Here is a repost of a story I wrote a few weeks ago. I wasn't happy with the original story after I wrote it and wanted to make some changes. I hope everyone likes the new version. Remember to read and review.
Sorry
American Bandstand Studio
Thursday Evening
After the show was done taping, Meg made her way up the stairs to the control room to work on a special project with Michael Brooks, one of the producers. As she pushed open the door, she found one of the control guys, packing up his stuff.
"Michael had to drop something off in Dick's office." He said, "He told me to tell you that he would be back in a few minutes."
"Thanks."
"Have a nice night."
"You too."
The man picked up his coat and moved towards the door. Meg sat down at one of the tables and pulled out a notebook, She began looking over the list of ideas she thought about for the show. She started writing again when the door opened. Looking up, she saw Michael step inside. He walked over to the table and sat down.
"So where do we start?" Meg asked
"What do you have there?"
"Well its just…some ideas…its not really anything."
"Can I see it."
Meg pushed her notebook across the table. Michael picked up the list and began reading. After a few minutes, he set the notebook down.
"I like your ideas." He said, "And your choices of songs are great."
"Really! I…I mean thanks."
"The producers have decided to invite back some previous guests as well as a few new ones."
"Who have they invited so far."
"Dusty Springfield, The Beach Boys, Lesley Gore, Bobby Darrin and Connie Frances."
"Wow. This show is going to be great."
"I hope so." He said, "So are you ready to get to work?"
"All right."
They started going over the list Meg made, talking about different things. Meg took out another sheet of paper and began writing down some of the ideas they came up with.
They worked for a while, talking about different ways to handle the show. Slowly Michael pushed back his chair and stood up. He walked over towards the monitor and said
"What if we choose some of the songs from your list and in between the live performances, we show some of the clips from the other shows."
When he didn't get an answer, he turned to see Meg resting her head on her hand. He could see that her eyes were closed and the pen in her hand was dangling between her fingers.
"Meg?"
When she didn't answer he tried again.
"Meg?"
When she still didn't answer, he walked over to where she was sitting. Reaching out, he touched her shoulder lightly. Her eyes opened and she looked up to see him staring at her. Sitting up, she looked at her list.
"Sorry, where were we?"
"Meg I think its time to call it a night."
"But…"
"Meg its late." He said, "Don't you have school tomorrow."
Meg looked up at the clock.
"Its only 8:30."
"We've been working hard." He said, "And we don't have to have everything done tonight."
"All right."
Meg slowly pushed back her chair. She walked over to the chair against the wall and picked up her bag. After slipping it over her shoulder, she turned to Michael.
"I'll see you next week."
Michael picked up his coat just as she opened the door.
"How are you getting home?" he asked
"The bus."
"Its too cold to wait for the bus." He said, "I can give you a ride."
"Its all right."
"Meg its not safe this late at night to wait at a bus stop alone." He said, "At least call your parents. If they can't come then tell them I'll bring you home."
"Okay."
She walked over to the phone on the desk and picked it up. He waited while she dialed a number. After a few minutes, she began to speak.
"Mom, its me. I just finished. Can JJ come to get me. All right, I'll meet him outside. Bye."
She hung up the phone and turned to Michael.
"My brother is going to come get me."
"All right."
She walked over to the door and opened it.
"I'll wait with you."
He started to follow her when the phone rang.
"Hold on a second." He said, walking over to the desk.
Picking up the phone, he said
"Michael Brooks. Hi Jenny, I can't right now. I'll be there is a few minutes. I'm worked late on that project."
Meg waved to him. He took the phone away from his ear, covering the mouthpiece.
"Meg wait."
Bringing the phone back up, he paused a minute
"Jenny, Meg is the helping me with the project. You're being unreasonable. I don't want to do this now."
He turned around. Meg waited for a minute, then slipped out the door. She walked down the steps and crossed the stage. Slipping out the door, she walked down the long hallway and pushed open the exit door. She stepped outside, pulling her sweater tighter around her.
Slowly she walked down the street to the bus stop on the corner. Leaning against the wall, she checked her watch and saw that she still had 10 minutes before the bus came.
A figure dressed in black walked up the street, heading towards her. The person stopped a few feet from her, leaning against the way. Meg looked at him out of the corner of her eye and could tell it was a man.
"Cold out." He said, pulling his sweatshirt around him.
Meg nodded, not speaking. She took a few steps to the side, inching away from him. The man moved a little too, reducing the distance between them.
"Bus must be running late." He said
Meg nodded again, still not speaking.
The man moved closed, turning to face her.
"What's a pretty girl like yourself doing out here, all alone."
Meg still didn't speak. She began to wish that she had taken Michael up on his offer for a ride. She didn't see him leave. Maybe if she got back inside, she could catch him.
Meg pushed away from the wall and started heading towards the studio entrance. She was near the door when a hand grabbed her from behind. She tried to pull away but it was no use. He pulled her back.
"What's your hurry." He whispered in her ear.
She tried unsuccessfully to pull her arm free but he only tightened his grip. Turning her around, he shoved her roughly against the wall, causing her to cry out. The man leaned in, his face inches from hers.
"Come on." He whispered, "Be nice."
She tried to push him away. The man's hand came crashing down on her face. He shoved her against the wall again.
"I guess I'm going to have to teach you some manners."
The man kept her pinned against the wall with his body and used a free hand to turn her face so she was looking at him. He leaned in again, one hand keeping her face still and the other moving down the front of her shirt.
"This is going to be fun."
Keeping a grip on her arm, he pulled her towards the deserted parking lot.
Michael walked down the long hallway towards the exit. After yet another fight with his fiancée, he suggested that they take a break for a while. It surprised him when she agreed. They talked for a few minutes, more calmly than they had ever done before.
He pushed open the door and stepped outside. Pulling his keys out of his pocket he started towards the parking lot. As he walked onto the lot, he spotted his car. Slowly he started walking in that direction when he heard something. A moment later, he heard it again. Stopping, he turned in the direction of the noise.
He began walking across the parking lot towards a darkened corner. In the dim light, he could barely make out 2 figures. He could tell by the clothes that one was a girl. He watched as the person dressed in dark clothes strike the girl across the face.
"HEY!"
The guy turned, seeing Michael. He let the girl go and ran away. Michael ran over, seeing the girl lying face down on the ground. As he knelt next to her, he realized who it was.
"Meg?" he whispered
He turned her over and saw her face. Her lip was split, there was a large gash on her forehead and a bruise forming on her cheek.
"Meg can you hear me?" he whispered
Meg's eyes opened slowly.
"He…he."
"Its all right." He whispered, "He's gone."
He pulled off his jacket.
"Can you get up?"
With his help, she managed to sit up. He carefully wrapped his jacket around her shoulders. She looked up and when he saw the fear in her eyes, his heart broke. He pulled her into his arms and held her as she began to sob. Slowly she pulled away.
"Do you think you can stand up?"
She nodded. Slowly he helped her to her feet. Keeping an arm around her waist, he slowly led her towards his car.
Meg leaned against Michael, keeping her head pressed against his shoulder. They stopped next to his car and he pulled out his keys. He opened the door and helped her inside.
She leaned back against the seat while he closed the door. Walking around to the other side, he opened the door and climbed inside. He started the car and pulled out of the lot.
"Where are we going?" she mumbled
"The hospital."
"No hospitals." She mumbled, "Take me to Roxanne's"
"Meg you need to have someone look at you."
"The hospital will call my parents." She said,
"Do you think you are going to be able to hide this from them." He said, "You're face is not going to heal over night. What are you going to tell them in the morning."
"My dad won't let me go come back to Bandstand. He'll blame me."
"No he won't." Michael said as he pulled into the hospital parking lot.
He parked in front of the main entrance and opened his door.
"I'll be right back."
He climbed out of the car and walked around the car towards the entrance. Walking inside, he headed for the admitting desk. The nurse behind the desk looked up
"Can I help you sir?"
"I need some help with my friend." He said, "She…she was attacked."
"Where is she?" the nurse asked
"Outside, in my car."
"I'll get an attendant to bring her in." she said, "Wait here."
Michael leaned against the desk. A few minutes later, a man came through a large set of doors pushing a wheelchair. Michael led him out to his car. Opening the door, he helped Meg into the wheelchair. The attendant pushed her inside with Michael walking beside them.
"Meg we need to call your parents." He said, as the attendant pushed her up to the admitting desk
The nurse had some forms waiting for them. She glanced up at Meg, then her eyes turned to Michael. After a moment, she looked down at the papers.
"Name?"
"Meg Pryor." Meg answered slowly
"Age?"
"16." She said, quietly
The nurse looked up.
"16?"
Meg nodded.
"I'm sorry dear, we're going to need to contact your parents. May I have their number."
Meg looked up at Michael, tears filling her eyes. Michael looked at the nurse.
"Will it be all right if call them." He asked
"As long as they come in." she said, "We won't be able to treat her if they don't."
Michael looked down at Meg.
"Give me the number Meg."
Meg gave him the number. Michael looked at the nurse.
"Is there a phone I can use?"
"You can use the one on the other side of the desk." She said, "I'll take Meg in back and get her something to change into so the doctor can look at her once her parents come in."
"Thank you."
Michael walked around the other side of the desk and picked up a phone. He dialed the phone number and watched as the nurse pushed Meg into a different room. The phone rang a couple times.
Helen Pryor was sitting in the living room, looking at a book for class. After a moment, she glanced up at the clock. When she was it was 9:30 she started to worry. It was like Meg to be so later without calling.
She remembered that morning when Meg left she said something about working with Michael, the associate producer, on a show and that they might work late. However, she also knew her daughter and that she was responsible, making sure to call if she was going to be too late.
The door opened a few minutes later and Helen set her book down. Glancing towards the doorway, she said
"Meg is that you?"
A moment later, JJ walked in the living room, wearing his letter jacket.
"No, its me mom." He said, "Is something wrong?"
"Meg was going to work late on a project the Bandstand Studio and she's not home yet.
"Want me to go down and see if she's there?"
"I'm going to give her a few more minutes."
"Where's dad?"
"He and Henry are at the new store." She said, "They had a lot of work to do."
A moment later, the phone rang. She stood up and walked over to the table where the phone was. Picking it up, she said
"Pryor residence. Yes it is. When…where…"
The phone slipped out of her hand and hit the floor. JJ ran over to his mother.
"Mom, what's wrong?"
"Meg's in the hospital." She said, "I…I have to go. Give me your keys JJ."
"I'll go with you."
"No, you stay here with Will and Patty." She said, "And try to get a hold of your father. Tell him that Meg is at St. Luke's hospital."
JJ handed his mother his keys. She ran out of the house and climbed in the car. JJ picked up the phone and dialed a number. After a moment, he said
"Sam, its JJ Pryor. I need you to go to the Gerard store and get my father. Tell him Meg was taken to St. Luke's hospital and my mom is on her way. Thanks Sam."