After hitting Wal*Mart or the prefured name Wally World, Alroa and the twins went back to the appartment.
"When did the doc say my bandages come off?" Alora asked, scratching at her leg.
"In a week. No scratching." Joel told her.
"OK, then how exactly am I supposed to take a shower with my leg and my hand wrapped up?" Alora complained.
Benji looked at Joel. "Spongebath." They said in unison.
Alora shook her head. "Noooo." She sat back on the couch and crossed her arms.
"Yeees." Benji said, "Sides, you need a shower. After being in the rain yesterday you got all messed up."
Alora sat on the couch just looking at the twins. She stood and walked to the bath room. "I'll be out in ten minutes."
Ten minutes later Alora was out of the shower feeling clean. She sat on the couch next to Joel. There was a knock on the door. Benji answered it. Standing at the door was Alora's friend Kellie Rooney. Her hazel eyes were red from crying. Her brown hair was tied back and hidden under her hood. She stood about five foot six.
"Kellie?" Alora stood and hugged her friend. "What happened to you?"
Kellie took a deep breath. "Your father came to my appartment looking for you. When he didn't find you he threw me against the wall and tried to break my arm, but you know my dog Casey. She bit him and I ran here. I knew if you weren't at my place you'd be here."
Benji took Kellie in a warm hug. Kellie stood in Benji's embrace until she had to let go. Benji sat her on the couch.
"I am so sorry, Kellie. I never wanted any of this to happen." Alora said, putting a hand on Kellie's.
Benji kissed Kellie's forhead as he held her close. "We have to do something about Frank." Benji said bluntly.
Joel leaned his chin on his hands. "But what?"
Alora sighed and leaned her head on Joel's shoulder. "Report him."
"I'll do it." Joel stood and Alora fell over on the couch. He grabbed the phone. He looked at Benji, somewhat clueless. "Who do I call and what do I say?"
Benji looked up at Joel. "The police department."
Joel's eyes widened. "Uh, actually, you call them Benji."
Benji sighed and took the phone. "It's not my fault you prank called the police department." He dialed the department. Within the hour a unit was at the appartment.
"Can you please describe the entire scene, Miss Rooney?"
Kellie nodded. Benji was still holding Kellie around the waist. "I was in my kitchen. There was a knock on the door, so I answered it. There stood Frank. He burst in the door and demanded to know where Alora was. I told him that I didn't know. He threw me against the wall and started to bend my arm, but my dog came up and just started to knaw on his leg so I ran away."
The officer took each word down. "Thank you for your time." He walked away.
Alora was sitting out on the porch talking to another officer. "Miss, we need to know everything. Or we can't help you."
Alora sighed. Joel put a hand on her hip. "OK, what exactly do you want to know?"
"How exactly your father hurt you."
"He punched me. Locked me in my room for days at a time with out anything. He broke my arm when I was sixteen. He let his friends drunk son rape me and I was fifteen. That sum it up for ya?"
The officer looked at Alora. She wasn't happy digging up her past for a police report. "Thank you." He walked towards his partner. They talked for what seemed like forever to Kellie and Alora.
Alora felt safe with Joel right beside her, yet uncomfortable with his hand on her hip. She looked inside at Kellie and Benji. They looked so cute together. Benji was always loving towards Kellie. Alora knew that there was more to them than friends. Kellie had always loved Benji and maybe that's what Alora saw. A small grin touched her lips. She turned to Joel, he looked worried. "What's wrong?"
"'Raped'? At fifteen? Why didn't you tell me?" He cupped her left cheek, looking deeply into her brown eyes that seemed to mirror his.
"I didn't want to worry you over nothing." Alora looked away from him.
"It isn't nothing Alora. I--" He stopped himself.
She looked at him, a hint of confusion and sadness on her face. "You what?"