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Chapter 25
Bebe's POV
Stan called me and told me Kenny's situation and said he needs me. I hesitated to come visit him in rehab, but we were friends at one point so I figured I would go ahead and see how I can help. Maybe I can get through to him. I'll take Wendy's advice and not mention Megan since Stan and Kyle have given him a hard time about her already. "Hi, I'm here to see Kenny McCormick." I tell the receptionist.
"Your name?" She asks.
"Bebe Stevens."
She types something on the computer. "I'll let Kenny know you're here." I nod and look around. It seems to be a nice facility. I hope Kenny is getting better care since this is the second time around for him.
"Bebe?" I hear.
I turn around and look down and my jaw drops. "Kenny? You're in a wheelchair..." I wasn't expecting to see that.
"Nothing gets by you, huh?" I notice how slowly he's speaking. Stan warned me that his speech was impaired by the coma.
"I'm just surprised. Stan and Wendy didn't mention it."
"Does it matter?"
"No..." I continue to stare at him in shock.
"Bebe, you're staring."
"Sorry...can we go outside and talk?"
He shakes his head. "I can't go outside."
"Well can we go somewhere in private?"
"There's a few empty rooms we can go to." He uses one hand to try to turn his wheelchair around, but he's struggling.
"Do you need help?"
"No, I've gotten use to maneuvering this thing one handed." He continues to struggle and I can tell he's getting frustrated.
"Kenny, let me help." I try to grab the wheelchair, but he pushes my hand away.
"I'm okay Bebe, really." He finally gets the chair turned around and he leads me to an empty room. I close the door behind him and sit down. "So where's Brad?" He asks.
"He's back at school."
"I'm surprised, I thought you two were inseparable."
"How about this? You don't talk about Brad, and I won't talk about Megan."
"Fair enough." Things go silent after that.
"So...how did you end up in a wheelchair?" I ask trying to break the silence.
"I was diagnosed with rhabdo...something. My muscles are weak so I can't use my left arm or leg. I can walk a little, but it causes a lot of pain so I prefer the chair."
"I'm sorry you're in pain."
"Thanks, it's my own fault. All the years of doing drugs has caught up to me."
"I still can't believe you've been hooked on drugs all this time."
"Not the whole time...only since I was 15."
My eyes widen. "15? Kenny, we were dating then!" How did I miss the signs.
"Yeah..."
"How did you even get mixed up with drugs? None of your friends are drugs users."
"I really don't want to get into it. It's a long story." He looks away from me.
I cross my arms. "I have time. Start talking!"
"I really shouldn't say."
I look into his eyes and I see fear. "Why not? What are you afraid of?"
"I'm not afraid of anything..."
"Then you can tell me how this happened."
He lets out a deep sigh. "It started right before my brother bought his house..."
I nod. "Go on."
"He was dating a girl named Jessica Booth."
"Isn't That Drew's Mom?"
He nods. "Yes. She's was over one day getting high with my parents. She told Kevin she thought I was cute and wondered if I was good in bed. It pissed Kevin off even though he knew Jessica is a crack whore who sleeps with men for money. He got a brilliant idea to get me to sleep with her. I was still a virgin at the time. I refused to and he kicked my ass and said I didn't have a choice or he would send one of our parent's drug buddies to come and take my virginity."
I scowl. I always knew there was something shady about Kevin. "That's disgusting! What a pig!"
"I reluctantly agreed and he sent Jessica to my room. She kissed me and started to take my pants off. All I could think about was you and how I was betraying you. I told Jessica I couldn't go through with it. She told Kevin and he came on the room and we got into another fight. He then forced me to take a pill, it was ecstasy. He also injected me with heroin. That got me in the mood."
"Oh Kenny..." I just want to give him a hug.
"I lost my virginity to her. She was bragging to Kevin about how good I was and she couldn't believe I was virgin. They broke up, buy then he got an idea about making money off me by whoring me out to other women. I told him I wouldn't do it."
"I can't believe that! You're his brother!"
"He would occasionally supply me with heroin and hoped I would get so high that I would agree to prostitution."
"Why were you getting high anyway?"
He shrugs. "I enjoyed the feeling. It made me feel good."
"I wish you had told one of your friends."
"I knew I would be judged. Anyway, fast forward to nine months later, Jessica showed up with a baby boy and said he was mine. I thought she was lying so Kevin paid for a DNA test and he was mine. Jessica told me she couldn't care for him so she left him with me and that was the last time I saw her."
It just hit me! "Wait! Is it possible that Drew is Kevin's son? I mean you guys are brothers so your DNA would be similar."
Kenny shakes his head. "He was tested too, Drew is mine. Plus you can look at Drew and tell he's my son."
"Again, you and Kevin are brothers."
"We don't look alike. DNA doesn't lie."
I'm going to leave that alone…for now. "So what happened after Jessica left?"
"I was only 16, struggling in high school, no job, and no clue how to take care of a baby. My parents were always passed out high or drunk so they didn't help and Karen was only 13. Kevin told me he would help, but I had to agree to his terms."
"Which were?"
"I had to agree to prostitution."
"I wish you didn't." This story really makes me sad.
Kenny starts getting choked up. "I was desperate and Kevin promised to help take care of Drew. He paid for daycare when he was a baby and then for him to go to a Montessori school which he sadly was kicked out of. I was sleeping around for money and heroin. I barely saw any of the money."
"Kevin took advantage of you! That asshole! Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"I was afraid to. If I snitched on him, he wouldn't help me with Drew."
"But he's NOT helping you with Drew! Stan and Wendy are!"
"I know…" He wipes his eyes. "I've overdosed several times and he used Narcan to bring me back. When Karen found out, she told Kyle and he paid for rehab. I went and I was fine."
"That's where you met Megan, right?"
"As you know, we stayed in touch after I got out and began hanging out. Kevin tried to get me to go back to prostitution and even gave me heroin. I tried to fight it as long as I could. I almost did it, but I got caught and arrested. Megan went to Kevin and agreed to prostitution in my place. I couldn't let her go through with it. I care about her too much. So I went back to it and I was so depressed that I overdosed again." At this point, I'm crying with Kenny. "Everyone keeps blaming Megan for my relapse, but Kevin is the one who supplied me the drugs. Megan tried to stop me. It's Kevin's fault!"
"So what's stopping you from telling on him?"
"He could have me killed."
"What?"
"There's a gang that hangs out in an alley where he gets drugs from sometimes. He left me alone with them several times. The last time, they stabbed me." He shows me a scar on his shoulders. "If they see me again, they said they'll slit my throat. Kevin acts like they're his enemies too, but he's not. I know he let them do that to me on purpose to send a message."
"Oh Kenny, I don't like this. Now you're back in here because you relapsed. What if you end up dead next time?"
"I'm going to stop for good."
"What if Kevin forces you to again?"
"I'll deal with the consequences when that time comes."
I look deep into his eyes because I want him to see how serious I am. "I think you should go to the police. So many charges could be filed against him."
"I can't do that. He's my brother."
I frown. "He didn't care about you being his brother when he was pimping you out and feeding you drugs!" Just then, one of the social workers comes in to tell Kenny his visitation is over.
"I have to go. Please don't tell anyone what I told you."
"I won't. I'll come back and see you. I hope you're walking next time."
"Me too!" I hug him before he leaves. I don't care what he says, I'm telling!
