The Lies We Share ✔

Chapter 24

On Monday morning Laura rushed to get ready she had overslept by a half an hour and the school bus would leave with or without her on it. She tied up her hair, put herself into an oversized black sweatshirt, and blue jeans. She pulled on her shoes and looked in the mirror, today she would wear her signature makeup-free face.

Laura then zoomed down her steps to get out the door, she grabbed her backpack and grabbed for her coat out of the closet. She was out the door in a whirl, chilled to the bone in the cold February air, it was brutal. She walked quickly toward the bus its open door like a beacon. A successful trip she thought as she clambered unto the bus, she managed to avoid slipping on ice. 

The bus was empty, most likely from the cold and flu season that plagued the school population during this time of year. Laura felt the need to speak to Marie about Ryan when she had tried to text her, that they needed to discuss Ryan, she had not responded, she tried to call her and left her a voicemail which she didn't respond to either. This shocked Laura that girl was always on her phone. 

That morning, Todd wasn't in school and that afternoon she found out that Ryan wasn't there either or chose to sit elsewhere at lunch. Instead, it was just Marie sitting by herself, which Laura was grateful for. Laura slid into her usual seat across from Marie, ready to unravel her thoughts, but before she could speak Marie caught her off guard by saying.

"Ryan, isn't a good guy, and I don't think you two should hang out together, in fact, I don't know but we really shouldn't hang out together anymore, I don't know," her pale blue eyes grazed over the tiled cafeteria floor, her lips pursed in a way that told Laura something was almost certainly wrong that day, she looked up at Laura's eyes for a fleeting glance to read her expression, Laura only frowned, perhaps she found out from Todd? Though they weren't close.

"Please tell me what is going on," Laura said, she didn't even have to warn her about Ryan, but her expression worried Laura.

"Look, I had nothing to do with this, I didn't lead him on, I was only ever friendly with him, but a while back, before I found out you guys were dating, Ryan tried to kiss me and touch my butt, but I resisted, but he still did it. And I know you like him, so I am sorry, but I am uncomfortable sitting here with him. And I am sorry to tell you that he's not a good guy, that, that's the way he acts," Marie's expression was pained yet confident as she confessed the truth. Laura wasn't surprised, but she was well aware of the way that Ryan acted.

"I have to tell you, I'm sorry for what he did to you, I know now what kind of a person Ryan is, he punched my friend Todd in the face, he also tried to touch me in a way I wasn't comfortable with too, then became mad at me." Laura felt ashamed especially admitting this to her friend, it was sad how they both experienced the same thing and yet never told each other despite all the signs that something could be wrong with that boy.

While Laura thought Ryan was at a music lesson, he was just stalking Todd and her, Ryan was trying to catch Todd and Laura together. Ryan found sick pleasure in controlling and hurting them. He would no longer have that power if silence was eradicated. If justice for them could somehow come about.

"Can you come over to my house with me after school? I don't think we should talk about this right now," Laura looked at Marie's face, her cheeks were stained with tears, a pick blush formed beneath her fingertips as she held her face in her hands.

"Do you need to go home?" Laura asked, her eyes grew wider, and she shook her head. Laura swallowed the lump in her throat, and took Marie's hand and squeezed it, the gesture is met with a small smile, Laura pulled her lips up too.

At the end of the day, Marie and Laura reunite to go to Laura's house. They waited outside in the cold, both Laura and Marie wear their heavy black coats. However, Laura instantly regretted not bringing mittens and a hat. They entered the bus; it was as empty as it was that morning. Both girls were quiet as they enjoyed the relatively peaceful bus ride. If a bit solemn when they realized the reasons for the occasion were sick teenagers and a sick ex-boyfriend and friend.

Laura invited Todd over as well, the three of them need to discuss what they would do, Todd finally got back to her when Marie and Laura arrived at Laura's house. When they called him, he picked up on the first ring, he said he was doing well, and he would be headed over to her house with some legal papers. Laura pressed her lips together; this would be the time for red tape and paperwork. Laura led Marie into her house and saw her mom on the couch in the living room watching some cooking show, Laura passed by and greeted her, she looked over in surprise at Laura's guest. Guess she forgot to tell her mom she had company.

"Oh, hi!" she greeted Marie, clearly caught off guard, "and you are?"

"Marie," Laura's mom nodded, and Laura added.

"Yep, and Todd is coming over later," her mom let out a puzzled, huh, before letting them go on their way. Laura wondered if she knew they would be talking about Ryan. It probably had occurred to her, being a former lawyer and a mom, she would want to help them in any way she could. She would know a lot more about this kind of paperwork than they did. Although based on the fact Todd's parents are so affluent there was a good chance, they have hired the finest lawyers in the country. But Laura knew her mom would be interested in the case specifically no matter who it may affect or whoever decided to represent Todd.

Marie and Laura sat at the kitchen table, pretty much silent except for a few awkward glances at the cooking show, Laura offered her some water, which she accepted gladly. Laura's mouth felt dry with anticipation of the complexities of the legal counsel her mom was guaranteed to dole out.

A good ten minutes rolled around before Laura heard a knock at the door, it was Todd. Todd's face was in a horrendous state, the wounds were healing gradually, but still. She raised her eyebrows and sighed letting Todd in, he waved to Marie who grimaced when she saw him.

"How are you feeling?" Laura asked quietly if her mom saw him in this state, she was sure to freak out. She didn't want him to feel called out.

"Well, thanks to the pain medicine not too much, but in a few days it'll probably start hurting," he handed Laura the binder he was carrying. She opened it on the kitchen island and saw that it was full of papers she assumed he was given the dossier by his attorney. She read the first document in block letters "Witness" this was her ticket to ride. Laura pulled out the paper and started reading, they each took a seat. Todd explained that these documents were purely for their use and were confidential, that anything to build a case against Ryan would be helpful.

"Since you both were friends of Ryan, you can tell what you know about him in here, my attorneys say that it is best to get a witness so I am asking if you guys would be able to testify?" Todd asked.

Marie turned paler and she squirmed a bit. But smiled tightly and nodded, she added, "Okay, I'll do it. I have something, I am not sure what constitutes as assault, but if I can be of assistance if needed," Marie finished, Todd gave her a grateful smile.

"Well, whatever you can tell will help," he said.

Marie began to tell what Ryan did to her exactly as she told Laura. Todd looked sad and unsure, but he agreed it was definitely sexual assault. Perhaps using both of their testimonies the case would be proved. But even with witnesses, there weren't many signs of physical pieces of evidence.

Soon Laura's mom joined in at the kitchen table after her eye was drawn to a legal document, all four of them one big group, hurt, and feeling sorry for themselves. It was until the end of the night until they truly knew how sorry they would be.