I Just Want You To Know

Surette and Bukowski discussed their upcoming plans, while Chase and Tesla made sure that the other wasn't unattended, as much as possible. Chase had literally eaten that piece of paper to make sure that nobody read it, but afterwards, insisted that Tesla tell him what she was in the middle of. He tried to convince her to leave the home and promised that he would make sure that she landed safely somewhere, but when she couldn't convince him to come with her, she couldn't imagine being brave enough to dare leaving.

Cheerio backed off from the conversation that she and Stevie needed to have, for the moment. Something was happening with Stevie and she rationalized that it couldn't hurt to simply let him enjoy his time with Dani, because truthfully, she would probably be gone in a few days, She seemed just fine. All of the stuff that happened was circumstantial. But, there was something happening with Tesla, Stevie, Chase, Dani, Bukowski and Surette. She didn't know what it was, but there had apparently been a nonviolent incident and now, the tension in the air was thick to anybody who was cognizant enough to notice.

Stevie couldn't get over the ruse by whoever (presumably Bukowski) had infiltrated his life for months! He deleted his accounts, much to Stacie's displeasure and worry - She showed up at the institution with that dreadlocked headed weirdo and insisted that they let her see her brother, or that she would call the police. Whenever the nurses told her that THEY were the ones within their rights to call the police, Dreads tried to talk everyone down, and Stevie came up at that time, looking confused. "What's all this?" He wondered.

Stacie let out a loud gasp and rushed to hug him, as the nurse said that the director was on his way to the nurses' station. "What happened? First, we're told that we can't visit, then all of your social media gets deleted? What happened?" She wondered.

Stevie shook his head, "Long story. I'm not supposed to be doing that, anyway. I'm gonna do my best to play by the rules. It's dangerous out there," he said. He looked at Joe and wondered, "What's going on here? Is this your boyfriend?" he asked.

"Don't be silly!" She quickly said, almost as quickly as she did turn red. She noticed the quick smirk on Stevie's face. That Aha! That Gotcha! That little something that he had been waiting for since the first moment that she put him on blast about Cheerio.

"So, just a hopeless crush, then? Gotta tell you, I don't see the appeal," Stevie taunted.

Joe extended his hand to Stevie and turned that reluctant handshake into a hug that Stevie definitely didn't approve of or return. "I'm Joe Hart, the head youth counselor at the Kid Connection Community Center, and dear friend of Sam's and Stace Face…" Stevie jerked his hand away and narrowed his eyes. "I took a day to drive her out here. She's not a great driver on a good day…"

"OH!" She swatted him playfully on the arm. "He's a friend," she told Stevie, "But, that's not the point. What's going on here?"

"We asked the family to respect his current path of treatment, and at this point, Ms. Evans, it seems as if we have to take extra measure to get you to do that," Director Harris said as he appeared.
"She didn't mean to," Stevie said. "And she's leaving, now." Stacie nodded her head and apologized.

Director Harris asked, "Can I escort you to my office, Ms. Evans?" Stevie worried that she might lose her privileges forever, or accidentally rat him out, or something, but he also knew that he had no control over that, over any of it. "Mr. Evans, you can visit with Ms. Evans' friend while we finally resolve this visitation matter."

Stevie frowned, "I don't want to visit with this ridiculous looking dude…" He muttered. Joe just smiled at the ground and decided to not bother Stevie, but stayed there, in case he did want to say something. After a moment, he said, "So, you talk to fucked up kids."

Joe laughed, "Oh, no. I don't believe those exist. I believe that some children are traumatized by things that are done to them or things that they have witnessed. I try my best to help them to deal with that. But, they aren't the only kids that I counsel. I spend a lot of time with underprivileged, differently abled, socially awkward… a various range of diverse children who just want and need somebody that they can talk to. I'm qualified to talk to adults, too. I just prefer children. If we can help them while they're still growing, we won't need as many places like this for them when they're already grown."

"Places like this? Holding centers?" Stevie replied.

Joe tilted his head, "Is there something wrong with this place that others need to know?"

"It should be shut down, but I'm just a crazy person, so that don't matter."

"I don't believe in those either," Joe admitted. "I believe that everyone has the possibility to break, but not all of us are burdened with the opportunity to break. If what happened to you had happened to anyone else, their chances of breaking would be extremely high. But, people aren't often forced to face such life altering events, and I find that it's much too easy for people who have never been burdened with the opportunity to break to boast about how together they are… and between them and God - we all know that they probably aren't even as together as they try to make it seem."

"Why are you talking to me?" Stevie wondered, and finally walked off. Joe simply smiled politely, but remained where he was until Stacie got back.

.

Dani, Dr. Pepper, Dr. McIntosh, Dr. Campion and Director Harris had a meeting. Suzy decided that Dani should tell her story to everyone and allow them to ask her anything that might concern them, so that they could all she that she was functional enough to go back out into the world, that it was simple a misunderstanding that landed her back here. Perhaps, if she was convincing enough, they would help her to get a job on the outside.

They made arrangements to place her in the halfway house, for her to have a surefire way to get her meds in time enough as to not run out again, and to make it to any appointments for a check in that she would have to schedule. In the meantime, being here a few days would assist her in getting her footing again.

She wasn't going to be able to return to the coffee shop for work, but Stevie convinced her that Mercedes hired "all kinda messed up people" at her place of business, until she could land on something stable.

On her last night there, Cheerio came into the common room while Dani and Stevie were hanging out on their couch and laughing together. They got quieter when she came in and her default was jealous rage, but she simply forced a smile and went to the couch in front of the TV, where surprisingly, Tesla was. "Hey, you watching this?" she wondered. Tesla turned to her like she hadn't even noticed her arrive or sit down, shook her head and returned her attention to staring out into space. Cheerio picked up the remote control as Chase and Myron joined them on that couch and Stevie and Dani didn't.

"Oh my God, was that Brody?" Myron practically squealed. Cheerio flipped back until they reached the channel in question and the answer was yes. Yes, it was Brody, and… She squealed and dropped the remote, covering her mouth with a hand and immediately started crying uncontrollably.

"What's wrong Cheerio?" Chase wondered.

"That's her mom," Myron said and rubbed Cheerio's knee. She shushed them to hear what was happening on this talk show.

Stevie and Dani joined them now, seeing her start crying and being concerned and interested…

Rhadja was glowing. She looked like she hadn't aged a single day in the nearly two years that Cheri hadn't seen her, and she seemed genuinely excited about this venture that she was speaking of. "And we all know that I would never attach my name to a product that I didn't believe in. We have a catalog of exquisite beauty and wellness products, as well as a number of services provided that would be included if you had Brody as a personal trainer."

"What she means is like I have an exercise calendar, and coinciding products for it, such as an instructional that I created, and any of the exercise products, nutrition plans and any supplements, vitamins, muscle aids - basically… anything that I would need in order to personally train someone is now available for people to order. We strongly suggest having a personal trainer to work through with, but that's not affordable for everyone."

"What's your favorite product, Rhadja?" the host asked.

"Radja? Oh shit! Babe, that's your mom!" Stevie announced, more to himself as she now recognized her, and pushed himself between her and Tesla to put an arm around her, because she was not holding herself together very well.

"There are so many of the Robinswest products that I currently live by - the cucumber products are all glorious, but I drink a cucumber coconut water every single day, the radiance sheen - which is a dry oil mist for the hair and skin, the Korean skin care bundle, and the cheer vitamins."

Brody commented, "We brought samples for the audience." There were multiple cheers.

Then the host asked, "And how exactly did the two of you come to meet and get together on this sure to be huge successful plan?"

Cheerio held her breath, noticed the slight flutter of her mother's eyelids as she flinched just a little at the very thought of her, then listened to her response. "Well, after Brody had his wake up call, a while back - he was near my family home and reached out to me about an idea that he had. He had thought it all out, as far as his vision and mission, and he honestly just needed someone to believe in that and take a chance on him, and I tested several products and listened to his goals, and I was on board. I was as excited to invest in this as he was to create it."

"So, he just reached out to you via an agent or showed up at your company, or…?"

Rhadja cleared her throat and smirked, "He is a persistent young man. He was willing to basically reach out to any little person who he thought might be able to send word to me. I think he tried for months before he sent me an urgent message and I listened to what he had to say and I haven't looked back."

"That bitch," Stevie muttered and squeezed Cheerio's shoulder. Everyone seemed to be looking at her stare sadly at the TV. "I'm sorry, Baby… You okay?"

"I'm… Not surprised. If I had to bet, I'd say that Brody got her attention by telling her that he was in here with me, something that people don't know. They probably think I'm at some kind of physical rehab center in another country or something. She didn't want him to tell people that they stuck me here and she threw every penny into his business that he could possibly need." She threw her head down into her arms, laying on her knees to cover up her crying.

"Turn it off," Stevie said, to nobody in particular, but everybody but Tesla scrambled to do so. Myron turned on a music channel.

Cheerio got up and Stevie followed. "No, it's your last night with Dani. I don't wanna interrupt. Who knows when you'll see her again?" Stevie rubbed her elbows with the back of his fingertips, not wanting to tell her that he was worried about her, but not wanting to leave her alone, either. "I've come too far to try to kill myself. I promise, I'll be fine. I actually would prefer to be alone," she lied.

"You never prefer being alone. I call bullshit."

"Well, I call goodnight. See you tomorrow, after Dani leaves." She dragged ass down the youth hallway, sniffling, but when she got into her room, she wailed loudly, for several minutes, then she got up and wrote her mother a letter.

Rhadja,

I just saw you and Brody on TV. I got your message, loud and clear. It's finally sank in. I'm sorry to have bothered you all of this time. I never will again. If I am released, you won't need to worry about me showing up and making any trouble for you. This little person has had her last desperate cry for your attention and your love. Tell Champ I said goodbye.

Cheri Charming

.

Dani hugged Cheerio when she saw her at breakfast. "I wish that we'd had more time to talk."

"You and Cornflake were busy doing that. Besides, I'll still have the same address. Keep in touch." She spent the rest of the meal in silence, just listening to the others chat. Whenever they were wishing Dani goodbye at the door, and she was getting ready to be brought to her next home by Dr. Pepper, the hallway alarm went off. They didn't think much of it, because they were too busy hugging and promising to try to do better at keeping in touch.

But, after the car drove away, and they were heading back in, everyone heard a loud, shrill scream and several of the nurses rushed in that direction. Cheerio moved to do so too, but Myron and Stevie both grabbed her, "What are you doing?" Stevie asked.

"Trying to be nosy!" she said, chuckling. "Shoot, I deserve some action after the night that I had…" She gasped and pointed.

Whenever Stevie and Myron turned, they saw Bukowski handling Tesla, who was covered in blood, and Chase, who appeared to be in shock. They carried Surette out on a gurney, with holes in his neck. "What the fuck happened?" Stevie heard himself wonder.

"I'll bet he went after Tesla, and she had to defend herself," Cheerio said.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Myron wondered.

She'd completely forgotten that Myron didn't know about all the shit with the orderlies and… wait… Why was Bukowski handling Chase and Tesla? "This is bad. Are we next?"

"I'll talk to Bukowski as soon as I can," Stevie assured her.

"What is going on?" Myron asked.

"You should… not worry about it. Honestly. You're here by choice, Kid. Just mind your fucking business."

.

Tesla felt like she was drowning in slow motion, for several days. Her mind barely worked. She had been wondering if she was safe and whenever she wound up in that corridor with Brett, Surette and Chase, she knew that she wasn't. Scratch that, she had wound up in the corridor with Surette. He was going to try to prick her. She saw the syringe in his hand. She had already known his favorite threat, and whenever she saw it in his hands, he made the mistake of expressing himself. "You are a really nice young lady and you shouldn't have had to go through the shit that you've had to go through, but you've become such a liability and I'm not gonna go to prison. I worked at the prison, and I'm not spending one day inside of there. Find yourself a happy place." He came forward and she took the drawing pen that she had tucked into the spiral of her sketch book and stuck him in the neck with it.

Neither of them was expecting that. In fact, whenever he reached for the hole in his neck, he dropped the syringe and she picked it up, because she knew she'd need proof of what he had tried to do to her… Chase came through the door and froze in shock. Bukowski was close behind. "Allie-Ann…"

"You tried to kill me," she accused, the clearest, most understandable thing that she had said in years.

"No, Baby… No!" He came closer and she held the syringe out towards him. "Listen… If Bobby tried to kill you, I promise - I had nothing to do with it. Please, give that to me. I would never hurt you. You know that." She hesitated for a moment and he quickly snatched it from her hand, prompting her to scream, loudly. "Check on her, Chase," he said, as he checked to see if Bobby was alright. He seemed okay, so Brett put the syringe in his hand and injected him with it. The nurses arrived and he stood up and told them, "What I've gathered is that he came at her with this syringe and she defended herself. I think he accidentally stuck himself in the process…"

"Get the residents out of here," they told him and he nodded and did so.

"We're on the same team, right?" He whispered. "We're all friends, here?" Tesla and Chase nodded, and he took them to the nurses station to get something to help them calm down, then to their rooms, to let them get cleaned up. "It was all Bobby, got it?" They nodded.

"Bukowski! What in God's name happened?" Dr. McIntosh asked him.

"Well, Sir - I got there after Bobby was down, so we'll have to check the cameras."

"Somebody turned them off!" He fussed.

Bukowski feigned tears, "It must've been him. Look, Allie-Ann thought he was trying to kill her and she defended herself. Now, I don't know what was in that needle that he tried to stick her with, but I also don't know why he'd be sticking her. She's one of the most peaceful residents that we have." He leaned forward and said, "She's been acting weird around him lately. Nervous, afraid. I think… He may have been abusing her or something. I think… That she should probably be looked at, tested."

"Do you know how terrible it would be for us, if that is the case?" McIntosh asked.

"Sorry…"

And now, she had to undergo an examination of her lady parts. She didn't like those, and these days had been hectic enough. Whenever they found signs of sexual intercourse and questioned her, she didn't speak. However, when asked if Surette had done this to her, she did nod her head, not feeling so much guilty about lying on him as she was frightened at whatever was next. What would happen? What could happen? She was ready to leave the place, now. But, now, she couldn't. They were investigating Surette's death. Brett had killed him with whatever it was that Surette was going to kill her with.

She was monitored closely, Brett took anything self-incriminating from her room, and she was no longer allowed her art supplies, despite the fact that everyone was positive that her stabbing Surette was self defense. Chase was at her side every possible moment, though they hardly left her room, now. She felt… Like many of her old wounds had been reopened, but they hurt differently, now.

She thought about how attractive she found Kyle Giardi. He was kind of obnoxious, but he was sweet to her, whenever she saw him. She had been working after school at the country club, saving up for art school. He and his brothers sometimes came through the place with their aunt Terri and their mom - and most of the other kids there treated them like they didn't belong, so she felt bad for them. Then, one night, she left work, ready to grab some things for her grandmother before going home and she was grabbed, and wrestled to the ground. She fought with all of her might, spilling everything in her bags all over the ground outside of her sister's car. He turned her over and smiled at her… It was Kyle. She struggled away from him and ran. She heard these weird sounds… Like wild random animal noises from a few different directions and new that it was he and probably his brothers, but she didn't know if there were more of them.

Her cellphone had been dropped, and she was trying to get back to the country club, but she was taken into a headlock, dragged to a truck, thrown into the back of it, and though she tried to flee several times, she felt her body being bent backwards as she was bound, then a needle in her neck. She woke up, strapped up to a tree.

She didn't even know how many days of torture she endured being strung up, taken down, hidden, hung, buried, at one point… But, she knew that they were probably going to kill her and that was what she was looking forward to. When they didn't she felt cheated. That was the cruelest portion of every horrible thing that had been done to her. The next cruelest thing was that before they left her there - to whatever would happen… Kyle looked her right in the eyes, gave her a smile just as gentle as the first that he had ever given her, and kissed her on the lips, like a lover. "Please kill me," the last thing that she had said, before she lost the nerve to speak.

What was currently happening was just as heavy. She felt like she couldn't scream for help. Like, she was sneak attacked and couldn't trust people, but then again… Brett had killed his friend for her… Maybe he didn't know about what he was gonna try to do, or maybe he was covering his tracks. She couldn't tell and not knowing made her confused and tired. But, at least she had Chase. "Take care of her for me," she heard Brett tell him. He was keeping a distance from her. She wasn't sure if he was letting go of her, or waiting until she had enough space to come back to him. For the moment, she just needed some healing.

.

"Bukowski…" Stevie said. "Are… we in trouble, right now?" he wondered.

Bukowski sighed, rolled his eyes and honestly admitted, "I don't give a shit what's happening with you right now, Evans. I have to bury my best friend, and have probably lost the woman that I love forever. Do whatever the fuck you want." He waved a hand and walked passed Stevie.

Stevie wondered if that ultimately meant that he and Cheerio were free from Bukowski forever, but at any rate, he felt lighter, better. He felt… okay. He rushed to her and shrugged his shoulders, "I think we're alright," he told her.

"Poor Tesla, she seemed so messed up," Cheerio told him.

"Yeah… Having to kill somebody isn't something that somebody so soft and nice should have to do."

"Having to kill somebody isn't something that anybody should have to do."

"Yeah, but sometimes, it can't be helped. If she wouldn't have done it, he'd have killed her. Now, I don't know what she has to live for, but it's surely her choice to live for it, whatever it is."

"I don't know what I have to live for, either - but if I was being targeted, I'd hope that I'd try to defend myself."

"You don't know what you have to live for?" he repeated, a little bit hurt.

"I mean… I just officially declared myself done with trying to get my parents to love me. You and me will not only be apart soon, but… We've been drifting for weeks." Tears welled in her eyes. "You're…" she stared at him and he looked desperate for her to say something positive. She lost her train of thought and he leaned in and kissed her. He laid her onto the bed, he touched her, he undressed her, she didn't get too excited. They had been having sex. It was the connection that had been missing, and then the talk she demanded that they needed had been overlooked, and now, here they were, just doing it again, as if that was the answer to every possible problem in the world. Sure, it felt like that when he was inside of her. It felt like roses, spring, rain, whatever else pretty imagery of nature and wholeness that the mind could bring about. But, that was done in 30 minute spurts and these days, without any fanfare. So whenever she was licking his neck, holding him close, doing their thing and he lost control and uttered, "I love you," she had not been expecting that. Not today. Maybe once upon a time, but this recently disgruntled Cheerio, with her own problems and his, and neither of them addressing those?

She laughed and said, "Liar." He took a moment to catch his breath, to pull out, and to stare at her, for a moment. She slid from beneath him, and went into the bathroom to pee.

Whenever she came back in, he was sitting upright on the bed, with his hands on his lap, deep in thought and clearly angry. "That's your response?" he asked, refusing to look at her.

She giggled, "Come on, Cornflake…" He got up and stormed out. She wanted to give chase, but you know what? Not today. Instead, she grabbed new panties, shorts and a top, made a mental note that he had just came inside of her, EXCUSE HIM! Then, she went to go wash up, slightly paranoid about that slipup. Like, they hadn't had condoms in a while, but he'd at least thought to pull out before, and he'd done it so effortlessly, just right inside of the hotspot, like that was how it was meant to be.

She had to admit, it was kinda hot. She liked that feeling. She felt claimed. She felt like he'd made this grand declaration that this/she was all his and he didn't care what that entailed. Then, he followed it up with words that she had been waiting for hear him say for SO long… But… she sighed, again.

Stevie told me that he loves me. He didn't mean it. He was cumming inside of me and my lips were on his neck and well, dudes. But, it felt soooo good to hear. Especially with him in me and my legs wrapped around him. I wanted to say that I loved him too. But, I was gonna mean it and I know he didn't. I would've looked stupid and I might lose what he lets me have from him. So, I just said, "Liar," and laughed. It was NOT well received, but honestly - know what… I think I'm done with all of the desperation. Freeing myself of Rhadja and Champ sort of freed me up, in general. I love me some Stevie, but he has to handle me how I want to be handled, or he'll have to live with me handling him however his actions make me handle him.

.

A few days later, after he had been avoiding her, and moping, hanging out with his "grown up friends" as she called Tesla and Chase, in her mind, she finally sought him out. "So… I was wrong to respond that way. I should have just said, I love you too." Stevie's face brightened, but he seemed determined to try to stay moody. She sat down, took his hand, kissed it and said, "Because, that's the case. It's been the case forever, and now that all this time has passed, it's only become more and more the case. Like… I was thinking about whenever I leave here, and I'm supposed to try to live life or whatever, and I know that most of that willo be me loving you, the same way that I loved gymnastics and now have to let go of it forever. That's how much I love you - like… Like my greatest passion. Like my life's work. I said what I said pretending to be stronger than I am. That was so stupid of me. I never have to be strong around you, because no matter what I am, you keep me safe. You… always have."

He pulled her to him to kiss her. "You're the most special thing in the world. I was thinking about life after this, too. Like, I was thinking… That… If you did want to be friends, outside of here… My dogs already have a home that they're comfortable in. I don't need to shake that up. So, we could hang out, if you'd even want to." She smiled super bright and her belly fluttered. "That's about the closest equivalent I have to your gymnastics love."

"It's the best offer for anything that anybody has ever given me," she said.

He put an arm around her. "So, if I remember correctly, we got things to talk about. My graduation party, my mail, and what happened that night. I think we covered that I care about you and I'm willing to treat you like you're worth and be your friend…"

"I'm all ears, Stevie, my LOVE." She giggled and he blushed.