Bryce P.O.V

Some media outlets have taken it amongst themselves to stay outside of the house and record any movement they saw from within. After much sweet talking from my father to my mom overnight he had managed to get her to change her mind from leaving the household.

I sat with my father at the large dining room table as we had our breakfast together, my mom and sister preferred if they didn't have to eat with me as they had already set out of the house for the day. I had told my plans to my father of returning back to school to collect the rest of my things and bring them home

'Do you think that's a wise idea Bryce' he proclaimed

'I need to get my things and chat to someone there about something'

'Well call them over to the house'

'I don't think my friends would want to walk across the paparazzi outside' I replied

'I'll call Bradley and see if we need permission from the police to go, you set a foot outside of here and you could end up behind bars till the trail'

'Bradley given any more updates regarding the trail' I pondered, stirring my spoon around the cereal bowl

'It's still early days from what he has told me from the last time I spoke to him but he's got more people working on the case'

'Any reason why mom or Alice have left the house already'

'I think Alice had some school project she wanted to take in early'

'A school project? Nothing more than that'

'If I didn't think they were loyal to us Bryce, I would have taken care of them'

'Keep a close eye of them pair, I have a feeling they might testify against me if the chance came up for either of them'

My father went back to reading his newspaper as I messaged Bradley about what procedure needed to be taken so I could collect my things. Bradley phoned back ten minutes later to inform me that I could go back to Liberty to collect me things on certain conditions, he would meet me outside of the school gates in half an hour….

Parking up the Mercedes out in front of the school gates I meet up with my lawyer who stopped us from entering the school, Bradley mentioned we had to wait for a police escort around the school so I wouldn't interact and threaten any students I may come across

Principle Bolan had come out of the school building and greeted us both before going over to the squad car that had pulled up behind Bradley's. Officer Ashley stepped out of the cruiser and joined the three of us on the sidewalk

'You have an hour on the premises Mr Walker to gather your things, I won't be making a habit of keep on returning here for you to collect your belongings'

'He only wants personal belongings officer' Bradley explained

'Everyone should be heading to their homeroom so now is a good time Bryce to collect your things' Mr Bolan stated

Following Mr Bolan the four of us entered the school building to a quiet school hall, only a few students lingered about as they were in no rush to get to homeroom, the messages would be spreading around that I was back in school no doubt. I asked to be taken to the boys locker room first so I can take out some on my spare uniform

Once I got what I wanted from that locker the four of us left and went to my main locker at Liberty High, I would finally get to see the damage for myself after the photo Justin sent me last night of what was done to it. Bradley took out of his phone and took some photos of the vandalism, in large black writing was the word rapist sprayed on the blue locker

'Do you know who did this Mr Bolan' I asked, touching the paintwork to see if it would come off easily

'I haven't had the chance to review the cctv yet Bryce'

'I do hope that you reprimand the individuals that were responsible for this Mr Bolan' Bradley proclaimed, stirring the pot a little so they had to react

'Rest assured I will deal with the matter Mr O'Connor'

'Looks like you'll be back here again soon Officer Ashley' I sniggered

'And why would that be Mr Walker?'

'School property has been damaged and slander written across my locker which are not true at all'

'I'm sure Mr Bolan will punish whoever is responsible, until he calls the police department to report the damages I'm not needed here'

'The pot calling the kettle black. If I had done the crime and Mr Bolan called you, you would be straight over to arrest my ass in a flash'

'Are you calling me unprofessional Mr Walker' Officer Ashley suggested, raising a brow

'I'm calling it as I see it' I admitted

'Alright that's enough the pair of you' Bradley interjected, taking control of the argument and stepping in between us. 'Collect your things Bryce and be on your way'

Walking over to my vandalized locker I retrieved the rest of my belongings from inside the small space, I told the three adults that I had everything I needed and was ready to leave now from the premises. The school bell ended the first period of the day and students left their classrooms to go to their next one

Seeing Justin come out of his homeroom I motioned him over to me, he kept his head down and came by my side as I swung an arm over his shoulders whilst we walked to the nearest door out of here.

'Come to my house after school I need to talk to you in private'

'Now isn't a good time Bryce'

'Why because everyone is looking? Forget about them you know I'm innocent don't you'

'I've got my own shit to be dealing with at the minute'

'Just five minutes after school that's all I'm asking for Justy'

'Fine but it better only be five minutes'

Officer Ashley came rushing up to us and stopped the both of us leaving the school corridor, the two other adults came to our sides to stop a confrontation happening in front of the whole school to witness

'You're breaching the terms for your exception to your bail Bryce, talking to a friend' Bradley reminded

'It's only a small catch up Bradley, no harm done'

'You'll have to move on your way son, Mr Walker isn't allowed any unauthorized visitors right now as he is breaching the terms of his conditions' Officer Ashley reprimanded

'Best be on your way Justy or she'll have you arrested as well on phoney charges'

'That's enough of your lip Mr Walker' Officer Ashley scolded. 'You've got what you wanted and now kindly leave the premises Mr Walker'

'I'm going now'

Taking a last look around the place I was met with glares and daggers from everyone who looked my way, they clearly believed Hannah and Jessica's side of the story and already made up their minds on what verdict they wanted from the trail when it started….

Retreating to the small out house in the back garden, I kept on flicking my gaze to the clock on the wall knowing school had finished for the day and Justin should be here any minute now. If only I can get him to be on my side then it would put enough doubt in some jurors minds during the trail

The door to the out house opened and finally Justin arrived much to my relief, I would have to sway him around if he started to stray away from my side. Justin dropped his bag down to the floor and sat down at the poker table, coming over to him I handed him a drink of brandy and sat across the table

'I can't stay for long Bryce I have a few things to sort out back home'

'That's alright Justy I just wanted a chat up that's all, gets a bit lonely at home when everyone is out during the day'

'I know how that feels sometimes when I come back and no one is home'

'I have this huge cloud resting above my head, the sooner the trail is over the better'

'What has your lawyer said about the case'

'They are still working on it Justin but it's looking hopeful from what the officer told me from the interview'

'So they don't have much evidence on you then'

'Enough to press charges so far but nothing that will stand up in court, it will be my word against theirs' I explained, slowly taking another sip. 'What would help my case if I witness came forward'

'And where are you going to find one? No one would be willing to testify for you in court'

'This is why I'm asking you to testify on my behalf'

'I can't Bryce'

'Why not?'

'Can't you get one of the other lads from the team to help you out, we all go to the parties as a team'

'But it would be better coming from you Justy, you are my best friend after all'

'I wasn't there when Hannah and Jessica alleged they were raped'

'If you go to the police and make a statement, it would help me in court when I'm on the stand'

'I'll get called into court as well you know and be cross examined on the stand, they'll no I'm not telling the truth straight away'

'You worry to much Justin, all you have to do is say that you saw Jessica flirting with me at her party all night and she made the first move when she called me upstairs to her bedroom'

'And what about Hannah? Jessica, Zach and myself was with her in the hot tube most of the night' he questioned

'We had a on off relationship and coming to my party she fancied hooking up again'

'I can't do it Bryce I can't lie to the police knowing what I know'

'Keep your goddamn mouth shut or we'll have a problem'

'What are you gonna do?'

I tried talking and reasoning with my best friend but it seems he would crack from under the slightest pressure from the police, giving them anything what they wanted to know and use against me. I had to test his loyalty to me and make sure he stays silent to the cops

Justin finished off his drink and picked up his bag from the floor, my best friend couldn't even look me in the eye about what I had suggested to him. Dropping my glass down on the table I walked up to Justin, stopping him from leaving the small out house and turning him around I punched him across his face, repeatedly delivering heavy blows to his cheeks and jaw…

Mason's P.O.V

The girls had another counselling session and Clay stayed behind school to attend some robotic class that he was interested in, I would be on my own for the next couple of hours still everyone was free again for the night. Walking through the town and grabbed a coffee from Monet's I saw a beaten up Justin Foley aimlessly staggering back home

He looked fine earlier today when Bryce showed up to the school to collect his things and called him over for a chat, something must have turned between the two of them. We both hated each other's guts but I should make sure that he is alright before I go about the rest of my day. Hurrying over to Justin I came along his side and motioned for him to follow me to a nearby park bench

'What happened to you Justin?' seeing the darker shades of purple eching on his face and becoming more visible

'Wouldn't you like to know'

'Excuse me for checking that you are alright, next time I bother at all' I muttered

'This is nothing' he explained, pointing his finger to his bruised face

'You didn't have it in the morning when you saw Bryce'

'I tripped and fell in the locker room, my face banging into my locker as I went down'

'I've been boxing near enough my whole life Justin so I know what kind of bruises you get when you hit certain things' I exclaimed. 'That did not happen by falling into your locker'

'I had an encounter with someone' Justin sighed deeply

'That someone being Bryce'

Justin didn't bother replying as he just stayed silent to the question, if I asked him more question then he might just nodded to what was true or not if he didn't feel comfortable saying so out loud

'He asked you for a favour'

'Kinda'

'What did he want from you this time? He has got a legal team working his case'

'This is said in confidence Mason. He has asked that I make a statement to the police and help clear his name'

'What did Bryce want you to say to the police'

'I was at both of the parties when Jessica and Hannah were raped, he wanted me to make false accusation that it was the other way around and they both had made a move on Bryce'

'You refused to do what he asked and then had beaten you up till you agreed to do it'

'He expects a statement from the police to be handed to his lawyer about what he wants me to say'

'Surely you can't go through with it Justin' I exclaimed

'It's not like I have a choice in the matter' he replied, pointing his finger to the marks on the side of his face again

'What if you told the police that Bryce had blackmail you into giving a fake alibi'

'Then I would be as good as dead right now, this was just a warning'

'All the more reason to go to the police Justin'

I got up from the bench and motioned with my head for him to follow me, he wasn't going to go to the police station under his own steam to tell them the truth. In all honestly I could see him doing a runner from the town to never be seen again

Coming up to Justin's side I hauled him up from the bench and dragged him with me to the police station, after a while of dragging his feet he came willingly to the station as I requested to speak to Officer Ashley upon arrival. Justin was shown into a interview room with the officer whilst I waited in reception for him

Half an hour later Justin left the interview room and I met him in reception, he was surprised I was still here as we both left the station, coming to a stop nearby a bench as I handed him a bottle of water

'So how did it go in there' I asked curiously

'As well as can be Mason, I asked her to pass on my statement to Bryce's lawyers'

'And you told them the truth right? That Bryce blackmailed you today at his house'

'Of course I did, I couldn't tell that officer that Jessica came onto Bryce when she was out of it that night'

'Because you still love her don't you' I proclaimed

'I still do Mason I'm not going to lie to you about it'

'You do know now that you'll be called up for the trail once it starts'

'If I'm not found dead by then then yeah. I'll have to tell the judge and jury that I was blackmailed and what I know of my best friend'

'You're doing the right thing Justin and I'm going to help you'

'How?'

'I'm going to give you some money and you're gonna leave town for good tonight'

'I can't just suddenly leave and what about my mom here'

'Take her with you somewhere, surely it's better than staying here with Meth Seth on both of your cases'

'Bryce will hire private detectives to come and look for us just so he can twist my arm in court'

'Just lay low in the meantime until you called up for the trail and after that you're a free man, we can ask Officer Ashley about witness protection if you want more reassurance'

'You really think that is the best option for me right now? To leave town with my mom'

'I really don't know Justin but you know Bryce better than anyone else will so it's your call'

Justin took a few minutes to pounder over his option and decided to pack up his things and get out of the town, I followed him home to help pack up his things so he could get out of here by tonight so Bryce doesn't have the chance to stop him after reading his statement from the police….

Helping Justin pack some of his clothes into a couple of bags, his mom came through the door alone and was shocked to see her apartment in such a state. Justin told her his situation and that he was leaving town and gave his mom an ultimatum; stay here with Meth Seth or leave town with him. Mrs Foley didn't argue with her son and went to her bedroom to pack her clothes

Twenty minutes later both Justin and his mom were done as I carried Mrs Foley bags down the flight of steps and out of the apartment. The three of us made our way to the bus station whilst they both pondered which direction to go to next. Mrs Foley suggested that they go west and stay at a friend's house

'You need to get rid of your sim card from your phone' I stated

'Why is that?'

'They can track you on that phone when you use it once you get to your new place that you'll be staying'

'Well I need to know what is happening back here'

'That's why I took the liberty of buying you another phone, I know it my not be the most up to date or latest model but it will do for keeping under cover'

I handed Justin a basic Nokia phone which he checked over and weren't impressed with it's low level of tech, he unwillingly gave me his smartphone and I proceeded to take out the sim card from the back, folding up the chip and snapping it in two separate pieces before giving Justin his phone back

'My number is already on the phone if you want to talk or text if you're bored or want to know what's happening here' I suggested

'Thanks for this' he admitted, waving the phone in his hand

'Come on Justin our bus is here' his mom interjected, seeing the bus pulled up to the station

Helping to carry their stuff over to the bus station Mrs Foley took the bags from Justin and sat down on the bus, giving the rest of his mother's belongings to him he handed them to his mom. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my wallet to take out a handful of notes equating to two hundred dollars before giving them to Justin

'We're not charity Mason' he proclaimed proudly

'Something to help you by for a week or so'

'You have already done enough for me with the phone and helping me escape from this town before anyone knows I'm gone'

'I want to thank you somehow for doing the right thing and helping Hannah and Jess with the trail and the statement you've given'

'Yeah well it wouldn't do anyone any good if Bryce is let off from the trail'

'I know we haven't seen eye to eye since I moved here but thanks again Justin for being a brother'

'Who knows this fresh start just might be what I need'

'Well it's up to you if you want to come back here when the trail is over but safe journey Justin'

Justin nodded his head and reached out his hand to mine to shake, our hands joining together in a firm handshake as we reached some common ground moving forward. He placed the folded notes into his jean pocket and entered the bus to grab a seat next to his mum, a few minutes later the bus left the depot and headed out on its route journey to the next town…...