Chapter6-Unspoken Victim

February 21st, 2012

 It’s a few days later. Bailey was back in London, and Justin was back in Boston. And it was another day of 7th Anthem performing their upcoming single.

 Natalie was in her apartment when she was watching 7A’s performance. This time, it was with Aaron’s turn. He was a really great singer and dancer, but he’s not as well-known as Brandon. Natalie wanted Aaron to replace Justin, not Brandon. Aaron doesn’t have any history with Andrew. Then again, Andrew apparently has a past where he couldn’t stay with one person, boomeranging back and forth to Alyson, and getting easily seduced by both genders. So who knows if he would be willing to be with Aaron?

 At the same time, Natalie was feeling desperate. Andrew announced on his Twitter page that he’s planning on a very big, possibly career-changing interview. He didn’t say what he was going to talk about, but Natalie knew what he meant. He was going to tell the world about his past as a grade-school bully.

 She could see her grip on Andrew was slipping rapidly. She underestimated him. He’s couldn’t take being her boyfriend any longer. Seeing him impulsively worm his out of her arms reminded her how Andrew was like in Kindergarten. He had moments when would manipulate his way in and out of situations. He didn’t have to speak to get his way. He would accomplish what he wanted.

 Natalie wasn’t sure what to do. She wanted keep Andrew all to herself, but she wasn’t sure what to do anymore. So she called up Ethan to meet with her. He soon arrived at her apartment.

 Once he sat down on her couch, he asked, “So, why am I here?”

 Natalie explained, “It’s Andrew. I can’t control him anymore. He’s going to tell the world about his past as a bully.”

 With that, Ethan gave a huge grin. Natalie was confused by this, so she asked, “Why are you smiling?”

 He explained, “Andrew is finally doing something he should’ve done years ago. That’s why I’m smiling.”

 Natalie groaned in frustration. Ethan noticed this, so he asked, “I think I have an idea, but let me ask you this: Do you remember why Andrew couldn’t talk back in Kindergarten?”

 She thought for a moment, and said, “I kind of do. He had some speech disability. He did sign language, and he would write notes for the teacher to read to us. There were numerous times when he did speak, but everything that came out of him was gibberish. Why?”

 He explained, “When did you see Andrew again? And I don’t mean in person.”

 “I was watching the show, New England’s Teen SuperStar. If I remember correctly, it was the audition round. UTurn was being interviewed. That’s when I saw Andrew. I thought he looked familiar. Even his name sounded familiar. When they made the live shows, UTurn had their profile up. I looked them up, and I saw Andrew’s full name and his place of birth. I knew that it was the same Andrew in Kindergarten.”

 “How did you react when you heard him talk and sing?”

 “Shocked, actually. He spoke fluently, and he sang so well. I thought he would never talk, but he eventually did. So why are you asking me about his speech thing?”

 Ethan gave a smug grin as he said, “I think I have a way to keep Andrew hostage a little longer…”

 It’s now evening. 7A returned to their condo. Just then, Andrew got a text from Natalie. After he read what it said, he went to Alyson’s room. He showed her the message.

 She asked, “Why would Natalie want to meet with you at a parking garage?”

 He answered, “I don’t know. I think it’s suspicious.”

 “Of course it is. Doesn’t she know you’re going to tell the world about your past? I mean, what else could she possibly have on you?”

 “I don’t know. But since I’m still her ‘hostage,’ I have to go. But you’re coming with me.”

 “Do I stand next to you, or what? She can’t know I’m still your girlfriend.”

 “You have to sit on the floor of the backseat of the car. I’ll park at a distance where she can’t see you, but you can see us. And I’ll have my phone on so you can hear everything that’s being said.”

 Alyson agreed. They left the condo, and soon arrived at the parking garage. It was somewhat empty. Andrew saw Natalie at a distance. He parked the car, called Alyson’s phone so she can listen in, and walked over to Natalie. Alyson, on the other hand, sat on the floor of the backseat. She tried to see from the window, but decided against it.

 Andrew walked up to Natalie, and asked, “So, why are we here?”

 Natalie gave an evil smile as she explained, “Andrew, you can’t go through with the interview.”

 “Why is that?”

 “I have something on you, and I seriously doubt you want to the world to find out.”

 “What is there for the world to find out? I’m bi, and I’m about to reveal my bullying past. What else is there?”

 “Let me ask you this: How where you able to talk, because last time I remember, all you could do was write and do sign language. And if you were trying to speak, your mouth spewed gibberish.’

 That made Andrew suspicious, so he asked, “Why do you want to know how I overcame my disability?”

 “Just answer the question.”

 “Why? Do you have your phone recording this so-called conversation?”

 “If you’re not going to speak, then I will. You overcome your disability by being trained in singing and acting, while taking speech therapy. Because of that, you were able to begin speaking fluently by second grade. You stopped going to therapy when you were 12. Now that training has paid off because you’re a member of the world’s famous pop band. You’re the male lead singer of 7th Anthem. Your character on The Delinquents has major roles. You’re obviously the most outspoken member in band.”

 That angered Andrew. He demanded, “How did you know about all of that? Did Ethan tell any of this?”

 Natalie said, “Well, it makes sense, doesn’t? If you didn’t take voice and acting lessons, you wouldn’t be in this band. You would still be using sign language. You would still be spewing gibberish. You wouldn’t be the Andrew Hawthorne you are today. You would be a nobody!”

 Andrew glared hard at Natalie. Then he said sternly, “The world can never know about my disability. As far is the public knows, I’m normal. No one can tell I had problems. Oh, and you underestimated me. If I didn’t have those lessons, and all I spoke was gibberish, I would have dance by my side. You don’t need to talk by using your mouth. The moves will do all the speaking.”

 Natalie thought for a moment, and asked, “Okay, let me ask you this: How did you become a bully?”

 “You already know how I became a bully.”

 “That’s not what I meant. I mean, how exactly did you become a bully? Why did you lash out on everyone?”

 “You want more detail? I became a bully out of anger towards my parents. I didn’t want to move, but I couldn’t exactly speak my opinions and my feelings. So I held it all in.”

 “There you go. Your bullying past is connected to your disability. You can’t tell the entire truth without explaining your delayed speech.”

 Andrew growled, “Like fuck I’ll tell the world about my disability!”

 “Why are you are so worked up about this? Why don’t you want the world to know about your disability?”

 Andrew said angrily, “You want to know why I’m worked up over this? It’s because it’s nobodies’ business! Why should the world know absolutely every little thing about me? There’s a complicated history behind my disability, and I’m agreement with my family to never reveal this part of my life. And guess what? I’m okay with this!”

 Feeling desperate, Natalie said hastily, “I’ll tell the world about your disability if you reveal your bullying past.”

 Andrew scoffed, “Do that, and I’ll sue you. Have you forgotten that my parents are the most powerful lawyers in the entire east coast of the America?”

 Then Natalie grabbed his arm, “Don’t leave me, Andrew! I need you!”

 He shot back, “For what? I never loved you, Natalie. Never have, and I never will.”

 “Who are you going to sleep with now? Brandon? Alyson? That other replacement Aaron? Maybe all three at once?”

 “My heart belongs to Alyson, and Alyson only. She’s the love of my life. I’ve loved her since first grade. You? We only met in Kindergarten, and that was it. As for my ex-boyfriend, Brandon, he’s just friend of mine now. And Aaron? He’s a friend of 7th Anthem’s. We went to school with him. I’m nowhere near interested in him.”

 Natalie saw Andrew getting ready to walk away. She told him coldly, “I can’t let you leave.”

 Andrew asked, “Why is that?”

 Natalie answered…by sticking an injection needle through his thigh! Andrew winced in pain, but he soon passed out. It was a tranquilizer.

 When Alyson heard what happened, she looked through the window. She saw Natalie standing over an unconscious Andrew.

 That angered Alyson. She immediately bolted out of the car, and ran up to Natalie. She slammed Natalie against a car, presumably Natalie’s.

 Natalie demanded, “How the fuck did you get here?!?”

 Alyson said angrily, “I’ve been here the entire time! I was in Andrew’s car. He called me so I can listen in what you two were saying. And you know why? I’m his girlfriend! We never broke up! He’ll never love you back. He loves me, and only me.”

 Natalie glared at Alyson, and then she screamed at her. Then she lunged at Alyson. The two fought each other. Just as Alyson was winning, Natalie escaped from her grip. As Alyson looked around for her, she was knocked out. By Natalie.