Chapter 6:

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by gigi_awitch

by gigi_awitch

I avoided my mother,"Honey?,"she called from the living room,"You okay?"I didn't answer but walked up the steps slowly,my back pack was dragged on the ground.I took off my clothes and stepped into the shower,I found bruises all on my waist and neck.

The water began to wash off all of it--the pain,the the liquids,maybe even a few tears--I still felt dirty.When I got out,my mom was waiting for me in the hallway,"Hey,"she said,"You okay?"

I shook my head and broke down again,falling to the floor.She went down to me,"What happened?,"she asked me,"Tell,Al,did someone hurt you?"I nodded my head,"What did they do to you?"

I loosened th towel from around my waist,showing the purple-blue marks.Her eyes widened and her mouth quivere,she gripped my arm,"Who did this to you?"I looked down,tears were falling and my eyes swelled up again."Alex,"she said,"Who did this?Tell me."

"I-I don't know their names...they got me from behind the school-,"my voice broke off as I sniffled."Why were behind the school?,"she said.

Oops.

"I was staying after school with J-Mr.Hudson,"I stammered.

"Maybe he saw something."

"I doubt it."

"How do you know?"

"Because I called out for him when it happened!,"I snapped,"I cried,I cried so much for him but he didn't show up.So I do know."My mom's face turned sad,I looked down at the floor,"I'm such an idiot to think that he-,"I let my voice drift.

"You're not an idiot,"she said,"It wasn't your fault."

"Yes it was,"I muttered,"All of it."She asked me how,but I didn't answer."Well,"she said,letting her grip on my slack,"I'll go get a rape kit,keep the clothes,okay,and then we're going to go talk to Mr.Hudson."She got and held out a hand for me,she walked me back to my room and picked up the clothes and put them in a bag.

"Don't worry baby,"she said,"We'll get them."Yeah we'll get them.

__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

My mom drove us back to school,the office lady gave her Jame's address and she drove over there."Let me do the talking,"she said,"Whatever he knows could help us."

She was calm,most parents would be ready to kill anyone if something like this happened to their children,but not her.My mother,before I was born,was raped.She told me it made her crazy,suicidal,and even paranoid of anyone of the opposite gender.

"You can't live in fear forever,"she tells me,"When the world kicks you down,you get back up and continue fighting because it will get better."Not long after,she met my father and,after two years of dating,they got married and had me."My joy,"she calls me,"You are the symbol of it."

I held her hand as we walked up the porch steps,she looked at me and kissed the top of my head."You wanna sit in the car?,"she asked me.I shook my head,"Okay then."She knocked on the door,casual and harmless.

I heard the door locks click and James appeared.He was wearing a white shirt and and black jeans,he was barefoot and his hair was a mess,"Yes?,"he looked between me and my mother.

__ _ _ _ _ _ _

"Would you like anything to drink?,"he asked,leading us into the living room,"Tea?Water?I think I still have some Peace Tea left."Oh god,I smiled a little,even at home he ws a hispter.

"No,no,"my mom said,"We're fine.Just need to ask a few questions."He nodded and sat down on the couch in front of ours,"What can I do for you today?,"he laughed,nervously.My mom,still holding onto myhand,"Well,Alex told me that he stayed after school and..well...,"she said quietly,"He was attacked."

James's eyes widened,"Where?,"he asked,"Do you know who did it?Are you okay?"His eyes searched my face for an answer,burning a hole into my heart;I looked down not being able to bare it.

"Alex doesn't know them by name,"my mom said,"He was attacked a little after he left you,did you see anything or anyone?"James shook his head,"No,you don't look that hurt to me.They musn't have got to you too ba-"

"He was raped,Mr.Hudson."My mother said,making silence loud again.

James blinked,his eyes far away,"What?"My mother didn't say it again,"Somebody hurt my boy,"she said,"And I,as a mother and victim,want to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible."James's motuh parted slightly,like he wanted to say something,then he clenched up and let his head fal.

"It's all my fault,"he said,"All of it."He ran both his hands through his hair,breathing hard."James,"I said,"Dont-"He looked up,tears welled up in his eyes.

"I wasn't there,"he said,"I should've been.I should've let you go home early,like the rest of the students."He gasped and wiped his eyes,"But I'm selfish.I didn't want you to leave me.And now you..they.."James covered his face,he was crying.

Something inside me broke,or was I just feeling sad.

"I don't think it's your fault,"my mom started."It is,"James said,"All because of some girl."My mom tilted her head to the side,"How is it your fault?"

James looked up,"Because,"his eyes fell to Alex's,he sighed,"I've been sleeping with your son."