I rolled over in bed and pressed my face into my pillow. I could feel Connor pulling my hair. I moved so my head was at the end of the bed. I could feel his hands on my shoulders. I kicked my sheets off of me. I could feel him pulling harder on my hair. I gripped onto the railing of my bed. I could feel him forcing himself into my mouth. I screamed and yelled for him to stop. I didn't want this. Not again. I screamed out again and beat my fists against my mattress. "Stop!" I screamed. Then my light was on. I felt arms wrap around me. I screamed again and tried to get them to stop. Someone's hand stroked my hair gently and was whispering into my ear. "Leave me alone," I sobbed.
"Effy," he said gently. "It's me," I looked up and saw that Dad was holding me. I relaxed against him and he pulled me closer to him. I rested my head against his chest and attempted to still my breathing. Dad rubbed my back to try and reassure me. "You're safe. Nothing can hurt you," Dad soothed.
"I know," I managed to get out.
After a while I lifted my head up from Dad's chest. I pulled away and moved to have my own space. I looked at the floor but felt Dad reach for my hand. I flinched when he touched me. But then I relaxed and let him take my hand. "It was about him. Wasn't it?" Dad sighed.
"Yeah," I nodded.
"Do you think you can get back to sleep?" Dad asked and I shook my head. "Do you want to come downstairs?" he asked and I nodded. "I'll make you breakfast," he told me.
"Okay," I nodded. I stood up and followed Dad out of my room. We walked downstairs and into the kitchen. I saw Mike, Jaime and Tony. I stopped walking and frowned. "You didn't say everyone was here,"
"It's only them. Come and sit down, just tell me what you want and I'll make it,"
"An omelette,"
"Okay, great," Vic smiled.
"How're you, kid?" Mike asked. He sat down next to me and I shuffled over a little.
"Remember how I was in the diner?" I asked.
"Yeah," Mike nodded.
"I feel worse now,"
"Oh," he muttered. I looked over at Tony and saw he was looking at me sadly. He didn't know what to say, so he said nothing. I appreciate that actually. Jaime was grinning.
"I brought you some chocolate," Jaime suddenly said. Out of no where he produced a box of variety chocolates.
"Um . . . Thanks," I smiled. I took the box from him and tore it open.
"Eat this first," Dad told me and set a plate down in front of me. I cut into it and started to eat. I took my time eating, but I felt Dad watching me. The others were polite enough not to stare. As I started to pick at the chocolates I saw Mike tapping away at his phone. Dad was washing my plate up. Tony was glaring at Jaime who was whispering to him.
"Effy, good luck today," Jaime said.
"What?" I frowned.
"Just . . . You'll do fine," he replied.
"With what? What's going on?"
"Christ," Mike said and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"She doesn't know," Dad sighed.
"Know what?"
"This feels like a family thing. Come on, Jaime," Tony urged.
"Sorry," Jaime said guiltily. Tony took his arm and dragged him into the living room.
"What's happening today?" I rushed.
"Someone is coming round to speak to you," Dad explained.
"Like who?"
"Someone from the police. They want a statement and for you to tell them what happened. They can pass it onto the police department in Birmingham and hopefully we can get a trial,"
"Oh," I breathed. "Brilliant,"
"I was going to tell you when you woke up. But then you had the dream,"
"It's okay," I muttered.
"Effy," Mike said. I turned to look at him. "Eat some chocolate. It'll make you feel better,"
"Okay," I nodded.
When the police arrived I was sat in the sitting room. My legs were tucked up to my chest and Mike was next to me. Dad was talking to them in the hall. I but my lip and my breathing got faster. "It'll be okay, I swear," Mike told me.
"Really?" I frowned.
"They're getting a statement. That's it. Just tell them what you told me. And if you don't like what they say they can get the fuck out,"
"Thanks Mike," I sighed. Dad walked in with a woman and a man following him. Dad sat on my other side and the man and woman sat on the sofa. I looked down and bit my lip. I grabbed Dad's hand and he squeezed mine to reassure me.
"Elizabeth," the woman smiled.
"It's Effy. I like Effy," I told her.
"Okay, I'll call you Effy. I'm Michelle. I'll be asking you what happened when you were in Birmingham and as you tell me my colleague will write everything down. All I need to know is what happened and after I might ask you a few things. But that's it. After we can start moving things along," she explained.
"Okay," I nodded.
"Why were you in Birmingham that night?" she started.
"I was touring with my dad's band, Pierce The Veil. We had a free night,"
"And what happened that night? If you start from the beginning,"
"My friend and me got ready to go out. We left the bus and went to this club in the city called The Church. I met up with some old friends of mine. We went inside and I got us some drinks. Everything was fine. We took turns getting rounds and shared when we were outside. Everyone just had a buzz and it was great.
"Then we went into the bathroom. All of my friends were in there. There were pills lined up on the counter and we all took one. But I didn't even think it worked. I didn't feel anything. The others left to go and dance. It was only me and Connor in the bathroom. He kissed me and told me he missed me. I kissed him back. We went into a cubicle. I guess I did want to sleep with him," I explained. I looked at Dad and saw him looking down. He wasn't saying anything. "But then I thought about how I don't just sleep with people anymore. Not that I did before. But I didn't want to disappoint my dad and my uncle. So I told him I didn't want to. But he already had his jeans and boxers down," as I spoke I was devoid of emotion. "I told him I didn't want to and to stop. But he grabbed my shoulders. He told me to beg. I was really scared and drunk and high so I did. Then he pulled my hair. He told me sorry before he forced me to open my mouth. But he still made me blow him without my permission. He was tugging my hair and I just wanted it to be over. I didn't want to do it," I was crying now. I couldn't help it. "He started moving and fucked my mouth. I just wanted to die. I thought I was going to die,"
"And when did he stop?" Michelle asked.
"A bouncer pulled door open. He pulled Connor out and me too. He looked so disgusted with me. He didn't even notice I was crying. He told us there were no drugs in the club. He kicked us out then. I saw my other friends outside and I got angry with the bouncer. Might have said a few bad things to him," I shrugged. "Then I said bye to my friends and two of them took me to the bus. That's it," I finished.
"Okay, you've done really well," she told me. "Were you drunk when the event happened?"
"Yeah," I nodded.
"Had you taken any drugs?"
"Yeah," I sighed.
"What were they?"
"I smoked some joints. Then in the bathroom I took an E,"
"Ecstasy?"
"Yes," I snapped.
"What does this have to do with that bastard?" Mike asked angrily.
"I just need to verify things," she explained.
"I didn't buy it. My friend did," I said.
"Okay, I think that's everything," Michelle smiled.
"It's all my fault," I rushed. "I've slept with him before, he must have thought I was teasing him,"
"Effy, you told him no and were crying," Michelle said. "I think he knew. It isn't your fault," she reassured me. "Do you want him to have a sentence?"
"Yes, I do," I nodded.
"Do you know what he did to you?"
"He make me give him head,"
"He raped you," she said calmly.
"He never. He didn't have proper sex with me,"
"It's still rape. That's what it's classed as," she told me. That was it. I was raped. The bastard fucking raped me. She reached over and handed me two cards. "One has my number on it. The other is a number for some talking therapy. I think it could help you," she said.
"Sure," I nodded.
"I'll show you out," Mike said.
"We'll be in touch and we'll be speaking to police in Birmingham this afternoon," she added before she left with the man. I looked at Dad and he smiled sadly.
"At least the worst for a few weeks is over," Dad said.
"Yeah," I breathed.
"I'm sorry," I rushed. He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me close.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. I promise," he told me seriously.

Notes

Hey! What did you think? Effy spoke to the police. What do you think about her dreams? Will Connor get a trial? What do you think will happen? :)