blame it on the rain-monsters: the lyle and erik menendez story.

chapter 13.

1995.

"They won't use your failed lie detector test against you. They aren't accurate. I don't even know why they made you do it in the first place," Leslie sighed, smoking coming out from her mouth as she sighed.

Rose watched Leslie scribble down words with her ink pen.

Rose rubbed her arm with her hand. Up and down. Up and down. Skin against skin.

"Ok Rose, so just tell me a little about your own family background."

Rose licked her lips. "Um, okay,"

She glanced at the ink on Leslie's paper.

"My dad died when I was young. I was 10. I didn't really remember him dying I just remember hearing my Mom screaming about it. I was in like the 5th or 4th grade. I don't know—it was a blur."

"Did that take a toll on you?"

"I mean I was sad. But everything still felt the same. He was never home. He came home like maybe once a week and he'd always cook us dinner that night and bring home presents. At least he tried when he was home."

Rose talked about it so nonchalantly. Like it didn't hurt her.

"What did your father do for a living to where he wasn't home?"

"He was a business man. I don't remember exactly what he did, but he just was never home a lot."

Leslie nodded, scribbling a few words down.

"And your Mom, was she home a lot?"

"After she stopped playing tennis, yes. So like a year or two before Dad died." She said, rubbing her arm again.

"Are you close with your Mom?"

"Yeah. I'd say that I am. She's a good Mom."

1989.
One week after the murders.

For once, Rose heard a knock on her front door. She was in the kitchen with her family. Her Mom and sister. All three looked up at door, before looking at each other.

"Erik?" Courtney asked Rose. Rose shook her head.

"Since when has Erik knocked?" Eileen said,  confused at the knock but walking to door.

"Eileen do not open that door!" Courtney yelled at her daughter. Eileen turned around and made a funny face at her Mom.

Courtney had been nothing but paranoid since José and Kitty were murdered.

"Who is it?!" Eileen yelled at the door, still facing the other two women.

"It's Erik." Eileen frowned but opened the door for him.

Rose thought it was funny that her Mom was scared about the murders of Erik's parents, but the person who killed them was standing in their foyer. Ironic.

Erik walked in, khaki shorts and a light blue polo. He looked fine, except from the circles under his eyes.

"Oh, Erik. Your poor thing come here," Courtney opened her arms to Erik. He accepted, hugging her back. Courtney gently petted the back of his head, giving him a kiss on his temple.

"My son," She muttered.

"Hi, Mrs. Bishop. It's good to see you again." He said, smiling at her as he pulled away.

She smiled at Erik. "How are you holding up?" She asked, rubbing his arms comfortingly.

"I'm okay. Thank you."

He turned around to Rose. She hugged him. She hadn't seen him in a few days.

"You okay?" She whispered to him. He nodded, gently kissing her head. Erik was so gentle with her. It blew her mind how he was capable of doing such a thing.

Erik sat and talked with the rest of the family for awhile, before Eileen and Courtney went to bed.

"Do you want to go play tennis?" She asked him. He nodded.

They started their match. The glow from the moon shined on them. The neon green ball looked like it was a fireball as it shot through the air.

Erik won, but he still gave a sweaty hug to Rose with a complimentary kiss on the forehead.

"You did good. Proud of you." He mumbled into her hair. She hummed, walking away from him to put her racket up.

Erik followed behind her. He put his racket up.

They sat down in the lawn chairs. Rose stared over the tennis court.

"I keep having these nightmares," Erik breathed out. Rose looked at him.

"I keep seeing myself. Killing my Mom. The dreams only end by me killing myself." He said shyly, having brought his legs into the chair with him. He pulled them up to his chest.

"You're thinking about killing yourself?" She asked, looking at him.

"I only dream it. It's only been a few times, but still." Rose nodded.

"You can talk to me if you want. I won't force you too but I want you too." Erik nodded and it was silent for a few minutes.

"Do you feel better now that they're dead?"

Erik hesitated before nodding.

"They put so much on me. I feel lighter. Like I'm floating."

Rose frowned. "I wish I would've said something to someone before you did that. Maybe you wouldn't be worried about going to prison for life. Or getting caught."

Erik looked back at her.

"It was either them or us."

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