Believe: Part Two, Episode 1338
As the sexual assault trial continues, Becky is torn between pleasing her family and doing the right thing. Meanwhile, Zoë's life and mental state continue to spiral out of control as her past transgressions are brought out into the open, putting her chance to achieve justice into jeopardy.
Miserable. Misery. That's all he felt as he sat in the grass by the parking lot. He had decided to skip Becky's testimony since he never got a text or call back asking if she wanted him there.
Probably not since he ditched her and school yesterday. He hadn't even seen his brother all day yesterday or so far today. Honestly, he wasn't in the mood for interaction as he stared at his phone for his text to be answered.
Adam (07:42 AM)
Becky do you want me to go?
Adam (07:59 AM)
If not, just tell me so I can be prepared for school.
Adam (08:30 AM)
Well, let me know.
Becky hadn't shown up to class, or school for that matter. Zoë had, even though she had her testimony today – along with Becky. He guessed it was her turn to skip court. He couldn't blame her since the media was having a festival with all the news coming out. It sucked, and he felt for her, but there wasn't anything he could do, especially since she was still pissed at him.
He'd try after the trial had passed after Luke is sentenced to jail or something. As terrible as it was for Becky, Luke deserved it.
"Dude, where have you been?" Dallas was sitting next to him in a dash and Adam wonders how he found him.
"Enjoying Mother Nature, what are you doing out here?"
There was coffee in his hand; most likely Alli had bought him one since last night he was up later than usual since he was working on an assignment. "Came to tell you that your brother went to court with Becky, unless you already knew." Dallas sipped his coffee and made a noise of satisfaction at the warmth going down his throat. He offered some to Adam since it looked like he needed it, but Adam shook his head.
Well, that stunned him. He hadn't expected for Becky to take Drew in place of him, but it made sense to have some meaning of the support system. No wonder he hadn't seen his brother yet at school. At least he could count on Drew to be there for Becky since he couldn't be. Not that he didn't want to be there, but something with Becky's demeanor threw him for a loop. "That's good."
"Makes me wonder why you didn't go?" A question he couldn't accurately answer. Their argument yesterday was an outburst that felt entirely out of place; as if Becky no longer desired his comfort, his words, his presence. Maybe he had gone the wrong direction with how he counseled her. Maybe she wanted more words of advice than only his listening ears. "I can practically see the smoke coming out your ears."
Adam snorted as he looked over to Dallas. They were close but not as close as Dallas was to Drew. They had a brotherly bond while Adam and Dallas had a friendship that existed because he lived in their home. Sure, he trusted the guy but after his advice in the summer failed Adam there was no chance he'd ask for more this time around. "We had an argument, but we'll get through it."
"It's hard not to be stressed when your brothers a rapist." Dallas words created a shift in conversation. Luke had been his friend, almost a best friend since he was co-captain to hockey than basketball. He had no idea what the kid was capable of, but now he knew. "It must suck."
He opened his mouth to answer but heard a chime, catching his attention. It was from someone unexpected, and he was on his feet, quicker than Dallas could count to three. "I have to go."
::
Zoë (10:37 AM)
We need to talk. The field. Now.
Adam was within quick walking distance, passing by the media outlets that stood near the picnic tables. They paid no mind to him, thank goodness. A figure was sitting at the tippy top, a hoodie covering the person's physique. "Zo?" She looked up and shushed him, glancing back to the reporters as she had slipped through the back of the school. "What's up?"
It was unbelievable how out of place she looked, even if her face had the typical composer to it. They hadn't spoken in weeks and now as he settled on the bleacher beneath her, a familiarity set through with every practice she had shown up to, only to talk and support him. "What's Becky going to say?"
Of course, she'd ask what he had no idea about, "I don't know."
"Are you serious? She's your girlfriend; she should have told you." Zoe's up and already descending the bleachers in her heels while Adam follows, "You're no use to me."
"Shit, can you just chill for a second?"
"Chill? You're telling me to relax when my rapist might be set free because your girlfriend doesn't have the guts to tell the truth!?" Zoe's yelling at him even though he's only a foot away from her, now both standing on the field. He's never liked being yelled at, his feet making him step back for a moment as Zoë didn't even bother to catch a breath. "I don't deserve this! He's being set in a positive light while I'm being called the liar when he told me what he had done. He begged me not to say anything and for this reason, because no one would believe me! Now my whole past is out in the open, being called a drug addict and everything out of the book while he gets console because I killed his hockey career. And now that I actually need information or your help you don't have a fucking clue. How hopeless are you?"
Adam stood in shock at her words, gulping as he took it in. He knew she could get rash, impulsive, erupts at any moment but Zoë had never been cruel to him before. It was something he didn't want to partake in any longer. "If you're done, I'm going to go." His arm was tugged back once she moved past him and Zoë for a moment felt bad with the pain beneath his eyes. "What?"
"You're a lovesick puppy and its gross, it's absurd how much you care and know her yet you can't tell me what she's going to say. I need to know!" She was pushing it, but she couldn't take it anymore. Adam was someone she counted on in the past, and he was her only way of knowing Becky's testimony. He had to tell her, he had to prepare her for the outcome, but he said nothing; well, almost nothing.
"Even if I knew why would I tell you after that monolog you just had? Why in the hell would I tell you when you accuse me of being a lovesick puppy and hopeless when in reality that's what you are." Her face fell, along with her hand, as his words continued to stab her in the chest, "You're the hopeless lovesick girl that everyone pitches you to be. Jesus, you fell for me when I'm taken and yet followed me around as if you had a damn chance. Even right now you text me to come to your aid because no one else can help you. Well, guess what? You fucked up."
Zoe's pain turned to anger as her hand rose in a split second before slapping it across Adam's face. At an instant, he felt the hard sting and he groaned, her long nails added to the injury as it scratched his lip. The taste of copper was at the tip of his tongue as he licked his bottom lip. He was met with brown eyes filled with tears and even though his words felt right when said, he wanted to take it back. "Zo…"
"You're just like everyone else; not useful when I need them to be and judgmental. I have that from the media, from my old friends, even from Tristan! I thought you of all people wouldn't judge me." Her anger fumed and swam away, as her voice came in a strained hush. But Adam still heard her, loud and clear, but still had nothing to say that was helpful.
"I don't know anything, okay?" Zoë shook her head in disappointment. She knew that in his mind he understood and wanted to help, but not in the way she wanted. Zoë wanted his comfort, reassuring words, and warmth that she had seen him give to Becky but all she got were harsh words and the dissatisfaction of being put last, again.
Adam sighed as Zoë turned around to walk away, and he felt disappointed that he couldn't help yet another person who mattered to him.
::
"Woah, Adam what happened?" Clare had his face in her hands before he could even blink, and he smiled small at her concern for reassurance. "Jesus don't smile! It's a fresh wound, was this Drew I swea—"
"No, Clare… Actually, you won't be surprised to hear who it was." He glances down to his spaghetti, looking appetizing as ever since he missed breakfast in a hurry to see if Becky was at school. Adam took Clare's silence as a sign she was thinking, and he looked up to find Clare analyzing him. "It was Zoe, Clare."
Yeah, she was not surprised. Clare's shoulders slumped, actually having gotten excited at the thought of yelling at Drew – it was a great pastime. They have been getting along better now after their hook-up; clearly, it was all sexual tension on both their parts so getting back to yelling at him felt nice. She put a slice of orange in her mouth, slowly chewing, "Why?"
"You have to ask, don't you?"
"I know she likes you, but she wouldn't slap you unless you said something dumb. So what you do?" Adam scoffed, having lost his appetite at remembering how sad Zoë had been. It had nothing to do with her feelings towards him and had everything to do with the failure of him being a friend to her, "Are you sure you don't like her back?"
What the – "No, Clare. I'm with Becky; it isn't like that-"
"And I was with Eli when I felt attracted to Drew. We've talked about this you can be attracted to people when you're in a relationship, but there's a line you can't cross…" She watched him with curious eyes, trying to witness any revelation in his expressions, "Like hooking up with them in a storage closet."
Well, that got him to make a face of disgust. He didn't want to think about Clare and Drew getting-it-on, on a couch during a school day. "No, I like her as a friend. It's like you," Adam pointed his fork at her face, and she moved back slightly, him chuckling at her exaggeration, "We're close and friendly, but you're like my sister."
"You don't look at her like a sister, more like a step-sister if you ask me."
"So, like you and Jake?" The smugness on his face made her narrow her eyes at him; her love life was a mess before and it still kind of is. "You can't judge me when all your love interests drifted to Drew." Now she was smug, and he shook his head with a smile; she got him there.
"Okay, fine. I think she's attractive; Becky knows that. That's what matters; she knows what I have with Zoë is a friendship. We're over it… And either way she slapped me because I didn't know what Becky was going to say at the trial. That's why, she got upset so this happened." He directed his fork to his lip, now his mind wandering. "I don't know what Becky is going to say because she hasn't spoken to me since yesterday and I know you don't like the way she treats me sometimes but we were both at fault when we got angry."
Clare nods once in understanding. Becky and Adam made sense together; she honestly thinks they can be together for the long run but with that comes issues. It happens with every couple that eventually ends up getting married, especially when their relationship starts young. "Do you ever think about taking a break from her? Pursue other things..." She already noticed the frown forming on his face and she gently places a hand on his forearm, "Listen, I know you love her but lately both of you had been in the wrong space. You give too much, she gives too little or vice versa, but you saw how the break earlier this year helped you that you guys were good for months and the only reason that it changed was because of Luke.
"All I'm saying is that look at the bigger picture. You have lacrosse, Mano-a-Mano, Bright Sparks, and so much other things that you can focus on them instead of Becky all the time. When was the last time you could just focus on lacrosse and practice at home without Becky lingering?" Adam shrugged his shoulders, taking in her words as she continued to speak; "She loves you too but right now is your moment and Becky isn't going to leave you behind anytime soon even if she moves away to study. You both will work but you can't let a relationship strain and drag when it isn't working." His hand was in hers now, bringing her to think of their sibling relationship and she had a few more words to add on the tip of her tongue, "There's Zo- "
"Clare, no. You don't even like her!"
"Who cares who I like? I know you have something for her, maybe figure out what it is... Even if she can get slappy on you." She giggles as she gently pats his cheek that is redder than usual. Adam winces just a bit, and their lunch continues, drifting into the topic of their science test but Adam's mind runs as if on fire thinking about what she's said.
::
Adam was right; Zoë had fucked up.
She has royally messed with Adam.
Becky had told the truth. The entire truth. The videos and even how Luke told her Zoë never said yes. She wasn't a coward but her savior because now she was finally allowed to breathe. There was only a pang of distraught as she witnessed Becky break down in tears while her parents walked away from her. She couldn't bear to make eye contact with her as the blond left the courtroom with Drew behind her.
"Becky..." Drew straggled behind her as she wandered off to the side of the building, away from the crowd. Judging by the fact her parents were heading to the car, he would be her ride back home - wherever that was. "Hey, it's okay."
"No, it's not Drew! I just got my brother sent to jail because I couldn't lie. Now my parents hate m-" Becky broke out into a sob and even more tears, Drew reaching out to pull her into an embrace. He wasn't that great with comforting those who were crying, and Becky didn't seem to be calming down anytime soon. She could sense his hesitancy, but she didn't feel right in his arms, pushing away quickly with a wipe to her eyes. "I didn't even hug him goodbye; I didn't have it in me. It's my fault."
Drew scratched his head, seeing tears form yet again. Shit, he had no idea what to do. "Come on; I'll take you back to my house. Adam's there; my mom's there... you're not alone." That seemed to get her to calm down, enough to nod and follow Drew to the minivan.
The car ride was filled with her silent sobs and tears; continuous sniffling gave it away that she was crying. The court room was only half an hour drive, but he got there in twenty minutes. Thankfully he saw the basement door open, signaling that Adam was there. "He's here, Becky." She followed like a zombie behind him. Her mind was clouded that she didn't even notice Adam was outside the door as if he already knew she was coming.
"Becky." The softness in his tone brought her tears streaming down her face and Adam instantly knew what she had done, and what the outcome had been. Drew gripped Adam's shoulder before stepping inside, shutting the door behind him. Adam stared at Becky with his hands in his pockets. He didn't know what to do or say, what she desired not clear in his head.
"They found him guilty of child… and sexual assault... beca- because of me." Becky wiped her eyes before wrapping a hand around the cross on her neck. She would pray later, hope for forgiveness and understanding. Pray for this guilt and sadness that's been consuming her to go away. "And my parents are upset with me." For her brother to be safe the two years he'll be in jail, for her parents to find the console in the church because their son is gone.
Adam stands there as she explains her conversation with Luke, her testimony, Zoe's testimony, and eventually the jury's decision. The tears streamed down her eyes as she continued to talk, but he didn't budge his place; he didn't know what to say or what to do. "Come inside," Are the first words he says to her, but she just shakes her head. "Here," now he moves as he removes his zip up sweater to drape over her shoulders; standing behind her as her arms slip through the sleeves. Becky sighs at the warmth and the lavender scent. It's only a moment later that she feels his arms around her middle, slowly pulling her closer, and she lets out a whimper when she leans back into him.
"It's not your fault." He sways her gently; his chin placed on her shoulder, and he notes that her eyes are closed. The tears have seemed to have stopped, but she's still sniffling. "You did what you felt was right and eventually you'll accept that." There's silence on her part only with a hum; she doesn't want to speak about this any longer. Her eyes feel heavy, along with her body and she doesn't know how she'll make it to school tomorrow.
"Where'd you get that cut?" Becky asks as her fingers run along Adam's hands that are on her waist. "Don't think I didn't notice it."
He pulls away, making her open her eyes as she slowly stands up straight. Adam doesn't answer; he'll tell her later. "Join my family for dinner?" Becky swallows a lump in her throat, fearing the questions and confrontation of his family, but then it's overcome by relief when she steps into the dining area, and Audra smiles at her as if she was her daughter.
"Green beans, Adam's favorite." Drew teases as he scoops a spoonful to dump it onto Adam's plate and Becky finds herself giggling for the first time this whole day.
::
The house was quiet, as opposed to the Torres Household. It was weird that their families were similar when it came to the amount of kids in the house, minus Dallas that is, and yet Adam's house brings this energy to her that hers never had.
Not to say she didn't like being at her house, but it still didn't feel like home. As she hung up her coat, she couldn't help but physically exhale loudly when the darkness of the living room took over. Her parents were probably upstairs with her father trying to console her mother but knew she was probably in tears.
Becky did a lot of crying after the trial ended, and now it was her mom's turn. And just as her mom left her in tears, she would do the same. At least Adam cared; he held her against his chest as she cried after having dinner. At least your makeup is water proof; he had told her, and she smiled at the thought while going up the stairs. She lingered at Luke's door, which was cracked open – her mom was probably in it earlier today.
Stepping in, Becky looked around and smiled to herself as she took in all the sports related items. He was a jock, and not to say she was bad at sports, but their father always held pride at how good he was at them. He even supported the thought of Luke joining the NHL, and he was proud of Becky when she decided to become a doctor. His two kids, but now one in jail and one is dating an 'abomination' as her dad likes to call Adam. "This sucks." The words are a gentle whisper to herself, the words having a bitter taste in her mouth as she rarely says them.
A few moments later, she's in her brother's bed and stares up at the ceiling. He was gone for two years, and she would have to accept it. "He isn't dead; he'll be back… He'll learn." She can visit him when she gains the confidence to.
It's rare for her to pray lying down, but she does it either way. Pleading for God to protect her brother and to keep negativity away from her parents, and for inner peace within herself. A cold chill makes itself into the room, and Becky smiles to herself as she opens her eyes; making eye contact with Luke's hockey poster, "Amen."
chapter's a little shorter than the other but the next one will be long since it is two episodes as one! let me know what you think xx
