Drama
Chapter 39: It's Going Down
Niall’s P.O.V.
“They’ve already replaced me,” Leila sobs a few hours later. “They’ve replaced me and it hasn’t even been a whole day yet.”
“It’s probably because she was the first one they saw at the studio,” I explain, shifting myself on the couch. “That’s what usually happens.”
“Why couldn’t they have chosen an extra? Why Sierra?” Leila challenges.
“Look, the extras already have a part. They need to pick someone who’s not already cast, and I guess Sierra was the first girl they saw who didn’t have a part already,” I say.
“But what about my stunt double? Couldn’t she have taken over my part?”
“That’s just it, Lei. She’s your stunt double. She knows tricks and flips and does all of those courageous acts, different from what you do,” I inform.
Madison, who has been pacing quietly behind the couch, stops and voices, “From all that you’ve told me, Sierra doesn’t deserve to have your role. Now there are two bitches in the studio. That’s going to be a complete disaster.”
“So basically what you’re saying is that we need to tear them down?” I question.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Madison confirms.
“What can we do about it?” Leila asks, giving up.
Greg’s voice echoes in my brain: Tell the public about the rape. No, we’re not going to that. I’m going to finally press charges.
My heart is pounding at the thought of that, but Sierra needs to be taken down. She can’t just rape me and get off the hook for it. It has permanently affected me and that’s not okay.
“I know,” I speak, gazing up at them in the eyes. Leila looks at me confused, but then opens her eyes wide.
“No,” she urges, shaking her head.
“It’s the best way,” I persuade.
“Do what?” Madison asks.
“I can’t let you do this,” Leila asserts.
“I’m not telling the public, but I’m going to do what we should have done years ago. What choice do we have?” I interrogate.
“Can somebody explain?” Madison questions.
Leila and I exchange glances and I sigh. I don’t necessarily want to repeat my past but then again, the world’s going to know eventually.
“Sit down,” I suggest to Madison. She listens and settles on the couch, giving me a look signaling that I should continue. “I don’t want to give you details or anything, so I’m going to come out with it. Sierra raped me.”
“Oh, my God,” Madison gasps, her eyes growing big. “Oh, my God, oh, my God, oh, my God.”
“Anyways, my uncle and I never filed anything against her,” I explain. “But, now that I’m older, I’m going to talk to my uncle about it. I’m still technically not a citizen, but now that I’m 18, I’m hoping they’ll reconsider it. Then, the whole world changes.”
“Niall,” Leila begs.
“Babe, this will get us one step closer to tearing them down. Once Sierra’s gone, Spencer will be nothing without her,” I reply.
“What do you mean?” Madison asks.
“Spencer couldn’t think of all those shitty tricks to play on Leila alone. She’s so stupid it’s actually hilarious,” I respond, chuckling.
“So you’re saying Sierra helped her out?” Madison questions.
“Yup,” I state.
“So then how are we taking down Spencer?” Leila asks.
“Well, how did she tear you down?” I rhetorically interrogate, knowing the answer. Leila looks at me with a blank look. “Security cameras.”
“Oh, my God, why didn’t I think of that before? I could’ve gotten her a long time ago!” Leila shrieks.
“Calm down. We’re going to get her now,” I say.
“Do you really think this could work?” Madison speaks up.
“It’s either going to help us or hurt our reputations,” I deliver. “But I’m hoping for help us.”
“No, duh,” Leila sarcastically remarks.
“Trust me, Leila, I’m just as scared as you are,” I reply, knowing that she comments stuff like that whenever she’s nervous or frightened.
“Shall we get our minds off of this now and enjoy the rest of our night?” Madison asks.
“Yes, please,” Leila pleads.
Madison hooks everything up and soon we’re watching a funny movie. While it’s playing, I figure out a plan of action and decide that I’m going to talk to my uncle tomorrow. It’s the only way to bring peace to our lives and have Leila live her dream again. I love her so much that I’m willing to do anything for this. I’m dead serious. She deserves to be in front of the camera and do what she loves to do, not have these bitches reign over her because of a supposedly “higher status.” I have to do what’s right, even if that means the entire world will now know the most horrifying, and embarrassing, event of my life.
The next morning, I wake up earlier than usual and slip out of the apartment before Leila and Madison even know I’m up. I walk the familiar path to the studio and give the security my pass when I reach them. They allow me to enter and it’s pretty dead as I pace around the building to my uncle’s office. Stopping right in front of it, I knock 3 times. I don’t get an answer, so I knock 3 more times. Shuffling is heard from the other side and with a swift motion, the door is opened to reveal my uncle.
“Oh, it’s just you, phew!” he greets, wiping his forehead and gesturing for me to come in.
I step inside and as I do, I say, “Are you expecting somebody or something?”
“Kind of, it’s a long story,” Uncle Charlie replies. “Sit down, sit down!”
As he gladly takes his chair behind his desk, I settle in the couch near the wall, my heart pounding. I have no idea how this is going to go and what he’s going to say.
“So what brings you here?” he asks.
“Well, I’ve given this a lot of thought and I think it’s the right thing to do,” I begin. “Before I go into it, though, have you been noticing things happening around here?”
“There’s so much happening right now, lad. Specify,” he calmly instructs.
“Okay so you know my girlfriend, right? Leila Tesley?” I question.
“Yes,” Uncle Charlie nods.
“And you know she was on Deep Secrets, right?”
“Yeah, and she got fired for something. I’m a little frightened for your choice in partners, lad,” he warns.
“Okay, well, that stuff that she was supposedly fired for, she didn’t even do them!” I defend. “Trust me, Uncle Charlie, she’s not a bad girl.”
“So are you asking me to allow her back in here or something?” he asks.
“Not the point, but that would be nice. Anyways, have you noticed who’s taken her spot?” I question.
“Honestly, no. It’s been real crazy here, Niall,” Uncle Charlie responds.
“Uncle Charlie, you’re the one who has to approve and authorize every actor in this building. You see everyone’s resume and you accept them in. How did you not see hers?” I point out, my voice rising.
“I’m sorry! I’ve been busy! Just tell me who she is, boy!”
“Sierra,” I state. “Yes, the Sierra who raped me years ago.”
That got my uncle to shut up and focus.
“Oh, my God,” he says, his hand moving to his mouth.
“How could you even approve her resume? She’s not even an actress!” I shout.
“Okay, okay, I’m just one person! Why does it even matter?” Uncle Charlie interrogates.
“Spencer and Sierra drove Leila to the point of what got her fired. They did all of that crap and blamed it on Leila and we’re going to prove that. I could tolerate it when they did it to me, but not to my girlfriend. The fact that they haven’t stopped just proves they need to be stopped. And that’s what we’re going to do,” I explain.
“So…”
“So, now that I’m 18, I want to press charges against Sierra for what she’s done to me,” I state.
Uncle Charlie sighs and leans back in his chair. Both of us don’t say a word and I feel like he’s about to say no.
“You’re probably not going to give up even if I don’t agree right now, huh?” he slowly says.
“Nope,” I reply.
“Alright, fine. We’ll go down tomorrow and get it all sorted out,” Uncle Charlie delivers. Wait, did he just say what I thought he did?
“Really?” I ask, my heart pounding.
“Yeah. Like you said, it’s the right thing to do,” Uncle Charlie agrees.
“Thank you so much, Uncle Charlie,” I add, rushing over and giving him a hug.
“Just promise me that you’ll keep your girlfriend in line, okay?” he jokes. I just look at him and he cracks, chuckling to himself. “I’m kidding!”
“You better be,” I voice.
He laughs before continuing, “Run along, now, these papers aren’t going to fill themselves out for me.”
With an exchange of goodbyes, I exit the studio and head back to the apartment, ready to tell Leila the good news. I can’t believe we’re actually doing this. Finally, everything’s going to be okay.
“They’ve already replaced me,” Leila sobs a few hours later. “They’ve replaced me and it hasn’t even been a whole day yet.”
“It’s probably because she was the first one they saw at the studio,” I explain, shifting myself on the couch. “That’s what usually happens.”
“Why couldn’t they have chosen an extra? Why Sierra?” Leila challenges.
“Look, the extras already have a part. They need to pick someone who’s not already cast, and I guess Sierra was the first girl they saw who didn’t have a part already,” I say.
“But what about my stunt double? Couldn’t she have taken over my part?”
“That’s just it, Lei. She’s your stunt double. She knows tricks and flips and does all of those courageous acts, different from what you do,” I inform.
Madison, who has been pacing quietly behind the couch, stops and voices, “From all that you’ve told me, Sierra doesn’t deserve to have your role. Now there are two bitches in the studio. That’s going to be a complete disaster.”
“So basically what you’re saying is that we need to tear them down?” I question.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Madison confirms.
“What can we do about it?” Leila asks, giving up.
Greg’s voice echoes in my brain: Tell the public about the rape. No, we’re not going to that. I’m going to finally press charges.
My heart is pounding at the thought of that, but Sierra needs to be taken down. She can’t just rape me and get off the hook for it. It has permanently affected me and that’s not okay.
“I know,” I speak, gazing up at them in the eyes. Leila looks at me confused, but then opens her eyes wide.
“No,” she urges, shaking her head.
“It’s the best way,” I persuade.
“Do what?” Madison asks.
“I can’t let you do this,” Leila asserts.
“I’m not telling the public, but I’m going to do what we should have done years ago. What choice do we have?” I interrogate.
“Can somebody explain?” Madison questions.
Leila and I exchange glances and I sigh. I don’t necessarily want to repeat my past but then again, the world’s going to know eventually.
“Sit down,” I suggest to Madison. She listens and settles on the couch, giving me a look signaling that I should continue. “I don’t want to give you details or anything, so I’m going to come out with it. Sierra raped me.”
“Oh, my God,” Madison gasps, her eyes growing big. “Oh, my God, oh, my God, oh, my God.”
“Anyways, my uncle and I never filed anything against her,” I explain. “But, now that I’m older, I’m going to talk to my uncle about it. I’m still technically not a citizen, but now that I’m 18, I’m hoping they’ll reconsider it. Then, the whole world changes.”
“Niall,” Leila begs.
“Babe, this will get us one step closer to tearing them down. Once Sierra’s gone, Spencer will be nothing without her,” I reply.
“What do you mean?” Madison asks.
“Spencer couldn’t think of all those shitty tricks to play on Leila alone. She’s so stupid it’s actually hilarious,” I respond, chuckling.
“So you’re saying Sierra helped her out?” Madison questions.
“Yup,” I state.
“So then how are we taking down Spencer?” Leila asks.
“Well, how did she tear you down?” I rhetorically interrogate, knowing the answer. Leila looks at me with a blank look. “Security cameras.”
“Oh, my God, why didn’t I think of that before? I could’ve gotten her a long time ago!” Leila shrieks.
“Calm down. We’re going to get her now,” I say.
“Do you really think this could work?” Madison speaks up.
“It’s either going to help us or hurt our reputations,” I deliver. “But I’m hoping for help us.”
“No, duh,” Leila sarcastically remarks.
“Trust me, Leila, I’m just as scared as you are,” I reply, knowing that she comments stuff like that whenever she’s nervous or frightened.
“Shall we get our minds off of this now and enjoy the rest of our night?” Madison asks.
“Yes, please,” Leila pleads.
Madison hooks everything up and soon we’re watching a funny movie. While it’s playing, I figure out a plan of action and decide that I’m going to talk to my uncle tomorrow. It’s the only way to bring peace to our lives and have Leila live her dream again. I love her so much that I’m willing to do anything for this. I’m dead serious. She deserves to be in front of the camera and do what she loves to do, not have these bitches reign over her because of a supposedly “higher status.” I have to do what’s right, even if that means the entire world will now know the most horrifying, and embarrassing, event of my life.
The next morning, I wake up earlier than usual and slip out of the apartment before Leila and Madison even know I’m up. I walk the familiar path to the studio and give the security my pass when I reach them. They allow me to enter and it’s pretty dead as I pace around the building to my uncle’s office. Stopping right in front of it, I knock 3 times. I don’t get an answer, so I knock 3 more times. Shuffling is heard from the other side and with a swift motion, the door is opened to reveal my uncle.
“Oh, it’s just you, phew!” he greets, wiping his forehead and gesturing for me to come in.
I step inside and as I do, I say, “Are you expecting somebody or something?”
“Kind of, it’s a long story,” Uncle Charlie replies. “Sit down, sit down!”
As he gladly takes his chair behind his desk, I settle in the couch near the wall, my heart pounding. I have no idea how this is going to go and what he’s going to say.
“So what brings you here?” he asks.
“Well, I’ve given this a lot of thought and I think it’s the right thing to do,” I begin. “Before I go into it, though, have you been noticing things happening around here?”
“There’s so much happening right now, lad. Specify,” he calmly instructs.
“Okay so you know my girlfriend, right? Leila Tesley?” I question.
“Yes,” Uncle Charlie nods.
“And you know she was on Deep Secrets, right?”
“Yeah, and she got fired for something. I’m a little frightened for your choice in partners, lad,” he warns.
“Okay, well, that stuff that she was supposedly fired for, she didn’t even do them!” I defend. “Trust me, Uncle Charlie, she’s not a bad girl.”
“So are you asking me to allow her back in here or something?” he asks.
“Not the point, but that would be nice. Anyways, have you noticed who’s taken her spot?” I question.
“Honestly, no. It’s been real crazy here, Niall,” Uncle Charlie responds.
“Uncle Charlie, you’re the one who has to approve and authorize every actor in this building. You see everyone’s resume and you accept them in. How did you not see hers?” I point out, my voice rising.
“I’m sorry! I’ve been busy! Just tell me who she is, boy!”
“Sierra,” I state. “Yes, the Sierra who raped me years ago.”
That got my uncle to shut up and focus.
“Oh, my God,” he says, his hand moving to his mouth.
“How could you even approve her resume? She’s not even an actress!” I shout.
“Okay, okay, I’m just one person! Why does it even matter?” Uncle Charlie interrogates.
“Spencer and Sierra drove Leila to the point of what got her fired. They did all of that crap and blamed it on Leila and we’re going to prove that. I could tolerate it when they did it to me, but not to my girlfriend. The fact that they haven’t stopped just proves they need to be stopped. And that’s what we’re going to do,” I explain.
“So…”
“So, now that I’m 18, I want to press charges against Sierra for what she’s done to me,” I state.
Uncle Charlie sighs and leans back in his chair. Both of us don’t say a word and I feel like he’s about to say no.
“You’re probably not going to give up even if I don’t agree right now, huh?” he slowly says.
“Nope,” I reply.
“Alright, fine. We’ll go down tomorrow and get it all sorted out,” Uncle Charlie delivers. Wait, did he just say what I thought he did?
“Really?” I ask, my heart pounding.
“Yeah. Like you said, it’s the right thing to do,” Uncle Charlie agrees.
“Thank you so much, Uncle Charlie,” I add, rushing over and giving him a hug.
“Just promise me that you’ll keep your girlfriend in line, okay?” he jokes. I just look at him and he cracks, chuckling to himself. “I’m kidding!”
“You better be,” I voice.
He laughs before continuing, “Run along, now, these papers aren’t going to fill themselves out for me.”
With an exchange of goodbyes, I exit the studio and head back to the apartment, ready to tell Leila the good news. I can’t believe we’re actually doing this. Finally, everything’s going to be okay.
Notes
These next 2 weeks are going to be crazy for me with the end of school and graduation, so I have no idea how often I'm going to be able to update. After school is done, I'll get back on schedule with updating every Sunday and Wednesday (and I feel really bad that I haven't been able to lately, it's been insane!)Plus, Wattpad just made "Drama" a Rated R story. I don't know how to feel about this.
Rachel :)
Make a Sequel please.
9/13/14