Believe: Part One, Episode 1337

When Zoë worries about how she is being portrayed in her trial, she takes matters into her own hands and talks to the newspaper. Becky is concerned about what she will say on the stand while she's pressured by her family to lie. Miles tries to win Maya back, who asks Zig if he's okay with that. As Zig walks away from Maya, he walks back into his old troubles.

Becky's jaw tightened as she glanced around the kitchen table. The tension was thick; a knife could cut through it. And to think she's only been awake for thirty minutes and the pressure on her shoulders already felt like boulders.

"Pass me the syrup?" Becky asks in a soft voice, her parents giving her a simple stare but her brother is the one who passes it to her. They exchange a small smile; hers forced as she feels that right now they're sucking up to her. Blueberry pancakes with a strawberry topping, her favorite breakfast. She knew why but she hoped it wasn't a coincidence, and they weren't trying to win her over on what to say during the court case.

"The lawyer is coming after school." Her dad starts and Becky nods, acknowledging the statement but not asking questions. "Don't go to that boy's house, come straight here because we can't waste time. We have to make sure your statement is what it needs to be, Rebecca." She cringed at her full name but noticed how her father addressed Adam by the right pronoun. That was progress, right?

Becky had an itch they knew she was staying at Adam's house the past few days, and it had been bothering her that she was constantly lying. Whenever she was at his house or remotely late, Imogen was her excuse, but her parents weren't blind. 'You can tell them,' Adam's words run through her head as they had discussed the guilt she felt from the lies.

As she opened her mouth to speak, her mother spoke first. "Will you be staying here tonight?" Her mother's eyes were the same color of blue as hers and Becky sighed, knowing the lying couldn't go on. "I prefer you don't stay with Adam."

"You knew?" Becky isn't surprised, but she has to know how long they've known. How long they've known Adam was her escape from her home that no longer felt like a home.

"It's obvious," Luke adds, speaking for the first time. He's never disproved of Adam, only warned her their parents wouldn't agree, but it didn't mean he worked at trying to bond with her boyfriend. "Dallas." She rolls her eyes; Dallas was a true gossiper at heart, but she wouldn't hold it against him since he didn't know her rendezvous to their house was a secret.

The taste of berries fills her mouth, and it's sweet, it makes her hum for a second, and she wonders if Adam had breakfast yet. He loves to eat, but he also loved to sleep. "You never answered the question." Now it's her dad who's asking, and she looks up at her plate for a second, a little scared to answer. She knows what they're indirectly asking-she plead of abstinence until marriage is at the tip of their tongues and she finds a little satisfaction that they don't have the guts to ask. "Like your mother said, we prefer you stay here."

"I already had plans to stay here tonight. It's hard to sleepover during the weekdays." It was vague, and she felt her heartbeat faster, but the smirk on her brother's face calmed her, and she couldn't help but smile herself.

::

"Zoë, hey wait up!" Adam called out to her as the brunette zoomed past him. They hadn't been the most talkative in the past week after Adam's professions of his lack of feelings. "Hey." He catches up to her, but she keeps on walking her eyes straight ahead as if on a mission.

"What, Torres?" She wasn't in the mood to deal with him. The reporters outside were enough, along with her audition that was her focus or maybe a distraction; she wouldn't admit which. "Shouldn't you be with your girlfriend?"

Adam shifted to stand in front of her, blocking her path and with the six inches he had on her it was easy to block her. "I get if you're pissed at me, but I just wanted to make sure you're oka-"

"Jesus, give it a rest. You don't give a shit so move out of my way." Zoë shoves him away as she passes him and it gives her a foul taste in her throat after what she's said. He does care but lets her walk away, there's no need to help those who don't want help.

Drew (09:59 AM)
Becky sort of got verbally attacked by Clare?

Drew (10:00 AM)
The press was outside, and she noticed. Got upset they might be talking about her brother.

Adam (10:01 AM)
Yeah, I saw. It's crazy, like can't they leave in peace?

Drew (10:02 AM)
What do they say?

Adam (10:02 AM)
That Zoë was lying about it, nothing too bad about Luke.

Adam stands in front of the doors, knowing he's risking getting caught skipping class, but he can't help it. It's fascinating how they don't believe Zoë, and it's irritating, but he's torn with the fact Luke is Becky's brother.

Adam (10:05 AM)
Dove, you ok?

He stares at his screen as he heads towards the student council room, knowing it is vacant. No reply from Becky yet, so he sends another.

Adam (10:10 AM)
Meet me at the table?

Throwing his stuff aside, he moves to the couch where he settles as he scrolls through his phone. There was so much news on Zoë and even Luke, but Becky's name hadn't been mentioned. As long as they didn't know her face, it would save her from the press bombard her outside.

It was moments later that he saw Becky through the glass windows, coming to the door. She wasn't up for anything, especially not class after the one she just had. Her bag met Adam's on the table, and she approached him in quick strides before settling next to him. "I'm sorry I didn't answer."

"It's okay." Becky nods as she gently dabs her fingers to her eyes before Adam hands her a tissue. She smiles just the slightest at his sweet gesture, wiping at her eyes. "It'll be okay." He whispers to her as she settles her head on his shoulder. No one had publicly confronted her about what her brother had done until earlier when Clare had. Luckily Imogen was there to back her up because honestly, she had no idea what to do.

The videos show a girl unconscious and Luke messing with her, but it doesn't deny that Zoë hadn't said no or consented. She shuddered against Adam as he pulled her closer to her side. "You're not missing class, are you?"

"I am, but you're more important."

Becky pulls away while shaking her head, "No, you should go to class. It's selfish of me to ask you to be here." She stands and grabs her bag, Adam reaching for her. "I have to head home to speak with the lawyer since the trial is tomorrow. I don't even want to be here, why'd I show up?"

He was now standing with her, running his hands soothingly down her arms. "I can go with you. I'll walk you home-"

"Adam, my parents can't deal with us right now." She admitted in a harsh breath. He was always understanding to her parent's situation, but right now he was apparently putting her before her parent's preferences, but she also couldn't handle their annoyance with Adam. The fact they didn't want him in the courtroom was beyond belief since he had been her only support system. "I can't handle their scrutiny, especially when I don't know what I'm going to say in court."

"Okay." She wanted for Adam to tell her what to do, for someone besides her parents to tell her how to handle this situation. But as he stood there with her hands in his, she knew Adam wasn't going to advise her on what to do. He would only listen, "About your parents not letting me be inside the courtroom... I thought I could ask Zoë to let me through. I can sit on her side-"

"I thought she was angry at you." They had been hanging out less and less, most likely due to the fact Adam rejected her feelings towards him. "You shouldn't cause any trouble if she's mad at you. She's dealing with a lot too."

He nodded once, a nibble to his lips as he felt guilty he wouldn't be inside with her. Not that couldn't deal with it on her own, but he wanted to support her. "It always sucks that I can't just be there for you."

Becky sighs as she adjusts the strap on her shoulders. Her parents dislike towards him always persisted no matter what. It was something they both needed to get used to, "Stick to our plan and sit outside the room." He nods and she finds the same look in his eyes whenever they speak of her parent's indifference towards him.

Silently she steps towards him with a small smile before leaning over to kiss the edge of his lips softly. His eyes shut at the contact and exhale, pulling her in closer towards him. They stay in an embrace, with her arms around his shoulders as she takes in the comfort whenever in his arms. The world disappears for a second, the ringing of the school bell bringing her back to reality.

::

"Have you spoken to him?"

Becky rubs her temple with a shake of her head. They talk quietly as they stand outside the court room, Becky's parents persisting on their rule of no Adam in the courtroom. It was blatantly ridiculous as if Adam would have a single influence on what she should and shouldn't do. "We spoke yesterday for a few minutes but then watched a movie... I don't know when we'll be able to do that again if he's found guilty."

Panic rose to her chest, and she felt her breathing become shallow. The encounter with the lawyer yesterday was stressful as her parents continued to push for her to lie about the videos. "Don't bring up the videos; I threw them out of evidence." The words still rang in her head as her eyes glanced to those stepping into the courtroom; some strangers probably from school.

"Becky, hey..." her eyes go back to him as they glance down to his outfit- formal. This first time she's ever actually seen him dressed up. "We'll see what Luke says when he testifies, and we'll go from there." He strokes her biceps since her arms are crossed in front of her chest. "You should get in there."

"Yeah, yeah..." she forced a small smile as he plants a soft kiss to her temple. He settles on one of the benches in front of the room as she steps inside and it's not a second later Zoë's stepping out of the chamber. Adam meets her gaze, and she plans to ignore him, but he's up before she can reach the bathroom. "Zoë, I need a favor."

Who did he think he was asking her for a favor on the day of her trial? What could he possibly want- "Would you mind if I step in and sit on your side of the court?" That was a strange request, but she scoffed nonetheless, not even his pleading eyes would get her to agree.

"Why would I want you in there? Shouldn't you be with Becky?" She scoffed and was a few steps away from the bathroom when his hand was grabbing her forearm. "Jesus, let me pee."

"Come on, please." She said nothing as she stepped into the bathroom and he sighed in defeat. A few moments later, Zoë found him sitting in the same place he was in before. He didn't even bother to look up as his eyes were on his phone, clicking away. It wasn't so much that she was freaking out over the trail - well maybe it had to do with that - but it sucked one of the few friends she had, he had to be there for Becky. Asking for favors when he didn't even seem to be concerned about her.

She was the one who was assaulted and harassed. She was being made a fool of in the media, saying she was lying. She was suffering, not simply little ol' Becky who was probably going to defend her brother in the case. Zoë clenched her jaw, keeping a straight face as she looked him over. There was a feeling of something inside her when she saw him, but she didn't know what. She wanted him, but it wasn't reciprocated. He was popular, athletic, smart as hell, and he pulled off khakis with a suit coat perfectly.

Maybe things would have been different if she pursued Adam instead of Drew in the beginning. He had been technically single when they had their first encounter, but she had to go for the attractive guy that every girl wanted. Drew was the beginning of her downfall at the school, and for that, she resented Adam as the Torres last name was his too.

Stepping back into the courtroom, she saw Becky's perfect blonde hair as she sat between her parents. Becky had a look in her blue eyes, almost as if hopeful as her head turned around to look at the door; waiting for someone to step through. Becky sighed as she settled into her seat, of course, Zoë wouldn't let him in.

"It'll be okay." Her mother must be confusing her disappointment of Adam not being there for something else, but she still gave her mother a reassuring smile. It was five minutes later that the jury started to pile in and with her brother and his court team coming to the front of the room.

Becky's eyes met Zoe's and for a moment she noticed the distress and freight in the younger girl's eyes. This was her assaulter; this was the guy who tormented Zoe's thoughts for nights on end in nightmares. The boy who had been Becky's knight in shining armor was Zoe's absolute worst nightmare, and Becky didn't know how to handle it.

::

"No, I can't be in there any longer!"

Becky practically ran to Adam's minivan, ignoring the cold chills around her and Adam's shouting from behind her. She reached for the door, but it was locked. "Open it, Adam!"

"Becky, you can't just skip your testimony." Adam stood next to her, his hands reaching out to her but she shoved them away; wrapping her arms tighter around herself as he was in no rush to unlock the doors. "Becky, I'm just -"

"I don't need you to comfort me all the time. Just because I'm upset doesn't mean I want you to hold me." He took a step back, and she noticed the strain in his jaw, but he nodded nonetheless; accepting her boundaries. "Take me to school." Adam seemed to finally understand as he took in the sternness of her demand. Unlocking the door, she was in the car in a flash, and he soon joined her.

The car was silent as he drove, not knowing exactly what to say. He didn't know what had happened or what had been said; he merely witnessed her fleeing out of the room with him following. His fingers tapped on the steering wheel as he looked at the time;12:07 PM. No wonder his stomach seemed to be growling continuously. Becky didn't notice his change in direction as her eyes were closed, trying to rest her mind for a few minutes since there was no other distraction.

She couldn't blame Adam for wanting to help, for being there, but as much as he wanted to help there wasn't a way for him to do so. Especially since he didn't help her in deciding what she should do. Is her brother guilty? Should she, his sister, bring the videos up which would lead to him in jail?

"Where are you going?" Becky finally spoke once the speed of the car had come a null and she sighed when Adam rolled up to the intercom. "Are you seriously stopping for food?"

"We both missed our school lunch times, so why not?" Adam grinned the slightest as he rolled down the window, "Want anything, babe?"

That's how they found themselves eating fries out of the trunk of the minivan, facing an empty park - everyone seemed to be in school. She shut her eyes briefly as a fry filled her mouth, the sounds of Adam's chewing and the breeze of the air moving the swings to a creak. Smelling the grass and fries, along with the grease of a burger brought her peace since it all seemed back to normal. As if it were a date night where they felt lazy and wanted to get away from their homes. Becky's sight set on Adam's figure, finally taking in the formality of his clothes. The khakis, the black button down with the black suit coat. The way his hair contrasted the undertone of his clothes as it seemed to be flying in all directions.

"Don't you look dapper," Becky commented before taking a bite out of her burger. It was extra cheesy, the way she liked it; even though she would deny this whenever Imogen complained about how uptight she was with her diet.

"Got it from Drew, he grew out of these a while back." Adam sipped his soda, his eyes looking out to the cloudy atmosphere. It was a vibe of doubt; that was a definite. Meeting Becky's blue eyes brought a lightness to it, and he smiled. "We're color coordinated."

Becky glanced down to her black dress, and she let out a small laugh. She crossed her legs as she adjusts her bum on the rough seat of the car. "Let's play a game." Give it to Adam to want to play a game instead of going to school. "Truth or Truth."

"Mm, how creative." She stuffed more fries into her mouth as he turned to face her, his face full of wonder and she nods in agreement. Why would it hurt to play? "Start."

Adam pretends to think, and she knows it by the smirk on his face. "Do you not enjoy my video game marathons?" Becky groans with a smile and she shake her head, "I don't hate them, but sometimes I want to hide your Xbox." He smiles in return, starting off with an easy question was the way to go.

"Did you think it was weird when I befriended Imogen?" Becky asks with an arched brow as she watches him think.

"No. it made sense." He doesn't elaborate, and she doesn't need him to. It's a few questions later that he gets a devious grin on his face and sips his side before asking, "Sex, every think about it?"

Becky should have known, and she rolls her eyes, a splash of red on her cheeks as her gaze drifts. "Yes, don't act like you didn't know already."

"I like to hear it."

"Shut up." She jokes as she shoves his knee. It's her turn to ask him a question, and she's been in agony wanting to ask him a question for days now - months even. Adam noticed the bite of her lip and how she seems to be staring, contemplating what to ask. He gives her an expectant look and pokes her thigh, pushing her to ask whatever she- "Do you think my brothers guilty?"

That's not what he expected, and not where he hoped this game would lead to. He was trying to get her distracted but it apparently wasn't working, "Becky, don't-" she cuts him off for a whisper, asking for him to just answer the question. "Fine. I think he's guilty, and you probably think so too."

"No, I don't-"

"Yes, you do." Adam's out of the car now, his hands in his pockets as he faces her. She can't read the expression on his face. "That's why you're feeling so guilty because you know he deserves to go to jail but you don't want to-"

"Stop, I don't want to hear it." Becky's now out of the car, frustrated with herself for bringing this up in the first place. She keeps her hands busy as she throws away their food at the nearest basket, Adam shutting the trunk of the van.

His opinion towards Luke was always the same - guilty. There are video evidence and the generality of how Luke was as a person, always bullying and manipulating and just privileged with his religion. There was also a rumor going around how Luke had told Zoë about it, how he admitted to it. "You asked for the truth, and I told you. Don't be upset because it's not what you wanted to hear."

"It's that you've been on my side this whole time, but you haven't been!" Her voice has risen, and he's glad the park is empty, because when she gets angry, there's no way he can control her reaction. "You befriended Zoë out of guilt because your girlfriend is the sister of her assaulter. Then your vague responses to my questions and what I should do-"

"Because I don't know what you should do. It's your brother, and he did this terrible thing if Drew had done the same I have no idea what I would have done. I just wouldn't testify." Adam licked his lips as he was growing tired of this conversation, it was getting him angry, and Becky was already at that point. "You know he's guilty."

"Stop telling me what I don't and do know. You have no idea what's going through my head!" Her words are impulsive and untrue since he practically knows the way she thinks and processes things. Heck, he always knows what she's going to do or say before she does it. It's admirable that he knows her so well but right now she wishes he didn't. Becky wishes he would stop acting like a know it all and stop with the warm words and the hugs because she can't take it right now. What she needs is someone to tell her what to say, what to do, and lead her to the direction she needs to go. But he doesn't do that, he stands there and takes the hits and at the moment she wishes he was different - and it pangs her with guilt. "Forget I even asked."

"Becky, I'm sorry if I-"

"Stop apologizing. I can't deal with this." She moves past him, and he feels hurt at her words. What the hell does she want from him? Maybe it's the stress or the unknowing of what her brother will go through, but he's not a punching bag.

Next thing she knows he throws the keys onto her lap, "I'll walk." She starts to get out the car and follow him as he heads the direction of his house, "Leave me alone, go to school."

"Adam, come on. I can't let you walk all the way there." She's trying to grab him, wants to get him to stop; an apology at the tip of her tongue. "Adam-"

"You don't get to push me away and try to reel me back in once I'm leaving. That's not how this works." His words are cold like the temperature in the air, and now she desires the warmth of his arms and his breath on her neck, now that he won't give it to her. "Get back to me when you know what you want."

::

Becky wraps her arms tighter around her figure, the temperature dropping every minute as they wander the woods. Drew's in front of her, leading them but it seems that they've gone in circles. She hadn't been paying attention after the first few hours, her mind drifting to Adam at how he had reacted. How he had left her there in the middle of the park in distress.

She couldn't blame him; his words were right as she tried to push him since what he had said wasn't what she wanted to hear. Adam was her confidant, and if his opinion was that her brother was guilty, she couldn't help but be offended. Luke was her brother; she could just let him rot in ja- "Becky! Are you listening?!" She's stunned still as she looks up at Drew who's frantically pacing with the compass in his hand.

"We're lost, aren't we?" Becky exhales a breath as Drew explains how it isn't his fault. She can't handle this either; they're stuck in the woods in the dark and her testimony was tomorrow. "What now?"

"I don't know, camp it out? We need to save our energy." Drew rubbed his palms together, trying to generate some heat as they had turned cold. His eyes went to Becky as she shivered in her place, her eyes taking in the area around them. "Are you okay? You've barely spoken this whole time."

It's a stupid question, and he knows it. Adam's constantly telling him how Becky's been worried about Luke, and Adam's always trying to come up with plans to make her feel better. She was always at their house, not that he minded. It was nice having her around, always having playful banter with her and studying when Adam was focused on his video games. It brought him delight but knew it wasn't helping with his feelings towards her. "No, I'm not. I haven't been for months." Drew only wants to take her into an embrace, to hug her and tell her 'it's okay, it'll be fine.' But he can't; it'll just be weird.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He physically sees her exhale and sees the breath form in the cold air. His feet have a mind of their own as they step closer towards her; body heat, body heat. Becky sees the blue in his eyes and takes note their just a shade darker than Adam's but bluer. Adam's eyes turn a green at times depending on where he's standing and what he's wearing. "If Adam had done what Luke had done, what would you do?"

"Honestly, I have no idea." Great, another Torres with no help. She almost turns away in despair, but he opens his mouth again. "But he's my brother, I would want to hear his side... why he did, why he thought it was okay; maybe he just didn't know it wasn't bad, you know? You should talk to him. Adam would have done that for me if I was in that situation."

Becky licks her lips with a nod. As they settled on the ground, Drew worked on making a fire. Luckily he had learned how to make one from past camping trips. It was true she hadn't spoken to Luke about the situation, merely accused him, or he made excuses not to talk about it. No matter what, they never approached the topic, and she felt bile at the bottom of her throat thinking about talking to him. She didn't even know if Zoë had said yes- maybe she had, and maybe that's why Luke had gone about with what he had done. Maybe his teammate had told him it was okay, so they continued together.

But it was still wrong.

It was so so wrong.

The darkness surrounding them filled her thoughts more, and the only thing helping was the fire around her. Boy, was she cold. The dress wasn't that warm, and Drew was rather selfish with that coat of his. She noticed his stares, which had become routine and consistent but there was something behind it that she couldn't place. Almost a wonder or curiosity, Becky could only smile in return.

"Your brothers mad at me." She sighs as she flings grass into the fire, "He let me drive the van here and he walked."

"No wonder, I got a text from mom asking why Adam was home. He never got back to me - or maybe he did, but there's no damn signal." Becky pulls her knees closer to her as she reaches for her phone, it was low on battery, but Drew was right there being no signal at all. They were stuck here. "What happened?"

Becky shrugs the slightest as she stares at her phone wallpaper; Adam is standing with a skateboard in his hand, a smile on his face as he talks on the phone. It was an innocent moment where he was talking to Clare and Becky captured the scene as just a few minutes before he had greeted her with sunflowers. "He told me Luke was guilty, and I didn't take it too well," Drew chuckles softly, "What's so funny?"

"Becky, everyone thinks he's guilty except for the media. What'd you expect him to think?" Drew wasn't a liar; that was for sure. As much as he likes Becky, it wouldn't distort his honestly and even if it stung when he said those words, he wouldn't hold back. "I know he's your brother, but he's never been a good guy. I've never seen him try to be the good guy."


this chapter was difficult to write, along with the next since the episode was done very properly. btw there's only 2 more episodes of season 13 then I'm finally onto the next one yay! thanks again for all the lovely comments about my story, and I will try to keep the momentum going with the chapters (the next one is almost complete) enjoy.

p.s. my other story won't be updated for a while... haven't found motivation yet to write for it. maybe soon.

xx