Let Me Help

Chapter Three

The night before Alex had decided that it was too soon to get her talking right away. They had to have fun. He spent the night looking through his CD collection, and looking for recipes on the Internet.

He had pulled out some Latin and pop CD�s. He got cookie and brownie recipes off the Internet. He had his favorite recipe � pizza � memorized.

The next morning he got up at ten. An hour later Katia came downstairs. He had left her door unlocked the night before, and by the look on her face he could tell that she was surprised.

�You didn�t lock me in!� Katia said right away.

�No, I didn�t. I trust that you won�t leave.� Alex told her.

�Thank you.� Katia said as she sat down.�

�I�ve been thinking, I�ve been pushing you for information. You don�t really know me, so if you do tell me anything it would have been because I forced you. Why don�t we just have some fun, and then when you�re ready, you can talk to me.�

Alex couldn�t tell, but by the look in her eyes, he didn�t think she was too happy with the plan. Her eyes, which had been light and bright, just a moment before, had suddenly become heavy and dark as she stared at him, accusing him of her fears. �What kind of fun?�

Alex was taken aback by her response. He had thought that she would be happy not to have him badgering her. �Uh, I was thinking that this morning we could make cookies and brownies, eat lunch then walk to the video store, rent a video and come back, then make a pizza for dinner and watch the movie.�

Katia stared at him for a moment. She hadn�t expected his answer either. Slowly she stammered, �Uh, o-okay.�

~*~*~*~*~

They had decided to make chocolate chip and M&M cookies. They put in some fast moving Latin music.

Alex looked at the recipes. �It says to mix the butter, sugar and eggs together. Then add the flour and milk and stir them together. Then, when the dough is a little yellow mix in the chocolate chips. Then put them in little balls on a pan. Got it?�

�Yeah.�

�Okay, the recipes here in case you need it. Let�s get started and see whose batch is better!�

~*~*~*~*~

They prepared their batches of cookies and then talked for a half-hour while they were baking.

He was surprised that she talked to him a little about what happened to her. Her grandfather had abused her mother, and after she committed suicide, he had started to abuse her.

Alex offered his sympathy; told her he�d help her get beyond that point in her life. Then he was determined not to let her grandfather do that again. �Where is he?�

�He died two years ago.� She told him. He knew that would be the last thing she would say today, so he let the topic go.

After the timer rang, announcing that their cookies were done, they got up, brought them out and examined them. Katia�s batch turned out much better.

They let the cookies cool, grabbed their coats and ran out to the car.

They came back with two movies; unable to decide in the store which one they wanted.

~*~*~*~*~

They quickly prepared the pizzas and popped one in the oven. Alex put the first movie in while Katia set the timer. They stopped the movie to get the pizzas out. Eating pizza, Katia watched the movie. Alex, on the other hand, watched Katia.

She seemed more relaxed. Having fun instead of talking seemed to be the right choice to get her to talk instead of trying to force her.

She was actually eating, and had almost finished her third piece. No doubt about it, she was eating like anyone would when they spent a day with friends. She may also have been eating so much because she was hungry � she barely ate a thing before.

Near the end of the movie, they were almost finished with the second pizza. The phone rang so Alex ran to the kitchen to get it.

�Hello?�

�Hey, it�s Bob.�

�Hi. What�s up?�

Bob paused and then continued talking. �I was on the phone with Katia�s school counselor. He thought he was beginning to get through to her. I�m bringing him over to have another session tomorrow.�

�Why won�t you let me talk to her?�

�You haven�t found anything out yet.�

�I have too!� Alex yelled, then realized Katia was in the next room so he made himself speak more quietly. He repeated, �I have too!�

�What?� Bob sighed.

�Her grandfather abused her but he died two-years-ago.� Alex told him.

�If he died two-years-ago her grandfather isn�t our problem!� Bob pointed out.

�I know that! But I�m getting closer! These things take time! Just give me some time, that�s all!� Alex exclaimed.

Bob sighed. �We have a teen that�s been with someone for two years, I want to get that boy with you so we can reach a break-through! That means, we have to get Katia out of there! If her school counselor knows some things, maybe if he comes and talks to her, he�ll make her more comfortable and she�ll start talking to you!�

Alex sighed. The program he worked for was good, but sometimes they focused more on the number of teenagers they helped, then on the teenagers themselves.

�Fine! Bring him over if you want! But I�m not going to rush Katia. She deserves the amount of time it takes! I�m not going to rush her because you put some boy with someone who doesn�t know how to befriend these kids so that they�ll talk, so that they can become friends!� Alex told Bob and then hung up.

He walked out into the living room. �Who called?� Katia asked him.

�Bob did. Your school counselor will be coming tomorrow to talk to you.� Alex told her.

His heart sunk when she put the piece of pizza she was eating back on the plate.

~*~*~*~*~

The doorbell rang the next day. Katia had been sitting stiffly on the couch all night. Neither of them had gotten any sleep. The tension in the air was so thick; it would have taken an axe to break through it.

�Hi.� Alex said as he opened the door. Bob stepped into the house, followed by Katia�s school counselor.

The man smiled when he saw Katia sitting on the couch. She didn�t smile back. �Alex this is Barry. Barry this is Alex.�

�Hi, Barry.� Alex greeted the man. Barry mumbled a greeting too, but his eyes were glued to Katia.

�Hello, Katia. How are you?� he whispered.

�I�m fine.� She replied shortly.

�You look pale! And look at those bags under your eyes! Is this man treating you all right?� he asked her.

�Better than anyone else has.� Katia finally looked into Barry�s eyes. She was able to see her words make him flinch.

~*~*~*~*~
They were alone up in Katia�s room. She was standing stiffly by the closed door. He was sitting on her bed. He smiled.

�Why don�t we have our usual session.� He suggested.

�I knew that�s what you�d want to do!� she snapped.

Barry shook his head. �Temper, temper Katia! Remember, in order to make our sessions pleasurable, you must listen to what I say!�

Katia rolled her eyes and glared at him. �Pleasurable for you? Cause they�re definitely not pleasurable to me.�

Barry looked at her a smile on his face, but his words were forceful. �Katia, you must never look at me like that, and you must never speak to me like that again! And you must never roll your eyes at anything I say!�

Katia sighed and looked to the side. �We will have our usual session.� He told her.

�I can�t.� she whispered.

�What?� he asked, unable to hear her.

�I can�t.� she said louder.

�Why not?� he asked her.

�I stopped taking the pills.�

�So?�

She looked at him confused.

�Get on the bed now Katia!�

�No!� she shouted.

�Don�t talk so loudly!� he commanded, and then standing up, pointed to the bed. �Get on the bed now!�

She shook her head and he grabbed her by the arms, forcing her to lie down on her back.

~*~*~*~*~

Bob and Alex were sitting uncomfortably in the living room.

�No!� they heard the cry come from above. Alex was standing up, but Bob held onto his arm and pulled him back down.

�Give him some time! She may be resisting to talk to him.�

Alex pulled his arm free from Bob�s grasp. Something was wrong, he could feel it. But soon, there�d be a bigger sign that she wasn�t being treated well. Then Bob would let him go up.

Alex thoughts were right. They heard a scream. Alex bolted off the couch and ran to the stairs, Bob close behind him. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, a slap sounded throughout room above.

Alex ran up the stairs and burst into Katia�s room. He took in the scene before him, growing very angry.

Katia was lying on the bed, her face to one side, the cheek that was up in the air growing red. Barry was straddling her, one arm holding her down, the other raised in the air.

Bob ran in behind him, and quickly pulled out a pair of handcuffs. Dragging Barry away from Katia, he forced his arms behind her back.

�You are under arrest, for physical and possible sexual abuse. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can�t hire one, one will be provided for you.� Bob said and pulled him out. Before he left he look back at Alex who was standing beside the bed, hugging Katia, who had gotten up after Barry had been pulled away.

�I�m sorry! I am so sorry! I�ll let myself�and this jerk�out.� Bob said and then he roughly pulled Barry away.

Alex could feel his shirt becoming wet with the tears that were falling from Katia�s eyes.

�I�m sorry. I�m sorry. I never should have let him in. I�m sorry. Please, Katia, you have to forgive me.� Alex whispered.

For an hour, they stood there, Katia in his arms as he stroked her hair, whispering his apologies to her. Slowly, her tears dried and soon she fell into an exhausted sleep.

He laid her down on the bed and covered her up with a blanket that was folded neatly at the end of the bed.

He looked at her and saw the cheek that Barry had slapped, growing a little blue. He had slapped her extremely hard.

�I�m so sorry.� He whispered one last time. �Please forgive me Katia. Please!