SEVENTEEN [ THIRTEEN REASONS WHY ]

[1.1]

Alice Rose-

"Mom?" Alice called out as she climbed down the stairs from her room, "I need to talk to you," she said and heard Clay's footsteps following behind her.

It's been almost an entire week since her assault and she was finally in the right state of mind to tell her mom what had happened to her- well of course after Clay had convinced the girl for hours.

"Mom?" she yelled again and stopped in the living room to see her two younger siblings sitting on the couch, "shouldn't you two be in school?" she asked as she furrowed her eyebrows.

"If you're not going to school, then we're not going," Thomas Rose said before turning on the tv.

"You're in eighth grade- you're going to school. I'll drive you guys there myse-"

"Can it, Alice. We're not going. Mom already said we don't have too," Thomas said once again, "besides Chase is coming home today for a week,"

"Chase is?" Alice said as her eyes widened.

Alice's stomach churned as she began hyperventilating, "Alice are you okay?" Melanie Rose asked as she stood up, "Alice?" her sister called out once again before wrapping her arms around her fragile sister.

Thomas stood up and looked at Clay as his eyes widened, "what's going on?" Thomas yelled before hurrying by his sisters side and wrapped his arms around the two of them.

Clay bent down next Alice and looked at the girl before opening his mouth, "Alice, everything will be okay. Focus on your breathing and count to ten with me, okay?" he said softly.

Alice nodded her head and began counting to ten slowly with Clay. As the numbers came closer to ten, Alice was able to regain herself and focus on her breathing.

"Thank you," Alice said once she caught her breath and stood up and looked at her terrified siblings, "guys I'm so sorry," she said and looked down at her hands, "where's mom right now?" she asked them.

"Picking up Chase," Thomas answered her.

"Okay, I guess I will talk to her and Chase when they get here," she said before looking at the stairs that lead to her room, "come on, Clay," she said and slowly trudged up the stairs.

"Who's Chase?" Clay asked as he shut her bedroom door.

"My older brother. He's a sophomore in college right now," she replied to the blue eyed boy.

"Mom?" Alice called out once she heard their front door open.

"Alice! Sweetie, look who came to visit," her mom said and moved to the side for Alice to see Chase.

Alice nodded her head and waved at Chase, "hey," she said softly and moved to the side, "Chase this is Clay, my friend,".

"Hello, Clay," Chase said shaking the boys hand and looking back at his sister, "what no big hug?" Chase asked and wrapped his arms around his sister.

"Chase let go of me," Alice said trying to get out of his grip, "seriously Chase- get off," Alice screamed and pushed chase away from her, "mom can we please talk," she said and began crying.

"Alice, whatever you tell mom, you can tell me too," Chase said furrowing his eyebrows, "what's going on with you?" he asked stepping closer to his sister.

"Chase stop," she cried out and backed up a little.

"Guys, stop," their mom said and stood in front of Chase, "why don't you go say hi to Melanie and Thomas. I'm sure they're in the basement,"

"I'm staying for this," Chase fought back, "let's sit down at the dining room table," he said and lead the way through the house.

Clay awkwardly sat down in the chair next to Alice and grabbed her hand under the table, squeezing her hand letting her know that he's here.

"Mom, I was-" Alice began but stopped herself and breaking out into a sob.

"You were what?" Alice's mom asked, moving closer to her daughter and grabbed her free hand.

"Clay told me that it's best if I tell you what's going on," Alice cried out.

"Did Clay hurt you?" Chase asked slowly standing up, his eyes darting down on Clay.

"No- no not, Clay. But yes, I was hurt," Alice said after wiping her eyes, "mom, someone hurt me in a way that I can't- that I don't understand," she said looking up at her mom, "I didn't want to do it-" she cried out once again.

"Alice, who did this?" her mom said scrunching her face, she understood what her daughter was trying to say.

"Hurt you how?" Chase asked, not getting the message.

"He forced me to have sex with him," she blurted out looking over at clay, "you were right mom, I shouldn't have gone to that party. Chloe was there, but she was too gone. It's my fault. I shouldn't have worn those tight jeans-"

"Wearing tight jeans doesn't mean this guy has access to you," Chase said slamming his fists down on the table, "what's his name?" Chase said loudly.

"I can't tell you," Alice said not making eye contact with the boy.

"Do I know him?" Chase asked once again while their mom was completely speechless.

Alice nodded her head slowly. It wasn't a lie, Alice's brother did in fact know Bryce Walker. The two of them played on the same football before Chase graduated.

"Who is it? I'm going to kill them," Chase said demanding for a name.

"Chase stop!" Ms. Rose yelled before looking at her son, "violence isn't going to solve this, okay!"

"What will then? Letting a rapist roam the streets without any punishment?" Chase yelled, "you think not teaching him a lesson will 'straighten' him out and not do it again, but this time to another girl? Or even to Alice again?" Chase yelled toward his mother.

"We could go to the police," Clay muttered looking up at Alice's mother, "touching Br- touching this guy will not do anything, but backfire on Alice," Clay said.

"Who did it?" Chase said once again after rolling his eyes at Clay.

"I- I can't," Alice cried and ran up to her room, sobbing on her way up.