The next day at The West home
"Christopher Francis Roger West, get down here right now" says Henry very angry as Chris runs down the stairs
"yes dad" says Chris
"have you been taking Hailey and her friends underwear and bra's, Don't you dare think about lying to me" says Henry
"I-I…….. I thought they wanted me to, Breanne kept flirting with me" says Chris
"oh my God Christopher, she's your half sister for God's sake, you absolutely know that, even if Breanne did flirt with you that doesn't give you the right to take their underwear and bra's, do you realize that you're the reason Hailey has no friends, they're absolutely terrified that you'll do something to them" says Henry as Chris lowers his head
"oh, I can see why Hailey hates me, can't I just return the stuff" says Chris
"knowing you, they won't want them back, you will forfeit your allowance that you've been saving for that game console and give them money to replace the stuff you stole, you will clear Hailey's name at school, I also heard that you make fun of Jade" says Henry
"you have to admit she's creepy" says Chris
"creepy enough to make claims to your friends that she molest you and Hailey, I'm in therapy again, my therapist believes I let her molest you and Hailey, she says that's the gossip at your school, you and I both know I'd send Jade to a mental health care facility before I'd let her do that" says Henry
"Jade's creepy but not THAT creepy, I never said that to any of them, they said it first, I thought saying nothing would show they're lying but it's only made things worse, I would never say anything like that about Jade, remember when I told my friends Jade went Emo, yeah she broke my door and favorite headphones for that, so no I don't spread lies about Jade, you need to talk to someone else about that" says Chris obviously showing that he's afraid of Jade
"the thing is Chris, the therapist I have lined up for you did exactly what Cat and Jade said would happen, she believes as my therapist does, that Jade molests you and Hailey, she has a list of twenty questions, all about how Jade molests you, that's all the therapist wants to talk about, I can't set up an appointment unless you can resist making jokes about Jade or lying about anything" says Henry
"I think I know where that rumor came from, remember that bad teacher that touched girls, Hailey was going to be in his class last year, Jade lost it and threatened the school if they kept Hailey in that class and that I was also not allowed to take that class, the other teachers thought Jade was being a little overly protective, they said 'it would take one to know one' after the school board did and investigation and found that Jade was right to be protective of us, I was discussed when the teachers said that" says Chris
"if the teacher was Mr. Sielmon she had every reason to be scared that Hailey was going to be in that class" says Henry
"I don't understand, Jades always been protective of us" says Chris
"Mr. Sielmon was her teacher in seventh grade, he touched her inappropriately, thankfully Jade always got away but it continued for several weeks, I tried to get the school board to fire him but they did nothing, I transferred her to Hollywood Arts elementary specifically for that reason" says Henry
"did she ever talk to you or mom about it" asks Chris
"no, the only thing she'd say is 'he touched me', never how, where or how many times" says Henry
"I think Hailey likes Marissa" says Chris
"how do you know this" asks Henry
"because Marissa's big brother is on one of her favorite shows, since their fight on Friday she's stopped watching that show, Marissa shows up on it every so often, usually every Saturday Hailey runs to the TV to turn it on and watch the new episode of the show, Saturday came and went and she apparently chose a new favorite show" says Chris
"Jade's looking into it, listen Chris, you need therapy, do you promise to set the record straight about Jade and the rumors" says Henry
"I promise dad, I guess I misunderstand a lot of things" says Chris
"yes you do but setting the record straight is important, I'll pick you up after school, now let's get going" says Henry
After school with Jade
"hey Marissa, can we talk" says Jade
"if it's about Hailey wanting to steal my dress like she did my underwear then no" says Marissa
"she didn't steal your underwear, our creep of a brother did, he likes to say he misunderstands things, in this case he thought you girls were flirting with him so for some reason he thought you wanted him to take your underwear, Hailey was genuinely admiring you in that dress" says Jade
"so she has feelings for me" asks Marissa seeming to blush
"I can't be certain, she is unwilling to name names, likely in fear of becoming a target again at school, would you be willing to come to her and talk about it" says Jade
"I don't know, I mean she's definitely cute but my house definitely isn't safe for her, my parents are always fighting because I tested positive for diabetes, I mean look at me, how can I be diabetic, that's what they fight about, Dad wants a second opinion and mom says it's genetic on her side of the family" says Marissa
"when you think of Hailey what do you see happening in the future" asks Jade
"look I love her but I'm too scared, I have to know if she loves me before I can open myself to her, I have so many issues, I'm diabetic, I'm Bipolar, I'm autistic and I'm nearsighted, that's only the things the doctors are willing to diagnose, they admit there's more but they're unwilling to 'burden me' with the diagnosis', as if not knowing what else is wrong with me is easy" says Marissa
"believe me if you ask Hailey she will tell you without even thinking about it, Hailey is pretty smart" says Jade
"but she struggles in her classes" says Marissa
"because of the rumors, like the one you believed about her taking your panties and bra, if she acted as smart as she is people wouldn't consider them rumors, they'd consider them fact, Hailey is anything but a thief, she's extremely soft spoken, she is the sweetest person in my family, you have to understand that she's taking heat from the school for these theft rumors, the smallest thing goes missing and they instantly blame her, you have to understand, we've been trying to figure it out for the last two months, she won't name names, not to family" says Jade
"you can tell her I love her but don't tell me anything unless she loves me back" says Marissa
"do you have a phone" asks Jade
"yeah, why" asks Marissa
"here is my number, keep in touch, I'll let you know if she responds positively" says Jade handing Marissa her phone number
"doesn't Hailey have a phone" asks Marissa
"no, it's a gps locator, I'm paranoid about her getting kidnapped as it almost happened when she was in fifth grade, someone offered her a four scoop ice-cream if she got in their car, she almost fell for it, all she has to do is squeeze the gps locator and it sends me a text with her location" says Jade
"it seems unfair for her to not have a phone" says Marissa
"she hasn't wanted one, she sees you every school day, as her only friend she hasn't had a reason to want a phone, though if she likes you too that might change" says Jade as Marissa gets called over by her mom
"I have to go, please please tell her I love her" says Marissa as she bolts to her moms car as Chris walks over
"how am I supposed to give her the money now, nobody wants it but dad says I have to" says Chris
"what money" says Jade slightly confused as Hailey hugs her
"to replace the things I took, dad said they wouldn't want the actual items back and that I had to give them money to replace them, the problem is nobody believes that I took them, they said I was covering for Hailey, I hate that the whole school thinks she's a thief because I believed someone when they said 'when someone flirts with you, it's ok to take their sensitive clothes', I'm really stupid" says Chris as Jade shakes her head
"is dad on his way to pick you up" asks Jade
"yes," says Chris
"ok while you're at therapy have him talk to the principal about it, dad knows him from when I went here" says Jade
"will I be expelled for this" asks Chris as Hailey snips at him
"you should be dead for this" snips Hailey clearly angry at her brother
"now Hailey, it's not right to lash out at him, it's not proper, yes Chris you will be punished however coming clean means suspension not expulsion, though the school board may have a different opinion depending on how many girls you stole things from, going forward you're going to have to accept whatever consequences you're dealt for this, they could be life long, now dad will be here in a moment, go wait for him where he told. You to wait" says Jade as Chris nods and bolts out of there
At Cat's house 1 hour later
"Hailey, how would you feel if Marissa told you she loves you, like really loves you" asks Jade as Hailey refuses to look Jade in the eye
"I guess I'd be relieved, though her parents aren't exactly supportive of rainbow people, they might try and kill you simply for talking to Marissa, like as if you'd tainted her somehow, her parents practice dark magic, it's scary, Dad's scary but her parents make dad look like an angel" says Hailey
"if you could date Marissa, would you" asks Cat sitting on the floor leaning on the couch feeling completely drained
"yes but her parents would never allow it" says Hailey
"they're more accepting than you realize, now cuddle with Cat while I make a phone call" says Jade dialing Marissa's parents
"NOO, you'll only make things worse, this is why I didn't want anyone to know" says Hailey beginning to cry as Cat manages to get on the couch for a cuddle
"hey Mrs. Hendrik, is Marissa home" says Jade
"yes, yes she is, she's been anxious since she got home, said something about her world maybe changing, does Hailey love her back" says Mrs. Hendrik
"yes she does, though she's afraid of you and your husband, says you practice dark magic and it absolutely scares her, it seems she was afraid that if she told Marissa how she felt that you'd kill her and that you don't support rainbow people" says Jade
"I've known Marissa liked girls since she was little, the closet she was in had glass doors, as for my magic, it's more about protecting people than hurting them and I'm not all that good at it or Marissa would never have been bullied, so when do I send Marissa over" says Mrs. Hendrik
"we're at the Valentine house, I'm dating Cat, our brother and dad are in therapy so we can't be there per the therapists orders, Marissa would have to either be here or Hailey there at your house" says Jade
"ok, how about Marissa starts there, our house is a little crowded at the moment, our family reunion is this weekend and she's not all that fond of the family reunion stuff, how does one week there and one week at our house sound" says Mrs. Hendrik
"that sounds good but Hailey won't step foot I to your home unless you guarantee not to use your magic on her to harm her, as smart as Hailey is, magic absolutely terrifies her" says Jade
"me, hurt Hailey, absolutely not, my ex husband on the other hand would jump at the chance, thankfully he's in jail for attacking Marissa, besides my magic isn't powerful enough to hurt teens, men and toddlers, also intent matters quite a bit, so when do I send Marissa, she's pretty anxious, maybe even a bit worried after the fight on Friday" says Mrs. Hendrik
"I can come pick her up right now if Marissa wants, Cat was supposed to make dinner but she's exhausted so it's take out, what does Marissa prefer" says Jade as Hailey's jaw drops
"I just heard Marissa fall out of bed, not something she does often, usually when she's surprised, I'll go get her ready, she'll eat just about anything as long as there's no ketchup on it, she's allergic to one of the ingredients in readily available ketchup, home made she's fine with but with any brand name or even take out brand ketchup she throws up almost instantly, most of the local fast food places know her, my sister is the mayor, like Marissa she's not fond of the family reunions, I agree, in our case family reunions are stupid, it's not about family, it's about seeing who had the most kids, it's distasteful, unfortunately as the daughter without a legal obligation to be at work every day, unlike my sister the mayor, I'm forced to host, Marissa will be ready when you arrive" says Mrs. Hendrik as she hangs up
"Hailey, Cat, do you want anything from in and out burger, I'm picking Marissa up then getting food" asks Jade
"I'll have my usual please," says Hailey
"understood" says Jade
"I'll have whatever you're having as long as its not tacos, they don't sit well with me" says Cat
"what about Naomi and Sofía" asks Jade picking up her keys as she head to the door
"dad got them a lot of snacks, they should be fine, I'll explain later" says Cat
"I don't want them to be left out, remember they were expecting the big supper you'd promised them on Saturday" says Jade
"if you have to get them something, get them salads, Naomi is basically known for eating a lot leafy greens and Sofía will at least entertain the idea of a salad" says Cat
"ok, I'll be back" says Jade leaving moments later