Crânio Borboleta (COMPLETED)

Chapter Fifteen

Juliette

I was sitting in a cold, gray room in a folded chair, a table across from me, two empty chairs on the other side of the table. I felt so betrayed. They all promised me they wouldn't tell anyone. Hot tears burned in my eyes. How could they?

"Juliette?" a woman asked as she and a man walked in and sat in the two empty chairs across from me. "Honey, I'm Detective O'Hara. We have questions to ask you about your foster family."

"I'm not saying anything." I muttered, leaning back and folding my arms, keeping my eyes on my shoes.

"Honey, please. Let me see your back."

"No!" I yelled, lurching to my feet. "They love me! They feed me, they clothe me, they give me anything I ask, I'm doing sports and am in advanced classes because they encouraged me to do those things! They care about me, what those asses said were lies!"

The two watched me for a while until the man lightly hit the woman's arm and left.

"Juliette," the woman said, taking my hand. "I'm Penelope. I have two little girls and a husband. I'm thirty-two."

Why was she telling me this?

"I have a good life. I have people who care about me. And I care about you. Your well being. You're a gorgeous young woman, Juliette. You have a gift with singing and art and basketball, and being abused is no reward for all of the amazing things you have done."

I swallowed hard.

"You are so smart, you have a great group of friends, and you had an amazing mother before she died. Tell me about her."

I looked down.

"Are you hungry? Thirsty? Cold? Hot?"

"Please just take me home." I whispered.

"I can't, honey. I need you to talk to me and let me help you."

"They love me!"

"No they don't! They don't care about how well you do in school, they don't help you with any extracurricular activities, they don't care about your well being or friends! They hurt you emotionally and physically! They hate you!"

"Shut up!" I shouted.

"They don't want you! They find you an outcast, they think of you as just some toy! Your mother smacks you and screams at you and calls you awful names!"

"Stop! Just shut the fuck up!"

"Your brother and his friends sexually assault you and rape you, and your father drinks his pain away! Your ex broke up with you because you are depressed, your friends are beginning to leave you! You have no one! You are not loved by them, Juliette, you are alone!"

"I know!" I sobbed, falling to my knees. "I know, I know!"

Penelope O'Hara sat beside me and held me in her arms. She ran her fingers through my wet, tangly hair, and I just sobbed into her chest. I knew what she was saying was true. I just never wanted to admit it out loud.

"But I love you," she whispered. "Mrs. Mangette loves you, Mr. Mangette loves you, Parson loves you, Olivia loves you, and Clay loves you. We interviewed them earlier, and all they did was tell us how amazing and wonderful and funny and adorable you were. And brave. They love you so much, Juliette. And we want you to be with a good family who won't break you down emotionally and physically. Please, let us help you."

I sniffled and slowly looked at her. "Okay. Okay."

She smiled and kissed my head, hugging me again.

******

After a few hours, George, Winona, and Sean were arrested. Penelope O'Hara packed my things and sent them to the Mangette's. She said they would be taking care of me until the trial at court to tell whether I would be staying with my foster family or they would no longer be able to have any contact with me and I would live with the Mangette's.

When Penelope took me to the Mangette's, she hugged me goodbye and I walked inside. Mr. Mangette, Mrs. Mangette, Clay, and Parson were waiting at the door with flowers, balloons, and cupcakes. I knew they were trying to help me with my family, but they still betrayed me. I swallowed and walked downstairs to the basement.

I was on the couch in the basement, just lying there, staring at the black TV. I was so mad. So sad. So frustrated. So confused. So disappointed. I didn't know what to do, what to say. The house was quiet for a long time. I didn't hear any footsteps from upstairs, no voices, nothing. But I didn't hate it.

******

"Juliette?" a voice asked softly.

I grunted as a hand ran through my hair and I opened my eyes. Clay was leaning over me. I swallowed and closed my eyes.

"Juliette, I'm sorry. But I swear to God, I didn't call them. I swear, you gotta believe me."

"You told them Sean and his friends raped me."

"I had to! I was not gonna let him do that to your anymore!"

"You don't understand!" I shouted as I lurched to my feet. "You took away the last of my family! This is all your fault, yours and your family! I will never  forgive you for this, Clay! Yes, they had their issues, but they still took me in! They let me into their home and fed me and clothed me! And you took that away, you asshole!"

He stared at me. I was so furious, I just wanted to smack him.

"Juliette," he whispered. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. But I had to. Seeing you with bruises and cuts and those awful welts on your back, and seeing you sad and distant all the time hurt me more than anything." He blinked hard. "And I would rather have you hate me than be in the pain they put you through."

I hated how much he cared. I hated that he was kind and loving and amazing. I wanted a reason to scream at him, but he wouldn't give me one. Tears welled in my eyes and I collapsed into his arms, sobbing heavily. He held me tight and sat on the floor, putting me in his lap and kissing my shoulder and cheek. I buried my face into the side of his neck, trying to contain my sobs, and he stroked my back, sniffling.

"I don't want to be angry," I whispered.

He held my face. "I promised you I would take care of you. I will make sure you're happy and healthy. I will not let them take you away from me. You are mine, Juliette. Understand?"

I sniffled as I moved back, and I nodded, wiping my runny nose on the sleeve of his sweatshirt I was still wearing.

"Your nose is all red," he said softly, stroking my nose with his. "Love me."

I slightly smiled and held his face, kissing him softly. He smiled and held my waist, pulling me closer to him.

"You've had a long day," he murmured. "Why don't we get some rest?"

I nodded slightly and he picked me up, carrying me to his room and laying both of us on his bed.

"Now that we don't have to go anywhere else today," he began, and he took off my pants and his shirt. I chuckled softly. "I loved your outfit this morning with your hair and my sweatshirt."

I smiled slightly, sat up, and pulled my hair up in a messy bun, looking at him as he watched me.

"You're so fucking cute!" he yelled.

I smiled.

"Why aren't you laughing and making weird faces and noises?" he asked softly. "Butterfly, I don't want you to be mad at me. I wanna make it up to you."

"I'm fine, Clay." I mumbled.

"No you're not," He held my face. "I want you to be happy."

"I am," I said softly, forcing a smile. "I am. I'm happy I'm with you."

"But you're angry with me."

I sighed softly and rested my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes.

"I love you," he said softly.

I rested my hand on the back of his neck and stroked my nose against the side of his neck. "I love you too."