𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐈𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍 / alex standall ✓

𝟓𝟎. courage

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐈𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍
50 / COURAGE
↳ season two, episode eight: the little girl
act two / the polaroids

𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐀 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐍 the audience for the ribbon cutting with May, the last place she wanted to be. But, her mom had been very firm with her instructions that the entire family needed to be there to support Zach, and this included Nessa. And, considering the hot spot that the twins were in with their mother right now – especially after Clay Jensen's testimony and the molly – Nessa knew not to argue with her.

Zach walked up to his sisters, squatting down beside them to greet them. "Zach!" May called out as she waved.

"Hey." Zach said. "Did anything happen to you at school today?"

"Like what?" May asked, but the conversation was interrupted by their mother.

"The field looks great!" Mrs. Dempsey said as she sat down. "And the news is here, what an occasion."

Nessa rolled her eyes, looking at Zach as she twisted uncomfortably in her chair. She knew it was partially on her for not telling her mother that Bryce was her assailant, but she also knew that she had probably heard the tapes. And that she was a smart woman who could put two and two together, if she really cared that much.

"We're not staying." Zach said firmly, locking eyes with Nessa.

"Why not?" Mrs. Dempsey asked, annoyed.

"Do you know why the news vans are here?" Zach asked harshly. "Do you know about the tapes?"

"I know that she didn't say anything about either of you that you haven't already said."

"That's not it, Mom." Nessa tried to say, but her mother cut her off.

"And at a time like this, your friend Bryce needs you to stand by him." Mrs. Dempsey said firmly. Nessa's face grew hot with anger, she couldn't stand it anymore. Her mother had heard the tapes, heard what happened to her, pretended to believe her and stood by her all these months, but when it came down to it, she was just like everyone else at this school. Once it came to Bryce, her story didn't matter anymore.

Zach's kind eyes turned into a hateful glare as he looked over at his mother, and then at his twin sister who was trembling in her chair. Even May knew that something was up.

"Let's go, Nessa." Zach ordered, standing up. "May, you too. Come on."

"Zachary Dempsey." Mrs. Dempsey spat. "If you're not here, what are people gonna say?"

"They're gonna say 'Thank God he isn't defending the guy that raped his sister'." Nessa hissed through her own tears. "But you already knew that one, didn't you, Mom?"

Mrs. Dempsey's heart fell to the floor as she realized what she had just done, but it was too late for that. "Nessa, sweetie."

"Just stop, Mom." Nessa said as she wiped her eyes. "For the first time in my life, I am so fucking ashamed that you are my mother."

Zach grabbed onto her hand, his other hand already interlocked with May's as he pulled both of his siblings away from the mess of the ceremony and into his car.