Chapter Twenty Five: Birthday Bashed
"Excuse me, are you two the family of Tiana Banks?"
Malcolm and Kimberleigh Banks immediately looked up at the doctor that was standing over them.
"Yes sir." Kimberleigh answered.
"I'm Dr. Mason Rue, I took care of Tiana when she arrived an hour ago." He said.
"Nice to meet you Dr. Rue. I'm her father Malcolm, this is her older sister Kimberleigh." Malcolm said, shaking his head.
"It's nice to meet you too, although I wish we didn't have to meet like this. If you two don't mind coming into another room with me. There's something I need to discuss with you." Dr. Rue continued.
"Yeah, sure." Kimberleigh stood up and her father did as well.
Once they were in one of the private doctor offices, Dr. Rue closed the door and sat in the chair near the desk.
"So is she okay? Is my sister okay?" Kimberleigh asked anxiously.
"Tiana is breathing, she's fine. She was still in a state of shock so we gave her a couple of sedatives. She's sleeping it off right now. Like I said before, I need to talk to you about something else." Dr. Rue started.
Malcolm nervously cracked his knuckles. "I-Is everything okay?"
"I'm afraid not. Mr. Banks, she was bleeding profusely from her vaginal area. There are defense wounds on her arms and her lower area of her body. I did a physical test and I'm pretty sure she's been attacked."
Kimberleigh felt her heart stop. "Attacked? Wait, what are you saying?"
"I don't want to sound too straight forward, but there is really no other way to say it. Tiana's been raped." Dr. Rue said truthfully. "I'm assuming she's never been sexually active because her hymen was ripped and ruptured, which is why she was bleeding so much. Luckily, she didn't lose too much blood to need a transfusion."
"Oh my God..." Kimberleigh practically yelled.
She closed her eyes and shook her head slowly, her eyes immediately tearing up. She placed her hand over mouth and looked at her father. His expression was confusing, she didn't know if he was surprised or not.
"Can I go see my sister?" She asked the doctor.
"Sure, she might still be asleep but you are more than welcome to go in there." Dr. Rue answered.
Kimberleigh said nothing and got up, walking out of the room. Once she got to the room where her sister was in, she opened the door and stopped. As if finding out her baby sister was raped wasn't enough of a shock; seeing her in a hospital bed with IVs hooked up to her was like the icing on the cake. She went over to Jupiter's bed, just as she began opening her eyes.
"Posh?" She murmured.
"T…." Kimberleigh immediately went to her bed and got into it, lying next to her. She wrapped her arms around her and began crying her eyes out. "You….you were…"
"I'm okay." Jupiter said softly.
"No you're not.." Kimberleigh sobbed. "I can't believe this happened to you….where was Daddy when it happened?"
"He was…I really don't know Posh." Jupiter answered, asking herself the same exact question. Daddy, where were you? Where are you now?
Back in the doctor's office, Dr. Rue was explaining everything that had to happen from that moment on to Malcolm.
"Mr. Banks, I can't help but notice your initial reaction from me telling you what happened to your daughter. Did you know about this?" He asked him.
Malcolm looked up at him, getting offended easily. "What the hell makes you think that?"
"Well your daughter Kimberleigh reacted normally unfortunately, and you just sat there. I don't know how I would react if God forbid, I found out my own daughter was raped."
"Well no disrespect doctor but your daughter wasn't. My daughter was, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that this happened to her." Malcolm put his head in his hands, but it was more of a guilty gesture, instead of a sorrowful one. "She didn't deserve this…she really didn't…"
"I truly am sorry that this has happened to her, but we have to take the next steps in ensuring that this never happens again." Dr. Rue said. "This is now an open investigation. And unfortunately because you didn't bring her to the hospital when it happened yesterday, you are most likely going to be the prime suspect."
Malcolm looked at him in surprise and disgust. "You think I did this to my own daughter?"
"Honestly, I don't. But that's not what the authorities are going to think. I notified them, they should be here to get questions from all of you anytime now. I advise you tell them the truth Mr. Banks, not only for your sake, but for the sake of your family."
"I understand…" Malcolm sighed and went to open the door. When he did, he walked towards Jupiter's room and stopped when he heard a familiar voice. It was his sons', and that was the last person he wanted to see, especially at that time. Mitchell finished hugging Kimberleigh, who was still crying, and looked back at Malcolm.
"Posh, I'll be right outside." He told her as he walked towards Malcolm.
"Okay." Kimberleigh said.
When Mitchell got outside of the room, he closed the door and looked around to see if anyone was near them. When he knew it was clear, he looked right at Malcolm.
"You mind telling me why I have to hear from a doctor that my baby sister was raped yesterday?" Mitchell asked angrily.
"I can't even answer that Mitchell. I would've told you if you'd stop blocking all of my damn numbers!" Malcolm said back.
"That's not the point! She just told me she was with you! Where the fuck did you go?!"
"We went to a friend's house, that's all!" Malcolm said. "All I did was go out to get some drinks, I had no idea that this was going to happen to her."
"You…you went to get a drink? And left her alone with someone she didn't want to be with?!" Mitchell said.
Malcolm was silent, which made Mitchell angrier.
"You went out to get a fucking drink, meanwhile your daughter was in there getting raped?! You know something, and you're not telling me! I'm leading this investigation, and you better not let me find out you had anything to do with this!" Mitchell yelled, opening the door back to the room.
Kimberleigh and Jupiter looked up at him with surprise, and he walked over to both of them, giving them kisses on the cheek.
"I have something to do, I'll be back as soon as I'm done." He said.
"Okay." They both said.
Franklin had spent the rest of the week hounding Lester about finding anything for the Elric's, but he kept coming up short. He didn't tell Jupiter what he was doing because he didn't want her to worry, and he didn't want her to try to talk him out of it. The next Friday had come around, and it was his 26th birthday. He had never celebrated his birthday, the closest thing he had done in the past was go to the strip club with his friends. Lamar had rented out one of the clubs downtown and had planned a party for him there. At first he was excited about it, but once his mind became consumed with finding out more about Rodrigo Elric, he had almost forgotten about it. Jupiter noticed his different demeanor and knew something was up with him.
"You're like the first person who is not excited about having an entire club to yourself for your birthday." She smirked.
Franklin snapped out of it and looked at her, "I am excited baby. I just have a weird, weird way of showing it."
"I definitely agree." She said, opening his bathroom door and looked at him. "Welp, I'm going to take a shower now…"
"Uh huh, I know." He joked, pushing her into the bathroom and going inside of it behind her.
They had finished taking a shower together and began to get dressed for his party. Franklin kept it simple (as he would put it) and put on a black long sleeve shirt with gator skin sleeves, dark washed jeans and his black and blue Nike Foamposite sneakers. Jupiter had put on a dark blue Balenciaga romper she had just bought from Diedersachs the week before, and her black thigh high gladiator- style Tom Ford heels. She put a belt around her waist to complete the look, and after she straightened her hair (it was the first time it was straight in weeks) and did her makeup, she was completely satisfied with her look.
"You trying to copy my color scheme?" Franklin asked when he came behind her and gave her neck a kiss.
"Psht, you saw me buy this so if anybody's copying, its you." She joked. She turned around to face him and looked him up and down, like he was a fresh piece of meat. "You look good though."
"I know." He said with a serious face, causing her to give him a straight face and he laughed as a result. He kissed her and said, "Thanks. And you're making me not even want to go to my own party."
"That's what I was going for." She grinned. "But, your present from me comes after the party." His eyes got wide with excitement when he heard that, and Jupiter began laughing. "Can you at least try to survive the party?"
"Oh, that is going to be hard…but okay, I'll try." He answered.
10 minutes later, they were leaving out of his house and on their way to the AuraLife nightclub, where Franklin was having his birthday party. It was already in full swing when they arrived, and it was practically a full house. Jupiter couldn't believe Franklin knew that many people. But everyone really did go up to him to greet him and tell him happy birthday. Jupiter noticed Priscilla, who had came back to Los Santos for this party, sitting at the bar with Destiny. She turned to Franklin, who was talking to one of his friends from his old neighborhood and tapped him.
"I'm gonna go to the bar." She told him.
"You want me to go with you?" He asked her.
"Nah, stay here and catch up with all your friends." She answered. He raised his eyebrow at her and she grinned. "Seriously F, I'll be fine. Destiny and Priscilla are over there."
"Aight, if you say so." He said.
"Go, have fun." She playfully bumped him before walking away from him, and going towards the bar.
"Hey girls." She said when she walked up behind Destiny and Priscilla. They both turned around and smiled at her.
"Hey! Aw shit look at you, looking all finee." Priscilla joked.
"Oh please." Jupiter said laughing. "How long ya'll been here?"
"Not long, probably like 15 minutes. Pris got here a little after I did." Destiny answered. "Where's the birthday boy?"
"Over there with his boys." Jupiter pointed towards the small crowd that was with Franklin.
"Aww, he's over there having fun already." Priscilla joked.
"Yeah, I'm glad he is…" Jupiter said.
"You want a shot?" Destiny asked, holding a shot glass up to her.
"Yeah but I was tryna take my first shot with F—"
"Too late, it looks like he's about to take his first one now." Priscilla said.
Jupiter looked over at the crowd again and saw all of the guys, including Franklin and Lamar, with two shot glasses in their hands. Each. They all made a toast and took the shots, and Jupiter rolled her eyes.
"He just couldn't wait could he?" She laughed. "Des, give me the shot."
"Oh no bitch, this one is mine." Destiny said, turning back to the bartender. "You have to catch up to me so bartender, please give my good friend 3 shots of patron?"
"Three?!" Jupiter said, shocked. "Pris, you had three shots already?"
"No I only had one when I first came in here. I've been drinking Magarita's since then…can't afford to relapse." Priscilla joked.
The bartender made Jupiter's three shot glasses of Patron and put it on the table. Destiny slid two glasses to her and looked at her.
"Go ahead." Destiny said, grinning.
"You get on my damn nerves." Jupiter said, picking up both glasses.
"Ready….go!" Destiny said.
Jupiter chucked one shot in her mouth at a time, and she felt her chest burning like crazy. Her gag reflex kind of kicked in, but only for a second. Priscilla was laughing so hard, she almost spit out the margarita she was drinking. Destiny began chuckling and gave Jupiter the last shot, holding her shot up as well.
"Pris, you gotta get in on this toast." Destiny said. Priscilla nodded and raised her margarita glass up. She cleared her throat and spoke loudly. "Let's make this toast to celebrate your boo's birthday, and for everyone to have a good night….and for Jupiter to give Franklin the best birthday sex ever later on."
"Destiny!" Jupiter shrieked in embarrassment.
Priscilla started laughing loudly again. "Cheers!"
Destiny and Jupiter took their last shot, and Priscilla took another sip of her margarita. Jupiter felt dizzy for a couple of seconds and sat down in one of the empty bar stools. What the hell did Destiny get me into?, she thought as she laughed to herself. The DJ was playing a couple of songs she didn't recognize, so she just bobbed her head to the beat while looking at everyone else dancing on the dance floor. She even saw Lamar attempting to break dance and fail miserably, and laughed along with Priscilla. The three girls took pictures together and even stood up to dance with each other when the remix to "I Don't Like" by Kanye West started playing. Jupiter looked over and saw Franklin with an even larger group of friends, moving his arms and shoulders to the beat and rapping along to the song. She smiled warmly and felt her heart fluttering once again. From across the room, he saw her looking at him and smiled back at her.
Yeah, I really do love him…she thought as she blew a kiss at him.
The DJ continued to get everyone hyped and turned up, and even shouted out Franklin, telling him happy birthday. He stated how he was ready to see more guys getting dances from girls, and changed the song. "Pour It Up" by Rihanna began and it seemed like all of the girls in the club simultaneously started cheering. Jupiter lost and it and started laughing uncontrollably.
"Glad to know I'm not the only one who likes this shit." She said in between her laughs.
She looked over to where Franklin was just at with his friends, and didn't see him anymore. Destiny was already dancing with someone, and Priscilla had just walked off with Lamar to dance with him, so Jupiter was alone. In order to prevent a random dude trying to dance with her, and Franklin knocking him out, she was about to just sit down. Before she could turn around, she felt arms go around her waist from behind and someone pull her back towards them.
"So, you gonna dance with the birthday boy or nah?" Franklin's voice said in her ear.
"Who's that?" She joked, but started laughing afterward. "You think you can keep up with me?"
"We'll just have to find out then huh?" He said.
They continued to dance with each other for the remaining of the song, and for the two songs after that. More people came over to them and gave them drinks, and the photographer took pictures of the two of them dancing and kissing. Both of them were genuinely having a good time, and time seemed to go by pretty fast as well. "Girls Love Beyoncé" by Drake started playing, and Jupiter finished off her bottle of beer and threw it in the garbage.
"I'll be right back, I gotta use the bathroom real quick." She stood on her toes and said in Franklin's ear.
He nodded and she made her way to the back of the club, where the restrooms were. After she finished using the bathroom, she washed her hands and brushed down some of her hair. She dried her hands and threw the paper towels in the garbage, making her way out of the bathroom. When she opened the door, Priscilla was standing there, looking at her.
"Hey." Jupiter said, and noticed the look on her face. "You okay?"
"You…may want to see this." Priscilla said, grabbing her hand and pulling her back towards the dance floor.
When they got there, Priscilla stopped walking and pointed to where Franklin was standing. He looked pissed, and he was trying to push someone else away from him. When Jupiter got a closer look, she saw that it was another female. Without hesitation, she walked over to them and Franklin stopped arguing and looked right at Jupiter. The smirk on his face let Jupiter know that he was happy to see her. Jupiter tapped the other female and she turned around. When she saw who it was, she immediately gritted her teeth in anger.
Tanisha. What the hell is she doing here?
"Hello college girl." Tanisha teased. Jupiter's pissed expression didn't alter, if anything it had gotten worse.
"You came to say happy birthday to my boyfriend?" Jupiter asked.
"That, and among other things." Tanisha answered, causing Franklin to roll his eyes.
Jupiter smiled and turned around, pretending to walk away. She suddenly turned back around and slapped Tanisha as hard as she could. It was so loud that the DJ even lowered the volume on his speakers. Franklin grinned and looked at Tanisha, who was holding the right side of her face that was red.
"I told you to stay the fuck away from him, right?!" Jupiter yelled, cracking her knuckles. A crowd quickly came over to witness the potential fight, and Destiny ran from the side of the club where she was at. Tanisha looked embarrassed and went to charge Jupiter, who got one easy punch to Tanisha's face before the crowd tried to break it up, and she was pulled away by Franklin and Lamar.
"Sheesh Jupiter I didn't tell you to punch her." Priscilla said, laughing.
"That slap was so loud the DJ cut his music off." Destiny joked.
Jupiter held her left hand with her right one. "I hate doing that shit, but she had it coming…"
Franklin opened his mouth to speak when his cell phone started ringing. It was a jumble of numbers put together, but he knew exactly who it was. He told everyone he'd be back and walked over to a more quiet area of the club and picked up the phone.
"What's up Lester." He said.
"I know you're busy with your birthday party and everything but I just thought I let you know something. I found a little something about the people you want to know about." Lester answered.
Franklin straightened his body up quick. "What?"
"Unfortunately, we've done business for them before. Recently, as a matter of fact."
"We? As in me too?"
"You, me, Michael, Trevor, Lamar…and Jupiter." Lester said.
"I don't understand. The only thing Jupiter did was…" A lightbulb finally went off in his head. "That thing was for them? I thought it was for—"
"They work for them." Lester finished. "That job, and the cargo Jupiter obtained was ultimately for them."
Franklin was still in shock, and took a deep breath. "Any advice on what to do from here?"
"My advice? Start with that friend of yours…the one who you want to beat up so badly. Make him talk, I can tell he's afraid of you. But make sure you two are alone before you do that." Lester said.
Franklin smiled to himself. Finally, I have more of a reason to beat the shit out of that bastard. "Aight, I'll do that. Thanks Lester."
"Yeah, no problem."
Franklin hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket. While trying to wrap his head around this new revelation, he felt small arms go around his waist and froze, hoping it wasn't Tanisha.
"You okay?" He heard Jupiter's voice say, and sighed with relief. He unwrapped her arms and turned to her, picking her up and placing her on the counter behind him.
"I shouldn't have punched her…I know.." Jupiter sighed, shaking her head. "But it's like she doesn't get the fucking memo."
"Nah, you did the right thing." Franklin said, caressing her face.
"Okay…you having fun?" Jupiter asked him, and he nodded. "Good, me too. I didn't know you had this many friends."
"Well what'd you expect, it's me." Franklin said in a duh-like matter, but started laughing. "No but seriously, all of the neighborhood kids hung out with each other when we were younger…there were a lot of us."
"I can tell." Jupiter joked, and was cut off by Franklin kissing her.
"Where's the birthday boy at?!" Lamar's voice said over the DJ's microphone. "F, your cake is down here!"
Jupiter suddenly broke away. "We should probably go back downstairs, you don't wanna miss your own party, right?" She grinned, pinching his cheek.
"Ugh, I guess." Franklin sighed.
She jumped off to the counter and fixed her romper, before grabbing Franklin's hand and leading him back down the stairs, where his party guests were waiting. When they got down there, Priscilla and Lamar led them to one of the booths, where one of the club's bartenders brought out a huge birthday cake and sat it on the table. The cake was in the shape of a basketball going into a hoop (it looked sick, and incredibly hard to pull off). It had 26 candles going around it, and the words "Happy Birthday Franklin" was in the middle. All of the candles were sparking, and everyone surrounded the booth they were at.
"This shit is dope." Franklin said excitedly, and Jupiter smiled and nodded.
"Aight now on the count of three, I want everybody to scream 'Happy Birthday Franklin'. One...two...three!" The DJ started.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANKLIN!" The club erupted in screams and cheers.
Franklin blew out all of the candles, and Jupiter swiped off a large chuck of cake frosting and placed it on his cheek. She placed a little bit more on his lips and kissed him.
"Happy Birthday baby." She said sweetly.
Franklin smiled warmly and gave her a hug, followed by another kiss. "Thank you...now how long do we have to stay here? I wanna eat my cake, and then go home and eat my other cake." He grinned.