Julie
Despite her parents nagging for her to find out the sex of her child, Julie didn't back down. They just wanted to go out and get all the things she would need and colour code them blue or pink. And she knew her mother was just dying to go out there and buy baby clothes by the ton. Which she would end up making Julie pay for.
Nope it was definitely better if she didn't find out until the baby was born.
Her biggest problem was that, although she was turning 18 this year and could move out, she had no where to go when she did. And she certainly didn't, and wouldn't have the money for it either.
In addition, Mr and Mrs Williams had made it clear to all their kids that upon turning 18 and/or graduation, they would be expected to pay board if they stayed at home.
Julie sighed. And Isabel was missing. Max wouldn't tell her where she had gone and Julie missed her so. She really liked talking to Isabel - Max was nice, but it wasn't the same. Besides, he was usually hanging around his girlfriend Liz.
Right now Julie was in the library, studying. Or attempting to study. The problem was that although she had made friends at school, there wasn't really anyone she could hang out with after school. And, of course, everyone knew she was pregnant. She wasn't obviously showing at the moment, worse case scenario they would have just though she was pudgy, but people had seen her going to her check up. And there had been an incident where she had been offered alcohol. Upon refusal she was pressured and the truth came out. So of course, nasty rumours were spread and the people she hung out with were really only there because they felt sorry for her, or simply had an overactive maternal instinct.
Guys were not interested in her, and she didn't care. Guys were what got her into this mess. She was more than happy to not date for a good couple of years.
Max
"What's up, Julie-bunny?" Max asked, as he sat down across from her at the table.
Julie
Julie looked up and smiled.
"Oh, not much. Just trying to feed my brain this maths homework," she rolled her eyes. "Stupid maths."
Max
"If you ever need any help, remember I've already graduated high school." Max smiled. "I just wanted to tell you that Isabel's back home. Um, well, she's been through an ordeal, but I think she might like a visit from you. She's not really talking much, but still, she might like to see you."
Julie
"Oh really what happened? If you don't mind my asking," she added as an aftherthought. "I'd love to visit, but uhh, I'd better do this first. If Dad sees me at your place he'll demand I come home."
She rolled her eyes in disgust.
Max
Max looked uncomfortable. "I don't know if it's really my place to tell you. If Izzy wants to talk about it, she'll talk about it. Here, let me help you." He pulled up a chair next to her. "What are you having trouble wiht?"
Julie
Julie nodded.
"Fair enough," she sighed. "I hate trig. Whoever decided it had to be put on the curriculum should be drawn and quartered. Right angles I can do, it's just when we start getting into this that I go nuts."
She pointed to the page and turned the book so Max could see.
Max
Max patiently explained how sin & cosine work, as well as tangent & cotanget. About 45 minutes later, Julie's homework was all done.
"So, do you want to come over for a while? MOm and dad are out of time, so it's just Izzy and me, and I think she could really use another girl around."
Julie
Julie put her books away with acontented sigh.
"Sure, I'd love to come over. Let's just make sure that Mom and Dad don't see me, or I'll have to go straight home."
Max and Isabel
Max led Julie into Isabel's room, where she was just sitting on her bed, cross-legged, staring at the wall.
"Why don't I leave you two ladies alone for a while," MAx said, flashing his brightest smile. Isabel didn't seem to react to Julie being there, but she was very aware. Owen didn't like it when they talked, so she would wait until she was spoken to.
Julie
Julie looked at Isabel curiously. Whatever had happened to her must have been pretty bad.
"Izzy?" she asked. "It'm me, Julie. Are you okay?"
"Well, there's a stupid question," she thought to herself.
Isabel
"Julie?" Izzy said, turning to look at her. "I missed you. How are you?" Izzy was talking, but not smiling. But she knew that if she wanted to get better, she had to at least try.
Julie
"Hey," Julie smiled. "I'm great. Well, other than the usual complaints about parents, but y'know. Max gave me a hand with my trig homework tonight. I really needed it."
Isabel
"How's the baby? Can you. . just talk for a while? I think I'd like to just hear your voice for a while." Izzy smiled a wan little smile.
Julie
"Sure, I can do that. Baby's fine. My next appointment is on the 24th. Mom and Dad can't stand Dr Patterson, but I really like her and I actually managed to con them into letting me continue to see her. I had to use every argument I could think of but I did it," Julie giggled. "I'm always please when I can get one by them. They've been such dictators since I told them I was pregnant."
Isabel
Isabel tried to smile. "Hopefully when they see how beautiful your baby is, they'll get over it. Julie, do you want to go for a walk? I think I could use some fresh air."
Julie
"Sure, sure," Julie said.
She held out her hand to Isabel.
Isabel
Isabel took Julie's hand and they headed out to walk for a while, they walked a while, just in silence. When they got to the rock cliff, off in the desert area that Isabel, Michael & Max always talked in, they sat down. Suddenly, Isabel just began to cry.
"I--I I can still feel his hands on me." Izzy wept.
Julie
Julie stared at Isabel.
"Oh gosh, Izzy, were you... were you raped?"
Isabel
Izzy looked up at Julie, the tears rolling gently down her cheeks. Silently, she nodded her head, and then buried her face in Julie's shoulder. "I--I was so scared, and nobody came."
Julie
Julie wrapped her arms around Isabel.
"Oh, Izzy," she said. "I'm here for you, okay? You can tell me about it, if you want to talk about it. If you don't, that's okay too."
Isabel
Isabel cuddled close to Julie, and let it all spill out. "His name was Owen. I'd only met him once before. He kidnapped my friend Jessi and I. Took us away. Tied us up. He beat us and he hurt us and he raped us. He tortured Jessi, nearly killed her. Tried to evicerate her. He mostly did it all to Jess, but he made me watch. Oh God, Julie, I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can feel him all over me. I don't know what to do!"
Julie
Julie hugged Isabel closer and let her cry into her shoulder.
"That's horrible," she gasped. "Just horrible. But you mustn't give up okay? You can't give this Owen the satisfaction - even of he never knows either way - of letting it screw you over for life okay? Have your grieving period as it were, and them move on. It drives them nuts when they do their best to break you and find out that you're still in one piece. Because success is the best revenge, Izzy. The best revenge."
Isabel
Izzy pulled her close. "Have you ever been hurt like this? You seem to know exactly what to say at a time like this. You're righyt. I'm not gonna let him ruin me for the rest of my life. I'm gonna get over this, and move on."
Julie
"Good," Julie answered. "No, I haven't been hurt like that, but my cousin was. We were really close, but her rape destroyed her. I miss her so much."
Isabel
"Thank you Julie, you've been such a great help to me." Izzy smiled, and the two got up and walked back into town.