Ch. 8 You Write Your Truth & I'll Write Mine
(FITZ)
I spend most of communications class watching how closely Eli is watching Clare. I don't like it, but I know she's going out with Sav after the game tonight. Wasn't sure how I felt about it when she told me at lunch. Still not sure how I feel about it, I didn't know Sav saw her that way, but he's a good guy and I trust that he'll take care of her.
When the bell rings Adam takes Clare's hand, and they leave together. Eli walks to the front doors, and I'm glad we won't have to see or deal with him until Monday. Drew, Owen and I rush off to the locker rooms to change for football. I'm still a little sore but I'll be okay, and it's a home game tonight.
When we get out to the field I see Clare, Sav, Adam and Alli together in the stands. I also see Maise in her cheerleading uniform flirting with some guy from the other team. She's looking at me and trying to make me jealous, but I ignore her. I hope she does go out with him and gets over me.
The opposing team is no match for us, we crush them, and the school erupts in cheers. After a few minutes of celebration, the coach blows the whistle. We tell the other team "good game" and they start heading to the bus while we continue to celebrate. At least until Coach tells us to get showered. I start walking toward the locker room but stop when I see Clare waiting for me.
"Where you two going tonight?" I ask her.
"No idea, he didn't say. I think it will be a pretty casual date," Clare replies.
"I'm not sure where we're sleeping tonight, text me when the dates over. I'm going to the party at Mo's," I tell her. Mo told us about the party at lunch, last minute as his parents are going out of town to take care of his grandmother after she fell and broke her hip.
"I will," Clare nods and walks off toward Sav. I finally go to the locker room, I'm the last one in.
"Maise attack you or something? You're the last one in the showers," Owen comments as I join them and turn on the shower.
"Thankfully, no, was just talking with Clare," I reply.
"Making sure she has a ride to the party? I figured she'd just go with you and Owen, or whoever Adam and Alli are going with," Drew remarks.
"She's not coming, she's going out with Sav," I enlighten them both.
"Clare and Sav? Since when?" Drew questions, turning off his faucet and wrapping a towel around his waist.
"Today I guess, maybe last night when she slept over," I shrug.
"I thought you were over her and on to Jess," Owen says, turning off his shower.
"I am, I like Jess a lot, just didn't picture Clare with Sav," Drew responds.
"Me either, but he's a good guy," I reply.
I finish showering quickly and ride to the party with Owen. Seems like most of the school is here, Adam and Alli don't stay very long. Drew is with Jess the whole time, and unfortunately Maise is very clingy with me. Mostly any time I'm alone, I try not to be alone, but she's very good at suddenly appearing any time I happen to be alone. After a couple hours at the party and a couple of beers Maise finds me again.
"Here, to your victory, you played really well today, Fitz," Maise smiles. She has two plastic cups in her hand and hands me one. I look at it, sniff it, I think it's whiskey. Maise smiles and takes a sip of hers, so I do the same. I drink the whole thing down in a few sips as there wasn't much in the cup. It must have been really strong though as I start to feel a bit dizzy.
"I'm going up to the washroom," I tell her, handing her back the cup.
I start making my way upstairs, not feeling great but can't quite put my finger on what I am feeling. I'm not quite nauseous or dizzy, kind of in between the two. I start to go into the washroom, but my vision begins to blur. I feel hands gripping my shirt, I know it's Maise even though I can't see her.
"What'dyoubringme…" I mumble. I start to feel like I'm falling and then the world goes dark. I wake up early, jolting out of a sound sleep, instantly regretting it as my head begins to pound. I feel kind of heavy and it takes a minute to gain my senses. I blink a few times realizing not only am I not in a familiar room, but I'm not alone, and it's not my sister next to me. I'm mostly naked, my shirt and socks are on, but shoes, jeans and boxers are gone. I look over and see Maise next to me and she appears to be naked too. "Shit," I whisper.
Maise starts to stir, knowing I don't want to be here when she wakes, I slide out of the bed. We must be in Mo's parent's room. I grab my clothes, grab my phone and wallet from the floor, where they appear to have fallen, and go into the washroom. I start dressing wondering what in the hell happened last night, then start to panic when I realize it's morning and I have no idea where my sister is. I dress as quickly as I can, manage to find my coat by the front door and start walking to The Dot as I have work later this morning. I get out my phone and see a missed text from Clare just after 10:30 last night. The text is her asking where Sav should drop her off. I have nothing from her after that so I call her.
"Where are you?" I question in a panic as soon as I hear her pick up.
"Owen's, Sav brought me last night. You didn't answer so I texted Owen and he said to come here," she tells me, and I release a sigh of relief.
"Stay at Owen's, I'll come after work," I instruct her.
"I will, but Owen said he found you in a room with Maise last night?" I hear the concern and the scolding in my sister's voice. I don't remember what happened and I can't tell her, so I decide to avoid the topic for now.
"I'll see you tonight," I reply and hang up on her.
I feel bad for hanging up on her, but she's got questions I just can't answer right now. I don't work until 11 and it's only a little after 8 right now, but I need to clean up some more and I don't want to go to Owen's or bother the Torres boys. The walk to the cafe is nice, the chilly winter air clearing my head a little bit.
"You look rough, how much did you drink last night?" Spinner asks as soon as I walk into the cafe. It's Saturday but it's still on the early side so there aren't a ton of kids here yet.
"I only had two beers; the way our stepdad drinks I've never wanted to be drunk. I need coffee and food," I reply. It's not until after I speak, I realize I'm leaving out the drink that Maise brought me. I don't mention it to Spin though.
Spin gives me a concerned look but doesn't pry. He does give me coffee and a muffin. I eat slowly, and when I'm done eating, I go into the back. I clean up a bit more and lie down in the break room until it's time for my shift. For the first half hour of my shift, it's a little busy with teens and college kids coming in, and then there's a lull before the lunch rush.
"Okay, what happened last night? You take something?" Spinner questions.
"No!" I kind of snap. Some kids look over and I lower my voice, "never done drugs. Never wanted to after seeing what they do to Steve." Then I remember the drink that Maise brought me, how I felt after, the kind of salty taste left on my tongue, and I sink a little. "Never willingly but…" I start to say but the front door opens and Maise comes in. She's smiling widely and eyeing me, my mouth shuts real fast and I know Spinner notices.
"I was disappointed you didn't stay in bed, but I remembered you had to work," Maise says, in a cooing voice as she leans on the counter. "I would have been here sooner, but I had to go home and freshen up," she remarks. She leans on the counter pushing her breasts together, and she's already wearing a low-cut sweater. She looks like she's leaning in for a kiss, so I lean away.
"Umm yeah," I reply, scratching the back of my head uncomfortably, "what can I get you?"
"Last night was amazing Fitz, just how I thought my first time would be," Maise grins. At least, she keeps her voice down for the last part, but I know my eyes go wide.
"Your first…I…we didn…I…" I stumble over my words, wracking my brain and trying to remember what happened last night. I know we woke up in bed together, but I really remember nothing after she brought me the drink.
"Fitz is working Maise, either order something and sit down or get out. You two can talk after he's off," Spinner commands.
I give him a grateful smile and Maise orders a coffee. I take her money, and she caresses my hand, winking at me as she does. Spin makes her latte, and she sits down. She continues to eye me, sipping her coffee slowly. I can't seem to move, I'm trying desperately to remember what happened last night.
"Fitz, help me get some supplies from the storeroom while it's quiet," Spin requests after a few minutes. I nod and he tells the kitchen staff to holler if anyone comes in. Spin takes me back to the employee lounge, closing the door. "Okay, what in the hell happened last night? I thought you two broke up and now she's talking about losing her virginity to you?" Spinner questions when we're alone.
"Dude, I don't remember," I sigh heavily, shaking my head and sinking down on the bench.
"How much did you have to drink? You sure you Didn't take anything?" Spin asks, sitting next to me.
"No, I don't do drugs ever. I told you. I sipped a couple of beers in the first couple of hours. Maise kept ambushing me, coming over and hanging off me anytime I was alone. As the night got later, she brought me a drink, in a red plastic cup, some kind of whiskey. She had a cup with the same liquor, and she drank hers. There was only a few gulps and I kind of chugged it, but I began to feel dizzy. I remember telling her I was going to the washroom, making my way upstairs and things started to get all fuzzy and dark. She followed me upstairs and then it all goes dark. I don't remember anything after that. I woke up this morning half-dressed and in a bed with Maise naked next to me."
"Fuck, sounds like you were drugged, maybe even raped," Spinner says.
"You're joking right? That sort of thing happens to girls. It's my worst nightmare for what Steve and Rudy have planned for Clare. Maybe even Eli, although those sick bastards probably want her awake. Maise couldn't have…I mean how…," I stumble over my words again. My heart is pounding at the thought, but Maise had to have slipped something into the cup, I don't think I would have blacked out so hard otherwise. My head begins spinning again as the realization and repercussions of what may have happened last night begin to hit me.
"Getting drugged and raped can happen to anyone, it's just harder for a girl to do it to a guy because not much happens if we're not erect. You need to…" Spin is saying when he's cut off by Alex hollering.
"CUSTOMERS OUT FRONT!"
"Take the day off Fitz, go to the clinic and tell them everything about last night and this morning. If something happened you have to get ahead of it," Spin says.
"No, I need to work, we need the money and…" I start to protest.
"Call Lucas and go, you'll get paid for the day, sick time. I'll call in someone else. I mean it Fitz, don't make me call Clare and get her down here to force you," Spin says sternly. I nod and Spinner goes out front. I pull my phone out of my pocket and call Lucas.
"Yeah?" He yawns, sounding like he just woke up.
"Sorry to bug you Lucas, you think you can take me to the clinic. I…ummm…I think I was drugged," I tell him.
"Where are you? Where's Clare?" Lucas asks, I hear him moving and the tired groans of Bianca next to him.
"She slept at Owen's, I'm at work, Spinner told me to go in," I reply.
"We'll be there in twenty minutes," Lucas says and hangs up.
I go out back, staying in the alley, but where I'll be able to see Lucas and Bianca if they pull up. I run to the car as soon as I see them and get in the back. I tell them everything on the drive to the clinic, I see them exchange a look but neither one says anything. I ask them not to tell Clare yet but know that I'm going to have to tell her later.
We're at the clinic for a couple of hours; it's two of the longest hours of my life. I get a physical, a lot of blood work and a urine test, they even take some swabs, it is the most uncomfortable exam I've been through. They tell me they'll be in touch and test results may take up to a week to get back. Lucas and Bianca drop me at Owen's, I thank them and tell them I'll let them know.
"I thought you were working today?" Clare remarks when I come in. She's giving me a worried look. The two of them are watching movies in the living room.
"I was, Spinner made me go to the clinic. Lucas and Bianca took me, they just dropped me off," I inform them.
"Why?" Clare questions, narrowing her eyes at me.
"Let's go to your room, I don't want your parents or Tris hearing this," I comment.
"Everyone is out, but let's go to my room," Owen nods. We go up to his room, they sit down, but I pace while I tell them everything.
"WHAT?!" Clare screeches when I'm finished. "I'll kill her! What if she gave you something?"
"Don't go near Maise, it'll be okay," I try to assure my sister. I'm worried too, but I don't want Clare to worry, and I definitely don't want her going after Maise at school on Monday. "I need a shower, a long one, and maybe something to eat," I comment.
"Go shower, I'll order a pizza for lunch," Owen says.
He and Clare go downstairs, I pull out my phone. I haven't looked at it since Lucas and Bianca picked me up. I have multiple missed calls and texts from Maise, and I ignore them all. I call Spin and tell him I'm good to work tomorrow, and there's nothing to do now but wait for the test results to come back. I stay in the shower, scrubbing every part of me, keeping the water as hot as I can stand it until it runs out. When I'm dried and dressed, I can already smell the pizza. I eat five slices, I don't think I realized how hungry I was until I smelled the food.
I spend the rest of the day trying really hard not to think about the STIs I might have, and what Maise may have given me. We watch movies in the living room, eat dinner with Owen's family and I take another shower before going to bed. I feel disgusting and even after a second shower don't feel like I'm completely clean.
Owen and Clare drop me at work Sunday morning, originally, I had a later shift, but after not working yesterday I switched with Spin. They order breakfast and hang out for a bit before returning to his house. Since I switched shifts with Spin I'm working with Trevor this morning. He only works part-time and usually during the week, so I haven't worked with him much. He seems like a nice guy, quiet though, we don't talk much. Though when Maise comes in I'm grateful that Trevor and I have nothing to say to each other. She saunters right up to the counter and winks at me. It's a little after eleven and we could get a rush at any minute, but I need to talk to Maise.
"I'm going on a quick break," I tell Trevor. He nods and I walk around the counter. I take Maise's hand and pull her outside and into the back alley. She starts giggling like I'm horny chasing her on a date. I push her against the wall and put up one arm, sort of trapping her there. She's still giggling and batting her eyelashes at me.
"Why Fitzy, I didn't know you could be such an animal," she coos, and starts dragging her finger along my bicep. "Though I should have known after the other night. You were magnificent Fitz."
My body and mind start World War 3 inside me. Her cooing voice, words and touch are eliciting a physical response. Meanwhile, thoughts of her drugging me and memories of the other night make me irate and make my stomach churn. I focus on the anger, I think, getting into her face and narrowing my eyes at her.
"I don't remember the other night, Maise. What did you do to me," I growl at her.
"You silly, you weren't feeling well, and I took you into the master bedroom so you could lie down. Then you practically pounced on me, and it was incredible," she says in that giggling cooing voice. Her hand caressing down my chest.
"I remember going to the washroom but nothing else, I woke up half naked. How is that possible unless I was drugged? Did you drug me?"
"Do you really think I would drug my boyfriend?" Maise questions, looking up at me with big innocent eyes. At the same time she's tugging my waistband and pulling up my shirt.
"Honestly, yes, and I'm not your boyfriend," I snarl and find the strength to step away from her. "Leave Maise! Stay away from me, I don't want to see you again, we're not dating, just stay away from me," I assert and pull her hands away from me. I turn and start walking out of the alley.
"You can't just leave me we had sex," she calls after me with an angry hissing voice.
"Even if we did, I was drugged and I don't remember a thing, it meant nothing," I reply calmly. I speed up just a bit and walk quickly back into the café. Trevor raises his eyebrow but doesn't say anything. I hope Maise stays away, but I somehow doubt she will.
(CLARE)
I was spending a lazy Sunday morning watching Owen play video games. Fitz was at work; Owen's parents were running errands and Tris was out with friends. I probably could have called Alli or Adam to see what they were up to. However, they had been spending a lot of time together lately, and I was certain they'd be together today. I could have asked B to hang out or Johnny but was sure Bianca would be spending time with Lucas, and Johnny was usually busy with college things. Though I was feeling kind of bad that Owen seemed to feel the need to hang out with me. When my phone begins to ring, I look at it and see that Alli is calling.
"Hi Alli," I yawn into the phone.
"I see your Sunday is about as thrilling as mine. Don't worry, that's why I'm calling. I'm meeting Adam at The Dot for lunch and a movie after. I told Sav the two of you should join us," she tells me. When she says the last part, she adds some playful tease to her voice.
"Sounds good, I'll get ready. Should I meet you at The Dot?"
"We can pick you up, where are you?"
"I'm at Owen's, I'll be ready in half an hour," I reply.
"See you in thirty," Alli says and hangs up.
"Hanging out with Alli I take it?" Owen questions.
"Sav and Adam too. They'll pick me up, I'm going to get ready," I tell Owen.
He kind of nods and continues his game. I go upstairs and get ready, dressing comfortably but nicely as it is a double date. I get a text from Alli that they're here, call goodbye to Owen and go outside. Alli is sitting in back, and we pick Adam as well before going to The Dot. Sav parks and just as we're getting out of the car my brother comes storming around the corner from the alley.
"What happened?" I question.
"Maise showed up, I confronted her, but she didn't admit to anything. Called me her boyfriend and I told her to stay away from me," Fitz says with his fists clenched. He then takes a deep breath and gives me a hug. "I need to get back to work, what are you all up to?" Fitz asks. He opens the door to the café, and we follow him inside.
"Lunch and then a movie," I reply.
"Clare can sleep at our place tonight," Alli says.
"I'll sleep at Owen's again," Fitz nods.
We order lunch, the boys pay, and we sit down. Thankfully, Maise does not come back in the café. Fitz is busy working, but I wave as we're leaving. Sav drives us to the movie theater, parking in the covered structure next door. We get out of the car, and I hear cackling of teenage boys, cackling I know. I stiffen up immediately and Sav notices as he's standing next to me.
"You okay?" He questions.
"Steve is here," I respond.
"Are you sure?" Sav asks, looking around.
"I'd know his laugh anywhere," I reply.
There are figures hiding in the shadows of the building, I can make out Steve easily. I also see Eli and Jake, and a couple of Steve's other cronies he regularly hangs with. I take Sav's hand and pull him into the theater. Adam and Alli follow, keeping pace with us and I tell them about Steve and the others being outside. If they saw us, they never say anything. I do however spend a good portion of the movie worried that Jake and especially Eli are spending so much time with Steve and his friends.
After the movie we take Adam home, swing by Owen's to get some of my things, including my backpack and then to the Bhandari house. We're just in time for dinner, after dinner Alli and I go to the family room to watch movies, but Sav doesn't spend any time with us. After the last movie and before getting ready for bed I text Fitz to make sure he's at Owen's. I don't tell him about Steve, Jake and Eli behind the theater, he's got enough on his mind.
"Adam's so sweet and cute, so nice compared to the other guys I've dated," Alli gushes as we get ready for bed in the washroom.
"You two are adorable," I smile.
"I feel like he's hiding something from me though. Do you think he's hiding something?" Alli questions.
"I don't think so, not that I know of," I shake my head. Then I remember Adam hesitating a little when I told him Alli liked him, but that could have been for any number of reasons.
"Will you talk to him for me?"
"Alli, I don't want to get put in the middle of your relationship."
"Please Clare," Alli pleads, clasping her hands together, "you two are good friends. I'm sure he'd tell you. I'd talk to Sav if you wanted me to."
"I'll try, if the opportunity arises, but I haven't known Adam all that long and if he is hiding something he may not tell me either."
"I know," Alli nods, "now onto more important matters. Like you and my brother, are you completely in love?"
"Alli," I giggle, "we've been on a couple of dates. We aren't even official yet."
"You will be, it never takes Sav long. He and Anya were cute, but you two are way cuter," Alli grins.
I shake my head, and we finish getting ready for bed. I fall asleep pretty easily but wake after a nightmare of being pulled into a shadow with Steve, Eli and Jake. I scream for Fitz, but he doesn't respond. I wake up panting and sweating and spend the rest of the night watching the moon from Alli's window.
(FITZ)
Owen parks at the school and I don't see Sav's car, so I'm sure that Clare isn't here yet. Owen and I walk inside to our lockers, I see Drew and Bianca talking near our lockers. Drew is looking at me with concern, so I'm pretty sure they were talking about me.
"Did Maise really drug and rape you at the party?" Drew asks.
"I don't know, I blacked out. I must have been drugged, but she denies it. As for what happened in the bed, I have no idea. I was completely unconscious. I don't remember a thing after going upstairs until I woke up the next morning."
"The clinic should call in a couple of days, then you'll have proof you were drugged and can have her crazy ass arrested," Bianca comments.
I don't say anything, just lean on my locker and close my eyes.
"Wait, you're not pressing charges?" Owen questions raising an eyebrow.
"Even if I had proof of who drugged me it wouldn't do any good. Maise brought me the drink, that doesn't mean she drugged it, though she probably knew regardless. If I press charges that's a legal battle we don't have the money for, and they'll involve my mom and Rudy. Mom is so beaten down she's afraid of her shadow. Rudy though he'd be pissed, especially if he thought I'd been raped by a girl. You know him, you think he'd just let that pass? No, he'd find the worst possible way to make me remember or just beat me unconscious and then what about Clare? I'm waiting to hear from the clinic and hoping I don't have some STI. I'll feel somewhat better knowing what they drugged me with, but that's as far as it goes."
They all look at me but they don't argue, they can't. It sucks, but my logic is sound. Pressing charges against Maise is a whole mess I don't want to deal with. I see Clare just before class, she just waves. Clare eats lunch with us, she's not happy that I'm not pressing charges either, but she understands why.
Maise doesn't talk to me all day, but she does look at me. I feel her watching me in the halls, though Steve and Eli seem to do the same thing to Clare. At least they just seem to watch and not pester her. Adam sits between her and Eli in last period. Rumors are circulating about me and Maise, I try not to pay attention to them.
After school Clare and Adam go to The Dot to do homework. Drew and I pick up our sibs after practice and the Torres brothers drop us at home. Surprisingly, it's a pretty quiet night at home, Rudy seems to be out with friends, Mom falls asleep after dinner and Steve never comes home. I still sleep on Clare's floor because her door is still broken.
Tuesday and Wednesday are much the same; Maise watching me but never talking to me. Rumors about us flying around, getting bigger by the day. Eli and Steve watching Clare in the halls. Adam keeping Eli and Clare apart in communications tech class. We sleep at home both nights, Steve and Rudy are fucking pricks as usual, but we don't get beat, and they don't touch Clare. A lot of yelling, Rudy hits me once and shoves Clare a couple times. Rudy and Steve make rude or sexual comments, but for us that's a quiet night at home.
"Happy birthday Honey," Mom says, greeting me Thursday morning. "Here, it's not much, but I hope you can do something with it," she tells me, handing me a card.
I open the card, it's a silly card with a dog, and she didn't write anything but "Love Mom" inside. I do find money, small bills so clearly she's been squirlng some tip money away. It's $50 which I will happily put toward a car.
"Thanks Mom," I smile, kissing her cheek.
She smiles back, but it's painful to see how dull and listless her eyes are now. I still remember when her eyes were shining, bright and full of life, when her smile reached her ears. Now it almost seems like it's painful for her to smile.
Clare and I walk to school, and everyone wishes me happy birthday. I'm having a party at Owen's tomorrow night after the football game. It's an away game so we'll go to Owen's after returning to the school to shower and clean up. The whole team was invited but the only cheerleaders I'm allowing are Jenna and Anya. Drew and Adam are coming, Alli and Sav, Lucas, Bianca, Johnny, Jay, Paige, Spinner, Jane and Sean are all coming.
Drew and Owen take me and Clare to lunch for my birthday. It's nice to have a quiet lunch away from school with my sister and friends. Owen drives us back to school when we're done and the clinic calls. They tell me I was drugged with Rohypnol and they will send me copies of the results so I can press charges. I gave them Owen's address when I was at the clinic, so the results will go to his house, not that I'll use them for pressing charges. They do tell me I tested negative for STIs but want me to return in three months to follow up, and again in six months because some things don't show up so quickly. I am relieved and think my birthday was a good day to find out this information.
"Well?" Clare inquires when I hang up.
"Drugged with Rohypnol, they'll send copies of the results. Free of STIs but I need to return in three months and six months for follow up."
"Well, that's good news. No STIs I mean, not the Rohypnol part," Drew says.
"Yeah," I nod, "very good news."
Clare and I sleep at Owen's tonight, we'll probably spend tomorrow and all weekend here. We spent enough nights at home that it should be safe to be gone that long. Friday is pretty quiet at school, more of Maise watching me, Eli and Steve watching Clare, but the rumors are starting to die at least. We lose the away game, but not by much, it was close.
Clare goes home with Owen's parents, and they have the house ready for the party when we arrive. Owen's parents are going out and not returning until late. Tristan is sleeping at his best friend's house tonight. The party is fairly low key, there's a little alcohol but not much, Julian brought most of it. We order some pizzas and people mostly talk and dance. I get a few cool gifts from people but am surprised when Jay and Sean pull up in two different cars. Jay and Paige in one and Sean in another, an older one I've never seen.
"Happy birthday Fitz, this car is yours," Sean tells me when he gets out.
"What? Are you serious?" I question. It's blue, well mostly, some of the paint is peeling, it's loud, but it's mine!
"All yours, it runs pretty well. Owen, his parents and Lucas went in together on the car and parts a couple months ago. Jay and I have been getting it running again.
"This is amazing, thank you," I grin. I don't have to buy a car now. I'll need to get insurance, and buy gas, but all the money I was saving for a car I can put towards an apartment. I hug Sean, Jay and Paige, and holler thank you to Lucas and Owen.
"Why don't you and Clare take it for a drive. I think we can keep the party going," Sean says, handing me the keys.
"Sweet, CLARE," I call, and she appears in the doorway, "let's go for a drive in my new car."
"New car?" She questions.
Jay, Sean and Paige go inside while Clare and I go to the car. It's probably fifteen years old, the engine is loud, but it drives well. Most importantly I didn't have to buy it and now I have a car, no more walking, no more running down the street we have a car. Despite everything that's happened this is the best birthday I've had in a long time.
Hope you enjoyed these chapters. I'll do my best to get more out soon, and don't forget to let me know if either of those plots sound interesting to you.