I want to start out this chapter by saying a big thank you to kevinanddynasty and Virgo girl 14 for their support, little shout outs and for being genuinely lovely people.
I also want to thank everybody who has read this story so far an contributed to the 4420 views (blows my mind!) that Checkmate has received. You're all gems. X
Chapter Nineteen
Dynasty sipped slowly from the glass of water Kevin had left for her. She played for time, searching silently for a coaster and reluctantly setting the glass on the coffee table. Condensation pooled around the base of the glass; Dynasty wiped it away with her finger.
Katie studied her for a moment and seemed satisfied. She leaned forward and placed a small black Dictaphone between them.
"I don't want to be scribbling notes when you're speaking, Dynasty, so I'd like to record our conversation. Is that okay with you?"
"Yeah, whatever."
Dynasty picked absentmindedly at her tattered nails, momentarily embarrassed by the state they were in after weeks of neglect.
"Now, Miss Mulgrew has informed me that you've spoken to the police about what happened to you," Katie said, her eyes locked on Dynasty's face.
Dynasty wound her fingers together and sighed deeply. Her legs ached to stretch and flee the suffocation room but Dynasty forced herself to remain seated.
"Yeah, they questioned me in the hospital," Dynasty affirmed boldly, straightening her back as painlessly as she could and raising her gaze until it fell upon Katie's face.
"Good." She smiled. "It's important that at this stage you understand that what happened to you was a very serious crime that was neither your fault, nor was it a punishment for anything you might feel guilty about."
Dynasty's lips pouted in annoyance but she ignored the implication that she should feel guilty about anything and nodded in understanding.
"Wonderful," Katie chirped brightly, resting her hands in her lap. "Perhaps we can start by talking about Kevin?"
Dynasty's brow furrowed with confusion.
"What about him?" Dynasty snapped, her accent thickening with intimidating frustration as the older woman's intrusion continued.
"Well, how would you describe your relationship?" Katie pressed.
Dynasty felt her lips part, forming a small, shocked 'o'. She stared speechlessly at the blonde.
"He's my boyfriend," Dynasty stammered.
"So, he's never made you feel uncomfortable, or pressured?"
In a flurry of memories, Dynasty recalled flinching away from Kevin's touch outside of school and the dizzying anxiety that had overwhelmed her in his arms the previous day.
She shook the thoughts from her head.
"Kevin would never... Look, I don't know who you think you are but Kevin is not the problem. Kevin isn't the one who raped me," Dynasty shouted venomously, standing up sharply.
The agonizing bolts of pain that shot across her waist only sought to rile her further.
"I didn't ask Miss Mulgrew to bring you into this. If you're not here to talk about Steve-O, then you can just leave."
Dynasty waved angrily toward the closed door to the hallway.
Katie stared up at Dynasty blankly before leaning back in her seat and taking a sip of her tea. She set the mug down opposite Dynasty's glass and gestured for her to sit down again.
Unsure of why she was doing it, Dynasty complied, drained by her outburst.
"Do you feel better?" Katie asked proudly. "Dynasty, you just admitted to a complete stranger that you were raped. That's a very big step. Well done."
"Has 'tea' changed its meaning then since the last time I checked?" Mrs. Budgen sighed, sinking into her chair across the table from an agitated looking Kevin.
Kevin smiled tightly, forcing away his frustration. He knew that Mrs. Budgen deserved his gratitude, not his animosity.
"It's part of a list, things that remind her of him. Tea, beer, Leon Haywood, checked bed sheets and I haven't asked, but I think bacon might be on there as well," Kevin said miserably, picking noncommittally at his now cold breakfast.
Mrs. Budgen closed her eyes sadly.
"Poor girl," she muttered, lifting her gaze back to Kevin.
Kevin swallowed audibly and thrust his plate away from him.
"You see, the think is Kevin, you sharing that room of yours with Dynasty is against house rules."
Kevin began to protest but fell silent when Mrs. Budgen raised a firm hand.
"No, listen. Together Mr. Byrne and myself have decided that Dynasty's comfort at the moment is more important than that. Now, I'm sure our Dynasty's not looking for... well, I'm not expecting any hanky panky from the both of you anytime soon. Well, you're both technically old enough to make you're own decisions about all that anyway." Mrs. Budgen paused thoughtfully. "All I'm saying is - and I'm trusting you with this - when things start to go that way again, you give me a nod. Alright, pet?"
Kevin leaned back in his chair, his palms slick with sweat.
"'Hanky panky,'" he repeated cheekily, a trademark grin curling the corners of his lips.
"Oh, get off with you!" Mrs. Budgen exclaimed, exasperated.
