I apologise profusely for the inexcusable delay! I moved to London and started a new job so I literally haven't had time!
Please forgive me!
…. ….. … … … … …..
My mother was sitting beside me on the couch. Will was sitting on the edge of the opposite arm chair eyes glued to his phone, and Dad was pacing back and forth around the room. I couldn't hear anything. Everything was a complete blur, I had sat in the car a while, while Will spoke to the cops. I had watched dazed as the party was broken up and Ethan was put into the back of a squad car. I couldn't remember any of the drive home. I vaguely recalled Will helping me from the car and my mother meeting us in the lobby. When my dad arrived was anyone's guess. I think I saw him shouting at Will, Will holding him back as he barged towards me. Calming him down before he came to me. I hadn't spoken in a while. The short conversation I'd had with the police had been mostly a series of nods. I think they'd said they were going to talk to us later.
I stood up slowly and I could feel all the eyes in the room turn to me.
"Bathroom." I muttered squeezing mom's hand. I could feel them watching as I left waiting until they thought I was far enough away to start talking again.
When I got to my room it was like a wall came crashing down. Everything from the last few hours hit me, I caught a sight of myself in the mirror and had to double check it was actually me. The girl looking back at me was so pale, so tired looking. I looked down at the broken strap hanging loosely down her front. I reached out towards the mirror and hit the cold glass. I looked myself deep in the eyes and let out a breath.
That's when I realised how lucky I was. I was ok. I shook my head and pulled off the shirt throwing it to the side of the room, I grabbed my favourite hoodie and went to the bathroom splashing cold water on my face, then took my time wiping off my makeup.
"Gracie?" I heard a voice coming through from my room. "Are you alright." I walked out to mom feeling ions better than I had when I entered the room.
"Hello." I said smiling slightly at her. She just looked at me. "I think I was in shock."
"I'm not surprised." She shrugged and wrapped her arms around me. For the first time that night I hugged her back instead of clung to her.
"Things could have been so much worse." I muttered into her shoulder.
"Yes, but it doesn't mean it wasn't awful." She walked me back out to the living room. I saw both men visibly relax when they saw me. I must have looked very bad.
"Grace Officer Perk who we were talking to at the… at the party just rang she's on her way." Will said standing up and offering me his armchair. I nodded and sat down tucking my feet up under myself.
"Do you think you can talk to her Gracie?" Dad said.
"Yes."
…. …. ….. …. … …
I kept my eyes locked on my mother the whole time I was talking to Officer Perk. She was soft spoken and kind, but I was still afraid I'd freak out again. Mom was keeping me level.
She made me go through the whole night from the moment I was collected right up to when Will arrived. She kept asking me had I drank. Kept asking if anyone could have slipped something into my drink and the whole thing was planned. She asked me lots of questions which I hadn't even thought about. She asked me things I couldn't remember properly. By the end of it my head was reeling.
I looked from my mother to the two men at either side of her. I could tell by the looks on their faces that this was only the beginning. They were going to take this much further. It both scared and reassured me.