Making Time for Tea

[Sloane Taylor]

“Alright, alright, I’m coming.” Tyler insisted, not that it stopped Sloane dragging him with her anyway, much to the annoyance of several girls they passed, girls who Tyler wouldn’t mind spending some ‘quality’ time with later. He flashed them a grin as he passed though, and he was certain he saw at least one of them swoon. As soon as they were out of the auditorium, he managed to break free from Sloane’s grasp, walking at a more normal pace beside her instead, to the infirmary. “So, where did you manage to hide out during the shooting?”

Bree had been given a sedative. Now that she had stopped sobbing, they had released her after sending her father instructions that she should see her doctor and possibly a therapist. She knew that would never happen, he would never put her where she might find an adult to confide in. She left the infirmary and walking with downcast eyes, headed to find her locker.

Sloane winked at the girls they passed by, blowing them kisses before letting Tyler go just in time as he broke free. She started to walk towards the infirmary where Bree was supposed to be. Tyler's question brought back Nolan's bloodied back. "Gym. You?" She asked as she looked ahead. When she saw the unmistakeable silhouette of the petite redhead that was her best friend, Sloane called out Bree's name before rushing to her, scooping the girl into her arms and twirling her around. "I'm so glad you're okay." Sloane said with relief.

Tyler was about to own up to being in the library, hoping she wouldn’t ask him why he was there in the first place, if he didn’t ask her the same. But, he was spared that, Sloane’s apparently bestest bud making her appearance. He stood back slightly awkwardly, letting the two friends greet before saying anything himself. “It is good to see you are well, Bree.”

Bree staggered, her sedated body not balancing as gracefully as it normally would. She smiled at Sloane. "I was worried about you too, Sloane," she said warmly, albeit a bit groggily. She raised surprised eyes when Tyler addressed her, normally he treated her as invisible like most people did. "I'm glad you're well too, Tyler." She wondered if he had been hit on the head.

The awkwardness was delicious but Sloane could handle so much so she turned to look at Tyler. "Do you want to stay? Because...Bree and I are having a private moment unless you wanted to watch?" Sloane smirked, sliding her arms around Bree's waist, mostly to hold her upright but also to goad Tyler.

Tyler knew for a certain, at least, he was pretty sure, that as close to Bree as Sloane was, she had never pushed it past the friendship barrier. Even if she was attempting to make him think otherwise now. “Oh, I’m quite happy to watch.” he smirked back, making no sign of moving. “Besides, it wouldn’t be very gentlemanly of me to leave you both here.” He was teasing, but there was truth in what he said. He was raised on good manners after all, and Bree didn’t look too good.

Bree was confused as she usually was when Sloane lowered herself to sly innuendo. Despite the circumstances she lived in, she didn't think that way, in fact she liked to pretend sex didn't exist except when it was forced on her. "She's just being silly, I know Sloane enjoys your company, Tyler. Can we leave school now?" Bree asked, thinking a cup of tea was what she really needed, but she didn't want to go back to the cafeteria ever again.

Sloane pressed her lips on to Bree's cheeks softly before turning to Tyler once more. "You think we could? But I don't have my car..." Sloane trailed off as she tried to think of a way to sneak Bree out of school. Sloane knew Bree was shaken up even though she tried not to show it. "Besides...the school won't hold it against us if we ditch right? Bree, love did you manage to see your sixth period teacher to sign yourself up?"

“Well, I have mine, and of course we could leave if we want. You’re talking to Tyler Durnham here.” Tyler laughed, immediately walking to the front of the school, expecting the two women to follow. “And don’t worry about that Sloane, it’s all just details, I can take care of it.” He led them out with no trouble, as he expected, walking over to his silver pride and joy. He presumed they would want to sit together, in the back seat, so opened both passenger doors. “So, where to?” he asked, getting behind the wheel.

"Some place they have tea please," Bree replied, hungry as well, but feeling a bit queasy from the events and the drug they had given her. "This is a nice car, kind of like the one my father has. He's going to be mad. He won't like it that the nurse wants me to go to the doctor." She normally wouldn't talk about it, but the valium had loosened her inhibitions.

Sloane helped Bree into the car before sliding in beside her. "There's a cafe down at Venice Beach that has all kinds of teas imaginable. I'll give you directions on the way." Sloane said to Tyler. "Bree, you wanna lie down?"

He couldn’t remember hearing Bree ever talk about her father before, but then again, he and the girl weren’t friends, so he paid it no more mind. “Venice Beach.” he agreed, quickly starting his car. He knew the way to the area, roughly at least. He wasn’t one for tea normally, but, he was always willing to please a woman after all. He kept an eye on them in the mirror, not used to seeing Sloane so...sweet.

"No, I can sit," Bree said, not wanting to show so much weakness. "Do you know Sarah Hayes? She's having a birthday party Wednesday night. I don't know what to get her. I really wish my father would just let me stay home from these things. It's not like she would notice I'm missing. I doubt she knows who I am either."

Meeting Tyler's gaze through the rearview mirror, she winked at him before turning her attention to Bree who seemed to be talking a lot about her father, something she didn't do a lot, not even with Sloane. "Sarah Hayes knows who you are, Bree." Sloane assured her. "But I'm not going to the party. I have better things to do at home. Wanna come over?" She asked Bree.

“Why don’t I come over too? We can make it a slumber party.” Tyler sniggered, trying to remember Sarah Hayes, and if it was a party worth attending. Most likely, if Bree was to attend. With so many girls, it was sometimes hard to keep track of, though, he did very good considering. He hadn’t slept with Sarah, he would remember if he had. “This cafe, it’s just around the corner, if I’m not mistaken, Sloane?”

Bree chuckled at the thought of Tyler attending a slumber party. "You would have to let us do your nails, it is traditional, right Sloane? I would much rather go to your house Sloane. My father said I could have a slumber party at the Four Seasons on Friday for my birthday, but I don't know who to invite," Bree said with a sigh. Slumber parties were much more intimate than other kinds of parties. And she was only close to Sloane and May.

"Yup, just there." Her hand brushed against Tyler's shoulder to indicate where he should turn. "If you're ready to wear extensions we could braid and if you suddenly didn't barf at the sight of pink, sure why *don't* you come along?"
When Bree mentioned the slumber party, Sloane perked up. "You could just invite me and Maggy, we could order up food enough to cater a hundred people and then stuff ourselves. Ooh...order strippers to come..."

“On second thoughts, I think I might have plans already.” Tyler grinned, quite happy not to get his nails done and his hair braided. He saw the cafe, and luckily there was a spot a few stores down, managing to park fairly easily. Sloane piqued his interest though, and he looked at her quizzically before even considering stepping out of the car. “How do you know Maggy?” he asked before thinking better of it, and he made himself grin. “No, I will not strip for you.”

Bree paled deeply at the thought of Tyler stripping. Nothing good came of a man taking off his clothing. "Maysan Paghishetsi...Sloane calls her Maggy sometimes," she said, not sure why that was, but accepting of her friend's eccentricities.

Sloane saw the shift in Tyler's features even before he changed them and she couldn't help but smirk. So he was interested in someone named Maggy. Could it be Maysan? Sloane was the only one who called her that. Who else in the school had a name or rather nickname of Maggy? Couldn't be Megan Raye. She hated boys just as much as Sloane loved them. There was only one other possibility. Magdalena Veloz. Wasn't she that band geek? What was Tyler Durnham doing having an interest on a band geek? She was going to find out sooner or later. Exiting the car, she opened the door for Bree before going to the cafe to get them a seat. She sat down and waited for the other two.

It wasn’t the Maggy he was after, which was some relief to Tyler. He wouldn’t want Sloane being all buddy buddy with the girl, it wouldn’t fare well for him in any possible way. But still, he may have let on more than he should have already, and Sloane could be persistent when she scented even the slightest hint of something that could be fun for her. Regardless of how it affected everyone else. Which was something he liked, but not when it involved him. He lingered at the car, waiting for Bree to get out, so he could lock up. Didn’t trust a soul when his baby was involved.

Bree slipped out of the car and moved to join Sloane. There was a breeze coming off the water and the close cry of a seagull made her jump. She felt like they were being watched and after the day she had, she was a wreck.

"I've already decided what I want so both of you go on ahead and choose." Sloane waved a hand in the direction of the menu. "So today was a bit..." Sloane was at lost for words. What adjective could even start to describe what today was? Should she even start talking about it? Running her fingers through her hair, she came up with a word she though could explain it. "New..."

Locking his car and glancing around in case anyone was paying too much attention to it, Tyler followed the two women inside the store, oblivious to how Bree was acting. He wouldn’t have taken much notice of her odd behaviour, even if he had been watching after all. So, he was going to drink tea and have a lovely ‘chat’. This whole day was weird.
He took his seat at the small table, feeling just a little out of place. He didn’t bother looking at the menu, he would just get whatever Sloane was. “It’s my treat, so order up big. And I’m talking to Bree, not you Sloane.” he chuckled. “But yes, today was...new. Heard talk of a big casualty list, but no one I know well, it seems.”

"I knew a few of them," Bree said with a sigh. She actually knew almost everybody thanks to her father's obsessiveness. When the waitress came over she ordered some peppermint-chamomile tea and avocado, sprouts, tomato and mayo-dijon sauce on a croissant. "The one I knew the best was hit pretty bad. They weren't sure he would live."

Sloane ordered a mango passion ice tea with cream and some chips. She wasn't that up to eating even without Tyler telling her. At the emntion of the casualty list, Sloane smirked at Tyler's last words. She was about to reply with her usual sarcasm but at Bree's response, Sloane kept quiet. Bree DID know a few of them. Some might have even been those she was close to. Sloane didn't know that much about loss but seeing Bree this way was making Sloane a bit uneasy. There wasn't anything she could say that could possibly remedy the situation but she was the one stupid enough to bring it up. Despite that, she remained quiet.

The waitress was cute, in a new-age, vegetarian, way to freak his father out kind of way, so Tyler accordingly let his eyes skirt over her, a slow smile spreading across his face. After all, she obviously put in effort to take care of her appearance, it was only fair that he let her know he appreciated it.
What Sloane ordered seemed too odd for him, so he flashed their server a grin and asked her to bring him what she liked. His old ‘friend’ seemed concerned about their companion, which unnerved him, because Sloane usually cared about no one but herself. He cleared his throat, shifting a little uncomfortably in his chair. “I’m sorry to hear that Bree, is he someone we know?”

"I don't think you would.... he goes to Silver. He's an art-student. We worked on a multimedia Christmas tree at the youth center near Venice Beach back in November. He's very Goth... so I can't see you hanging out together," Bree said grabbing a couple of honey straws to sweeten her tea with when it came. He was shot in the head. He attacked the guy that had grabbed me. It's such a waste. I didn't need saving, death would have been a relief," Bree said staring out at the surf with blank eyes.

Bree's words made Sloane's head snap up. "Don't even think that!" She replied harshly before accepting her drink and chips from the waitress Tyler so bluntly checked out. Sloane would have done the same but she was too preoccupied with her best friend. She didn't know exactly why she felt so protective over the girl but she did and she really didn't care if Tyler was right there to see her moment of weakness. "You stop talking about death like it's something you can get from a candy store." Sloane hissed before shoving her mouth with chips.

So, Bree was suicidal. That must be the odd vibes he picked up from her. Tyler never understood suicide himself, he loved life, his life, too much to want it to end prematurely. And he had no idea how to deal with someone who felt differently. Bree had it good too, was rich, he didn’t know what caused the odd thinking. “Listen to Sloane, Bree.” he spoke softly, his eyes on the redhead opposite. “Nothing’s worth dying for.”

Bree's full lips curved in a smile that was pure bitterness. "I have been dead for ten years, the problem is that my father won't let me rest in peace. He doesn't like the thought of the devil getting his hands on me. He doesn't like to share you see, not even with his role model," Bree's voice was low but very clear. The shock had apparently loosened her tongue to a sharp edge.

Sloane slid closer to Bree and pulled her into a sideways hug, pressing her lips on to Bree's head, showing Tyler a side of her she didn't ever want him to see. But what could she do? Bree was being self-destructive. Sloane didn't like it when Bree turned into this person. "Stop it Bree." She whispered. Her eyes ran over Tyler. "Don't you dare share this to anyone because if you do I will personally see to it that you're either emasculated or you die. You know I'm not above going to prison." Sloane snarled before ramming more chips into her mouth.

“I know. Your opinion of me may be low Sloane, but surely you think better of me than that.” Tyler spoke dryly, his voice going oddly cold. There was something in Bree’s words that played on him, whether she meant anything by it or not, and the way Sloane was acting made him wonder if there was something he was missing. He lowered his voice now, his eyes on Bree. “You can be honest with me. Does your father hurt you?”

Bree's face fell, seeming to melt like wax and all that was left was the terror in her eyes. "Father loves me. He only does what he has to make sure I am the best I can be. He does everything so I can have the best of everything," she said though there was no conviction in her voice and she sounded mechanical as if it was something she heard said more than once.

Sloane's eyes darkened at Tyler's tone and darkened even more at Bree's words. It was far too wooden to hold any truth in it. Like Bree was reading right off a cue card. "I'm going to kill him." Sloane said, her hands curling into fists under the table. "I'm going to rip him to shreds when I see him." The auburn-haired girl's light blue eyes looked almost black in her shaking anger. "If I find out that he's been touching you...Bree I will..." Sloane stopped abruptly, not wanting to say anything further.

“No you won’t.” Tyler spoke softly, the charm, the usual humour in his voice completely gone. “You don’t need to wreck your life over this. And worse things can be done to him.” His own father always told Tyler how important it was for him to take control, lead, be the one in charge, though the footballer had very little interest in that. Until now. He grabbed out his wallet, throwing some money on the table, leaving his unidentifiable drink untouched. “Let’s go.” he said, standing, his tone of voice leaving nothing to be argued with.

Bree blinked and responding to the authority in Tyler's voice, she obediantly stood, terrified about what might happen but after the morning she thought it couldn't be that bad and she had a wild hope that it might be really good.

Bree standing up made Sloane stand up as well. She couldn't believe she was listening to Tyler Durnham's orders. "Where are we going?" She asked as they went back to the car. The intense voice Tyler had adopted earlier was not something she had ever heard but despite whatever this had transpired into, Sloane suddenly felt a strong urge to jump him right then and there.

[Sloane Taylor]

Tyler didn’t answer Sloane, he wasn’t sure what to say yet. Instead, he just opened the car doors for both of them, gesturing for the girls to sit. This was an opportunity, a moment for him to show he could be a decent person, a role he wasn’t that used to. Then again, it seemed a lot of hassle, and for something that had nothing to do with him. But he couldn’t let it slide, Tyler was bad, but not that bad, he still had decent, and Bree was a friend. He pulled out his phone, making a quick call as his eyes switched from one girl to the other. His father had the best lawyers under his employee, but Tyler had been too smart to need to use them before. It wasn’t long before he was taking his own seat in the car. “Well, I believe things can be dealt with, quickly and quietly. But we need proof. Do you know anything we could use Bree?”

Bree shook her head knowing the servants were too scared of her father to help and he was too smart to leave anything else lying around. "I don't think so... he is a very careful man."

Sloane kept quiet as she climbed to the back of the seat. What could she use against Bree's father? She slid her hand over her skirt, patting it lightly. She searched the back of her skirt, patting the seat of her skirt as well until she finally found her phone. Sliding it out, she turned to Bree before she turned to Tyler and then back on the phone. No...it's too much. Besides, how could she just stand immobile while that monster touched her friend? It can't be done. Sloane was not the type to just sit back and do nothing. "Maybe..." she started saying but bit her tongue. She shook her head. "The tree in front of your window holds a pretty heavy weight, doesn't it? And...it doesn't overlook anything so the man doesn't have the need to wind down the windows or...curtains...or anything?"

It only took a moment for Tyler to realise what Sloane was getting at. It could work. It would certainly be enough proof to help tidy up this little ‘situation’. “I hope that phone has a good camera Sloane. But you can stick to the tree yourself, I’d much rather hide elsewhere while you get the shot. Bree, we’re headed to your house. Direct me please.” he instructed curtly. “Would your father be home?”

"No, he works till exactly 5pm and is home by 5:30 at which time dinner is served after washing our hands. It's Monday so we will be having Pork Roast, baby carrots in butter sauce, potatoes au gratin and cobbler of whatever fruit was best at the market," Bree said mechanically again. She was tense and beginning to get very frightened again.

Not wanting to brag, she shrugged as she looked at her phone. "It's pretty good." She reassured Tyler of her camera phone. Bree's voice brought her back and she felt that sending the bastard to prison was just not good enough if he had resulted his own daughter to an automatic responding robot. Sloane didn't know the protocol for whatever it was that fathers did to their daughters, but she knew that the moment a kid does something as an automatic response, they had to have been repeated many times over. It was not a one time thing. Which meant Bree, sweet innocent Bree, was no longer the sweet, innocent Bree Sloane had become friends with years ago. She felt wrecked with guilt for not doing anything any sooner. Stupid Sloane. "I'll come over later then. I might not be able to stay long." Sloane replied, thinking of Nolan in the hospital. She needed to do something about him. About them...God she sounded so serious. There was nothing going on with 'them' but she felt she needed to do something about it.

"Camera phone... We have security cameras in every room. I don't know if he keeps the tapes though. The thought that there could be videos of him forcing himself on her made Bree start to tremble. "What are you going to do with a tape?"

Sloane blanched. The thought of seeing Mr Sick in the Head jacking off to the tapes made her want to vomit. "The police might take it as evidence. If he were to keep the tapes...where do you think he would put them?" Sloane asked even though she didn't want them to even exist.

Tyler didn’t say anything, instead just listened and let the girls talk as he made their way over to Bree’s house. He knew roughly where it was, so he didn’t interrupt, wondering himself where the pervert would keep tapes.

Bree directed Tyler to the correct driveway and then around back to where her Audi R8 was normally garaged, but was at school at the moment. "He won't be happy to see a strange car or any car really, so let me open the garage for you," she said opening the door when he rolled to a stop. She slipped out and pressed the button to make the door silently roll up.

Sloane got out of the car to let Tyler park. She looked up to the house where she had spent quite a lot of time in. She couldn't believe she had never suspected anything until recently. "Bree...would any of your housekeepers say anything to him?"

“No.” Tyler answered for her, getting out of his car and moving so Bree could close the door. “Housekeepers can be...paid off.” Nearly everyone could be paid off, that was one of the many benefits of money. “Does he have an office in the house?”

"I don't think they would say anything unless he threatened them," Bree said, going into the kitchen through the inside door. "The cook was preparing a delicious smelling dinner. "Perdita... you remember Sloane. This is Tyler Durnham. His dad is on the arts council with mine. We are going to plan a high school event to promote art awareness. "Well be around but based in the family room downstairs." The Office was off that room.

Sloane nodded at Perdita and walked downstairs immediately, locating the office almost instantly. Looking all over the room, Sloane started sliding her hand across the wall, clicking her fingernails. "Where do you...?" She finally saw an item out of place. "Doesn't look like that belongs in an...office..."

“Not in this office, anyway.” Tyler spoke quietly, moving to Sloane’s side. He ran his hand over the frame, the painting of dogs playing cards not exactly blending into its surroundings. “My father has something like this, though he has better taste. What it is, my lovely ladies, is a hiding place, for things you don’t want found. Namely, a safe with things that you don’t want other people getting into.” He pushed the painting to the side. “Let’s see, we’ll try the classics. What’s his birthday?”

Bree looked at the safe with interest. "November 18th," she said quietly, not wanting to think too hard about him in case he appeared. She went to sit at his desk and found a remote which opened a concealed entertainment center on the other side of the room which also had a bar. "Would either of you like some scotch? she asked, her nose wrinkling.

"Dry for me," Sloane said softly while she entered the password into the small digital keypad. "I hardly think he's that much of a juvenile to put in his birthday as the password." The reader beeped begatory. Sloane bit her lower lip, wondering why she's acting like she belonged in CSI: Miami. She turned to look at Bree and turned back to the painting. It could be but...could Bree really remember...? "What was the date he started to...touch you Bree?"

“Make it the same for me please, Bree. And I recommend you get yourself the same.” Tyler told her, being as warm and comforting as he could get at Sloane’s question. He let himself be dragged into this now, he may as well stay for the long haul.

Bree poured three tumblers of scotch and gave one to each of them. "February 22 I was six... he said it was time for me to take over Mommy's duties since I took her from him," she said and forced herself to swallow the strong spirit. It wasn't just the taste, but the scent that bothered her for he always smelled strongly of it when he came to her room. She coughed but got it down and it did seem to make it easier to relax.

Sloane put in the date and the reader beeped negative again. "Shit..." She swore under her breath before draining the whole glass of scotch in one go, cursing again for the bitterness of the drink burning her throat. "Okay I got nothing." She shook her head before falling into the nearest chair her eyes could see.

Tyler followed Sloane’s lead, downing the alcohol, but as easily as if it were water. Considering their problem, he helped himself to another glass. He would need it, for what he had decided he would have to do next, if they managed to get their hands on the tapes, that is. “This doesn’t leave this room. I’ll change it, as soon as I get home, as my father hasn’t gotten around to it yet. His safe combination is my mother’s birthday. So, what is it, Bree?”

Bree nodded thinking that was the most likely. Her father still worshipped his dead wife. "April 10th, we celebrate it every year," she said bitterly. He would buy lingerie for his dead wife and make her wear it. She kept trying to injure herself so she would be in the hospital that day but so far it hadn't worked.

Sloane felt woozy as she climbed out of the chair she was occupying to jam her fingers into the reader. When the picture frame slid downwards to reveal a small safety deposit box filled with dated tapes. "Oh fuck...they exist." She whirled around, a bit too fast that she had to grip Tyler's shirt to keep her from falling. But her grasp was too light that she ended up pulling him down on top of her. She laughed hysterically before pointing haphazardly at the tv. "He jacks off while he's...I sat on his jack off chair." Sloane laughed. It was too bad she didn't eat before she got her dry scotch. She usually could hold down her liqour.

Pulling himself from Sloane’s grip and standing, something he would have enjoyed much more if she wasn’t off her face, Tyler looked over to the safe. Sloane must have started the party early, he decided. He grabbed one tape at random, his face now blank. “Bree, can you please take Sloane into the next room and wait for me? Neither of you need to see this.”

Bree went completely pale at the thought of someone seeing what must be on those tapes. The only thing that was a comfort was that she had never done any of it willingly. She put her arm stiffly around Sloane and pulled her into the other room. She hoped security tapes didn't have sound, she thought she would lose it if she had to listen to her own screams. She turned on the fireplace considering throwing herself into the blaze. Unfortunately it didn't seem big enough to kill her very fast. Instead she sunk down on one of the large floor pillows and stared at the gas fueled flames.

Sloane shot up and smacked Tyler across his face. At least she meant to but it just barely swiped his neck as she tried to brace herself against the table. "I don't need to see it. Who are you, my father? Is so funny. I was ordered by two guys in the same day..whoa. Bree. I know you want me but..." Sloane followed Bree out and when she saw her best friend sink to the ground, it gave her a sobering wake up call. Forget that she had drunk a dry scotch on an empty stomach. Sloane slid down to the ground and pulled Bree into her arms, caressing the other girl's hair. "I'm sorry you had to go through this."

Well, Tyler thought he was doing the gallant thing, but maybe not if that almost slap was anything to go by. But judging from Sloane’s state, it wasn’t. There was sound, and Tyler turned it down as much as possible, but he forced himself to listen, hear what Marcus had to say. And he made himself watch, not for long, but long enough to know that what was held on this tape, at least, was exactly what they needed to help out Bree. He was going soft, that was the footballer’s only explanation for his current behaviour.

Bree began to tremble lightly at first and then shake harder as she began to cry. "Tyler won't tell anyone, will he? I could never go to school again if everyone knew what he does. I just want it all to stop. Seeing how easy it is to die made me realize I can't let this keep happening. I hate him so much Sloane. I feel like all there is left in me is hatred," Bree said as she began to sound less wretched and more vengeful.

"Tyler won't." Sloane said immediately, without a doubt in her mind. For all Tyler's stupid antics and shameless debauchery, Sloane knew that he was a good guy. He may not show it since he thought he was all that, but he was a good guy. Bree's words resonated through the room and Sloane felt it vibrate in herself. She wanted to kill the bastard who was responsible for her best friend's sudden self-hating demeanour. "He's going to get what he deserves, Aubrey..."

“I agree with that.” Tyler spoke up, walking into the room with a small box in hand, containing all the tapes hidden in the safe. He had to down another scotch before he could bring himself to join them. This was not a situation he knew how to handle. “We will see to it. Sloane, I think it’s about time we called the cops. Why don’t you take that honour?”

Bree felt ill, knowing this was going to be horrible, but afterward it would hopefully be better. She pulled out her cell phone and held it out to Sloane, not sure if she had hers with her. "Do we wait here? I don't really want to see him again," Bree confessed knowing it wouldn't be that long until suppertime. She thought she had enough money to get a hotel room for a night but after that she would be homeless. It had to be better than how she was living now at any rate and there would be no one to stop her from killing herself if it wasn't.

"Tyler, bring her to the car, lock her up. Or at least make her invisible to the bastard until I get the cops here." Sloane suddenly turned businesslike. She shook her hand in dismissal before producing her own phone. "Much better if I use mine." She said softly before dialing the police hotline. "You go and get all your things packed and follow Tyler, Bree. You're staying with me until we get this settled." "Yeah 911? I've witnessed a crime..." Sloane started to blabber on to the cop over the phone.

Taking Bree’s hand, glad no one but Sloane could see him to such an act, Tyler briefly admired her acting ability as he led the other girl out of the room. “Let’s move quickly Bree. I’ll come with you, help you pack. Don’t worry, you’re safe now.”

Bree led him up to her room. He was the first person other than the maids and her father who had ever seen it. There was a large four-poster bed with perfect bedding that was white with lilacs. The room was almost eerily neat as if no one really lived there. As she pulled out a suitcase and opened drawers it was apparent that Bree was extraordinarily organized down to type of items to color which was done chromatically. They were repacked into the suitcase just as neatly. She took as much as she could fit, not sure if she would be allowed back there later. The only non-essentials were her laptop and a very ragged teddybear who apparently suffered through many sessions with the tearful girl. She forced a smile when she was done. "Okay that's it. Thanks Tyler."

When Sloane was done with the call, she started up the stairs and as she checked her watch, it showed her glaringly that it was 5 30. She looked up and stood perfectly still when she faced Bradley Michael Marcus with a briefcase in his hand. "Sloane, what are you doing here?" Mr Marcus asked with a smile Sloane was sure was not entirely innocent. "Did Bree bring you over?" Sloane didn't answer, instead she approached him and immediately slapped his face. "How...dare you touch Bree that way you sick son of a bitch." Sloane said in a calm tone of voice. Bradley sneered as she faced Sloane once more. In a flash, his hand wrapped tightly around Sloane's neck, leaving her no room to breathe. She choked and sputtered, clawing at his hand as he managed to lift her off the ground. She tried to call out for help but she couldn't find her voice. "Didn't peg you to be the nosy type, Sloane." Bradley smirked as he dragged her to a wall, slamming her head to the wall. Sloane's hands slacked down to her side before she kicked him as hard as she could in the stomach. Her strong runner legs made impact and Bradley doubled over, just enough for Sloane to scramble away from him so she could grab his briefcase. She swung it upwards on to his head before dropping it to the ground. "BREE! TYLER! GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!"

Hearing the yell, everyone in the house surely could have heard, Tyler grabbed Bree’s suitcase in one hand, one of her hands in his other and practically dragged her down to where they left Sloane. He placed the case down when he saw Bree’s father, the image from the tape still playing in his head. He grabbed his car keys, throwing them to Sloane. “I’ll catch up. You take my car, Bree, take yours. I’ll be with you in one moment, I’ll make sure he doesn’t follow. Need him here when the police come.” he rushed, though Sloane seemed to have done an admirable job of downing the man.

Bree ran out the back and tried to remember which car she was supposed to be in, but since her car was at the school, she grabbed her Father's keys for the Spyder and threw her bag in the back. She jumped into the car and turned the key, screeching out of the garage in a way that was sure to make her father livid.

"If we don't see each other again Tyler, know that I'll..." Sloane tripped and fell on her butt, the marble floors causing little friction for her socked feet. She slid across the floor until she hit a wall. "So much for a graceful exit. This will not be known to anyone. Tyler take care." Sloane scrambled to get up before rummaging through the shoe closet and picked out a pair of sneakers and slid them on to her feet. "You're a good friend!" Sloane ran out and went to Tyler's car and sped off. She dialed Bree's number and left her a message to meet her at her home. She also left the same message to Tyler and hoped against all hope that everything would go according to plan.

Bree didn't pick up the phone because she was too frightened to even notice her cell ringing. She just followed Sloane, praying that Tyler would be all right and the police would get her dad. She knew her dad would send the cops after his Spyder, but she couldn't think about that yet. Right now she was in survival mode. She pulled into Sloane's driveway and parked behind her. "Oh my god.... I hope my Father doesn't kill him," she said worried to death about their friend's well being.

Sloane got out of her car and ran to Bree's and sat in the passanger seat, throwing her cell on the dashboard before pulling Bree into an awkward sideways hug. "You're gonna be fine. Everything's going to be..." her cell phone vibrated over the dashboard before falling into Sloane's lap. The screen flashed Tyler's number and she picked it up. It was a text saying Bree's father got three shots trying to escape and he died on the spot. Tyler couldn't meet them as he was supposed to make a statement for the police. Sloane turned to Bree and took a deep breath. Should she tell her best friend?

"What is it Sloane? Is Tyler all right?" Bree asked, tears running down her face and her bloodred hair even darker with the dampness from falling over her wet cheeks. She was exhausted and as she hadn't been able to eat lunch, totally without reserve energy.

Sloane once again threw her cell over the dashboard not really caring if it got spoilt in the process. She locked Bree's hair back behind her ears and used the front of her own shirt to wipe her best friend's tears away. "Everything's fine. Tyler is still alive. He needs to give his statement to the police but your dad...he got shot."

Bree blinked, her father getting shot was not an outcome she had anticipated. "Well... that will give me more time to make arrangements I guess. Which hospital is he in?" She figured she had better call the lawyer at least. She didn't want to make arrangements for him.

"Bree..." Sloane sat back and took another deep breath. Callous as she may be, this was a pretty hard thing to say, no matter what Bradley had been or had done. He was still her father... "Your dad's dead..."

Bree was speechless for a few moments and then the fear that had been keeping her moving drained out of her and she slumped down in the seat. Another few moments and she began to laugh, softly at first but then gaining in strength until she was hiccupping in hysteria. She looked at Sloane meeting her light eyes. "He's dead, thank God... Long live the Queen!"

Okay.. Not exactly the reaction Sloane had anticipated. But given the circumstance, Sloane wasn't even sure what to expect. "I'm...glad you're okay with this. Long...live the Queen."

Bree wasn't really okay with it, but she simply could not react like a loving daughter would. The man had made her life hell since she was in First Grade. And at least in this circumstance she wouldn't have to testify in court about the things he had done to her. Hopefully the whole sordid mess could just be swept under the carpet. "For me it it the best solution... otherwise I would have been homeless. Now hopefully they will consider seventeen to be old enough to manage my own affairs with my lawyer's assistance. Are you hungry? We should celebrate. I could take you to one of my dad's restaurants in the hotel he recently bought. We could text Tyler to join us once he is free."

Sloane had never seen Bree this...animated. It was a pleasant change under...dire circumstances but she was actually glad Bree was not torn up about it. After what that man did. "We should. But let's get you back in the house. You look like crap." Sloane shrugged before getting out of the car.