Dana: Shane what happened?

Dana asked not sure of what was going to happen or even what was going to come out of her mouth.

Shane: I want to go back inside. If I am going to tell you then I want to do it all at one time. I don’t want to have to say it over and over again or hear about it more then I have to.

They all got up and followed Shane’s lead back into the house. Bette was still sitting on the couch. But she got up as soon as she saw Shane.

Bette: Shane, I’m so sorry I wasn’t thinking. I should have thought about what you were going through.

Shane stopped walking looked at her for a minute. It was her way of telling Bette that she forgave her.

Shane continued walking and sat on the couch. Everyone gather around the couch as if it was story hour of something. Bette even came over not really sure what was going on.

Shane: Ummm…where do I start?

Shane was already starting to tear up. Tina put her hand on Shane’s knee.

Tina: Where ever you want to start. We’re not going to judge you because of whatever happened to you. Whatever it was it wasn’t your fault.

Shane looked into Tina eyes and for a second it was as if she was looking into her mothers.

Shane: It has to do with the last time Alice found me in that house. I know that she told Dana the story that one time I freaked out and was near death when a man called her on my cell phone and told her that. I was high on anything that I could get my hands on. I stayed in that house for a good 3 days without anyone interupting me. I thought about everything that had happened to me through out my life. It was the loniest 3 days of my life and the worst. It felt as if everyday I was living in a new nightmare. The first day was a friday. The reason that I had to get away was because I had gotten a call earlier saying that my mother had died. I barely knew her because I was living on the streets most of my life as a teen. I had only seen my father a few times so I felt totally abandoned. I felt like I was an orphan.

Shane got up from her spot on the couch and started pacing in the living room. She was to uncomfortable to sit in one place for to long.

I was really upset. I mean how could she do that how could she just die on me. And then I made my way up the stairs and into the room that Alice found my in today. When I got there their were syringes every where. But then after looking around some more I found a blade. I thought that it was the perfect escape. I sat down on a dirty matress and stared out the window. I saw the lights of L.A. and I was glad that that would be the last thing I ever saw. So I took the blade and slid it across my wrist.

Dana and Tina both gasped and Alice and Bette listened on while comforting there significant others.

Everyone had tears in there eys from Shane’s story. They were all looking in her eyes but she wasn’t looking back. She was looking at her wrists and tracing the scar that was still there.

Shane: I was bleeding pretty heavy when a man came in and saw what I had done. I guess that he thought he was helping me when he took out a hankerchief from his back pocket and tyed it around my wrist very tight to stop the bleeding.

Dana got up from where she was sitting and ran into the bathroom. Everyone turned toward where she had run off to and they could hear her throwing up in the back ground.

Alice: I’ll go check on her we’ll be right back.

Alice went into the bathroom to help Dana anyway that she could. She saw Dana sitting up against the shower crying silently. Alice sat down next to her and just held her. That was all either of them needed.

Alice: Shhhh…I know. I know.

Dana: It never should have happened we should have been there. Someone should have been there.

Dana whispered not wanting Shane to know how weak Dana was.

Alice: It should never happen to anyone but why don’t we go back out there before they start to worry. We can sit on the couch together and I can hold you for as long as you want me to.

They both got up and exited the bathroom. Dana was holding onto Alice the best that she could as they were walking. They sat down on the couch and Alice held her just like she said she would.

Shane looked up at Dana. She never ment to cause any of her friends pain.

Shane: Dana you okay?

Dana just nodded not sure how strong her voice would be.

Shane continued on with her story.

Shane: That man stayed with me for the next day. He wanted to make sure that I was alright. Or at least that I would make it. He told me that he was a drifter and he would be out of LA soon. The next day he went out. I thought that he was leaving town but that wasn’t it. He came back about an hour later with food. I kept thinking how is it possible to find a good guy in a place like this. But then I found out that night that he wasn’t a good guy. I had fallen asleep early. What I didn’t know was that the reason he kept me alive was because he wanted something from me. He woke me up harshly from my sleep. I wasn’t sure what was going on until…

Tina: Shane? Are you okay? Do you want to stop?

Shane: No, I’m fine. I just. I’ve never told all of this to anyone before.

Bette: I’m glad that you are. It’s about time you get this stuff out. It’s not healthy to keep it all bottled up inside of yourself.

Tina reached up for Shane’s hand but Shane pulled away when she touched her. Tina looked hurt.

Shane: Tina I’m sorry I didn’t meant to pull awya I just…I don’t know.

Tina: Hey come here.

Shane got down to where Tina and Bette were sitting.

Tina embraced her in a hug.

Tina: What did I tell you there is nothing you have to be sorry for.

Shane: Thank you.

Shane turned her body so that she was looking out the dorr while everyone else’s eyes stayed on Shane.

Shane: As I was saying. I knew what was going on when I felt my clothes being torn off of my body. I only had a pair of jeans and a worn out t-shirt so they weren’t that hard to rip. The next thing I know he is on top of me pulling out a condom. Then he…he raped me. The onyl thing I can remember really after that from that night anyways was me screaming and him laughing.

Tina moved over closer to Shane and put a protective arm around her.

Shane: I wake up the next day and I am tied up and I see about 5 syringes lined up on the floor all filled with something. There were already 3 that were empty. I guess he had been shooting me up while I was out. He kept shooting me up even while I was screaming and telling him not to. After he had emptied all of them he took out my cell phone which he had found the night before. He went to my contact list and Alice was the first name in it so he called. He told her that he found me high and that she should get over there. But what he really wanted to do was make me suffer even more by having a friend watch me die. Alice got there in time and got me to a hospital. They thought that I was suicidal because of my wrists and now with the drugs so they had me on a 72 hours watch after they knew I would make it. Once they were sure I wouldn’t do anything to myself they released me into Alice’s care. Those were the worst three days of my life. The time that I spent in that house was the worst time of my life.

Shane got up from where she was sitting with Tina and made her way outside and sat on the front stairs leaving everyone inside to think what they wanted to. As soon as Shane shut the door behind her Dana started sobbing, while Alice and Bette took care of her Tina went outside to sit with Shane. Lucky for Tina she had not decided to go home.

Tina: Shane? I want you to stay here tonight okay? I know Alice said she would give you a place to stay but jsut for tonight i want to make sure you are alright.

Shane turned around and there were tears streaming down her face. Shane got up and ran to Tina.

Shane: Oh Tina…

They met in an embrace as Shane felt her knees give out. They were sitting on the floor to the front deck, Tina was comforting Shane and that was all Shane wanted was to be held and to be loved.

Tina: Hey it’s okay. I don’t know what I’m going to do but I’m going to make sure that you are okay. We’re all here for you and we all love you.

Shane: You guys really care about me and love me?

Tina looked in Shane’s eyes.

Tina: Of course we love you, how could we not. You are like a mother to all of us.

Shane embraced Tina again. After about 5 minutes they had both calmed down a little.

Shane: I want to go check on Dana she took what happened to me pretty hard.

Tina helped Shane get up.

Tina: We all did Shane. We all just react differently. But please know that if Bette isn’t crying that Dana is then it doesn’t mean that she doesn’t care.

Shane: I know.

They made there way inside. Dana looked up when Shane came in. Dana made her way over to Shane and hugged her as hard as she could. Tina, Bette and Alice left the two of them alone and went in the kitchen.

Tina: I know Alice that you said Shane could live with you but I want her to stay here tonight.

Alice: That’s fine I understand. I’m gonna have Dana stay with me at my place tonight. I don’t think either one of them should be alone tonight.

Bette: Dana took it pretty hard.

Tina: Well she is the one out of all of us that still believes that there is nothing out there that is bad in the world. She thinks that the world is an innocent place.

Alice: She use to think that anyways. Seeing her cry like that and hold her in the bathroom while she was shaking was gut wrenching.

Tina: Yeah.

Shane and Dana walked into the kitchen. Dana floated over to Alice and wrapped her arms around her waist.

Dana: I’m realy tired I’m going to go home.

Alice: No you’re not you’re going to stay with me tonight. I don’t want you to be alone.

Dana smiled at the thought of Alice caring so much.

Alice: Then I guess that is our cue to go home.

Alice walked over to Shane and gave her a hug.

Alice: I will see you tomorrow okay. We can set up the spare bedroom for you and everything.

Dana walk over to Shane and gave her another hug.

Dana: See you tomorrow. Love you Shane.

Alice and Dana walked out the door.

Tina: Shane what do you want to do now do you want to talk, eat, having something to drink?

Shane: Actually I think I’m going to crash. I’ll take the couch it’s no big deal.

Bette: See you in the morning Shane.

Bette looked at her watch and saw that it was 2:00 A.M.

Bette: Actually since it is 2:00 I guess I’ll see you later.

Tina and Bette walked into there room and didn’t even bother changing there clothes before going to bed. Bette held Tina from behind and it made both of them feel safe.


Alice’s house

Dana: Okay well I’ll see you in the morning.

Dana said walking towards the couch.

Alice: Where are you going?

Dana: To the couch?

Alice: No when i said I didn’t want you to be alone I kinda ment that I didn’t want to be alone. I just want to be able to hold you as we fall asleep.

They go off to bed.

Cut to seeing Bette and Tina to bed in each others arms.

Cut to seeing Dana and Alice in bed in each others arms.

Cut to seeing Shane on the couch tossing and turning.