Karen/Erin Epic. Chapter 3.
Chapter 3: Tell me on a Sunday, please…
Warning: Rape mentioned.
The drive to the meeting area was silence. Neither Karen or Erin wanted to speak and it showed in the way they stared blankly out of the windows. Erin was shivering slightly, nervous but refusing to admit it. Karen was a little tense herself but she relaxed as they parked up and got out, her car doors clicking shut before she locked them. The two had been the first to arrive as it was on Saturdays.
Erin hid herself away in a little booth at the back as Karen ordered in the usual range of coffees and teas, not to mention plenty of food. The gatherings always wound up being full of silences and eating. Karen had joined Erin in the booth quietly as they waited for the rest of the dancers, both male and female, to arrive.
First to arrive was Brian Fortuna, a gentle gay, an American and a clever guy. He joined them at the booth instantly, smiling softly at Erin as he settled, glad to see Erin was safe with Karen, he did care much as he’d never say so. His bright blue eyes shone as he tucked a strand of brown hair from his face, he didn’t speak however but seemed comfortable to sit away from Erin and Karen, understanding what she’d be feeling. He had seen several rape victims in his profession, mostly women who wanted their confidence back. The smile he gave Karen was knowing but soft, unrevealing.
Hayley Holt and Kristina Rihanoff had been the next to arrive, both reluctant to get too close, settling closer to Brian. Both women had blonde hair and blue eyes although Kristina’s was clearly bleached and a little crazy.
Flavia Cacace arrived next, also joining the bundle near Brian, this was nothing personal towards Karen or Erin, she just knew they’d prefer to have people they knew better closer to them. Her brown hair was tucked from her blue eyes and she gently kissed Erin’s hair as she passed her.
Ola and James Jordan had arrived next, James and Ola both had long blonde hair but Ola had brown eyes where James appeared to have blue. The two settled somewhere near the middle of the gap between Erin and Brian. Ola had gently stroked Erin’s cheek as she passed, understanding how she felt and wordlessly supporting her.
Matthew Cutler had joined them next, blonde hair out of blue eyes even as he settle beside Ola and James, on Brian’s side. He was sure whatever had happened would make Erin jumpy around guys and so he kept away.
Lilia Kopylova and Darren Bennett had arrived next, Darren settling on Brian’s side of the gap, brown eyes warm as he flicked his brown hair back, Lilia settling beside Erin, gently taking her hand understandingly. She could see Erin was nervous and fully supported her friend. Her brown hair was messy and tied back from her brown eyes, eyes warm with caring.
Anton DuBeke had been next to arrive, settling beside Brian’s group quietly, he had seen what had happened to Erin and longed to offer her comfort but she seemed tense around men at the moment and he understood completely. His blue eyes fixed on her even as he brushed brown hair back.
Ian Waite had arrived next, smiling softly as he settled closer to Karen than Kristina but keeping a gap for any other female who may want to fill it, they were nearly full now and Erin seemed less calm by the second. Ian had blown his blonde hair out of blue eyes looking slightly huffy, managing to gain a slight giggle from Erin as he did so.
Brendan Cole had been next to arrive, seemingly uncaring about Erin’s feelings as he made to sit closer to them both, he moved the second Karen gave him a dark glare however, settling huffily, brown hair falling into brown eyes, seeming to glower at them both. Erin had tensed and gripped both Karen and Lilia’s hands, seeming to need the comfort.
Vincent Simone had arrived next, glowering at Brendan as he entered, he’d seen the man’s move and hated him for it, his touch was light on Erin’s shoulder as he passed, squeezing softly to show his support. His brown eyes were warm on her blue eyes, brown hair cut short to keep it out of his eyes. He settled closer to Lilia than Karen, knowing Erin would be less flustered by that move.
Camilla Dallerup had been the last to join them, blonde hair mussed and blue eyes full of what seemed to be tears, she was shaky even as she settled beside Karen, seeming to cower into her a little. Erin had sensed something from Camilla that no-one else understood, except perhaps Karen and Anton, Karen slipping her free arm around Camilla comfortingly. The group had remained silent as Karen spoke softly. “What’s the matter Cammie?”
Camilla had shaken her head even as Erin spoke. “I think I know.” She paused, clearing her throat as she spoke, her voice shaky but strong. “A day ago, I was brutally raped in the Strictly ladies changing rooms… if I’m right then my rapist is here… and just did the exact same to Camilla.”
The silence was soon torn by the sound of a low growl of anger, Anton rising to grip the back of Brendan’s neck. “You had better not have done it…”
“No, no I didn’t… I may be a wanker but I’m not a rapist.”
“Anton, put him down.” The voice was clear from behind the group and many turned as someone entered, a judge from the sound of the voice, a female.
Anton had done as told before sitting back down. Brendan too had taken his seat with a small sigh of relief. Camilla had not turned at the voice but she had sat up as the voice was joined by a second, an unfamiliar voice.
“We’ve caught the man that did it, and he isn’t here… but he would have been before.”
Karen had frozen at that, speaking slowly. “Who was it?”
“I’m afraid I can’t say…”
The first voice spoke again now. “I can. It was…” She paused, clearly shaken by it. “One of the producers.” The voice had come from shadows before but now the light fell on the woman’s face as she shifted forward to take the remaining seat, beside Camilla, lightly brushing her cheek. “I’m sorry he hurt you girls, I really am.”
Camilla had half-turned now, surprised by the tenderness shown. She pulled away from Karen after a pause and nestled closer to the woman, seeming to accept that Arlene meant what she said. The woman’s brown hair was loosely curled but her brown eyes spoke of her sorrow, an arm wrapped tight around Camilla.
Warning: Rape mentioned.
The drive to the meeting area was silence. Neither Karen or Erin wanted to speak and it showed in the way they stared blankly out of the windows. Erin was shivering slightly, nervous but refusing to admit it. Karen was a little tense herself but she relaxed as they parked up and got out, her car doors clicking shut before she locked them. The two had been the first to arrive as it was on Saturdays.
Erin hid herself away in a little booth at the back as Karen ordered in the usual range of coffees and teas, not to mention plenty of food. The gatherings always wound up being full of silences and eating. Karen had joined Erin in the booth quietly as they waited for the rest of the dancers, both male and female, to arrive.
First to arrive was Brian Fortuna, a gentle gay, an American and a clever guy. He joined them at the booth instantly, smiling softly at Erin as he settled, glad to see Erin was safe with Karen, he did care much as he’d never say so. His bright blue eyes shone as he tucked a strand of brown hair from his face, he didn’t speak however but seemed comfortable to sit away from Erin and Karen, understanding what she’d be feeling. He had seen several rape victims in his profession, mostly women who wanted their confidence back. The smile he gave Karen was knowing but soft, unrevealing.
Hayley Holt and Kristina Rihanoff had been the next to arrive, both reluctant to get too close, settling closer to Brian. Both women had blonde hair and blue eyes although Kristina’s was clearly bleached and a little crazy.
Flavia Cacace arrived next, also joining the bundle near Brian, this was nothing personal towards Karen or Erin, she just knew they’d prefer to have people they knew better closer to them. Her brown hair was tucked from her blue eyes and she gently kissed Erin’s hair as she passed her.
Ola and James Jordan had arrived next, James and Ola both had long blonde hair but Ola had brown eyes where James appeared to have blue. The two settled somewhere near the middle of the gap between Erin and Brian. Ola had gently stroked Erin’s cheek as she passed, understanding how she felt and wordlessly supporting her.
Matthew Cutler had joined them next, blonde hair out of blue eyes even as he settle beside Ola and James, on Brian’s side. He was sure whatever had happened would make Erin jumpy around guys and so he kept away.
Lilia Kopylova and Darren Bennett had arrived next, Darren settling on Brian’s side of the gap, brown eyes warm as he flicked his brown hair back, Lilia settling beside Erin, gently taking her hand understandingly. She could see Erin was nervous and fully supported her friend. Her brown hair was messy and tied back from her brown eyes, eyes warm with caring.
Anton DuBeke had been next to arrive, settling beside Brian’s group quietly, he had seen what had happened to Erin and longed to offer her comfort but she seemed tense around men at the moment and he understood completely. His blue eyes fixed on her even as he brushed brown hair back.
Ian Waite had arrived next, smiling softly as he settled closer to Karen than Kristina but keeping a gap for any other female who may want to fill it, they were nearly full now and Erin seemed less calm by the second. Ian had blown his blonde hair out of blue eyes looking slightly huffy, managing to gain a slight giggle from Erin as he did so.
Brendan Cole had been next to arrive, seemingly uncaring about Erin’s feelings as he made to sit closer to them both, he moved the second Karen gave him a dark glare however, settling huffily, brown hair falling into brown eyes, seeming to glower at them both. Erin had tensed and gripped both Karen and Lilia’s hands, seeming to need the comfort.
Vincent Simone had arrived next, glowering at Brendan as he entered, he’d seen the man’s move and hated him for it, his touch was light on Erin’s shoulder as he passed, squeezing softly to show his support. His brown eyes were warm on her blue eyes, brown hair cut short to keep it out of his eyes. He settled closer to Lilia than Karen, knowing Erin would be less flustered by that move.
Camilla Dallerup had been the last to join them, blonde hair mussed and blue eyes full of what seemed to be tears, she was shaky even as she settled beside Karen, seeming to cower into her a little. Erin had sensed something from Camilla that no-one else understood, except perhaps Karen and Anton, Karen slipping her free arm around Camilla comfortingly. The group had remained silent as Karen spoke softly. “What’s the matter Cammie?”
Camilla had shaken her head even as Erin spoke. “I think I know.” She paused, clearing her throat as she spoke, her voice shaky but strong. “A day ago, I was brutally raped in the Strictly ladies changing rooms… if I’m right then my rapist is here… and just did the exact same to Camilla.”
The silence was soon torn by the sound of a low growl of anger, Anton rising to grip the back of Brendan’s neck. “You had better not have done it…”
“No, no I didn’t… I may be a wanker but I’m not a rapist.”
“Anton, put him down.” The voice was clear from behind the group and many turned as someone entered, a judge from the sound of the voice, a female.
Anton had done as told before sitting back down. Brendan too had taken his seat with a small sigh of relief. Camilla had not turned at the voice but she had sat up as the voice was joined by a second, an unfamiliar voice.
“We’ve caught the man that did it, and he isn’t here… but he would have been before.”
Karen had frozen at that, speaking slowly. “Who was it?”
“I’m afraid I can’t say…”
The first voice spoke again now. “I can. It was…” She paused, clearly shaken by it. “One of the producers.” The voice had come from shadows before but now the light fell on the woman’s face as she shifted forward to take the remaining seat, beside Camilla, lightly brushing her cheek. “I’m sorry he hurt you girls, I really am.”
Camilla had half-turned now, surprised by the tenderness shown. She pulled away from Karen after a pause and nestled closer to the woman, seeming to accept that Arlene meant what she said. The woman’s brown hair was loosely curled but her brown eyes spoke of her sorrow, an arm wrapped tight around Camilla.