"How long has it been?" Resting my hand on Jade's bouncing leg, I glance at her father sitting next to us. He hasn't moved since the door closed behind Tori.
"Forty minutes." Jade huffs and leans into me. Quietly she asks where Tori's mom is and I shrug.
"She said she was too busy to come." Looking over I catch the scowl on his face. "You know what's she's talking about in there?" Jade and I share a look before nodding. "Is she hurting herself?"
"No." Jade answers. Before anything else is said, the door opens and the doctor asks for Mr. Vega to join them.
Tori flinches as another cabinet slams downstairs. A tiny break in the constant arguing between her parents. Wrapping my arm around her, I pull her closer and glance at Beck. He looks worried. We jump at the light knocking and before any of us can say anything Trina is stepping into the room. Tori tries to pull away but I don't let her. Watching Trina take in our positions on the bed she takes a deep breath and sits in the empty space at the foot of the bed. It's not hard to tell the older Latina has been crying.
"Tor.."
Tori slips from my arm and scoots closer to her sister taking her hand in hers.
"I'm so sorry."
"Trin"
"No." The older sister loudly cuts her off. She misses the flinch from Tori but I don't. I shift about to say something when Beck squeezes my shoulder. I bite my lip as Trina continues. "I am so sorry. I knew something was up." Her eyes flit to Beck then to me before resting back on her sister. "I thought you were sneaking out to." She cuts off again glancing at Beck. "When in fact you were trying to deal with this on your own."
"I wasn't alone."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Tori bites her lip, looking down at their hands. Her breathing has picked up a bit and I shift closer.
"I just-I couldn't. I-"
"MAYBE IF YOU WEREN'T BUSY SLEEPING WITH MY PARTNER, YOU WOULD HAVE NOTICED."
"Alright. That's enough." Trina's pulls her hands away and marches out of Tori's room and stomps down the stairs. Her parents abruptly stop, and we catch a few words from Trina before she makes her way back up stairs. "Let's go."
She didn't have to tell us twice. We all quickly grab up our stuff and shuffle out the room. Tori's mom calls out to her as we get to the bottom of the stairs but I keep my grip on her and lead us towards the door. We all climb into Beck's car and are silent as he pulls out of the driveway. Sitting at the stop sign, Beck finally breaks the silence.
"Where to?"
"I could really go for some pizza."
I smile slightly to Beck at Tori's suggestion.
"I know just the place."
"How did you find this place?" Trina asks looking around Nazzarena's.
"Jade brought me here." Tori answers smiling at the couple across the booth from her and Trina. Trina looks at Jade who shrugs.
"Like I'd give away my secrets." Trina frowns but takes a sip of her soda. She's quiet for a few minutes before turning to Tori.
"So, guessing by the epic blowout going on at home, mom or dad didn't know."
Tori just shakes her head.
"Did you file a report?"
"Dad's taking me tomorrow morning. He wanted to go tonight but I begged him to go tomorrow." I perk up at the news.
"Can they do anything? I mean don't the run like a.." Trina cuts off not wanting to say the word.
"I don't know. Dad was upset I didn't go to him sooner. That we missed a lot of evidence by not going to the hospital. I did have an exam done though so there is some stuff collected." She answers quietly. I don't like it, we've worked so hard to get her back out of her shell and now here Tori sits, swamped in what has to be one of her dad's old hoodies trying to hide in the corner of the booth.
"Why didn't you?"
"Trina,"Beck tries getting her to drop it, but she shakes her head.
"No, you don't know how many times we've been told by our parents. It's not the victims fault, but they need to speak up to catch the guy. I don't understand why you didn't speak up."
Tori starts to cry and I nudge Beck to get him to stand. Pulling Trina out of the booth I ignore her squeak and take her place. Pulling Tori closer, I let her cry it out. Glad it's a mostly empty restaurant.
"Maybe we should go?" Beck asks after Tori starts to calm down.
"Maybe Trina needs to just shut up." Tori puts her hand on my arm and pulls back. Wiping her eyes she shakes her head.
"No, she's right. It's stupid, but I was so embarrassed." She shakes her head, "Having to tell dad and everyone. I still don't-"
"You don't have to tell anyone else until you're ready." Beck holds out his hand having scooted into the other booth to sit across from Tori.
"'Except the cops tomorrow."
"Yeah." I agree softly, "but our friends and anyone else? It's none of their business until you are ready to share. Okay?" Tori nods and wipes her eyes.
Manny catches my eye and I nod to him. He steps into the back and comes out shortly with our pizza and a cannoli. Setting the pizza on the raised platter in the middle of our table he sets the cannoli in front of Tori.
"On the house tonight, la mia famiglia. If you need anything else let us know."
"Grazie"
Tori's POV
After my meltdown at Nazzarena's dinner was quiet. Beck and Jade tried coming in with us after dinner but dad stopped them saying he thinks we all need an early night and that I'd see them at school tomorrow afternoon. Jade refused to budge from the doorway until my dad confirmed that my mom was gone and wouldn't be back for the night. I headed straight up stairs and into the shower. It wasn't too surprising to find Trina sitting on my bed with my brush waiting for me when I got out.
"That was the best pizza ever! Tori, you've known of the place for how long and still let us eat from that crappy place around the corner last week?" Trina shakes her head as she moves onto another section of my hair.
"Dad wanted delivery." Trina rolls her eyes. After she finishes with my hair, she slips off the bed and sits across from me on the floor. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier."
"Don't be. Part of me is mad at myself for not doing the right thing but at the time, all I could picture was the disgust and pity from everyone."
"No one is disgusted with you." We both jump at my dad's voice. "Trina," He nods towards the hallway.
"What?"
He sighs before saying, "Good night Trina." He steps to the side making space for her to pass.
"Ugh fine!" She rolls her eyes and puts my brush on my dresser before leaving the room.
"Can I come in?" I nod and move to the top of my bed. Stopping at the foot of my bed, he points, waiting for my nod before sitting down.
"Tori, I love you and it breaks my heart knowing this happened to you. More then that though, it hurts that you couldn't talk to us..to me. You know this doesn't change how I feel about you right? You're still my little girl."
Leaning over I bury my head in his shoulder and start crying again.
"I'm sorry daddy." Wrapping his arms around me, he pulls me closer and I feel his shoulders start to shake as he cries too. After he calms down, he pulls back and wipes his eyes.
"You did what you felt was right." He takes a big sigh, "Can you talk about it? I know earlier you said you were walking to a friends house?"
"To Beck's."
"Right. Do-did you recognize him?" I shake my head.
"Can you tell me anything about him? What he looks like, any tattoos?"
"He's shorter than you but taller than Beck. I-I don't remember much, he bleached his hair."
"Eye color, tattoos?" I shake my head again.
"He smelled like cinnamon."
"Okay." He's quiet for a moment before asking, "The clothes from that day?"
"I threw out the dress." I saw quietly, "I shouldn't have. I'm sorry."
"What," he clears his throat she shifts uncomfortably, "What about your underwear?" I can't stop my cheeks from going red.
"They took it to collect evidence."
"You had an exam done?"
"Yes, the Monday after." I fiddle with the end of my hair.
"That's good."
"You've been spending a lot of time with Jade and Beck."
"Yeah, they've helped me a lot." He nods lost in thought.
"Anything else you wanna talk about tonight?" I bite my lip before asking about the possibility of Jade spending the night. "Yeah, I guess that would be okay."
I give him a quick hug and pull back with a smile, "Thank you!"
Nodding he stands up and walks to the door. Stopping, he turns to look at me, "Tori? I'm proud of you for speaking up. You're a very brave and strong young lady." He walks out and quietly closes the door.
I sit there shocked for a few minutes before reaching over and grabbing my phone. I'm not sure if Jade will want to sleep over but it's worth asking.