Dancing in the Oaks

Crimes

I have to admit: I'm so tired of chasing this gossip and backstabbing crime scene. It's ridiculous if you ask me. This was one of the last things I wanted at this moment in time: to go back to my family's place. Nick drove me down there. "I have your back Norah. You'll never have to worry."

"Thanks ''Nicholas. I have yours too." I said.

Walking up to the door made me sick. My stomach turned as the door neared my sights. I made sure that I was never greater than half a foot away from Nick. I knew that he would protect me at all costs. He was ready to knock someone in the shoulder. It became evident that I couldn't even knock on the door. My body just stayed there frozen and silent. "Nick, I can't. I can't do it." I cried as I fell into his arms and buried my face in his shoulder. "I don't wanna repeat what's happened in the past. I'm mortified Nick. I can't even bring myself to fathom what's about to happen."

"Norah, remember what we all talked about? You have 12 people on your side." He said quietly in my ear.

"12? There's ten of those people and one of you..."

"My father..." he immediately interrupted, almost choking at the word 'father'.

"Right. I don't want anyone else to get hurt. This is so important. The Dales are here too!" I exclaimed quietly. Just the mere thought of going in there made me sicker than a dog after eating chocolate.

"It's okay. They are a part of it too. You ain't gotta worry. I will hold your hand the whole time." He said.

"Oh... I'm literally being such a baby about this situation. I'm so sorry. " That is literally how I felt I was acting. I felt embarrassed and ashamed of my behavior.

He smiled at me, "You have every right to be like that."

I went ahead and did the thing I absolutely never wanted to do again: knock. I had to breathe to calm my nerves and my beating heart. On top of all this my stomach began to turn. "Nick..." the door clicked. Door opened. It was my brother.

"What do you want?" He asked rudely. His voice almost sounded hateful and grudgeful.

"Please just let us in, we have to talk about something. Please let us in Harlem." I begged, but he didn't seem to budge. His body blocked the doorway so we could not just enter the house.

"Mom, do you want Norah and her guy friend to come in?" He asked arrogantly.

"Hmm. Depends." My mother responded, which made me so mad.

"Excuse me! Nick is not just my guy friend. He is my best friend. Thank you very much. Quit being so rude to him or else I will be rude back. Don't try me, if you do: watch and see!" I looked at Nick and touched his hair.

"Fine, come in." Harlem finally gave a rude approval of entrance. I still wonder what made him finally accept our short visitation time.

We walked in and just stood in the middle of the foyer. "Ahh I knew you two would be back. Time to face your fears?"

"Mom! I don't wanna be back. That's the thing. I have to keep talking and talking and talking more about your crimes, unclear, and unfinished business. This is ridiculous. You know, why are you so rude to me now?" I was practically almost yelling, but Nick would squeeze my hand each time I'd get louder. "I'm scared because I don't know what people would do to Nick or I if they found out, but at this point Nick and I don't care. I wish that This situation never happened. If you don't confess then we will confess on behalf of y'all."

"Oh no you don't little girl!" My brother said, "Don't you dare."

"Uhm.. I am your older sister. I'm not a little girl! That's disrespectful. You're in on this too?" I asked.

"I'm not commenting on that question." Harlem replied. Of course he would not admit to anything because he thought that he deserved everything.

"That was a yes, Harlem. I know you all too well." My brother glared at Nick. "Are you still in pain there Nick?"

"Yes." Nick replied as he snaked his arm around my waist.

"Good." Harlem snapped. "Very good." He let out a little smirk and an arrogant eye roll.

"Seriously, have some compassion for him! I'm so sorry Nick" He still had his arm around me.

Harlem's emotions were out of control. Just as he lunged at me his fist hit my face. Pain shot in the left side of my jaw. He hit right below my temple. The pain shot throughout my ears and my eye. It felt as if I could not feel my face for a second after, but the pain was just like a bullet hitting flesh. His fist hit me as fast and as hard as he could."Why did you just do that to her? Come one Norah we are leaving." He held my body up as I was nearly collapsing onto the floor below. I could feel my knees and feet give out. My vision got cloudy.

"Hold on. One last question... where is dad? He is never gone past 4:00. Guys it's 5:45. Where is he?" I screamed.

"Oh you didn't hear? He died too."

"What? Why dad? He was literally the only person here who I got along with. How the heck? You go and confess now!" We immediately left.