common sense • rini/jolivia one shots

justice (2)

before we get started i want to warn everybody that this chapter is focused around the heavy topic of sexual assault of a minor and the criminal court case that follows. if this topic is too heavy for you then please, do not read this. i do use the "R" word a few times in this chapter as well. your mental health is more important than my stupid chapters. if you need help, the National Sexual Assault Hotline number is 800-656-HOPE or you can go online to RAINN.org and check out their online help services. you are loved and i support you🤍

***

the interrogation room is cold and dark. Dana sits beside her as her council, holding her hand tightly while they wait for the officers to return.

after Nini told Dana she wanted to press charges, they went down to the Salt Lake City Police Department to file a report. after some questions they weren't sent to wait for detectives to come interview her. since she was underage, she could have a parent present. her parent just so happened to be a lawyer.

the tall detective came into the room, another one following behind him. the two men took a seat at the table across from Nini and her mother, introducing themselves.

"okay Nina, i need you to tell me what happened the night of the party."

Nini lets out a shaky breath as she begins to retell the story of her assault. tears are rolling out of her eyes as she relives the way he touched her forcibly, telling the officers about the event that transpired that afternoon as well.

the officer finished writing something in the report, "okay, i just have a few questions. you said that your boyfriend wasn't at the party that night?"

Nini looked at Dana briefly, "yes, that's correct."

"are you sure he wasn't the one that did this? maybe you two had a fight or you turned him down, so he got revenge by coming to the party to assault you."

Nini was furious, "no! that's not what happened! he would never do this! the boy who raped me is James Miller, he's a football player at East High. he spoke to me during the attack and he's the one that cornered me today and told me that he'd like to do it again."

the detectives nodded and wrote down the name. Nini wipes her tears quickly, how could anybody think that Ricky did this to her? he'd NEVER touch her without her consent and if they were getting intimate and Nini said no, he'd stop immediately. it's happened before.

"why didn't you report this when it happened?"

"i was scared. i'm sixteen and i was just assaulted at a party where i didn't drink, i was aware of my surroundings. i was embarrassed. i know how to be vigilant of these things and it still happened to me. i felt ashamed of myself."

the detective nodded and leaned forward, "had you ever seen this boy before? maybe he asked you out and you turned him down recently?"

"no, i don't know him. i've been with my boyfriend since before high school started, i've never been asked on a date by anybody else."

Dana was getting worried. the officers were riling Nini up to try to get her to say something that didn't make sense to the case, "i'm sorry, why do you keep asking questions like it didn't happen? my daughter was abused and yet you're acting like it was her fault."

the officer sighed and set down his pen, "in sorry, this is just what the defense lawyer is going to do. they're going to try to break you and make you say something questionable on the stand."

Nini nodded self consciously. was this even a good idea? she wasn't prepared for what was coming.

***