Disclaimer : I don't own a thing so there!

CAKEEATER : I know Julie was pretty nice in that chapter wasn't she. Slip of the tongue really that she let it slip, but never mind, worse things in the world could happen lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

XSARAH : If you've been bad at reading/reviewing, then I've been terrible at updating lol. 2 weeks, can you believe it's been that long since I put chapter 11 up. I'm totally gonna blame this one on my computer, since our anti virus thingy mi bob needed renewing or something like that lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

ANNE918 : Arr I'm so glad you're enjoying the story. You don't know how much your comment about the story being very realistic, made me smile lol – yes I'm extremely sad lol. I will definitely keep your request for an Adam/Julie or Adam/Connie fic in mind, though I do think it'll end up being the latter lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!

DEDICATED TO VINCENT LARUSSO WHO IS 27 TODAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY VINCENT! lol

Chapter 12

CHARLIE'S P.O.V

I exited the changing rooms, after changing from my hockey gear back into my street clothes, to see Orion stood leaning on the Plexiglas talking to Ramsden. It was obvious they were speaking about Connie, by the serious expressions on both their faces. I was just hoping and praying that Orion was excusing Connie's behavior and not telling him the real reason.

"He already knows Charlie". Julie came up behind me.

"How? How does he"? I spun round.

"I kinda accidentally let it slip, when Connie ran". She admitted guiltily.

"Julie you didn't. I sighed.

"I'm sorry, but I was angry with him. I didn't mean to". She bit her lip.

"It's ok, don't worry about it. Ramsden's the least of our worries". I answered.

A few minutes later, we were all stood just outside the changing rooms. Orion filed us in on what Ramsden had said had happened, and Julie agreed, that, his versions of things were correct. It wasn't what he'd said, it was the fact he'd gotten in her face, and she'd simply run away, probably with fear.

I wasn't eager to find Connie because I thought she'd do something stupid, It was simply because I was worried about her. She was jumpy walking through the college halls, let alone out in the open. Every one went there separate ways except for Julie, who we all agreed needed to stay with someone, and as I expected she went off with Portman.

I walked off campus with Adam, Averman, Ken and Fulton. The others were checking the campus thoroughly before making their way off campus. Hopefully, someone would have found her by then. We all had our cell phones so we could keep in touch, and were to let at least one of us know when Connie was safe.

"Charlie". I turned to find myself face to face with Tasha, one of Connie and Julie's team mates. "I'm sorry about Connie. Tell her we're all behind her".

"Thanks". I said slightly shocked, as she walked off.

"I take that the whole team now know". Ken stated.

"Great, this is just fucking great". I sighed. "The whole bloody campus will know by this time tomorrow". I felt anger rising. "Why'd Julie have to open her mouth to Ramsden, especially in front of the team". I ranted as we continued walking.

"Charlie, she didn't mean to. Let's just take one problem at a time ok". Adam told me.

"Yeah Charlie, Adam's right. I mean ok, Julie let it slip, but lets face it, someone was bound to click on sooner or later by her odd behavior". Averman joined in.

"Whose to say though, that any of the girls will say anything". Fulton added.

After a few minutes we all separated, heading in different directions, all with different places to check. I knew Averman was right, people were bound to think something was odd by her jumpiness and the disinterest she had adopted recently. I couldn't help though, but hope Fulton was right, in saying that the girls might not say anything, but it seemed a pretty big might to me.

KEN'S P.O.V

You can go through life, questioning situations you or someone you know endure. There was times when you truly hated the world for doing these awful things. I wasn't religious, but without even thinking it, you can't help but question whether there truly is a higher power. When something bad happens you almost threaten them, 'if you really exist, why'd you cause so much suffering to those who don't deserve it', or 'if you make everything better I promise I won't ever question you ever again'. You can't help it, you need to blame someone. It really makes you think. People can commit the worst crimes thinkable, and get away with it. Yet some of the most honest, respectable people can suffer. They don't deserve it, but they still endure it. How fair is that?

I mean here we have Connie. She'd never hurt anyone intentionally, she'd go out of her way to help anyone. I mean don't get me wrong, she wasn't perfect, but who is? She had her faults, but I'm sure if we pointed them out, she'd try her hardest to right them. She didn't deserve this, well no-one did, especially Connie.

I watched her over the passed week or so, struggle to pull herself back together. I'd seen her flinch whenever anyone went near her or touched her. Her nervousness was heartbreaking, but what broke my heart even more, was her lack of trust in us, but looking at her, I knew she was trying her hardest to regain that trust. Just one guy had taken her trust in us away, just one guy.

I'd watched Charlie go through hell and back with her. Trying his hardest to be there for her, yet struggle to figure out how exactly he felt about everything. I couldn't tell how he was feeling, because I wasn't in his position, but I had a pretty good guess, because basically it had to be 10 times worse than what I was feeling and I was just a mere friend.

They say adversity makes you a stronger person. Yeah right, how the hell does being raped make you a stronger person.

AVERMAN'S P.O.V

I had known Connie my whole life. I know as you grow older, you can't remember your first step or anything significant like that, but I do know, that she was part of the earliest memory I have. It had always been that way. She was there at my first birthday, and my second. In fact she'd been present at all my 20 birthdays and as mad as it may sound, I knew she'd be at every single birthday for the next 70 years.

As kids me, Connie and Charlie were all inseparable. We all lived on the same block, my house was across the street from Connie's house and Charlie's mom's apartment building was about 5 houses down. Our moms originally became friends through antenatal classes, and realized they lived on the same block. It was all rather confusing as kids why it seemed natural to call each others mom's Aunt, instead of by there first name, but that's how it was for us.

We'd been through a lot together. We once even tried running away together. Not for any particular reason, just that it was summer, and we were bored. The idea seemed pretty exciting, so we each packed a rucksack with food, clothes and money and set off into the sunset. Connie was the most eager of our trio, always the independent one. We hadn't even reached the state line, when me and Charlie backed out. I could remember seeing the disappointment on her face when she realized that we wanted to go home. She didn't talk to us for a full day.

She was my little sister, more so since I was the oldest of 3 boys, and she was an only child. I remember after George, my brother, was born when I was 8. I used to climb out of my bedroom window and sneak across the street, then climb the big tree outside her house, then climb as secretively as possible into her window. We used to sit up and tell ghost stories, until we either both fell asleep, or I was too scared to head back home. On the odd occasion when her parents were fighting, she used to sneak over to my room, via the same route. The first time she did this, we were caught out, by her mom. She'd gone into Connie's room to check on her and found her missing. Immediately her parents alerted my parents, who in turn came to check whether I too was missing, and found us both fast asleep at opposite ends of my bed. The first few times on being caught out, we were grounded, but I think it soon became obvious that no matter how many times we were punished, we continued our nightly ritual.

The first time I saw her after, well you know, I could see the fear in her eyes. I hadn't seen her as scared since the time we snuck out late one night, and headed to the cemetery. Goldberg had this theory that he'd read somewhere how to contact the dead. So being the rogues we were, we decided to test his theory. We met Charlie and Adam who'd stayed over at Charlie's, at the end of our street, headed to meet Guy, Fulton and then finally Goldberg. It was the summer before the junior goodwill games, and she'd yet again fallen out with Guy, over something I suppose trivial to us, but deadly serious to her. She sat between me and Adam. We all laughed when Goldberg began reciting these lines from the magazine article. Goldberg was the only one that didn't. When he got even more serious, she gripped my hand tightly, almost as though I was the one she didn't want the spirits to over take. I remember Goldberg requesting we all hold hands of which Fulton turned to both Guy and Charlie, saying 'this is no act of gay love, ok' and let out a laugh. She continued keeping a tight hold of my hand, glancing sideways every so often and letting out a weak smile. I remember hearing the panic in her voice when Goldberg flipped his head back and began chanting something foreign. She screamed, pleading with one of us to stop him, the whole time never once letting go of me. When Goldberg started laughing hysterically, she nearly flew across the circle at him, but maybe it was my death grip on her hand or the fact Charlie, had already given him a hefty shove, stopped her. That night after heading home, Connie, Charlie and Adam all crept back into my room, where we all caught the last few hours sleep of the night. Connie might I add had my whole bed to herself.

When Adam first told us about Connie. I felt physically sick. Some pervert had got his thrills from my little sister. The only little sister I had, the one I'd protect until the day I died. I'm not a very angsty type of guy, I never got into any real fights and only very rarely raised my voice to anyone, but I swear the moment the words exited Adam's lips I was soo ready to find this pervert and give him the beating of his life.

FULTON'S P.O.V

It felt like only 5 minutes ago that Connie was telling Averman to 'shut up and try it', the it being passing the egg across the ice back to Bombay. I had immediately warmed to the brunette, who acted more like one of the guys, than one of the guys. I had never had much close contact with girls before meeting her, growing up in a house full of guys didn't exactly equip me in the expertise of knowing much about girls.

She was just like a little sister I never really cared about not having, but after having her around for a few months, I couldn't help but feel weird when she wasn't. She gave me a crash course in how to talk to girls just before the JGG, and even picked out a few suitable prospects the day we spent at the mall. Name me one sister in the world who'd do that.

Over the years I'd watched with envy at her closeness with Averman and Charlie, the bond they seemed to share. It was like they could read each others minds, without saying a word. Their bond unbreakable, even by Guy. In time we began to share some of their bond, but never have we ever had a full insight to that bond. I just kind of guessed it was similar to the bond I shared with Portman.

When Adam first came and told us about her being attacked, I felt a rage inside I'd never felt before. If I'd have known who attacked her, I was sure I'd have been capable of murder. I still felt some of that rage, though it was slowly dissolving with time, though I knew the day we found out who had done it, that rage would return in full swing.

I heard my cell phone beep, alerting me to a text message I had received. I pulled it from my pocket and read 'found her'. With a sigh I turned and headed back to the dorms, meeting up with a few other ducks along the way. I felt relief even though I hadn't realized how worried I was in the first place.

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