Chapter 6:
"You used to be abused?", Taranee asked Halinor.
"Yes. It was a time when my parents' job had called for them to go over seas for a few months.", Halinor said with a sad smile. "They asked my aunt to take care of me seeing as I had school to attend. Turns out that my aunt had an abusive side. And like Cornelia, I never told anybody about it. And for a while, I hid it well from Cassidy and the girls. But one day, Yan Lin and Cassidy discovered what was happening when they came over to visit one day."
"We were standing outside the house when it happened.", Cassidy said. "After that, we went to Rissa, Kaddie, and Joe-Joe and told them what happened. The next day, we confronted Halinor about it and tried to find a way to help her out."
"It was then we had the bright idea of having Nerissa using the Heart to boost Cassidy's mind control powers and have her make my aunt stop beating on me.", Halinor said.
"And did it work?", Hay Lin asked.
"Yes. It did.", Halinor said.
"See! I told you we could of done that!", Irma said.
"There's more, Irma.", Cassidy said.
"Of course there is.", Irma said sarcasticlly.
"Yes. It worked. But only for so long.", Halinor said. "But one day, she saw something that broke the mind control Cassidy used on her. That was one of the worst days of my life. For my aunt snapped and beat me with in an inch of my life."
"Hallie was able to contact us telepathiclly just in time for us to call the police.", Cassidy said. "Halinor's aunt was arrested but Halinor ended up in the hospital for a while."
"I had a concussion, a twisted ankle, a broken arm, and a few cracked and bruised ribs.", Halinor. "Not to mention a very bruised up face. But I was alive. And I learned something that day. I learned that powers can't solve all of your problems. Sometimes they can make them worse than what they already are. I should of went to the police or told somebody instead."
"Okay. I get that.", Will said. "But why doesn't Cornelia want to tell us anything yet?"
"Because she still needs her space.", Halinor said. "It took a lot for her to go to Angelo and his uncle about it all. Not to mention two other people."
"Who?", Hay Lin asked.
"You will find out in time.", Halinor said as she opened a fold back to Earth for the teens. "But for now, I suggest you all go back to Earth. Your lunch break is almost over."
"Oh joy.", Irma said in a dull tone. "More school.", she and the others went through the fold.
"See ya later, Hallie.", Cassidy said. "And thanks!"
"My pleasure, Cassidy.", Halinor said as the fold closed.
"May you be able to get through this, Cornelia.", Halinor said as she looked up at the skies of Kandrakar.
Later that day, Cornelia was sitting on a couch, in the the Living Room of the Vanders' home with Angelo watching TV. Lillian was taking a nap on another couch there.
"I know you don't want to talk about this, but how did your parents take it all when you called them?", Angelo asked.
"Well, they were shocked about it all.", Cornelia said. "They thought that Billy was a nice girl. And then there's Leon. They feel for him, but they're glad that I did what I did when I came here with Lillian."
"And what of Leon?", Angelo asked.
"I... I haven't called him yet.", Cornelia said.
"Well, you know that you're going to..."
Suddenly, the sound of the door bell rang getting their attention.
"Who the heck is that?", Angelo questioned.
"If it's the girls..."
"I know. I know.", Angelo said as he stood up to head down the stairs. "You don't want to see them yet."
"Thanks.", Cornelia said with a smile before Angelo bent down and gave her a kiss.
Angelo then headed down to the first floor of the apartment building. Once downstairs, Angelo headed to the front door, that was glass, to see Will, Irma, Taranee, and Hay Lin standing at the door. Angelo the opened the door and went outside to talk to them.
"Can I help you all?", Angelo asked knowing what they wanted.
"We came to see Cornelia.", Will said calmly.
"And before you ask why, my dad told me what happened to her.", Irma said.
"My mom told me, too.", Taranee said.
"I kind of figured that.", Angelo said. "I also believe that they told you all not to come over here so to give Cornelia her space."
"Well, yeah. But..."
"No buts, Hay Lin.", Angelo said cutting her off. "None of you know what she's going through. Heck! I don'tknow what she's going through. And I pray neither of us do! All I know is that she feels bad for not coming to any of us when this all started. It wasn't until she found out that Lillian was getting beat on, when she decided to get the help she needed. And you all know that if you were to see her now, you'd be telling her that she should of came to you or someone when it first started after you asked if she was okay. Not to mention act all weird around her. Am I right or not?"
The girls said nothing for they knew that Angelo was right. They cared about each other but they didn't know what Cornelia was going through. And, like Angelo said, they never wanted to.
"I know you care about Cornelia, but please give her time to come to you all.", Angelo said. "Cause it's not just herself she has to worry about. There's also Lillian. So, for now, just wait."
"Okay Angelo. We'll wait.", Will said as the other girls nodded.
"Question.", Taranee said. "You seem real knowledgable about this stuff. Any reason why?"
"Remember Becky Donalds, in Fadden Hills?", Angelo asked Will who nodded but then gasped realising where Angelo was going.
"No!", Will said. "She was abused?"
"Yeah.", Angelo said. "She was a good friend. So when I found out that she was being abused, I was worried about he. But I was pretty upset that she didn't tell anybody about it. But Uncle John sat me down and told me just about the same thing I just told you all. So, I waited. And in time, Becky opened up a little about it. And in time, she was her normal self again. So, I've been in your shoes, girls. Just give Cornelia time to open up about it. That goes for when she comes back to school, too. Give her time to open up about it. Heck! She hasn't open up to me about much of it. But I'll wait."
"And so can we.", Taranee said. "Right, Irma?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah.", Irma said. "I'll wait."
"And for that I thank you.", Angelo said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm hungry. I'll catch you all later."
"Later.", Will said as the girls headed across the street to the Silver Dragon.
"So, what now?", Hay Lin asked. "I figured that we'd be spending the afternoon with Cornelia."
"Well, we could go check out the guys, who are working on a few songs.", Taranee suggested.
"Works for me.", Irma said. "Martin should be over there, too. He's helping them fix their speakers."
"Then let's get something to eat and go see the guys.", Will said as they entered the Silver Dragon.
As for Angelo he was back upstairs, in the Kitchen, fixing something to eat for himself, Cornelia, and Lillian when Cornelia came into the Kitchen. She was dressed in a pair of jean shorts and a pink T-shirt.
"Something wrong?", Angelo asked.
"No.", Cornelia said. "It's just... Do you think I'm wrong for not wanting to see the girls?"
"Not really.", Angelo said. "You remember what I told you about my friend in Fadden Hills, right?", he asked getting a nod form Cornelia. "Well, like her, you need you space before you're ready to open up. And then there's Lillian. You have to be there for her, too. Don't get me wrong. I'll help in any way I can. But, it'll be up to you when you decide to open up to any of us."
"Thanks for being so understanding.", Cornelia said. "But I know that my parents will want me and Lillian to see a shrink about all of this, when they come back."
"And there's nothing wrong with that.", Angelo said as he finished the sandwiches he was making for himself, Cornelia, and Lillian. "A shrink can be someone that you can tell things to that you wouldn't tell anyone else.", he said as he pulled three small bags of chips out of the cabinet and placed them on the tray of snadwiches.
"I guess you're right.", Cornelia said as Angelo handed her the tray of sandwiches and chips. "But right now, I'm worried about Leon. He hasn't called me on my cell phone or even come over to see if we're okay.", she said as Angelo got some sodas out of the fridge.
"Well, maybe you should call him.", Angelo said as they walked into the Living Room, where Lillian was waiting for them while watching TV. "Let him know that you're okay."
"Might as well.", Cornelia said. "For all we know, he may be trying to bail Billy out of jail."
"Well, before you call him, maybe you should eat first.", Angelo said as he hands Cornelia and Lillian their sodas. "You missed eating something for lunch.", he said as Lillian already began eating her sandwich.
"Well, someone's hungry.", Cornelia said with a grin before bitting into her sandwich.
After eating their sandwiches and drinking their sodas, Cornelia was ready to call Leon. Part of her was ready to do it. But another part of her was afraid that Billy had found a way to get Leon to take her side.
"You don't have to call him if you don't want to.", Angelo said as he placed his hand over Cornelia's giving her some form of comfort.
"Thanks.", Cornelia said with a small smile. "But I have to call him. For all I know, Leon may be worried sick about us. So, I'd better call him."
"You don't have to call Leon, Cornelia.", Angelo said as he looked behind Cornelia as they were sitting on the couch.
"Why?", Cornelia asked.
"Cause he's right behind us.", Angelo said as he pointed behind her.
Cornelia turned around to see Leon standing with John Vanders. At first, she was happy to see Leon. But when she and Lillian stood up, Cornelia she saw the look on his face. He looked confused, upset, and hurt at the same time. Lillian who was happy to see her cousin...
"Leon!", she said as she was about to run to him.
"Lillian! Wait!", Cornelia said as she held her sister back.
"But why?", Lillian questioned as she looked up at her sister. "It's only Leon."
"Mr. Vanders? Can you take Lillian somewhere for a while?", Cornelia asked John.
"Sure thing.", John said as he walked up to Lillian. "Do you want to see some pictures of Angelo and Will when they were kids, Lillian?"
"Would I?", Lillian said with a smile. "Sure!", she said as she walked off with John.
"Stay with Cornelia.", John whispered to Angelo who nodded.
Once John and Lilian left the Living Room, Cornelia turned her attention back to Leon and...
"Why did it take you so long to come here, Leon?", Cornelia asked. "Why didn't you try to call me on my cell phone?"
"Because I was trying to find out what was going on.", Leon said. "I first wake up this morning to find that you and Lillian are gone. I first, I call the police and report you two missing. Then later in the afternoon, the police come and arrest Billy and charge her with child abuse! I then find out that the charges come from you, Cornelia."
"That's because it's true, Leon!", Cornelia said. "Billy has been beating on me! It started two weeks after mom and dad left. And she started beating on Lillian last week! Once I found that out last night, I decided to leave and come here, where I know I'd be safe from Billy. I was willing to take the beatings, but I wasn't going to let it happen to Lillian! You may not want to believe it, but it happened. I knew I should of came to you when she started beating on me, but Billy threatened to lie and say it was you who was beating on me and her. And from what Mr. Lair and Mrs. Cook said, Billy could pull it off."
At first there was silence in the Living Room. Angelo, who was sitting in a chair,wanted to say something, but he knew that this was between Cornelia and Leon.
"Well, I don't know what hurts more.", Leon said getting Cornelia's attention. "Finding out about Billy, or you for not coming to me when this frst started.", he said to Cornelia.
"I wanted to. I really did.", Cornelia said. "But I was afraid that Billy would do what she said she was going to do."
"You're my cousin, Cornelia.", Leon said. "Furthermore, I told you that if there was anything wrong, you could come to me. Threat or no threat, from Billy, you should of came to me. Had you done that, you could of avoided a lot of pain. And Lillian wouldn't of gotten beaten."
"I know that now.", Cornelia said as her eyes began to water.
Seeing this, Leon walked up to her and gave her a comforting hug, that she returned as she let the tears flow while crying. Seeing this, Angelo knew that Cornelia was well on her way to recovery. She still had a road ahead of her, but this was a good start. A few minutes later, after the tears were shed, Leon and Cornelia sat down on the couch and...
"So, what happenes now?", Cornelia asked.
"Well, I figured that I should be the one to tell you that when she was arrested and charged with the child abuse, Billy went and confessed to it all while being taken away. Well, she was mainly yelling about how much of a spoiled brat you were and how if she had the chance she'd give you another beating.", Leon said. "What got me was the look on her face when she confessed. She had this dark look in her eyes that said she had some issues she needed to take care of before she really hurt somebody. So, I called her parents and told them about what happened. They then told me about Billy's past. Turns out that there were some rich kids in her school that really gave her a hard time. They gave her no reason why they did it. They just did. But one day, Billy had enough and she snapped and beat up one of the girls that was picking on her and messed her up pretty badly."
"What happened to the girl?", Cornelia asked.
"The girl was okay.", Leon said. "Give or take a few bruised ribs and a really bruised up face."
"What happened to Billy?", Angelo asked.
"She got sent to a reform school.", Leon said. "When she graduated, it looked like she'd be okay. But I guess they were wrong."
"I'll say.", Cornelia said. "But that explains why she was beating on me all those nights. She said I reminded her of the rich girls that messed with her when she was kid."
"But that doesn't excuse she did to you and Lillian,.", Leon said. "I feel as if part of this is my fault."
"But it isn't!", Cornelia said as she held her cousin's hand. "You didn't know Billy was going to do what she did."
"Maybe so.", Leon said as he looked his cousin in the eyes. "But her parents asked me to bring her home so she could get the help she needed. And I said yes."
"But... Why?", Cornelia questioned.
"To be honest, I have no idea.", Leon said. "Maybe there's a part of me the feels sorry for her. Or maybe there's a part of me that thinks there may be hope for her yet. Either way, I have to do this. I called Unlce Harold and told him what happened, but it turns out that you already called him and told him. I'm glad that you'll be staying here until they return."
"Me, too.", Cornelia said with a smile while glancing over at Angelo, who smiled back at her.
"I figured.", Leon said with a smirk. "Now I just have to tell Lillian and hope she doesn't get mad."
"She'll be okay.", Cornelia said. "She'll be upset. But she'll okay after a while."
"Thanks.", Leon said before kissing Cornelia on the forehead. "Well, might as well get this over with. Let's go tell Lillian."
She was upset, like Cornelia said she'd be, but after the tears and crying, Lillian calmed down and somewhat accepted Leon's choice of actions in taking Billy back to her family to get some help. So, after a sad goodbye, Leon was off to get things set up for taking Billy to her family. Later that evening, after eating dinner, Angelo was in his apartment with Cornelia and Lillian. It was, of course, time for Lillian to go to bed and this time she had no problems sleeping in the other bedroom by herself.
"You sure you going to be okay?", Cornelia asked her sister as she tucked her in.
"Uh-huh!", Lilian said as Napolean was laying at the foot of the bed. "It's like you and Angelo said. Billy is going back home and that's far away. Besides. I have Napolean here to keep me company."
"That's true.", Cornelia said with a smile. "Goodnight, Lillian.", she said before kissing her sister on the forehead.
"Goodnight, Cornelia.", Lillian said with a yawn while turnng on her side to go to sleep.
Before leaving the room, Cornelia turned on a night light and turned the regular light off. Nodding to Napolean, who nodded back, Cornelia left the room and closed the door leaving it slightly opened. She then headed for the Kitchen where Angelo, who was dressed in a pair of black sleeping pants and a another gray tank-top, was sitting on one of the stools near the counter drinking some tea. SHe then saw that the sofa bed, in the Living Room was set up for Angelo to sleep in. With a grin, Cornelia, who was dressed in a white, thin-strapped nightgown, sat on the other stool and began drinking her cup of tea.
"Now this looks familiar.", Cornelia said with a small smile. "Only we were drinking warm milk instead of tea."
"And we both know what that led to.", Angelo said getting a small laugh out of Cornelia. "It' good to see you laugh. But I have to admit. Today was one of the few time I've seen you cry."
"It was?", Cornelia asked.
"Yeah.", Angelo said. "Don't get me wrong. I'm glad you're getting your feelings out and all. It's just, during our whole relationship, I've hardly seen you cry. And we've been going out for about a year. It's a rare sight to see."
"Well, to be honest, I'm not one for crying in front of many people, besides family.", Cornelia said. "I guess I don't want to look weak."
"Cornelia. There's nothing wrong with crying in front of others.", Angelo said. "No one will judge you about it. I know I won't. And neither will our friends."
"I know.", Cornelia said as she looked down into her cup of tea. "And I also know that, sooner or later, I'll have to talk to the others about all that happened."
"Don't worry about that now.", Angelo said. "Right now, just focus on getting better. And I'm not talking about your wrist and the bruises you have right now. I mean emotion wise. From what you told us today, Billy really did a number on you with all the name calling and stuff."
"Yeah. She did.", Cornelia said sadly as she felt her eyes water. "But the funny thing is, I used to be some of the things she called me. Stuck up, snobish, spoiled, full of myself. As well as a few other things."
Angelo then gently took her cup from her and set it on the counter, next to his, and then held her hands.
"I don't know what you were like in the past, Cornelia.", Angelo said. "Actually, before I moved here, Will may of said a few things about you in e-mails and letters.", he said knowing that he had to be honest with her. "Some good, some not so good. But she also said that you were a good person at heart. And you know what? I'm glad she was right.", he said making her look at him. "Cause I fell for the Cornelia Hale I know now. A girl who cares for her friends and family. A girl who may have her flaws, but then again, who doesn't."
"Well, aren't we the sweet talker.", Cornelia said with a grin.
"Yes. Yes, I am.", Angelo said getting a smile from Cornelia.
"Thanks.", Cornelia said as a few tears flowed down her face. "That means a lot."
"I'm glad.", Angelo said with a smile that Cornelia returned before he took her into a hug that she returned as her tears flowed. "It'll be okay, Cornelia.", he said as he let her cry on his shoulder. "It'll be okay."
A/N: Well, things are going good for Cornelia and Lillian. Leon is leaving to take Billy to her family to get the help she needs, while Cornelia and Lillian are staying with Angelo and John while her parents are away. Now all that's left is for Cornelia to face the others. How's that going to turn out?
Please review.