what was i made for, walker

022. ranger fair

TW: talk of sexual abuse/grooming/rape, attempted rape/sa

Cordell and his two older kids are up earlier than Janie, Cordell letting her take a few days off from school, the girl sleeping in.

"Okay, hey." Cordell calls before the two leave for school. "Listen, I know you heard everything last night. Or, at least, almost everything." The two siblings share sad looks. "I have to convince your sister to want to press charges because even though I legally can, she said she'd deny everything if I did anything because she is so frickin' stubborn. So I have to try to convince her to do anything, but I just-- I need you two to be nice to her, okay? And-- and don't press her for details, if she wants to talk, maybe prod her a little, but let her coome to you. Ju-- just be nice is what I'm getting at."

"Yeah, dad, we know. We've dealt with a broken Janie before." August says.

"This is a much different kind of broken, Augie." Cordell says. "And usually you've all kind of... kind of been broken together, but... but it's just her this time and-- just--"

"Be nice." The two chorus.

"We understand." Stella says.

"Ma-maybe you should stay home today." Cordell tells the redhead. "Uh... you-- you know, some... some sister bonding  time. It-- it might help her. I'm sure males aren't her favorite right now, even if it is us."

"Yeah. Yeah, sure." Stella nods. "I can drop Augie off first."

"No. No, it's okay, I can take him. I got it." Cordell assures. "Just-- just focus on your sister." Stella nods.

+++

Stella is sitting at the counter and looks away from her phone when Janie trudges downstairs.

"Hey." Stella gently smiles, getting her sister's attention.

"What are you doing here?" Janie asks.

"Uh... I-I didn't feel very well this morning. I, um... I threw up this morning so dad had me stay home." Stella says. She doesn't completely lie, the only lie being the time and the reason for being home. She did throw up last night, not able to handle hearing what her little sister's been through.

"Right. And it has nothing to do with me?" Janie scoffs.

"Janie..."

"I'm not pressing charges. And I already told him, he does it without my permission, I'm not gonna cooperate. He can't prove anything without me." Janie says.

"You should press charges. Janie, this creep molested you. He raped you."

"Would you shut up?!" Janie snaps. "Don't you think I know what he did? But I don't wanna fucking deal with it, okay?!"

"So  you're just gonna let him get away and let him do it to God knows how many other girls?" Stella questions.

Janie falters, harshly biting the inside of her cheek, trying to hold back any insults directed at her sister.

"Fuck you." She sneers, storming upstairs.

"Janie!" Stella calls, but goes ignored as the blonde proceeds to her bedroom.

+++

Stella gently knocks on Janie's door, but doesn't get an answer. After a moment, Stella opens the door, walking inside, finding Janie sitting on her bed and scrolling through her phone.

"Hey." Stella gently calls, Janie only glancing at her for a moment. "Look, Jane, I... I'm sorry. I'm trying to help and maybe I'm going about it the wrong way. But I really think you should fight this guy. He took advantage of you, he manipulated you. He-- he made you trust him just so he could hurt you and get off on it."