is a teenager trying to enjoy her young life and was punished for helping what she thought was a friend.” Darcey yells now. Danielle leaves the house. “Remember You have a voice no matter what!” Darcey says before the cameras turn off. “Thank you so much for sharing your story with the world. It was very brave.” Darcey hugs Brielle. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to.” Brielle smiles. She makes her way to her dressing room.
She changed into a pair of jeans and a pink sweater. “Honey. I can never express how sorry I am. I was supposed to protect you, instead I protected them.” Ms. Loft started to cry. “We needed the money. I understand. It is okay.” Brielle joined her in the cry. “I will go get the car ready.” Her mother walked out, patting her eyes with a tissue.
The door opened and closed. Brielle heard heels clicking slowly towards her. Reapplying makeup in the tiny mirror, she felt a familiar presence. She turned to see the ghost from her past. Her black hood covered half of the famous orange hair. Her perfectly made up face. Those red lips. She wore a black button up tucked into a plaid red skirt. Brielle’s favorite outfit. Her Michael Kors purse dropped onto the floor. The girls, under a moment of weakness ran to hug each other, which Brielle knew was now out of character. “I am so sorry. No one told me until it was too late. Why didn’t you tell me?” Danielle asked. Brielle’s mother listened at the door. In a rage. “He is your brother. I was a friend. Blood is thicker than water.” Brielle says in a sigh. “No! Wrong is wrong Brielle! I have yelled at him and expressed how much he not only ruined my life but yours. What he did is inexcusable and disgusting. And I did tell him that. I remind him every chance I get. Brielle you are and always will be my best friend.” Danielle sways over to the mirror and fixes her makeup. “I miss you every single day. I just wanted to say never think you have no choice. Because you always will. Blood isn’t always thicker than water. I know it might mean little to nothing and I am not the one that should say it, but I am so sorry.” Danielle gave her one last hug and grabbed her bag and walked out. “Danielle.” Brielle’s mother stopped her. “I am sorry. I just… wanted to see her.” Danielle looked at her shoes. “Thank you for being a good friend. Don’t treat Nate like he is dead. You are all he has. No matter what he did. Be the girl I knew in Georgia.” She hugs Danielle. “It is hard. I will try, but she is dead. I buried her myself. But I had to dig her up. She isn’t the same. She’ll never be the same. Please take care of each other. Goodbye.” She gave up fighting back tears and ran down the hall.
Bryanna sits at her desk, looking over new plots and potential spots to open new hotels. “You just think you are smarter than everyone.” Felton appeared at the doorway. “What are you talking about?” She smiles, closing her laptop. “Oh no. By all means. Stay on your shitty computer!” Felton rushed over and opened it, holding Bryanna by her hair. The yelling alerted the office. Ben entered, now aiming a gun at Felton. Bryanna holds a hand up. Security handles him to the ground and starts to escort him out. “You ruined everything!” He yells. People start recording. “I ruined everything? You murdered my parents. You took away what I loved the most. You and your rapist son can share a cell. And I’m the one who shared that detail with the press.” Bryanna yelled in front of the world.
Hello My loves. More to share. The reigning Queen B has taken some lessons from her sister. A takedown is a takedown no matter how old you are. But, the truth is out. Felton Rose killed the OG Dayton’s. Nathaniel is a rapist and Danielle was spotted at Brielle’s interview… why? It took years to take down a Dayton. A rose can always be plucked out of a garden. Don’t worry B, we always root for the Dayton’s.
-TheDot.con
Donovan picked up Felton from the Hampton PD and took him back home. “Dad, what the hell were you thinking? That was a stupid move. Now the police are investigating. FBI will be involved.” Donovan yelled. “I was just angry. She is picking apart our family, one by one. She has something on us, and we need to find it and take it.” Felton yelled in the car. Pulling up in the driveway. “No dad. You are picking this family apart. The police will be looking into every single thing you have done. They will be tracking you. They will be watching you. And it doesn’t help that Nate and Dani are now in the spotlight. They have a fucking crazy wall with all of our pictures and news clippings and notes and shit. God dammit! You need to end this war with that Dayton. Now.” Donovan beat the steering wheel.
They walked into the house and smelled something burning. Felton runs out back to see Danielle at the fire pit. “What the hell are you doing?” Felton turned her around. “That bitch ruined our family. I don’t want anything from that family in my closet!” Danielle snatched away and added another dress to the fire. She squirted more gas on the flames. “We need to take her down. For good.” Felton whispered behind her. “And then what? We move again?” She asks, focusing on the flames. “Anywhere you wish princess.” Felton replies. “One step at a time daddy. I am going to cause hell at my school. I learned from one of the best.” Danielle says in a dark tone.
9 . “Warnings”
Unlike thrill rides, funhouses are participatory attractions, where you enter and move around under your own power. Incorporating aspects of a playful obstacle course, they seek to distort conventional perceptions and startle you with unstable and unpredictable physical circumstances within an atmosphere of wacky whimsicality.
P rom is coming, and the students of Oberlin were starting to get excited. A night in Paris was the theme. Now that Carl and Nate were out of school. Danielle almost had the school back on her side. She started stretching in the gym as Amber and Crystal entered. “Hello crime sister.” Crystal jokes. Amber laughs. “Girls you both are late.” Danielle points out. “Well with all of the mess you are going through-” Crystal started. “You might not like me or want to listen to me. But, I am the captain of this squad you have no choice. Today we will be doing a full body workout. Get outside and run up and down the bleachers.” Danielle ordered. “I can't do that. Doctors’ orders.” Crystal says. “The doctor can suck my dick like you were doing to Carl for months. Get to it now!” Danielle snapped. “Bitch I’ll have you cancelled on Twitter.” Crystal threatened, pulling out her phone. “Go for it. I�
��ll let them know about your new coke problem.” Danielle winked.
The girls worked out for two hours non stop. Danielle gathered them all in the grass. Drenched in sweat and out of breath. She handed the girls water but held two in her hand. Then slowly opened both bottles and poured them into the grass. “You two are no longer on the team. You can leave the uniforms in the locker room and be on your way.” Danielle says. “Dani, I need this team for college. Please.” Amber. “Geez. With my rapist brother. I don't have control over my life. Just messy. This is my game. The old Queens may have taken their sidekicks back time and time again. But, I needed you two and you committed treason. This is war. You're welcome to challenge me, but you'll lose. ” Dan ielle strutted to the locker room.
In a fueling rage, Crystal walked to the field where she saw Jason. “Your girlfriend is keeping a few secrets from you. Maybe you should ask her for the truth. And if you think she loves you or even likes you, then I am sorry. It was a dare we all made.” Crystal storms off. Jason turned to Danielle in anger and pain. “What did that bitch tell you?” Danielle asks. Jason just turned and walked away. “Jason! What the hell?” Danielle pulled his arm. “You lied to me, you played me, this was a joke to you, but I actually thought I had a chance.” Jason yelled, snatching away from her. “Jason. Lied about what?” Danielle asked. Jason just kept walking. “Doesn’t matter. This was all a game anyways.” He stormed off.
After the long week of gaining a little respect back, Danielle can finally breathe in the hallways. She stood alone. She ate alone. She was alone. Her brother was gone. Her friends were gone. She had no one. Jason dumped her. She ate lunch in the study room, alone. “May I come in?” Mr. English asked, tapping on the door. “It’s school you don't have to ask.” She answered looking down at her fries. “Are you okay?” He sits down next to her. His hand gently pushed her hair back. “I am alone. No one wants to be my friend or have anything to do with me.” She starts to tear up. “I am sure that isn’t true.” George whispers, placing his hand on her back.
Jason barges in, seeing enough. “Get away from my girlfriend you creep!” He yelled, pulling him away. “Knock it off!” Danielle pushed Jason off. “Now I am your girlfriend? You have dumped and avoided me all week and he actually cared enough to check on me. As far as I know I am single, you made that very clear. You are a freak. Just a game we played to see if you'd actually fall in love with me, remember? You are pathetic. I never loved you and I never will. How could I ever really be with a freak like you? No one likes you here. Just a toy to play with in my free time.” Danielle knocked her tray on him and stormed out of school as everyone laughed at him.
After school, Crystal was grabbed and pulled into an empty class room by Carl. “Did you give me something?” He asks angrily. “What the hell are you talking about? You’re not even supposed to be here!” She asks. “I went to the doctors and had to get a shot. You nasty bitch! I trusted you. Don’t ever talk to me again you pig.” Carl pushed her against the wall. “Are you being serious?” Crystal started crying. “You raped Spencer and the cops are after all of us. Because of you. You’re the nasty one. You are scum. Now stay away from me.” Crystal yelled, running into the hallway. She had to find the nearest bathroom. She felt sick. So sick she could throw up. No. This was actually throw up coming. Crystal rushes into the girls bathroom and shoves her head in the toilet.
She hurried to the nearest clinic and waited in the lobby. At that moment Crystal realized it didn't matter how great her yellow crop top looked or how the glitter laid on her pink eyelids, she was alone. She filled out her paperwork and took a number. What could it be? Was it life threatening? Will she die? Her mind started racing. Suddenly her chest started tightening and it was hard to breathe. No matter how many deep breaths she took she couldn’t shake the thought. She couldn’t tell her friends, she couldn’t tell her parents. She had no one. She watched as other men and women and teens cried as they entered and exited the back room. The nurse calls her number and escorts her to the back room. “I am going to ask some questions and I want you to be as honest as you can with me. This is strictly confidential.” She says, getting out her tools. Crystal shakes her head and takes a deep breath. “Are you currently sexually active?” She asks first. “Yes. Mostly hookups. But I have been careful. I've only slept with one guy that hasn’t used a condom. The other’s I have because I don't know them.” Crystal answers. “How many guys have you slept with in the past year?” She asks, scribbling the words down. “Honestly more than twenty. But not all of them were sex sex. Sometimes it’s oral or just fingering.” She explains. “Why do you think you have something?” She asks next. “I was confronted by the guy I hook up with regularly that he had something and believed I gave it to him. But I don’t have any symptoms or feel any different. I think it was an excuse to stop talking to me.” Crystal wiped a tear away. The nurse takes blood and walks in another room. “Sometimes the carrier won’t get symptoms for years. So they won’t even know they have anything until it’s too late.” The nurse explained.
Returning, the nurse brings a small cup. “We need you to pee in this just to make sure nothing else is there.” She explains. Crystal does as asked and hands it to the nurse through the door. “So how long does it take?” Crystal tucked her black hair behind her ear. “A few days. Can I ask something?” She asks. “You just did.” Crystal laughs, trying to make ligh t of the situation. “You are a beautiful young woman. Why hookups?” She asks. “ I’m fat. I know I am. But I am confident. I've spent my entire life afraid that people were gonna make fun of me because I was fat. Afraid of hearing it. Also went through half my life with comments and people laughing at me. Honestly, who gives a shit? There's nothing more powerful than a fat girl who doesn't give a fuck. I hooked up with him because I believe no matter how popular, or- or sexy or, or great you think a guy is, they're actually all just fucking pathetic. I didn’t think I would grow feelings for him. He called me names and refused to be seen with me because I am fat.” Crystal realizes it. “No one deserves that. And you can’t do that to yourself. You have a bright future ahead of you. Save it for someone who is worth it.” She placed the gloves hand on Crystal’s. “Thank you.” Crystal whispers as the beeping goes off.
Tonight was the Hampton carnival, and Crystal returned her retro 80’s look for it. Her fishnet stockings raced up her legs under the short jean shorts, stopping right above her exposed belly button. She slid over a yellow cut off sweater. “Socks on or off?” She asked Vic. “Off.” He answers, admiring her. She slid on her leather black boots and straightened her vintage glasses. “Let’s go cutie.” She smiled. Vic was a perfect distraction. For a grungy biker type he treated her better than any man ever has. She liked that type, always has. Danny from Grease, Ponyboy from The Outsiders, even Jughead from Riverdale. How they treated women, how they loved their girls. She dreamt about it for a very long time. Little did he know, she would fuck everything up in moments. He liked her a lot. If she didn't know any better, she thought he would kill for her. “Have fun! And Crystal, be safe.” Her mother yells giving her the eye.
Amber arrived at the ticket booth with Trish and Chase and waited for the others. “So who is this Vic guy?” Trish asked. “She said she met him at this bar we went to a while back. She seems happy.” Amber checks her phone. “That’s good. She needs to be happy. She deserves it.” Trish comments. “We all do.” Amber looks up and sees them. “Hey bitches!” Crystal dances up to them and hugs them tight. “This is Vic, Vic this is Amber and Trish, my best friends.” Crystal introduces them as they enter the carnival. “Hey little man, want cotton candy?” Vic asked Chase. “Yeah!” Chase jumped with excitement. Vic and Chase started over to the food area. “What anything babe?” He asked. “I’m okay right now.” Crystal smiled.
“Okay, I love this glow you have and he is so cute and makes you happy. You are happy, right?” Amber smiled. “Blink twice if no.” Trish jokes. “Yes. He is so sweet and fun and he likes me for m
e. That's all I could ask for honestly.” Crystal answers.
Nate and Danielle entered and people stared at him. Some were shocked that he had the audacity to show his face. Others gave him dirty and nasty looks. “I told you showing up would be stupid.” Nate started towards the exit. “They need to know you aren’t that person. Show them you aren’t.” Danielle stopped him. “Can I see your phone?” Nate asked, holding out his hand. She unlocked it and handed it over. “Fine. I’ll go get food. If you need me shoot me a text.” Nate walked off. Danielle spotted Dallas by the bar.
“Hey you.” Danielle struts over to the bar. “Hey. Thirsty? What can I get you?” Dallas smiles. “Remember that drink you made me at the last party we met at. That one.” She smiles. “Ah. I got you.” Dallas pulled out a red cup and poured sprite inside and placed a cardboard holder around it, slipping the molly inside. “That will be twenty.” He informed her. “Thank you cutie.” Danielle took the cup and walked behind the Balloon Pop game and crushed the pill in the bag before snorting it from under her freshly done claw nail.
Where the White Rose Withers Page 10