Quite a bit of this chapter is pretty dark... You have been warned.
Tali was wrong in her assumption that Kennedy was just going to leave her alone. The beatings got worse and the self-inflicted cuts on Tali's arms got deeper. Her grades slipped, and she started missing so much school that a rumor began circulating that she was pregnant. Ari and TJ knew this was a bunch of crap, but that didn't stop two-thirds of the student body from believing that it was true.
Report cards were sent home at the end of the first week of November. Kennedy stepped up his torture that week, and the worst was that Friday. He accosted Tali after school, about four hours before kickoff of the Homecoming football game.
Tali was hurrying down a hallway, trying to get out of the school as fast as she possibly could when she was thrown into a locker.
"Going somewhere?" Kennedy asked, placing a hand around Tali's throat.
"Home," Tali said. "Away from you."
"I don't think so. You're doing something for me first." He reached his other hand up her shirt and she gouged his at eyes. He snapped and started pummeling Tali before pinning her back against the lockers. "If you ever tell anyone that I'm the one behind this, I am going to kill you." He spat in her face again and walked off like the coward that he was.
Tali sunk back against the lockers, choking back tears for the better part of fifteen minutes. She ran out of the school when she heard the football team coming and she kept running the entire way home.
...-_-...
Tali locked herself in the bathroom for 3 hours as she scrubbed her skin raw in the shower. Never in her life had she felt as violated as she did at this moment.
"TALI!" Tony's voice echoed through the house so loud that Tali was able to hear it over the running water.
"Fuck," Tali muttered. She got out of the shower and put on her most worn set of sweats before heading downstairs.
Tony was pacing back and forth in the kitchen waiting for Tali when his phone started ringing.
"DiNozzo."
"Tony, are you coming to the game tonight?" Ziva asked.
"Not tonight," Tony answered. "Kick-off isn't for another hour anyway."
"Tony, this is Ari's first Homecoming Game. You know he will be upset if you are not here."
"I know. But I have something to take care of tonight."
"What are you doing?"
"I'm gonna spend some father/daughter time with Tali." Tony looked up and saw Tali coming. "Speak of the devil. Gotta go, Zi. See you after the game. Love you." Click.
"Yes, Abba?" Tali asked.
"Report card," Tony answered, holding out his hand. "Now."
Tali tensed up as she handed Tony her report card. He read her grades and asked only one question. "Tali, are you being bullied?"
"What?" Tali scoffed. "No."
"Tali, stop lying to me. I know it's happening, but I can't help you if you don't open up. Tali, please talk to me. You might not believe this, but I was bullied in high school too. Trust me, it doesn't get better unless you talk about it. So talk to me, Tali."
Tali slowly nodded before breaking down and sobbing uncontrollably. She hugged Tony, and he returned the hug, but not before crumpling up Tali's report card and throwing it in the trash.
"How long?" Tony gently asked.
"Third week of school," Tali answered.
"Who?"
"He's on the football team. He said he'd kill me if I tell anyone his name."
"Did you tell Ari? He might be able to figure out who it is."
"You're the only other person that knows the truth, Abba."
"Ari's about to." Tony picked his phone up off the table and called his son.
...-_-...
Ari was trying to get into that place, one that he liked to be in for every game. So when his phone rang, he was a little upset.
"Hello?" He said.
"Ari, Tali's being bullied by someone on the team," Tony said. "For a Freshman, you carry some heavy weight on that team. I want you to find the person responsible and make him wish he was never born."
"On it." Click. Ari locked his phone in his locker and looked at his teammates, his wrists twitching. One of these guys was bullying Tali, and he had to find out who it was. He trusted each member of the team with his life, but they were all suspects now.
The coach's whistle pierced the air; it was time for the pregame pep talk.
"I don't have to tell you how important this game is. This is Homecoming. This is OUR GAME! Don Bosco's players have been running their mouths in every media outlet for the last two weeks. But now, the time for talk is OVER! Let's show 'em: You mess with the Bulls..."
"YOU GET THE HORNS!" The team yelled. The rest of the team ran out of the locker room, but Ari hang back to talk to Coach.
"Gunny Martin, do you have a second?" Ari asked.
"What's on your mind, DiNozzo?" Gunny asked.
"My dad called me before you came out of your office. Apparently, someone on the team is bullying my sister, and I would like your permission to address the team after the game."
"You got it, Ari. Now get your ass out there before I drop you for 25."
"OORAH."
"And Kennedy is benched tonight. Be sure you step it up tonight."
Ari nodded, running out of the locker room and joining the team behind the Bulls banner.
Review? Toda.