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The court date was catching up soon, it was weeks away and the Russo clan was beginning to stress out. Theresa had been crying and a complete emotional mess, Justin has been trying to keep order in the family, Alex has been trying to figure out what is wrong, and Max has been trying to hope everything will be alright in the end.
Harper came over on Sunday afternoon, Alex was reading the newspaper mostly for the comics inside. Max was playing video games on the TV, he was playing some fighting zombie game. Harper is so much like family she just walks inside.
"Hi, Russo family!" Harper cheerfully said.
Alex glanced up seeing Harper holding a pan covered in foil, "What's that?"
"My mom's homemade lasagna, she thought it might help out." Harper said.
Alex smiles, "Thanks Harper."
Theresa walked down the stairs to see Harper, "Oh Harper darling. Its good to see you." Theresa said and hugs her second daughter.
Harper hands Theresa the pan, "My mom made her homemade lasagna and hold you enjoy it."
Theresa touched Harper's face, "Thank you dear." She said smiling.
Theresa took the pan into the kitchen and began reheating it for dinner. Alex closed the newspaper and moans, Max was making faces at the TV as he played his video games.
"Stupid zombies." Max said.
"Whatcha playing, Maxxie?" Harper asked.
"Kill Zombies 2. Better than the first one, though this copy has a glitch." Max said.
Harper sat down next to Alex, "Why not take it back for a new copy?"
Max grins, "Why? This glitch is so cool!" Max said.
Alex smiles, "See the simple things entertain my kid brother." Alex said.
Harper laughs, "I can tell."
From the kitchen they hear, "Harper are you wanting to stay for dinner?"
Harper turns, "If that is alright with you? Also is it cool if I stay the night?"
Theresa frowns, "On a school night," Suddenly the frown fades into a smile, "Why not."
Alex and Harper cheered to themselves, and suddenly coming downstairs was Justin. He held a black notebook that he's been carrying with him for the last couple of days. Alex was a bit curious about why he was carrying it and writing junk down. Harper smiled seeing Justin, he was wearing something that wasn't covering every skin of his body though there was some tension. Justin knew wearing a wife-beater and sweat pants looked a bit lazy but he wasn't going anywhere. Nevertheless, the family could see the bruises that are fading on his arms and a large scar on his right shoulder.
"Why are you carrying the notebook?" Harper asked.
Alex made a face, "Oh he won't tell you." Alex said turning to her brother.
Justin made a face back at her, "It's none of your business Alex." Justin said.
Alex motions at her brother, "See."
Harper turns to both of them, "I understand its personal. It's alright." Harper said.
Justin looks at his mom, and his mom looks at Justin. The two begin to speak really quiet, Harper and Alex looked at the two. They seemed very serious and kept glancing over to see if they were being watched yet they didn't stop.
"They're talking about dad," Max mumbles.
"What Max?" Alex asked.
Max got angry and rose, "Why can't Alex and I know what's going on?"
This startled everyone in the room, the one child who wasn't broken or just a mess had snapped. Justin looked at his mom and then to Max, Max had thrown down the game controller on the floor and stood facing his older brother and mother. Alex and Harper slowly stood and looked from Max to the two in the kitchen.
Theresa sighs, "You two don't need to worry about it." She said.
Alex sort of agreed with Max, "But he is our dad too."
Justin looks at his mom, "Mom."
Theresa rubs her hands on her forehead, "It's complicated right now kids. I need to lay down, I am having a headache. Can someone fetch me when dinner is ready?" Theresa said and began up the stairs.
Justin watched his mom leave the room, and drifted his attention back to his siblings and Harper. Their eyes were like daggers, stabbing him for information. Justin opened his vitamin water and took a drink, he then began to avoid the looks. Alex had enough and wanted to know, she marched over and grabbed Justin's notebook.
"Tell us what's going on, now!" Alex demanded.
Justin looked at his sister, "Alex- you don't need to know. It's better if you don't know." Justin said.
Max walked toward his brother, "Really? Since when did you know what's best for us?"
Justin looked at Max for a split second, he didn't reply. Max stood basically in Justin's face, almost since Max was shorter than Justin. Harper walked over and tried to keep the Russo kids from killing each other.
"Guys, calm down." Harper encourage.
Alex turns to Harper, "Come on Harper you can't defend him. Justin, you can't keep protecting us anymore! We're old enough to know!" Alex shouts.
Justin then had a glare on his face, something completely rare for the eldest Russo. He crossed his arms on his chest and kept his eyes on Alex and Alex only, he didn't really feel threaten by his younger brother and didn't really listen to Harper.
"You want to know? You really think your old enough to know?" Justin finally spoke.
"Yes!" Both Max and Alex shouts.
Justin grabs his notebook and said, "Dad attempting to kill himself." Justin said.
Alex's eyes changed, from anger at her brother to shock. Max took a few steps backwards in utter shock, Harper had a single tear slide down her face and went to aid her best friend. Justin's expression remain the same, nothing changed he was still glaring. Alex stared up at Justin in shock and looked so upset.
"Justin we-." Alex started.
Suddenly Theresa came downstairs, "Why are you all yelling?"
Theresa turned and saw the expressions on their children's faces. Max looked like he was about to cry, Alex was starting to cry, Harper held onto Alex's shoulder, and Justin took a few steps away from his siblings. Theresa ran over and pulled Justin back about to question him but Alex stopped her.
"Justin told us, that dad tried to kill himself." Alex said.
Justin looked at Alex once again, her eyes were red and tears were sliding down her face. Harper turned from Alex to Justin, he didn't seem bothered by the news anymore. It's as if after the police officers told them his feelings of sadness disappeared to nothing.
"Justin wasn't suppose to tell you, you weren't suppose to know." Theresa said.
Justin looked at his mom, "Well they know now."
Max looked at Justin, "Aren't you even sad that our dad almost killed himself?"
Justin turned to Max, "No." He said seriously.
"Justin Vincenzo Pepé Russo, you don't mean that!" Theresa shouts.
Justin turned to his mom, he didn't reply instead he lowered his head. Then silence, the oven beeped it was time to take the lasagna. Theresa rubbed her hands through her hair and walked over to the oven, Alex had stopped crying and Max had still been looking at Justin. Justin looked one last time at his siblings and then walked out onto the terrace.
-WIZARDS-
Justin sat on the terrace, he looked down at the traffic below. His thoughts were scattered and his head hurt, he wasn't angry or upset. Justin wasn't feeling anything, and it sorta made him wonder why. His dad who has been beating him for months has been locked up and arranged in court, and then nearly kills himself yet Justin feels nothing. No anger, no sadness, not even regret. Justin didn't have any feelings toward the man who has raised him all seventeen years of his life.
"Is there something wrong with me?" Justin asked himself.
He put his elbows on his knees and leaned forward, his hands covered his face. Justin was conflicted, Justin was confused on how to feel.
-WIZARDS-
Harper and Alex were cleaning the dishes, Theresa had just left to talk to Justin for a few minutes and Max was playing his video game again. Alex was sorta mad at Justin for keeping that secret from her and Max, and didn't even think of being mad at her mom.
"I bet he told mom not to tell us, like it is his mission to protect us." Alex said and put a plate away.
Harper was washing a cup and turned to Alex, "He and your mom probably talked about telling you two." Harper said.
Alex turns to Harper, "You're my best friend so why are you defending him?"
Harper looks at Alex, "He is like my brother and I can relate to how he feels." Harper said.
Alex looked puzzled, "Harper?"
Harper bit her lip, "I never told you Alex but- when I was thirteen I was raped." Harper said.
Alex looked shocked, "Harper? What?"
Harper looked at her best friend, "It was some creep. The police caught the guy and I had to face him in court, but he was shot before giving himself up. And as a victim its normal for the victims to feel nothing about the criminal whom caused them pain. So Justin feeling the way he does it normal, and his overprotecting is natural to make sure you don't have to go through that." Harper said.
Alex was so shocked, "Harper why didn't you tell me?"
"The same way Justin didn't want to tell anyone about being abused at first, right? He was ashamed and was scared that he did something wrong." Harper said.
Alex did not reply, and Harper touched her best friend's arm. Harper had a comfort smile and Alex just stared at her best friend. Alex always thought Harper acted the way she did because that was how she was, not because she had been raped. Harper didn't seem like the person to hide something like that from her and yet Alex hugged Harper.
"Justin is going to be conflicted for a while, and he is going to need you and Max to be on his side. So please be easy on him, its not easy for him." Harper said.
Theresa came in and sighed, "He isn't coming in."
Theresa walks over and pours herself a glass of red wine, she walks over to the couch and sits next to Max. Theresa has been stressed by work, her kids, the court date, and the substation. The women needed a break and it seems like it wasn't going to happen.
"Harper, I think you should tell him. Tell him and maybe he might open up to you. Please, for me." Alex said.
Harper smiles, "Alright."
-WIZARDS-
"Justin," Harper said stepping out.
"Leave me alone, Harper." Justin said.
Harper walked out and saw Justin sitting with his palms on his face. Harper sat down on the "beach" chair next to him, she put her hand on his back which caused Justin to jump. She remembered being there and lowered her hand, she looked at him with a soft smile.
"Justin, I am here to tell you a story." Harper said.
Justin looked at Harper, "I told you I want to be left alone." Justin said but this time sounded colder.
Justin's eyes shift to the traffic and Harper knew he didn't want to really be alone but he didn't want to admit it either. Harper nods and puts her hands on her knees and look forward at the traffic as well.
"I've been where you are Justin, I know what you're going through. Sure I wasn't physically abused but I was sexually." Harper said.
In the corner of Harper's eyes, she sees Justin turn his head to look at her. His eyes widen and he seemed shocked to hear it like Alex before. Harper's smile did not leave her face and she remained staring forward at the traffic below.
"I was thirteen, and I really didn't understand what happened when it did. I was on my way home from the library, I was doing a history paper and then this man came out of no where. He overpowered me and did terrible things to me, after that day I was no longer a virgin." Harper said.
Justin lowered his head down, he stopped staring at Harper. Harper's smile faded, she remembered the pain that day well.
"I know my pain is different than what you delt with, and mine was once and yours was for six months but it still haunts me. I mean I will never be fully over the rape, but at the same time I know I'll be a better person and make sure people never have to feel pain like that. Justin, I know how you feel right now. You're conflicted and confused, the man who beat you almost died and I know you felt sorta happy about it but at the same time you're angry that you'd ever think that." Harper said.
Harper noticed Justin nod slowly, "Does that make me a terrible person?" He mumbles.
Harper puts a hand on his back this time he didn't jump, "No. It means your wounds are still fresh and need time to heal, you're still in a battle."
"Harper, I don't think I can go into court. I don't think I can face him again." Justin said.
Harper looked at the sad Justin, "I felt the same way Justin. I am not going to lie and say its easy, it was painful but- do you want him released and hurting others. What if your dad isn't locked up and comes home? He would surely hurt you more, and likely your mom and Alex. I know he won't be buddy buddy with Max, and I know you wouldn't risk their safety." Harper said.
Justin sighs, "No I wouldn't." Justin said.
Justin sits up now, Harper could see his face. He turns slightly to show the scar on his right shoulder. It was from the top of his should and went into his shoulder blade.
"He got mad one night and broke a beer bottle and just, slashed me. After mom say me on the floor bleeding and dad drinking another beer, she rushed me to the hospital. She lied to the doctors saying I got pushed into a glass object by my brother while wrestling." Justin said.
Harper didn't reply, she wanted Justin to continue to speak.
Justin stood, "I don't know why I allowed him to hurt me. I should've- I could've." Justin stopped.
He leaned against the balcony, Harper stood up and walked over. She rubbed his back, he turned and saw a smile on her face. Justin forced a smile on his face and turned back to the traffic below them.
"There had been many times I could have called the cops, or even had Alex but- I froze. I- am a coward, my dad is right." Justin said and put his hands on his head.
Harper turned Justin to face her, "No you're not. He said those things to make you feel bad about yourself, to lower your self-esteem. Justin, he said and did things to you to make you scared. He wanted to keep you in line in order to control you and keep you from telling the police. He knew if he threaten you enough and pushed you enough, you'd just follow what he say and take the abuse no questions asked." Harper said.
Justin nods slowly, his eyes beginning to water. Harper reaches her arms out and Justin embraced her, Justin began to sob into Harper's shoulder. Harper had one of her hands on his hair rubbing it as her other arm was wrapped around his back. Justin sobbed and sobbed, not wanting to let Harper go. From the door leading inside the apartment was Alex, her eyes were teared up and she looked at her brother completely sad.
'I had no idea how broken you were, Justin.' Alex thought.
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