Happy Everly After

Chapter 44

"Can I help you?" A girl around my age answered.

She was tall and with tanned skin. Her piercing hazel eyes seemed to look right through me as she stood there with an air of confidence. I couldn't help but notice the intricate tattoos scattered over her visible skin and counted at least four piercings on her face alone. Her short cherry red hair framed her features perfectly, completing her unique and edgy appearance.

I quickly realised how naive I had been for assuming she would look like me, as if Riley had a specific type. But now I understood - his type was vulnerability.

"Sorry to bother you, I'm looking for Vivienne Blackwood", I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I am she; she is me," she replied, giving me a curious look.

"Okay, so you don't know me, but we've been through the same thing. Well, I don't know if it's exactly the same. The person is the same, the boy...well, man I guess..." I struggled to find the right words, feeling like everything I had practiced had turned into word vomit. She looked even more confused now, rightfully so since I was rambling and making little sense.

"Right. I have no idea what you're talking about. I think you've got the wrong person. I have to go", she said, looking desperate to get away from me.

"No wait, please listen to me. I'm not explaining myself clearly. I'm here about Riley O'Connor".

It was like looking in a mirror - the familiar look of fear etched on her face.

"You need to leave right now", she chocked out, trying to shut the door in my face.

But without thinking, I put my foot in the doorway to stop her. "Move", she warned me, more as a precaution.

"Just hear me out, please. Then, if you want me to leave, I will. He assaulted me too, Vivienne. I just want to talk, please", I begged.

She stood there for a few seconds, clearly torn between shutting the door and hearing me out. To my surprise, she stepped back and opened the door.

"You better come in then", she said flatly.

I looked over at Owen and Charlotte in the car, who both looked concerned but gave me a nod of encouragement. I followed Vivienne inside and closed the door behind me.

As she led me to the kitchen, I couldn't help but take in my surroundings - her house had an edgy 80s punk vibe that suited her perfectly.

"Would you like a cup of tea before we get into this?" she asked politely.

"Yes please", I replied gratefully.

"I haven't heard that name in a long time...sorry for almost crushing your foot there, you caught me off guard", she apologised as she placed a mug of steaming tea in front of me.

"I didn't mean to ambush you. What I wanted to say wasn't coming out right. It's my fault...I should've contacted you before just turning up like this".

"If you'd contacted me first, I wouldn't have opened the door", she admitted honestly. "So, you're here for a reason, aren't you? That scumbag...what did he do to you?"

With Vivienne's empathetic gaze on me throughout my retelling of what happened with Riley, I also caught glimpses of anger flashing in her eyes. Her grip on the handle of her mug tightened as I spoke.

"I thought it was over with me. He even told me he'd get help...but then he helped himself to someone else. I should've never listened to him", she said, her voice betraying a mix of regret and anger.

"Did he threaten you?" I asked.

"More like manipulated me...I'll be honest with you Everly, I was spiralling. I was partying too hard - drink, drugs, I was into it all. He made me believe no one would believe me. Then he promised it would never happen again. I believed him...how stupid am I", she shook her head in frustration and self-blame.

"You're not stupid...that's what he does, he gets in your head. Once he realised, he couldn't manipulate me, he got real nasty. I thought the same - that no one would believe me - but I was wrong", I reassured her.

"I'm glad you managed to get away before...", Vivienne's voice trailed off, unable to finish her sentence.

"I'm sorry if this is too much for you...I can go if you want?" I offered.

"It's fine", she said quietly, but her demeanour told a different story.

"It's not Vivienne" I said adamantly. The number of times I've said the same thing when I was far from fine".

"Can I ask you something? You can tell me to mind my own business... why did you drop the charges?"

She hung her head. "Like I said, I was a mess. The night it happened I was drunk and high. I blamed myself for being in that state. For not being able to fight him off. She let out a shaky breath, reliving the painful memories. "Riley was a perfect student and there was me barely bothering to turn up. Who would believe me?"

"I would", I said sorrowfully.

Even in the melancholy she smiled thinly at my words.

"I'm going to be honest with you Vivienne, Riley has been charged with my assault and I want justice for us both. It would mean the world to me if you testified against him. I know it's a lot to ask".

"Now I'm going to be honest with you Everly," she began, her voice gaining strength, I don't think I can. I want to, but it's been so long now".

She looked down unsurely, fidgeting with her hands.

"I understand", I reassured her, placing a comforting hand on hers. "Please don't worry about it. I'm so sorry for dragging this all up again for you. I'll see myself out".

I turned towards the door feeling dejected but also understanding of her hesitation. It wasn't fair to come here and spring this on her after all these years. At least I had tried.

Before leaving, I gave her a small smile filled with gratitude and left the room in sombre silence.