Gil
"Hit that shit. Yes! Get it D. Get it y'all." I watched everyone go through the dances and checked for improvements. It was hard to make the adjustments without Allison but I've managed to make it work.
Now it just took time for everyone to get in the groove.
Janet was obviously off today but she was still hitting everything perfectly. Whiley and Guero were in perfect formation with Denzel which was awesome. They have the most important parts and are the strongest dancers besides Janet. So then being on point really helped. Alex was doing very well for being back after a while.
Not long after Allison was arrested, Alex invited Janet to the mental health facility for a talk to make amends. Janet just so happened to arrive earlier than planned and overheard part of Alex's story. She forgave her and they've been pretty cool ever since. "Excellent!" The music stopped.
"That was great guys." Janet spoke. "Everyone take an hour." The dancers immediately began to leave out. Janet sat on the floor next to Eissa, who had been playing with his toys, while Denzel sat on the other side of the room. I observed their behavior and they didn't look at each other once. They usually sit next to each other and talk or laugh, but they weren't doing that. Janet wasn't even wearing her ring anymore. I needed to know what was going on.
As I got ready to go to her, Alex sat next to her. Janet began to talk to her and they got up then went into another room. I decided to go to Denzel. "Yo." I snatched his phone.
"What the hell?"
"Don't 'what the hell' me. I 'what the hell' you. So what the hell is going on with you and my bestie?" He sighed.
"Just some.."
"Don't lie to me."
"She thinks I'm cheating and won't let me explain."
"Why does she think you're cheating?" He was silent. "Are you cheating!" I got ready to hit him.
"No! I'm not!"
"Denzel, I swear..."
"I'm not lying. I swear." I put my hand down. "She just won't let me tell her what's going on."
"Have you truly tried?"
"Come on. I've tried and tried but this is Janet we're talking about. She's set her mind to something and it's not changing."
"True." I sat down. "Well, what's going on?"
"Well..." We jumped when we heard a door slam. Janet came storming over with Alex behind her.
"You knew this whole fucking time?!" She screamed at Denzel. "After everything I've been through! You keep this from me!" She pushed him and he fell onto the floor. "How could you?!"
"Whoa!" I stood up and grabbed her arms. "What's going on?" She had tears coming down her face.
"Wissam has been granted a court date." My heart stopped.
"What?"
"He has a court date, Gil. His lawyer is building a case to get him and that woman and to get his custody rights back."
"How do you know?" She started breathing hard. "Sit down and calm down. Breathe." We sat and she caught her breath. Denzel found a new seat. "What happened?"
"I figured out that Alex was the one calling Denzel. She told me about some things and how he helped her. When I asked her why she was still calling, she admitted that she was trying to get in contact with me to ask for my help."
"Wait, how does this connect to Wissam?"
"He's manipulating her into testifying for him by saying that the only reason he hurt me was in self defense because I abused him after finding out she slept with him." She started crying again. "They're believing him. I can't believe this." She cried harder and looked at Denzel. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"B...beca.."
"Why?!"
"Because I thought she was lying. I mean, come on, she's lied before."
"Never this big and why would she lie now after she's apologized and reconciled with everyone."
"I'm not lying, Gil. That's the initial reason I called Denzel in the first place."
"But Janet said you called because you needed help."
"I did, because Wissam's security men found me at the shelter I was staying at and had been following me. I needed Denzel's help with a place to stay and he said I could stay at his old apartment since the lease isn't really up for eight more months."
"Why were you in a shelter?"
"My mother kicked me out when I told her my stepdad used to rape me. She didn't believe me and when I came home all of my stuff was on the lawn and the locks were changed." My heart aches for her.
"I feel so bad." said Janet.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because I'm the one who advised her to tell her mom. We thought she'd be receptive. I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry." said Alex. "I let my pain and trauma and mountain of issues influence my decisions and hurt you. This is all my fault." They both cried and I realized that Janet genuinely forgave her. It made me sad for both of them.
"Listen, this is neither of you guys' fault. Wissam did the same thing to both of you. Janet was vulnerable and hurt when she met him and Alex was vulnerable and hurt when he met her too. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't plan all of this ahead of time." Janet sat back.
"This is ridiculous. I can't believe he managed to pop up again." She looked back at Alex. "Why does he want you to testify?"
"He wants me to say that all the stuff he did to you was in self defense because you got angry when he cheated with me. He wants to paint this picture of a bitter old woman who is desperate for anyone to love her and he's the younger innocent family man who only wants to be close to his son."
"Oh my god." Janet covered her face and my history of mental health issues aren't going to help either."
"Janet, listen." Alex touched Janet's shoulder. "I will find a way out of this. It's the least I can do after everything. I will do anything I can to keep him in there."
"Thanks, but he's too powerful. I'll just have to think of something to stop him." Janet got up and went to the bathroom. I knew she was going to break down and began to go after her. I found her in the bathroom, leaning over the sink.
"Janet, stay strong okay."
"Gil, I can't. I can't do this again. I can't...." She tilted her head back. "I can't...do....this." She hit the counter.
"Jan, come on...we...we can think of something. We can..."
"Gil! Please! Just...." She sighed. "....just stop, okay." She wiped her face and headed to the door. I stopped her.
"You can fight this."
"I'm tired of fighting." She moved past me.
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The drama. THE DRAMA!!!!
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