Grace.

Chapter 20.

The search was on again the following day. Luckily for us, it didn't take that long. After driving for hours, Josh spotted her car outside the petrol station.
"There she is!" He cried out.
Caleb parked by the side way and we quickly got out of the van. I ran so fast!
"Donna!" I cried, hugging her.
"Where have you been?!" Bebe asked.
Donna looked at us with a blank expression on her face. No smile, no show of worry. Nothing. "I-I've been around," she answered flatly. I looked at her stunned. "Around? That's all you can say? You've been gone. No call. No text,"
I pressed. Donna shrugged trying to pass through us, "Yeah, I had to be alone. So I've been around," she answered. We all looked at each other.
"Why didn't you come to us?" Naomi wondered.
Donna sighed, "It wasn't that deep, that's why. Am I late for the lunch? I'm starving."
I got so annoyed by her behavior.
"Well! Everyone has been looking for you for the past two days, while you were 'around'. Diana is worried. We were worried. We searched everywhere!" I shouted.
"I'm sorry. Can we move on from this now?"
She got into her car and rolled down her window, "Meet you at Bebe's?" We stood there wondering what on earth was going on. After receiving no reply from either of us, she drove off.
"I swear to you, the weirdest shit keeps happening lately," I voiced.
Bebe checked the time on her phone. If we didn't leave immediately, we'd be late for her mom's special lunch. Without wasting anymore time, we drove straight to her house. As we walked into Bebe's yard, we were greeted by the amazing smell of pie.
Our tummies rumbled. Josh and Caleb rushed to sit down, greeting only afterwards. We saw Bebe's mom come out with more food. She'd set a table big enough, outside in the garden. She'd also prepared almost everything: chicken, veggies, gravy, pasta, sauce, pie, roasted potatoes, steak, garlic bread and for dessert, cherry pie, ice cream and malva pudding.
"Hey, girls!" Brooke's mom beamed.
"Hey Mrs. B!" We sang.
I was the first to hug her. The others followed, taking their seats afterwards.
"This looks good, Mrs. B," Mimi complimented her.
"Thank you, honey!" She smiled.
She told us to wait for the rest before digging in. We drank juice while we did. Donna arrived, greeting us like nothing was wrong. Next, was Lucy. She looked cheerful and she was wearing a bright yellow dress.
"You're wearing a bright color?" Bebe gasped. "Yes," Lucy replied, greeting Brooke's mom and taking a seat.
"In all the years I've known you," Caleb started.
"It looks good on you. Brings out your beauty even more," added Josh.
Lucy smiled and then turned to look at us. She looked really happy, and her wearing a different color from black or grey, confirmed it. I was the first to speak. "It looks really good on you though. It really brings out your character: brave and confident," I smiled.
"Thank you, Grace. I saw it and I thought, I just had to get it," Lucy replied.
I didn't want to start any drama. I was okay. I really was! Then Naomi started it.
"Did Tom like it too?"
Bebe choked on her drink. I gave her a strong shove in the stomach. "Ouch!" She cried. "What is wrong with you?!" I hissed. Lucy smirked at Naomi before making her regret asking that question.
"I wouldn't know, we aren't seeing each other anymore," she paused to take a sip of her juice,  "but if Edgar likes it, you'll be the first to know," she continued.
I saw Donna and Bebe give Mimi a look. Mrs. B came out with the last bowl of salad. "Okay kids, food's ready! Everyone is here, right? Let us pray."
We joined hands and Naomi was forced to hold Lucy's. After saying grace, the others dug in, stacking their plates all the way to the top. Lucy took a piece of chicken and put it on Naomi's plate. She added some salads to it, using her hands.
"You kids sure are hungry," Mrs. B chuckled.
"Mrs. B, you do not want to know what our week was like," I added, shooting Donna a sharp look.
"Where were you, anyway?" Lucy asked her.
"Around," I quickly replied.
Donna rolled her eyes.
"Don't do it again. We were worried," Lucy said to Donna.
"I needed some space. Can we drop this now?" Donna snapped.
"Sure! Just know that I won't bother myself looking for you again," I assured her.
Bebe picked up her glass, and tapped it lightly with a spoon to get our attention. "I just want to say thank you guys for being here. It really means a lot to me. For the first time in a very long time I'm in a good place. I have all of you to thank for that. Mom, thank you for the amazing food. Ladies, thank you for your support, your love and amazing friendship. Josh and Caleb, you guys are the sweetest. Caleb, thank you for loving me."
Caleb got up from his chair and moved over to Bebe, giving her a passionate kiss. We cheered and whistled. Mrs. B looked very happy for Bebe. The lunch went well and after that, everyone headed home. We were still a bit angry at Donna, so we caught a ride with Caleb and Josh. I was sitting at the back, my upper body laid across Josh's legs. I was so full, and it felt so nice having him scratch my back. I was so close to falling asleep when Lucy cried out.
"My phone! I left it in the kitchen! We have to go back!"
"What? No ways! You'll get it tomorrow!" Naomi dismissed.
"No...I'm expecting a call. Caleb, turn around," she ordered.
"Dude, just do it so that we can get it over and done with," Josh fumed.
When we got to Bebe's house, Caleb parked outside and waited for Lucy who quickly ran in. I could hear screams coming from upstairs.
"Wait, can you hear that?" I asked the rest in the car.
We heard the cries and quickly ran into the house. We got to Bebe's room and saw her mom on the floor with Brooke in her arms. Both of them crying.
"What happened?!" I quizzed.
Caleb rushed to Bebe. "What happened, Bebe?"
I quickly ran out of the room and returned with a wet towel. Caleb took it and gently wiped the blood on her leg.
"That bastard! He was here wasn't he?!" Luce fumed.
"Rogers? He must still be here. Josh, come on!" Caleb got up from the floor and with Josh, searched the whole house. He wasn't there. We tried to get Bebe to talk but she didn't. All she did was cry. Mrs. Brown asked me to call the cops. After a while, one arrived.
"There has been an intruder in my house and he's violated my daughter!"
"I can see. Do you know who the person is?" The officer questioned Bebe.
"A boy from school. His name is Luke Rogers."
"I'll need you to come down to the station with me."
"And then what's going to happen?" Bebe fretted.
"Once your statement has been taken in and a case is opened, Mr Rogers will be arrested."
I looked at Bebe and I could tell that's not what she wanted. But she didn't have much of a choice. Her mom was involved now and she wanted Luke punished. Well, the messed up thing is that Luke didn't get arrested. Apparently he had alibis and had been at the café all day with his friends and new girlfriend. He argued that him and Bebe aren't on good terms and that lately she'd been trying to sabotage him. It could've been anyone.

The whole thing pissed Brooke's mom off and she went to school first thing in the morning. Upon arriving at Miss Davis' office, she found Luke there with a man who seemed very upset.
"Do something, Helen! That tramp is trying to ruin my son's life and I WILL NOT LET HER! I will sue ALL OF YOU!" Luke's dad shouted.
"Tramp? Are you calling my daughter a tramp?! She's in hospital right now because this animal tried to shove her phone up her vagina!!" Mrs. B shouted back.
"Lady, your daughter is the town bicycle. EVERYONE knows that! My son did her a favor!!! No one wants trash! But he loved her and took care of her! This is the thanks my boy gets?!"
Principal Davis shouted to silence the two parents and they backed down.
"This matter has already been addressed and it seems like it's getting out of hand. I've asked Brooke to bring me evidence..."
"So, this whole time you've known about this and said nothing?! What kind of woman, no, what kind of a mother does that?! Brooke is my child! I deserve to know everything that goes on in her life!"
"The girls asked that I keep this a secret. I shouldn't have, I apologize for that. It was wrong, I admit."
"You're in on it too aren't you, Helen? You're teaming up with these kids to ruin my son's life? I will sue you. Mark my words I will END you. And you! If your daughter doesn't get my son's name out of her filthy mouth...there will be hell to pay!"
Mr. Rogers got up from his chair with Luke and they left. Miss Davis removed the glasses from her face and rubbed her eyes.
"I am so sorry, Mrs. Brown. I will try my best to fix all of this. The problem is, your daughter doesn't have enough evidence to back her story. It's not going to be easy," she explained.
"That boy hurt my little girl. He must be punished," Brooke's mom cried. And before Davis could say another word, she was gone.
The rest of us stayed huddled in the corner watching it all.
After Davis gathered herself, she looked up at us and spoke:
"What's the word on Brooke?"
"She's in hospital and we haven't seen her yet," I revealed.
"And the evidence was in her phone?"
"Y-yes," Lucy muttered.
"Which is gone, now?" Davis continued.
We didn't know what to say. We were done for. But we didn't tell Davis that because we didn't want to give up without a fight. Luke was going to pay. One way or another.