"Okay… you guys ready," Dan asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Violet straightened up.

"Now or never," Franklin agreed.

"Alright .. three… two… and recording.

"Good afternoon, this is Fox7, I'm Susan Flowers with Violet Gray and Franklin Johnson, both victims to James and Heathers blatant racism," she turned to them, "how long have you two been dating?"

"We just started dating, it was pretty much official that night after I went to leave."

"So you weren't dating in the beginning?"

"No, I don't want to add frivolous info; long story short; her friend asked me to give her a chance."

"That's right, I invited him over after we talked a bit in school to get to know each other."

"So you've just met, basically?"

"No ma'am, we've known each other since we were five or six years old. I've invited him to just about every party I threw at my house, since then. He's even stayed after several and helped clean, even my parents can't deny that."

"This is the first time they've ever shown this side of themselves?"

"I've never noticed, they've always been polite to me."

"I've never noticed. We were hanging out in the theater when they came home, we walked out and they were visibly upset."

"What happened?"

"They were concerned why they only heard his voice, I told them it was just me and him, they said that it was too intimate for me and him to be together."

"I'm sure you've had other boyfriends."

"Yep… they've never had a problem with me being alone with them, or coming home late."

"All her previous ones were white. They were trying to sugar coat it, but we caught on to them, Violet lost it. They asked why she would be alone with me… 'that kid,' how it wasn't a problem if I was at the parties, but just her and I was too intimate."

"He caught on pretty quick."

"I assume you've been around her enough to know all her boyfriends were white, as long as you've known each other."

"Yeah, we hang in the same circles, used to be on two rival baseball teams, done Christmas pageants and things together over the years."

"So what else happened?"

"I lost my cool when I found out they were racist, I yelled at them, cursed at them. He used to be friends with a on and off ex boyfriend of mine, he knows what I was going through and we decided to give it a shot… I'm sorry, I'm losing my train of thought. My mom got angry at me, called me the b-word, she demanded that we end what hadn't even started, that she didn't want me with… with…"

"She was going to call me the n-word."

"Oh sweet heavens, no.".

"She was. I admit I started to lose my temper, I interrupted her -this might sound bad- I threatened that if she said that word, I'd show her what one was. It's bad, but I'd rather be honest about it. I said I thought classy people like them oughta know better. I know it's Minnesota but I've never dealt with that before. I know my friends are my friends, and their parents are okay with me… but it makes me wonder who is being sincere, ya know?"

"They took my car right before I went to school yesterday," she broke down, "I had to catch the city bus to school. Luckily a friend helped me move what money I had because I know my dad was going to freeze my bank account. Franklin said what he did and I ran out the house after him… I th-thought he was just going to be done with me because of them. I begged him not to break up with me… I just… I just thought I could trust and open up to him. My phone died that night, when I got to school, he was losing it until he knew I was there. I knew then he was my guy. I don't care about the money or the car, I'm not my parents."

"She's not, she cares about her friends, she helped her friend and my friend get together, bought her an outfit, all that. That was what happened the other night. I really was worried they did something to her, I could barely sleep. I don't know what happened last night, I hadn't seen what she recorded."

"I saw that recording, most of what was said, can't be repeated on broadcast television, especially the news."

"She called you things I would be ashamed to say… she called me… a n-word lover, that I am ruining our legacy."

"Oh my gawd," he covered his face.

"I'm sorry you're going through this Franklin."

"It's Violet I'm more worried about. They haven't done anything to me, call me any name they want, I'll find new ones for them, I don't care as much as I care about her safety. She doesn't have anywhere to go, her family isn't from here, sad to say; they are all she has here."

"You really feel that way, Baby," she sniffed.

"I mean… being born black is no excuse, my character should've earned their trust years ago. I don't think they really care about you, I think they just want the girl they groomed and the image they project… and Gray Industries."

"You've never done anything bad, Franklin?"

"No. I keep it straight, I'm not a delinquent, none of my friends are… our friends are, we're all good teens. Everybody just wants to be happy, not hurt people or cause trouble, we look out for each other, we all grew up together, our parents know each other, they all get along."

"Did your parents get along with hers?"

"The few times they met each other? I want to think so, but now I'm pretty sure they were pretending. Both of my parents are college graduates, no criminal records, not even a parking ticket."

"Violet, a number of employees had spoken on your post, which have been removed from Gray Industries social media, but people have reposted it, and have shared from your personal accounts, have you spoke to any of the African American employees?"

"Kinda. I'm not sure what they are going to do."

"What about your other family?"

"Some of them were mad that I put private family business on the internet, they were telling me I need to delete it, I'm a horrible daughter for putting my parents through this scandal."

"I think that's all we need… unless there's anything else?"

"No… that's everything up to now."

"We at Fox7 and I'm pretty sure everybody else will be interested as your issues continue. You can always decline an interview if it gets too stressful. Anything else you want to add?"

"Sure," she wiped her eyes, "mom… dad… you're dead wrong with how you think, I'm not breaking up with Franklin, I'm not going to stop until you see the errors of your ways. Sure I'm a minor, but I'm still a person, Franklin is still a person. He should've earned your trust and respect long ago. He's done nothing but be respectful."

"I don't have anything to say."

"There you have it, you were just live with Franklin, Violet, and me; Susan Flowers, here on Fox7."

"That's a wrap," Dan said.

"I've always had some weird vibes coming off your mom and dad. I'm on TV, I know fakeness when I see it, honey."

"Yeah… they're like that."

"I'm pretty sure you two hafta get back to class, if you want, take my card, if you wanna talk, or have some problems… I might be able help," she handed both a business card.

"Thank you ma'am," Violet answered.

"You can just call me Susan. I'm serious, I could care less about ratings, I'd rather actually try to help you two, than make it news. It's just dead wrong," she shook her head.

"Time to head back to class, I know this was not easy, if you want, I can give you the rest of the day off," Wilkinson offered.

"It's okay, sir; I'd rather finish the day," Franklin answered.

"Me too, our friends have our backs, we'll manage it."

"If that's what you want. Try to make the best out of the rest of the day, if you can, school work is harder if you're stressed."

"Thank you sir, you're a good man," Franklin said as he guided Violet from the room.

Violet stopped, plopped down in a stairwell tears in her eyes.

"Hey… what's wrong?"

"Everything is overwhelming, I'm just afraid it'll get worse."

"I'm pretty sure it'll be fine. I ain't goin no damn where, my friends are your friends. They got you. We'll do what we can, and I'm sure our parents would help some how."

"I'm just still worried about how far my parents would go."

"Outside of that house of yours, I don't think they can touch you. With the way things are going, they could make it worse for themselves, if they step wrong," he held out a hand.

"Frank… you really do give me strength," she smiled.


James slipped in the school as kids were leaving, he heard them call him names, point, glare, even curse at him. Some even bumped in to him on purpose. He was quickly intercepted by Principal Wilkinson.

"Is there anything I can help you with, Mr. Gray?"

"I just came to pick up my daughter," he tried to cool down.

"You seem a bit hostile, Mr. Gray. School policy dictates students are our responsibility until they're home safe, or turned over to their parents. I don't feel it would be safe to turn her over to you, in your current state," he glared.

"I'm her father… of course it's safe! I saw her on the news, and I just need to explain to her our family policy on speaking to the media. Call her up here, or… or I'll find her myself," he growled.

"I'm afraid that's a negatory on both accounts, James," he stood ground.

James answers his phone, "Honey, I just saw her towards the back of the school. I'm held up by some busses."

"Thanks, Sweetheart," James ran out to his car.

He drove around towards the student parking lot spotting Violet and Franklin walking together to his SUV.

"What the fuck are you doing with my daughter?!"

Students started to leave as he got closer, two cars started doing rolling burnouts towards him, making him slow down to see, as the clouds lifted, he spotted the green Tahoe pull out and go the other way, nearly clipping his wifes car, when she tried to block the road.

"He nearly hit me," she yelled as he pulled next to her.

"Don't worry, I'm about to chase that black bastard down with our daughter," he sped off.