Chapter Three
Bruises?
It was a few days later when Kai confronted Rei about the bruises he'd seen.
Morning Announcements-
Good Morning.
No one ever claimed the watch so it's Tala's now.
Today's lunch is meatloaf surprise...I'd advise you not to eat it.
Drama play rehearsal has been canceled for today. Go home. Practice. Miller wants everyone off book by the end of next week.
There's no school on Monday so have a nice weekend.
This concludes the morning announcements. Have a nice day.
"Alright class, group study today. I don't care if you study or whatever, just keep your voices down."
Rei and Mariah scooted their desks closer together. "I still wonder how they convinced Kai to do the morning announcements."
"I just wonder how he keeps his voice that monotonic all the time..it's weird. So, I heard you were in charge of choreography for the play. Have any ideas?"
"For the most part, I'm following the movie. Not every number will have you bursting into dance. There are only a few that need real choreography. I've already started working on some with Tala." Rei pulled out a notebook and showed Mariah the parts she'd written down so far. "Of course, I've got tons of ideas floating around in my head that I just haven't found places to go yet."
"Are you sure this isn't gonna be to much for you?"
"I can handle it."
-Lunch-
Rei was surprised when Kai walked up to her table during lunch. "Rei, you think you can come over again today? Tala wants to see if he's getting this right and need help with the timing on couple songs. I'd like to finish getting the choreography down for 'Tango,' I'm having a bit of trouble with it." Kai's voice was quiet, making it obvious that he wasn't used to asking for help.
Rei sighed dramatically. "I suppose I can fit it in somewhere. Directly after school?" A nod. "'Kay, I'll be there." Kai nodded and walked back over to his own table, Rei watching him all the while.
Mariah noticed the stare and started to giggle. "Rei...?"
Rei seemed to snap out of a trance. "What?" Mariah motioned subtle towards Kai. "Yeah, what about Kai?"
"Uh, did you not notice the way you were just drooling over him?"
Rei scoffed. "I wasn't drooling."
Mariah rolled her eyes. "Uh huh, and I'm as straight as you are." Rei gave a half-hearted glare. "Anyway, why's Kai learning 'Tango Maureen'? He's not in that scene?"
"I need a partner to show Max and Emily, as well as all th extras for that scene. There's gonna be at least four other couples dancing at one point."
"But why Kai?"
"He's a pretty good dancer. And uh..." she blushed, "I guess I just feel comfortable dancing with him." Mariah opened her mouth to say something, but Rei cut her off. "Don't get started on it or I'm never talking to you again." She dumped her lunch tray and left a pouting Mariah for the library.
-After School-
Rei had learned to expect impromptu trips to Kai's 'mansion' and had packed the proper dance clothes. A long sleeved leotard, leggings, short shorts, leg warmers, and of course her dance shoes. And, as always, she had to snap Tala and Bryan out of their drool fests. She worked with Tala on his routines, then worked with Bry and Tal on the numbers they had together, then worked with Kai on the number he was helping her with.
"I don't know why you think you need help, that was practically perfect." Rei pondered as she rested.
"Ah, there in lies the problem," Tala muttered, "it isn't perfect, therefore Kai isn't satisfied. He is such the perfec-WOAH!" He was not expecting it when Kai tipped his stool over, causing him to tumble to the floor.
"Hey, hey! Be careful with him! We can't have him getting hurt before the show." Rei gave Kai a playful shove, receiving one back with a mock scowl. Tala 'humphed' and seated himself further away from Kai on an unsuspecting Bryan's lap.
Bryan glanced at the clock and whistled. "Hey Tal, it's time for us to hit the road. I gotta get home soon, so get ready to go unless you want me to leave you here." He gently removed Tala from his lap, less he receive a reprimand from Rei, and went to change.
Tala pouted as he got up and gathered his things. "Bry's my ride today so I guess I gotta go. See ya." He left with a parting wave.
Which left Kai and Rei alone. There was awkward silence for a moment before Rei cleared her throat and stood. "Uh, is it alright if I practie my solo number a bit before I go? The only other time I can rehearse is when my dance studio has free time, and I haven't been able to make it down there lately." Kai gave a nonchalant shrug, which Rei took for a yes.
It was a while later, after Kai had to redirect his attention from the rather steamy number Rei was practicing, that she prepared to leave and Kai decided it was now or never. "Rei, come here for a second, I wanna see something." When Rei approached him inquisitively, Kai just stared contemplatively for a few moments before going into action.
He restrained one of her wrists and lift the hem of her. "Hey! What do you think you're doing?! Kai!? Stop!" She tried using her other arm to keep her shirt down.
"Stop it, Rei! I know what you're trying to hide so just stop and let me see." He could hear her sniffling as she let go of her shirt and allowed Kai to lift it enough to see the blatant bruises that covered her torso. He also lifted the back of her shirt and tugged her pants down slightly, all with a clinical touch. She was covered in bruises of varying degrees; most looked resh, but there were obviously older ones obscured by the new ones. Her the pulled the now sobbing girl into a loose hug. "Who?"
There were more sniffles before she answered. "My stepdad. He hasn't stopped drinking since mom and my little brother died. He does this if I don't o exactly as he says or if he thinks I'm sneaking around. He says he does it because noone wants a beat up whore."
"Why's he say you're a whore?" Kai kept his voice soft and comforting, almost caring.
"I teach dance classes to little kids at the studio where I take classes. He thinks I get the money from whore myself out he won't listen to anything I say. I've tried to tell him but he still thinks I'm a whore. But he still takes the money to buy his booze with." She was clinging to him like a child now, and he gently rubbed her back, mind ticking away.
"Rei...why haven't you told anyone?"
"I'm scared..."
"What if I called the principle, made an appointment...would you talk to him?"
"..I-I don't know if I could..."
"What if I went with you?" A muttered 'I guess so.' "You can stay here tonight, and I'll try to find some clothes for you to wear tomorrow. We'll talk to the principle as soon as possible."
-
It was later, after Rei had been put in some pajamas, that she sat on Kai's bed, waiting for him to come out of the shower. He had given her, her own room but she didn't want to be alone and so had come to his room.
Kai came out of the bathroom preceded by billows of steam. He was rubbing a towel into his hair when he spotted Rei. "Rei? What's wrong."
She stood and walked to him, wrapping her arms around his middle like a child. "Don' wanna be alone..."
He nodded as he lead her back to the bed to sit down. He bit her lip as he thought about how to word what he wanted to say. "Rei...did he do more than beat you? Did...did he rape you too?" He could see the tears start to well up an knew he was right.
"He...he would yell and scream a me that I was a whore..drag me back to his room by my hair and...and.." She continued to mouth but no sound came out.
"I understand." The sad thing was, he really did know what she was going through. "Let me tell you something about me, about why I'm such a perfectionist. When I was younger, I lived with my grandfather. In fact, this is his house. He was from old money and so was one of those people who expected everything to be perfect, down to his grandson. If I messed up, I got a beating; if I made an...egregious error...he told me I was no better than he hooker on the corner and gave me to the servants to have their way with me." Rei was know staring in disbelief. She started to speak but he continued.
"I had no other family, so I was stuck with him. I hated that man so much...I...the night he died, I slipped a poison into his food." At this Rei gasped and moved slightly away from the other. "When the autopsy came in, he died of a heart attack. He hadn't even digested the poison yet; they didn't find out about it until they pumped his stomach. Of course, they suspected the kitchen staff. No evidence pointed at me because I was just the little 15 year grandson, with nowhere else to go, with no reason, that they knew of, to want to hurt him."
He lied down on the bed and got under the covers, motioning for Rei to do the same, which she did so hesitantly. "I was old enough, so I filed for emancipation, which was granted. I got rid of all the old staff, just have a few people come in for house keep and to make me a meal on occasion." He paused to let all that sink in. "Here I am, 3 years later, emotionally stunted with practically no friends. Now you know my life story."
"But...you said that you had to audition for the play or your parents were taking your motorcycle..."
"Social workers...don't know why I still have to deal with them...they're such a hassle...So, what do you think of me now?" He propped himself up on his side to look at Rei.
"I still can't believed you'd try to murder some one...but, considering the circumstances I guess I kinda can...I think I'll let you stay around a little while more though." She smirked and he gave a sarcastic 'Thanks' as he turned out the light.
"Get some sleep. You'll probably need it."