Carnage: Book #1 The Story Of Us (Volume 1)(36)

“Georgia, there’s been some trouble… ”

“NO!” My Dad roared at Marcus as he started to speak, “I will do this, you keep the f*ck quiet.”

My Dad was a big man, six feet three or four I couldn’t remember which, I just knew that whenever I bought him a shirt as a gift he needed an eighteen collar to fit his chest, he was a big man but until that moment, I’d never, ever in my life been scared of him, he took my free hand in his. “Look George, there’s no easy way to say this, there’s been some trouble on the tour, the boys got into Paris yesterday, checked into their hotel and ended up having a bit of a party around the pool, things got a bit wild and it ended up back at Marley’s and Sean’s room, some allegations have been made and Sean and Marley have been arrested”

“What?”

“Things just got a bit out of hand, I’m gonna fly over there this afternoon with Marcus and some legal geezers from the record label and try and sort this mess out.”

“Arrested for what, what did they do, was it drugs?” My Dad looked down at our joined hands and I followed his stare, my Mum reached over and put her hand on top of Dad’s so the three of us were touching, I looked back up at my Dad and he shook his head.

“Rape, Georgia, they’ve both been charged with rape and a few other lesser things.”

Rape?

“What, rape? Na, na, no way, this is Marley and Sean Dad, they wouldn’t rape any one. Why would they? Why would Sean?”

“I don’t know all the details, they’re not telling us much over the phone, that’s why I need to get there with the briefs and sort things out.”

Rape. I was numb, what on earth could have happened that would’ve led to a rape charge? “I’m coming with you.”

“NO!” My parents both said at the same time.

“No George, I need you to stay here and look after your Mum, we’ll have this sorted in no time, once we do, then we’ll get you over to see them, besides, they’re holding them in cells at a Police station right now. Let me go and get it all sorted, then perhaps you can fly over next week, once your English exam is out of the way.”

He rubbed his thumb over my cheek, then lent forward and kissed my nose, before standing and heading off to the shower. I sat at the dining table, staring blankly at my Mum’s hand holding mine, I felt sick, I felt scared, I felt a little bit angry and for the first time ever in my life, I doubted my Dad’s ability to be able to make everything right. The front door bell rang and I jumped, my Mum stood from the table, squeezing my shoulder on her way to answering the door.

I could hear my Mum talking quietly to someone, then Jimmie appeared in front of me. “George,” is all she said as I stood from the table and we hugged.

“What a f*cking mess George, I didn’t know until early this morning and I didn’t want to call, in case you hadn’t heard, she’s a f*cking bitch, I don’t believe a word of it.”

My stomach hit the floor and my heart stuttered in my chest. “Who Jim?” She looked from me to my Mum and frowned.

“Who Jim?” I repeated.

“Haley the whore.”

“It’s Haley the whore who’s saying she was raped. How? Why would she say that, was… was she in their room Jim?” My best friend steps toward me and in my head I’m begging her not to lie to me but in my heart, I’m begging her to protect me from the truth.

“Let’s go up to your room George.” I let out a deep breath and follow her up to my bedroom, I’m freezing so I climb under the quilt and Jimmie joins me.