BPOV
A lot happened in only a few days, Royce was in fact sloppy and left not only a noticeable stain on the inside of my dress but also his DNA.
He was charged for rape in the third degree.
He also got semen on Alice's cheer shorts.
That was also another separate charge for rape in the third degree.
Rosalie was still in her medically induced coma but her rape kit came back with three different DNA leads. Royce was one of them, Riley Biers and Tyler Crowley were the other two.
Riley and Tyler were both very drunk the night of their arrests but the next morning had a clear memory of Royce beating Rosalie who allegedly tried to fight back.
Royce now had a charge of assault and battery against him.
Detective Diaz was trying to get a few more charges to stick with the D.A.'s office, but she needs Rosalie for that.
I stuff the laptop I need for my English presentation into my bag, checking myself out in the mirror. I pulled my hair into a high pony today, my white t-shirt was a little snug against my chest, and light baggie jeans hanging low on my waist.
This was the start of a new week and I wanted to feel the normalcy of school.
I run downstairs to get my sneakers and the coat I've taken from Edward.
"Where do you think you're going, Bells?" Dad asks in the doorway of the kitchen.
I slowly turn.
"Uh, school?"
"The school set up remote learning for you," he argues.
"They expelled Royce so why can't I go back to school. I feel like I'm being punished for this happening to me," I say, throwing my hands up. "I'm not letting him take my senior year away from me."
Dad is looking at me like he is turning over what I said.
"I have a book report due soon and I need the library for research," I add.
"If you think you're ready," he grumbles. "I'll call Cope, but if at any point today you feel like you want to come home let me know and I'll come get you."
I nod.
Things had been less strained between us since everything came to the surface. He didn't want to hear the details from me which I was more than okay with. He was proud that I told Detective Diaz what happened.
His guilt was different from my guilt, he didn't voice it but I could see it. So now we both are trying to move forward and navigate the unknown of the future.
After I leave the house I start my walk to school. I hadn't told Jazz or Tanya I wanted to come back just yet.
Tanya was hurt that neither of us told her about Royce, she was physically with us but distant all at the same time. Jazz had kept me in the loop about what was going on at school, all everyone was talking about was the expulsion of Royce, Riley, Tyler, and Demetri.
"Hey," I hear from behind me, I look over my shoulder seeing Edward pulling up beside me with the passenger down. "We need to quit meeting like this," he says, smiling crookedly.
My stomach flutters.
"Going to work?" I asked, tilting my head.
"I am, where you headed?"
"School," I say carefully.
He's watching me but doesn't question me. "Want a ride?" he asks instead.
I lean in and smile.
"C'mon, get in," he says unlocking the door.
I climb in, sitting my bag on my lap.
"So, school," he says conversationally.
"I'm tired of staying in my room," I explained. "I don't want to remember my senior year like this."
He nods.
"My dad was hesitant to let me go, but he understood why I wanted to be there," I tell him, keeping my gaze on him.
Edward goes with the flow, which has been somewhat easy for me to deal with throughout all this. He also was a legal savant, Charlie even asked me if he was going to law school.
I did have moments of doubt about how okay he was with the situation he was thrust into, like was I worth all the trouble for him. He had been so supportive but when will it become too much.
"If you get overwhelmed at school you know you can text me, right?" he asks, his eyes on the road.
"Yeah, I know," I say with a smile. "So you directing traffic today?"
"Actually, Em and I get to seal some bricks," he grins in faux enthusiasm.
"That sounds exciting," I giggle at his silliness as he pulls into the school parking lot.
He pulls up to the curb letting me out in front of the doors.
"Bella, remember you don't have to be here, if you need anything let me know," he says seriously.
I nod.
He leans forward giving me a quick kiss.
"Is it okay if I pick you up after school?" he asks.
"I would love that," I say, opening the handle to get out of his SUV.
Before I shut the door I turn around blowing him a kiss, he laughs heartily. This is how we've been. We both have effortlessly kept things light in such an intense time.
A few kids are milling around the parking lot while I head in to stop at my locker. Jazz is grabbing a few books out when he spots me.
"Hey?" he says confused.
"Hello," I responded, making it my mission to get my books out for the next couple of classes.
"So you're here," he says conversationally.
"I am, I couldn't spend another day in the house," I explained.
"I get that but things here are intense—" he sighs looking around. "Bells, are you sure this was a good idea?"
I turn my head to see what has him so concerned. There are groups of people huddled together staring and speaking in hushed whispers.
I slam the locker door shut before spinning around to face Jazz. "We're going to be late for homeroom," I tell him.
He looks like he wants to say more but moves past me for me to follow him.
Jessica is sitting in her usual seat, only now her face is stripped of make-up and she's in sweats. I pause on my way to my desk but Banner slams the door announcing he's going to call roll.
"What is going on with her?" I ask Jazz, nodding my head in Jess's direction.
"She's paying the price for being friends with Royce since pre-school," Jazz sighs. "People are saying that Alice is lying for attention, they only believe you, Rosalie the jury is still out on."
"I mean did they not see her?" I was shocked.
He nods.
I feel disgust course through me.
When I try to ask more, Banner starts to go over morning announcements eyeing me every so often.
C'mon Bella, you knew this wasn't going to be easy.
The day only became more awkward with stares and whispers but I tried my best to ignore it.
Between AP English and AP Chem, I stop at the bathroom, before I go into the stall to pee, Bree Tanner and two other girls walk in. All three look extremely nervous.
"Bella, do you— uh, have a minute?" Bree asks, looking at the other two for support.
The one girl looks to be a freshman but the other girl I knew was a sophomore. She was on the junior varsity cheer squad last year, I couldn't remember her name though.
"Yeah, I have a minute," I tell Bree.
"We wanted… what Royce did—" she stops taking a deep breath.
"Did something happen with Royce, Bree?" I ask carefully.
All three girls exchange worried glances.
"If something happened, it's okay to tell," I encourage.
"They're charging him, right? You know, for what he did to you?" she asks hopefully.
I nod.
The youngest girl, the one I don't know, is silently crying. She was small like Alice with long curly blonde hair. If she wasn't here, she could pass for a junior high student, which at the thought made me feel like ice was pouring through my veins.
Bree's brown eyes meet mine.
"When?" I ask.
"Last year," she confesses softly.
I look at the sophomore. "The first week of football camp over the summer," she whispers.
The freshman is full-on sobbing but chokes out, "The past few… weeks after… practice."
My thoughts rush on how we can get this to Detective Diaz. I don't need the details of what happened to them but she will. If they are coming forward, what if there are more.
I learned that the freshman's name is Cynthia and the sophomore's name is Kacey. We call Detective Diaz from the bathroom. She tells us she'll call the school to see if there is a room she can use, she also wants to speak with Mr. Cope.
The next few hours are a flurry of parents and officers occupying the faculty conference room. My dad is called to take me home. Detective Diaz wanted to speak to the student body of Forks after she got the statements of Royce Kings' new accusers.
Did you leave? – J
I had to. – B
More girls came forward? – J
What do you know? – B
Detective Diaz just rounded us all up in the auditorium. – J
Yes, more girls came forward this morning. – B
I realize if Jazz is texting me right now that I should probably let Edward know I left the school so he doesn't worry when I don't show.
Wanted to let you know I'm not at school. – B
Do you want me to swing by after work? – E
Yes. – B
I love that he doesn't want me to go into details now, giving me a chance to talk to him about this later.
Edward told me time and time again over the past week that none of this is my fault. I realize now that I'm probably not the first or the last girl that this has happened to but with these new confessions I feel like I was now the catalyst.
I spend an hour trying to finish up my book report with the resources I have before I hear a knock on the front door.
I get up, answering the door.
Edward stands in the doorway and his hair looks wet under his beanie. His clothes are different from this morning. I know he stopped home for a shower before he came over.
He shoots me a sad smile, which makes me lean into him wrapping my arms around him.
His hold around me remains tight while we stand in the doorway.
He kisses my head before pulling back. "Are you okay?" he asks, green eyes searching.
"More girls came forward," I told him brokenly. "They sought me out in the bathroom, so now there are six of us. I don't know the specifics of the other girls' allegations, two are minors like Rosalie. The one girl is fourteen."
"Jesus," he grits out.
"The school let Detective Diaz talk to the entire student body," I explained.
"Does she think there is more?"
I shrug.
"Are you okay?" he asks again.
"I think I will be, I'm just overwhelmed. Like, if I hadn't gone to school today, those girls maybe wouldn't have come forward," I say.
He nods pulling me into him again.
The comfort he's showing me makes me hope that the other girls have this kind of support.
A/N: Just wanted to let you all know I am having surgery this week, so the writing schedule for this might be a little off. I'll do my best to try and update. Huge thanks to CoppertopJ for her edits!