Woohoo! Chapter 15 is a go! Sorry for the delay, things have been a bit busy but they're slowing down just a tad. I hate to be the bearer of bad news in saying that the story is very close to coming to a close (not just yet! But very soon). HOWEVER, I will be continuing this story with epilogue pieces for sure! And I'll potentially be re-writing the entire story from Carissa's POV as well. It essentially depends on feedback and how many people want it. Enjoy chapter 15! And as always, feel free to message me, review chapters and everything in between. :)

TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT MENTION.

It's passed and passed and passed. Over and over again. The group is sitting around in a circle atop blankets and towels. The joint is passed, and they are careless in being completely obvious. But at a location like this? Nobody cares at all about it. A gorgeous beach at sunset. They're laughing, enjoying each others company, talking over one another and just...letting go. For the first time in ages, they're dropping all tensions in favor of, well, a good damn time. After all, they're celebrating! Carl stands, getting the attention of the baked teens sitting pretty, "I just wanna' congratulate these two assholes over here." And he proceeds to point to Carissa who's arm is lovingly wrapped around Riley's shoulder. With a perfect sunset cast over them, they're a picture perfect couple, grinning proudly, "For finally talking shit out and getting back together. Our friends group was nothin' without you two. And now? We can get shit back on track!" The entire group is clapping. Just as content as the two girls are. Everyone wanted them back together.

Riley rolls her eyes with a shake of her head, "I feel like you're just saying that because I'm the one who brought the weed." But that earns her a decent laugh from the group.

"Well you bought it from me." Thank god for Jordan, then, "I would have given it to Carl for a blow-job."

"Babycakes, you know I'll give you that for free!"

And though Riley is hysterical, Carissa (though laughing) imitates a the sound of vomiting, "I hate both of you so much, you need to leave."

"Why, are you worried we'll get weird, Casanova?"

"You're literally always weird."

"Don't kinkshame me and Carl, that's rude. You're just jealous you'll never have the connection we have."

"Yeah, that must be it. The stoner and the Idiot. What a great romance! Ay- pass the lighter." She's already rolled the second joint, Carissa is ready to keep the cycle going. Lord knows Riley needs it more than anybody else here.

"Riley's doing a lot better." Joy notes with a prominent confidence, "But the deposition is only days away. I'm so worried about it. Do we remember how it's going?"

"I have it all here on file." Anger begins, "First of all, we're going to be questioned by Austin's lawyer, but Austin will not be present. It's gonna' be Riley's lawyer, his, and then the woman who's going to be writing everything down as it's spoken."

"What about our witnesses?"

"Same thing, but each person comes in the room separately, because they need to be sure that nobody is influenced by what's said. It needs to be organic." He'll clear his throat, "Carl's Uncle Dave is representing us. He's part of one of the top law firms in San Francisco, so while I know everybody's rightfully nervous, I really think we don't have anything to worry about. I think we're going to be just fine."

"Well that's really great!"

But Sadness will but in with a simple, "But you know how corrupt this sort of topic can become. No guarantee that Austin will get charged."

"Then don't fucking think about it." Anger is short tempered today. But sexual assault hits a nerve in the worst of ways. He refuses to stand for negativity, for the worry that it won't pan out properly. It's an absolute refusal.

"Like, I just think." Disgust wants to ease the tension. She can feel the atmosphere getting less and less comfortable. Even if the emotions are half baked, just as Riley is, "We just need to get through it, try not to panic and move on. He can't break us. He cannot hurt us anymore. And we have an entire group of friends who will back us up- two friends and a girlfriend who agreed to speak on our behalf at the deposition. It'll be over soon. Austin won't break her."

"Agreed." And Joy gives a harsh nod with an equally stern face, "We won't let his actions break us. We won't let him break our girl. It won't always be so easy, but we are gonna' make it. We're gonna' be okay and so is Riley."

The night draws to a close. And eventually Carissa and Riley are the only two left. It's dark, the sky is filled with endless stars. They're far enough away from artificial lighting to see a near perfect view of it all. The air is crisp, the wind is gentle, and the two girls lay atop their blanket, fingers laced. Riley is in awe of the visible constellations, enough that she doesn't avert her eyes from it as she speaks, "...Do you think I'll ever be able to get past what he did?"

Carissa will be truthful in her words, turning her head only for a moment to look at her love before she, too, is back to admiring the beautiful sky above, "...I think that in some form or another, it'll always be there. But I do think, like the feeling you get when you lose a loved one, you just learn to live with what's happened. So...I do think one day, you'll be at peace."

Riley is silent. But she will sigh, "Do you still think I'm beautiful after what he did?"

There isn't a single ounce of hesitation, "I think you're the most beautiful girl I've ever met in my entire life." She'll swallow hard, the color is rushing to her cheeks, "Not a single girl has ever struck me the way you have. You've got me weak in the fuckin' knees and no matter how many days pass, that never changes. I'm hooked Riley. You will always be beautiful."

She closes her eyes, smiling to herself as the words play over and over, "I love you."

She reaches for a loose cigarette, brings it to her lips and lights it abruptly. Inhaled, exhaled- and so quickly it's drawn away and nursed between her fingers, "Then ya' better marry me in Vegas one day like we planned."

It's enough to make Riley laugh, "Asshole."

She'll smirk, returning the equally giddy sounding laugh, "I love you too, dork. You're gonna' be okay. And even on your worst days, I'm not going anywhere. alright?"

"So, you'd follow me to the ends of the earth?"

"Hell yeah I would! Think of the kick ass things we'd see along the way."

She turns onto her side. Stealing the cigarette, daring to take one single puff before giving it back.

It's enough to silence Carissa. Indifferent of how to feel about it. The last thing she wants to do is encourage a bad habit for Riley to take on.

"Don't worry, I'm not gonna' pick up the habit. That's just me sealing our deal."

"...Our deal?"

"...To the ends of the earth."

"...To the ends of the earth, Riley."

Nervous fingers twiddle. She's hardly paying attention to the brief run down her lawyer is giving her. And he understands. He's known Riley for years. He tries to offer a kind smile, "Relax, Riley. You're going to be just fine. It'll be easy. His lawyer will come in, ask you questions, you'll answer and it'll be over before you know it."

"...When will I know the verdict?"

"After he speaks to you and your three friends, we've already questioned Austin, and the judge that sits in for the record will make the call. As soon as his testimony is complete, we'll have an answer."

'God, that'll take HOURS!'

'I can't stand this! I just want it over!'

'Speak of the devil.'

The opposing lawyer steps in first. He's a clean cut man, and he smiles at the two, "Morning, Dave- how's Christine?"

Dave reaches over to shake his hand- the two (apparently) are within the same circle of lawyers. Is that a good thing? He's cordial in returning the smile, "She's doing alright, you know, the doctor said that she should be able to go back to work in a few weeks. She's driving me nuts though, I think she's going a little stir crazy around the house."

"Oh I imagine, I don't think I could ever stand being at home for too long." The man chuckles lightly before he eyes Riley, gives her a gentle smile, "You must be Riley. I'm Michael, speaking on behalf of Austin."

'This is weird he's...nice?'

'Well, he can't let a case get in the way of how he acts to people. And from the look in his eyes, he wants his own client to fry.'

'Good.'

She stands immediately with an awkward sort of face. She's not entirely sure what to do, but she'll shake his hand at the very least, "Uh, yeah, that's me. Nice to meet you."

Right on command, two women walk in. One is dressed in a plum colored pantsuit, the other is simply wearing a pair of jeans and a black sweater with a printed scarf. If nothing else, the more casually dressed woman makes her feel a little more at ease for the fact that she's wearing a pair of skinny jeans with a button down cardigan. Her hat is taking a hiatus today.

'That must be the judge and the lady who's gonna' write down everything we say for the record.'

The more professional women sits down and takes a breath, "Alright, we're going to get started. So, Riley. The way this works is simple. You need to try and speak slowly and clearly- since we'll be taking this down. Just answer truthful and honestly. If you don't know the answer to a question, you just say I don't know. If at any point you need a break, you're welcome to step outside, okay, love?"

A deep breath. She'll nod, "Okay."

The opposing lawyer clears his throat, "Okay, could you tell me your name?"

"...Riley Andersen."

"And for the record, how old are you and what city do you currently live in?"

"I'm seventeen- a-and I live here in San Francisco."

"And what is your relation to the defendant?"

"We're classmates."

He's looking through his notes, a brief pause before he continues, "So would you say that you're friends?"

"Honestly, no. We never really clicked and so we always kept a distance from one another."

"Never really clicked, as in you attempted a friendship or a relationship?"

Dave cuts him off immediately, "Objection, that's speculation."

The judge will give a stern gaze, "Over-ruled, Riley, could you elaborate on what you mean by never really clicked?"

"Well, um." Now she has to pause, take another deep breath, "When we were in middle school- in eighth grade, he had a crush on me and that was about the time I realized that I'm a lesbian, so no. Never romantic." Another breath, in attempts to relax just a little bit, "He would always try to catch me at the mall and stuff and I would make it very clear I wasn't interested, you know, I would tell you that I don't know what you think us happening to have some of the same friends means, but I don't like you and I don't want to date you. And after an incident back then at the mall where he got touchy feely without my consent." She will emphasize that fact, "I did everything I could to avoid him, which essentially ended in him cyber bullying me over my sexuality and...once he got in trouble for that, he backed off, but never apologized. So, that's what I mean when I say we never really clicked."

Again, the opposing council pauses, looking through his notes, "So tell me about this New Years gathering. Were there alcoholic beverages?"

"Objection." Dave is giving a fowl sort of look, "That has nothing to do with the assault."

"It does if Riley was drunk."

"Absolutely not, being drunk does not give your client free reign to put his hands on her."

"Answer the question, Riley."

"He put it in my drink." Her gaze is stone cold, because the blood is boiling.

"So you were drinking?"

"I took one large sip of one beer the entire night, not even equating to half a beer and then I started to feel light-headed, everything blurred. And when he got me upstairs the very first thing he said to me was you fucked me over in middle school, so now I'm going to fuck you, and there's nothing you can do about it. So was I drinking? I hardly think one sip of less than half a beer counts. But I do know that the police have it on record. It tested positive for the most commonly used date-rape drug scumbags have to offer. So forgive me if I sound like a fucking bitch right now, but regardless of whether or not I had a beer? He attacked me, he raped me, and he made sure that I would be defenseless when it happened."

'Fuck yeah, Riley. Don't you dare show any weakness! No fear!'

'Thank god for anti-anxiety medication.'

'Even her lawyer is grinning, this is great!'

It's enough that even the opposing council has to take a minute before he continues, the look on his face is clear of how he's feeling, "So...once you were upstairs and heard him say that, could you tell me what you remember?"

"I'm so nervous." Amanda is sitting in a black blouse with a pencil skirt to match, along with black heels. Her hair is pinned back into a tight bun, "Do you think she's okay in there? I can't even sit still."

Carissa, who stands in a pair of black jeans, a white button down shirt and a black blazer has her ear pressed against the door, "I'm trying to see if I can catch anything."

Carl is pacing in the meantime, wearing a basic black suit with his hands shoved into his pockets, "Any luck?"

Just as it's spoken, she steps away from the door with her hand over her mouth.

"Hey- yo-" Carl reaches for her shoulder, "What'd you hear, everything okay?"

"...I-I just never heard her say it from her point of view before. Sh-She uh, she never went into detail with me."

Dare he ask? He has to, "What did you hear?" And as he asks the terrifying question, Amanda joins him where he stands and links an arm around his.

"I-I think I just heard her- I-" She turns away from her two friends. Hands are fisted. She only has one thought on her mind, I'm gonna' kill that little bastard, "...I think I heard her say he was laughing the whole time he was doing it."

And now Amanda has her hand over her mouth.

But Carl breaks from her grip to listen in.

'He told me that stupid dyke that took you away from me won't ever touch you again'

'Who was he referring to?'

'My girlfriend, Carissa.'

'Okay, council take a break, we're going to ask Carissa Smith in next.'

Immediately he steps away from the door, just in time as it's opening. Riley exits first with her lawyer behind her. Hand rubbing her back.

Carissa is by her side immediately, "Babe, are you okay?"

Her lawyer speaks first, "They want to talk to you next, Carissa. Are you ready?"

"Can I just have one minute with her?"

"Absolutely, come in when you're ready."

Riley sighs, gives her a small little smile, "I feel kind of numb right now, is that bad?"

"...I think it's better than broken." Carissa is attempting to reassure her just as she wraps her arms tightly around Riley, "I love you, okay? I love you no matter what. Don't forget that."

Riley returns the hug with the tightest squeeze she can possibly offer, "Good luck in there. It's really hard."

"I can handle it."

The door is shut once Carissa enters that room and Riley immediately takes a seat.

Both of her friends sit beside her, "Yo." Carl begins, "I bet you kicked ass in there."

"You're talking about it like it's a hockey game."

"Well everything's a sport to me." He'll give a goofy sort of smile.

And it's enough for Riley to laugh a little, "Can we please hot box after this."

"Uh, yeah. That was the plan regardless."

Amanda, with tears in her eyes, is biting her lip. And Riley turns to her immediately, "I'm gonna' be okay, I promise. It's not easy, but I can do this okay? I'm still me."

"I-I know it's- I just love you so much and I hate that this happened."

"Me too." But she'll offer a smile, "I love you too."

A bad move. An unintentional bad move. Amanda, though wiping her eyes, feels her heart flutter and her cheeks turn pink. And Riley doesn't catch this, "Hey I'm gonna use the bathroom." And as it's uttered, she reaches to hug her best friend, "I'll be right back guys."

But the minute she steps away, Carl leans right in, "Are you kidding me right now with this?"

"So now I can't tell my best friend I love her?"

"Bullshit, you meant it in the other way. And now is not the time to be making things weird for her. You're her best friend. Act like it."

"Look it's whatever! It's done! And-"

Cut right off by shouting. Not just any shouting. It's Carissa. A very angry Carissa.

"I CAN'T EVEN FUCKING PROCESS THIS SHIT! IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT SHE CAN'T REMEMBER EVERY SECOND. YOU DON'T DREAM THAT SHIT. HE RAPED HER. HE FUCKING TOUCHED HER WITHOUT HER CONSENT BECAUSE HE IS A DISGUSTING SHITBAG. DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE PIN THIS ON RILEY. THAT KID HAS BEEN NO GOOD FROM DAY ONE. ALWAYS BULLYING HER AND TOUCHING HER WITHOUT ASKING."

It's enough to shock them both. But much to their relief, it sounds as though it's being wrapped up. Two down, two more testimonies to go.

"Ugh, I hate not knowing!" Fear can't help pacing, "I can't sit still. Can anybody hear what Amanda's saying in there?!"

"You need to relax, Fear." Sadness is trying, "Amanda is probably almost done. She's been in there for almost an hour. We'll know once she's out of there I'm sure. I just hope he's not innocent."

"He won't be!" But Joy would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous, "I just can't wait for this mess to be over so we can start thinking about other things?"

"Like what?" Fear inquires, looking for nothing but a distraction.

"Like getting a tattoo on our eighteenth birthday, maybe asking Carissa to prom unless she asks us first, finally deciding on which college to go to. There's a lot to look forward to! So let's just focus on that."

Her head rests atop Carissa's shoulder. Right now, there's nothing more relaxing that the feeling of those fingers playing with her hair. She'll speak softly, "Do you remember how nervous I was when I first asked you out?"

"...I do." She begins, eyes blinking slow, "You were so cute. You weren't even looking directly at me when you asked...it was after we went to the pier and then to the movies with Amanda and Carl."

"–Hey." She turns right back around, "Yeah?" "…You um." "…Youwannagooutwithme?" Carissa walks up those stairs, stands right next to her with a smile and her hands in her pockets, "I do." And she leans right in to kiss her cheek, very close to her lips. But she's out of there so quickly. Obviously just as terrified and nervous as Riley, completely amazed at the fact that she braved a kiss, "Text me details." And she's already halfway down the block. Riley stands in shock. Her chest exploding, and her mind so clouded. But her hands come to close over her mouth with a muffled scream as she jumps around in circles because she kissed me on the cheek! She freaking kissed me on the cheek! Meanwhile, a block over, the supposed confident punk is smiling with the reddest cheeks in the world, hands in the air. And with a, "Holy shit!" She, too, is now jumping in circles right on the sidewalk with a happy laugh because I kissed her cheek. And she freaking asked me out on a date!

Riley laughs, a hand covering her face, "I was so awkward with you."

"You think I wasn't? Don't you remember that time when the teacher paired us up for that assignment in English after you watched my band play for the first time?"

Riley braves speaking first, "Okay. So I'll start" She pulls a question out of the jar placed on their desks, "In the third chapter, Justin says he doesn't like blue eyes, this causes a controversy with his sister. Do you think blue eyes are beautiful? And if so, why?" Carissa coughs nervously, "Yeah, yeah blue eyes are beautiful like I get lost in y- sometimes I can't pay attention in class because you're- I mean-" And oh, how red Riley's face becomes. But Carissa looks to be in far worse condition and in her embarrassed stupor she blurts it out, "I'm allergic to oranges, they give me hives." And a once frazzled Riley now raises her eyebrows in confusion. And a poor, uncomfortable Carissa, buries her face in her hands. All she can seem to think is dear god why the hell did I say that? I'm such a mess when I like a girl!

Carl is cracking up at that memory, "I remember at lunch you told me that story and I had tears streaming down my face."

"Yeah and then the next day you put oranges in my locker, so I purposely waited for them to rot and threw them in your gym locker."

"Come on, that was funny."

"Not really, asshole."

The three teens are laughing together nonetheless. That is, until it comes to a screeching halt when Amanda exits the room. The three stand. They watch as the the judge joins her, along with the two lawyers. She look through her papers, "In the case of Riley Vs. Austin, we've reached a verdict."

The most discomforting part is the fact that when that's uttered? Out of the elevator comes Austin Lopez and his father. It makes Riley freeze completely. The lightest little gasp passing her lips. Carissa senses the tension immediately and reaches for her hand. Riley squeezes it right away.

Once the two join the group, the judge continues, "In the case of Riley Vs. Austin, Austin Lopez, you are guilty on one count of sexual assault, and guilty on one count of engaging in sexual activity with a minor."

And though Austin's face goes white.

"Austin, you will receive six years in jail for the first offense, seventeen years in jail for the second offense, adding up to Miss Andersen's age in the hopes that you will understand the capacity of what you've done. And understand the sick and twisted actions you've committed on an innocent girl."

'Holy shit.'

'The fucker is going to jail- holy shit they're cuffing him!'

'I-I can't- I can't believe it-"

Riley? She places both of her hands over her mouth. And she drops down to the floor immediately, tears streaming down her face. She is hysterical. And so fucking grateful. Carissa gets right down onto her knees and wraps her arms around her girlfriend. This time? The tears do not only come from Riley. Carissa is hysterical right along with her, kissing her lover's hair while uttering, "It's over. H-He can never hurt you again, it's over."

Carl reaches over to hug Amanda before he dares to step in front of Austin and look him in the eye, "To resort to force? Your dick must be so small."

"Good one, asshole. Fuck off. You guys got what you wanted."

But there's something else. Something that only Carl knows, "Hey. Shut the fuck up. I never told anybody your fucking secret. I never told ANYBODY and just because you couldn't accept it doesn't mean you get to do crap like this. Stop playing the victim! Now you know what?"

What Carl says is enough to turn heads. It's enough for both Riley and Carissa to calm down and eye both boys.

"Tell her." He starts, extending his arm out towards Riley, "This wasn't just about getting back at her. I know how your sick ass mind works."

Strangely enough, Austin shuts down.

"So you don't get to play this game anymore. I kept your secret. I never told a soul, even if we ain't friends anymore. Now tell her why. Tell Riley why. Tell her all about middle school and up to this. Tell her."

'I don't get it. What the fuck is Carl talking about?'

Austin takes one final breath, looking to Riley one more time before he'll be escorted out by the police. He'll finally say it, "Because I'm gay."

'WHAT?' The emotions shout it in unison.

And my god it's a shocking revelation. Carissa and Riley's jaws both drop in utter surprise. This is the exact opposite of what they ever imagined hearing. But Carissa will stand, shoving Carl, "You knew this and you never told anybody?!"

"Austin's garbage, but it still wasn't mine to tell."

"How the fuck did you know then!?"

He'll laugh.

"Bro, come on I'm serious."

"Well, I guess after the fucking shit we've been through, I can be honest too. C'mere, guys." He opens his arm, and Riley, Amanda, and Carissa form a circle with one another (Carl included) their arms are wrapped around each others shoulders, "Listen, you guys are my best friends. I would take a bullet for you guys. I love you." He'll smile for real this time, "So that's why I feel ready to say it. I'm bisexual." In middle school, their little best friendship was a little more than that before Carl went heavy with Amanda. And only the two of them ever knew that fact.

Amanda gasps, "Are you serious!?" But she is damn proud of him for having the confidence to say it.

Riley is grinning from ear to ear, "So wait- Jordan- when you two joke, is that- is that serious?"

"We've screwed three times, but nah, we're not serious. Just having fun." And just to reassure Amanda, "Always protection and not until you and I put our hook ups on hold. We're both clean."

Riley and Amanda speak in unison now, reading each others minds, "Get outta' here!"

Carissa will break the circle because she has to punch his arm. Hard, "Dude, I'm so fuckin' proud of you!"

"I know this may be a weird time to announce that, but I figured, the last thing we wanna' do is...talk about everything that we came here for. So Riley? Since today is kinda' about you." He'll step towards her. For once, the class clown is teary eyed and extremely genuine in his words, "I just want to thank you for being my courage. I hid it for a while, but when I saw the shit you went through? It gave me the courage to not be afraid. You made me feel...so good about myself. And you made me realize that it doesn't matter what anybody thinks. Thank you for being the rock. My push. Thank you for helping me figure it out. I love you like a sister. I mean that." And he'll draw her in for the biggest bear hug he can manage.

'I'm so happy for Carl! This is amazing.'

'I'm in total shock. Seriously I totally didn't see this coming!'

"I love you too, man. I do." And when she pulls back, she'll mimick Carissa in punching his shoulder, "Now can we please get out of here?"

"Yeah, yeah."

But Carissa has to ask, "If you we're confident about itm how come you never told us?"

"You never asked."

"...I think I really hate you."

"Me too." He's cracking up, but so is Carissa, "Now let's get Riles outta' here!"

Amanda, back to her bubbly self, is nearly jumping up and down, "Oh! Pool party at Carl's house! I'm facebooking the gang!"

Carl fist bumps the air with a, "Let's do it!" And the four teens proceed to head for the elevator to exit the building arm in arm.

The next chapter of their life can begin.