For a while, I just kind of sit on the floor of the office.

I wish my life was one of those movies where as soon as one of the bad guys comes near me, conveniently my rescuer comes in and protects me from harm. In this scenario the bad guy would be Charlie and Dimitri would be my rescuer or maybe Christian conveniently comes in, sees what's going on, and saves the day.

At the moment, I'm not going to be picky about who my rescuer is.

I'll take anyone since there seem to be so many bad guys.

But no one comes.

It's just me on the floor against the wall of the office struggling to breathe.

I guess this is one of those stories where the 'damsel in distress' has to learn to save herself.

I guess my life is a Lifetime movie where the main character eventually over comes all the hardships, fights the bad guy, and prevails in the end, blah blah blah.

It's hard to keep up with this train of thought when I'm shaking so badly trying to steady myself that I can't even seem to stand for a while. Instead I find that while images of Charlie and everything he just said to me are dancing in front of my vision, I'm thinking of my grandma and those words I'll never forget.

I can imagine her now appearing in the office right in front of me, managing to crouch and tenderly touching my hands as she reminds me that she doesn't want me to be weak or a failure like my mother. She wants everything to be better for me.

If my grandmother knew what was going on right now...she's probably turning over in her grave at this very moment, contemplating rising and giving my mother and everyone against me a piece of her mind.

I haven't really thought about her as much as I should since she died but right now I am thinking about her words.

She wanted something better for me than my mother was providing.

I want something better for myself.

I want something better than this frightened little girl huddled against the wall, the girl who stepped back when - after so much talk - she finally came face to face with someone she should've stood up to. If I had stood up to Charlie, he might have spread it around town - whether he believed me or not - that I'm not letting anyone beat me down any more.

I didn't do that.

Instead I coward and stood like a statue.

Great.

At least I know I'm right about one thing. Finding my inner strength is definitely easier said than done.

I manage to find some strength to pull my self up off the floor and stand. I don't know what to even do with myself. Do I go out there where Charlie is casually taking a class and tell Dimitri he scared me? That seems ridiculous and silly. Do I hide in here until Dimitri comes back in and then tell him? It seems a little less silly but it doesn't feel like the right thing to do.

Dimitri had said earlier that I shouldn't fight everyone's battles. That also means I can't always rely on him to help my fight my battles and face my fears. I have to do a little fighting of my own.

So what do I do?

I grab my bag, clear the computer history, and make sure I finished all the work I was supposed to. I remember the back door in the studio that I used when Dimitri first tried to instruct me in running.

And that's what I do.

It's the best idea to run on my own at night with a bad ankle.

But I push past the pain because I realize that's the only way I'm going to get through this, that's the only way I was able to sit with Dimitri and Christian today and actually enjoy myself for a while, that's the only way I managed to survive so many years being so alone without even really realizing it.

I pushed past the pain and ignored it.

I feel bad leaving without saying anything to Dimitri.

I decided I'll leave him a text message when I get home to let him know I'm alright and just needed some sleep. I'm thinking about this plan as I walk past a TV store near the bus stop that'll take me into town. The televisions facing the window are all on different channel but the one's that are showing the news are reporting the same story:

Sexting and Alleged Sexual Assault High School Scandal Rocks Small Town

The news is all local which is a bit of a relief since I don't think I could handle any type of national coverage and everyone in the nation knowing about this. The reporters are standing outside of the high school and some are outside of the police station where I'd made my report just yesterday.

They mention no names have been released but that there is an official investigation and it's suspected one of the prominent town families is involved before moving on to the next story as my bus arrives.

An official investigation. This is really happening. There's no going back now. The story is apparently on the news even though I'd only made the report yesterday. It seems surreal and I still haven't completely wrapped my head around it when I make my way off of the bus and start walking towards home.

Given Charlie's threats, I should be afraid and looking over my shoulder that Ivashkov sympathizers are behind me and trying to 'silence' me. Instead I'm a daze realizing how big this had become and before I know it, I'm home, half expecting reporters to be standing on the front lawn.

There aren't any.

My mother's car is in the drive way though which is a surprise since it's early for her to be home considering her work schedule. I let myself relish in the idea that she's come home to see if I'm okay, to check up on me.

Those thoughts fade as I walk into the house and smell of stale beer hits my nose.

"Mom?" I call out.

But I already see her sitting at the kitchen table. She's nursing her fifth or sixth beer in her hands.

"Mom?"

I set myself down beside her at the table but she wouldn't even look up at me.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" I worry for a moment that she's already seen the papers or watched the news before I could warn her. I feel stupid for not thinking to call her from the office down at the studio.

"Where have you been?" she asks instead of answering my question.

Her words are little slurred because of the affects of the beer. I've only ever see my mother over do it on the beer a handful of times and it was usually when she was feeling particularly stressed or after a worse day at work than usual.

"I went to...take care of a few things today," I tell her.

I don't think telling her went to the hospital to be examined and that I had a breakdown will help matters.

"Have you seen the news?" Is her next question.

I swallow past the lump in my throat and nod. "Yeah."

She leans further on the table resting her head on the hand that isn't holding her beer bottle. Just as she's about to speak again the house phone rings sounding too loud in our quiet house.

"That Officer Alto's been calling...trying to get a hold of you. So have I. Why didn't you answer your phone?"

I explain about not charging my phone completely the night before. When I finish she slides her cell from out of the pocket of her work uniform across the table to me. "He called to let us know the story was going to break today..."

Her words trail off as if there's more she wants to add but she doesn't.

She does, however, manage to finally look up at me bleary and tired eyed. I expect her, for about the hundredth time, to finally ask me if I'm alright, how all of this is taking a toll on me.

She doesn't.

She's searching my eyes with her unfocused green ones as if hoping to find her answers there.

I decided I've had enough of being disappointed by my mother not saying anything outside of her own pity and sadness and I stand up pulling her gently with me.

"Come on, let's get you to bed. Why are you home so early?"

We stumble up the stairs at a slow pace and it isn't until I've tucked her into her bed that she answers but her voice is muffled by the pillow an I don't her what she says. I start to ask her to repeat her answer but she's already asleep and snoring softly.

I make my way to my own room and close the door.

I plug in the cell phone and see messages from Dimitri, Officer Alto, and my mom.

I want to just put the phone away and crawl under the covers to sleep but if I'm going to learn to be strong about this I'm going to have to stop hiding and face everything head on. First, I return Officer Alto's call.

"Thank goodness," he says after picking up the phone. "I was worried I'd never get a hold of you. I was about to send Mark with a patrol car to check on you. I was hoping to get a hold of you before the story aired. Mayor Ivashkov tried to keep the press out of it but someone must've talked to the press soon after you left yesterday. Your name wasn't released," he explained while I listened.

He sounded almost worried I was mad that the press had reported everything.

"I know I saw the news and the newspapers," I finally say.

"I just didn't want you to be overwhelmed. This may be a bit suffocating and like everything's happening so fast but this can be a good thing. It means that no matter what even the mayor can't try and have this buried. The words is out and everyone knows his son is being looked into."

I let out a slow breath. That was one way to look at things, seeing the bright side. It is a bit of good news. Finally.

"That's good to hear," I tell him. I hesitate before telling him about my encounter with Charlie. But I can't keep my mouth shut forever. If I don't start speaking up, the way I should've told Dimitri about Charlie when I saw him the first time in the studio, then nothing well ever seem better. I tell him about my encounter with Charlie and he listens on the other end.

"We'll keep an eye on him. Who knows how many people are really involved in the conspiracy to send the photo around." The word 'conspiracy' sounds silly but I don't interrupt him. "Just try not to be left alone so often. We can't apprehend Charlie for anything right away. We don't want anyone to thing we're jumping the gun but we will keep an eye out. Alright?"

"That sounds good. It's good to hear," I say truthfully.

"I spoke to your mother...she sounded a little..." he didn't seem to know how to phrase it so I helped him out a little.

"She's just overwhelmed. I'm taking care of things until the situation really sinks in.

"Do you want me to talk to her? Maybe I can help ease things for her?"

The offer was nice and it reminded me that there aren't as many terrible people in the world as I think there are. Not everyone is against me. I start to decline his offer, not wanting anyone to see how unstable this has seemingly made my mother. I decide, though, that it wouldn't hurt to have a little help.

"That'd actually be nice. I'll bring her down to the station tomorrow."

He gave me a time for us to meet him. "I also spoke to Dimitri a few moments ago and he's a little worried that you took off this evening."

I figured as much. I was already starting to feel the guilt of that. "He's my next phone call after this."

"Good. Good. He mentioned that he gave you a lawyers number. We can try and figure out the lawyer situation tomorrow too if you'd like. Maybe hearing all of this coming from a cop will help you mother," he suggested.

"I sure hope so," I mumbled.

"I'll see you both tomorrow. Take care of yourself alright?"

"I will."

Immediately after we hung up, I dialed Dimitri's number. I'm not going to lie: sending a text message would be the easy way to apologize for not saying anything when I left. I have to stop taking the easy way out.

I have to stop looking for the easy route.

Eventually I'm going to have to face the tough ones.

"You really scared me tonight."

Dimitri's words just add to my guilt. I'm glad my room is too dark to see my reflection in the mirror across from my bed.

He sounds so relieved and even let out a similar sigh of relief to Officer Alto's when he answered the phone. He'd picked up on the first ring.

Simply apologizing just doesn't seem to be enough. I tell him about Charlie, something I should've told him earlier instead of running.

"Well I guess that explains why you left so suddenly," he says when I finish. "I wish you told me."

"I should've," I mumble laying back on my pillow.

"At least now that I know I can keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn't come near you again. He didn't hurt you did he?" he asked concerned.

"No, he just scared me."

Dimitri let's out a sigh that says Charlie scaring me is just as bad as if he'd hurt me.

"Well I'm glad you made it home safely. You did a god job with the organizing," he complements and I feel a little good knowing I did something right today. "Think you're up for working tomorrow?"

It's a weird question coming from the guy who is technically my boss but it's nice that he asks.

"Yeah it sounds good. I'll ask my mom to drop me off after we get back from the police station."

I tell him about my conversation with Officer Alto.

"I hope it goes well."

"Me too," I say trying to not think about tomorrow going all wrong.

Could my mother possible react any worse? I hoped not.

"I'll see you when you get done and you can tell me about it then."

I liked that there was someone who seemed to look forward to talking to me even if it was about this nightmare that has become my life.

"I'm looking forward to it."

"No more secrets, okay Rose?" he says after a second of silence. "You have to let me on what's going on."

Yeah, I'm learning to be independent but it doesn't mean I'm helpless for talking to someone, Dimitri, about what's going on.

"No more secrets. I promise."

"The moon is out by the way," he tells me and I lean a little forward toward my window to see the bright light from my bed, so far away silhouetting the city buildings in the distance.

"I see it. It's beautiful."

After another long day, the best thing to look at before I go to sleep is something as beautiful as this.

"Goodnight, Rose."

"Goodnight Dimitri."

A/N: Welp as some of you may have noticed there were some pretty amazing reviews and a few not so amazing reviews (by the same person most likely) and I've decided to ignore the not so nice ones and to just thank the reviewers that actually provided nice comments and useful advice so thank you! I'm glad so many of you like the slow pace. Hopefully start to notice our favorite VA character is getting a little stronger.