Last Straw

Shanell kept walking towards home she didn't care that the rain was soaking her to the skin, nor that she had a bruise forming on her arm all she wanted to do was go home. She was tired and she knew her brothers were not going to take this well. She looked at the sky as it just kept raining it was mid afternoon when she had the run in with Patrice so she wasn't sure what time it was now. She knew it was probably time for school to end as she had been walking awhile. She lived a couple blocks away from the school okay more than a couple blocks but she didn't care. She had just walked down around the corner when a car went flying by her and the rain water that had started to gather flew in the air and drenched her. She closed her eyes shaking her head as the water slid down her face. She was just going to stop when a car pulled up beside her. She winced looking to see the angry brown eyes of her brother Andy.

For a moment she wondered how this day could get any worse. Before she could think of saying anything, Andy's eyes softened slightly as he took in Shanell appearance. Taking a breath, he finally spoke. "Shan get in the car." Seeing the protest forming on his sister's lips, Andy spoke again. "Get in the car before you get any wetter. I don't want you to get sick." He ran a hand through his blonde hair. He knew something was going to happen the kids had stopped too quickly. He wondered the same thing Shanell did, what if they had waited till the brothers gave the money to the school afraid of pulling anything. That they thought if they pulled anything that Barry and his brothers would pull the money from the concert.

Shanell knew protesting was a lost cause but she did try. Yet looking at her brother who was holding the door open and she knew he would not take no for an answer she was cold, wet tired and sore. She finally gave up sliding into the car not saying anything.

As she shut the door, Andy spoke again. "Why are you walking home in the rain? When you knew I was coming to get you …. “ he turned the camaro around and headed back to the house. He looked towards her frowning when she didn't look at him. The makeup she had been wearing to hide the bruise on her face had wore off. Sure he knew she was wearing it to hide the mark that all had seen from the fruit. “Shan... Starlight what's wrong...”

“nothing.....” She whispered, when his hand reached over to grab her to take the wrist she was holding against her she winced. He quickly pulled the car over to the side of the road.

“bollocks what …. did something happen at school....” he asked quickly.

“uhm....” when he held her face so she couldn't look away she knew she couldn't lie to him. She never could even when she tried to hide how bad it was at school before they came home. She closed her eyes “Andy its ...”

“Shanell Rose what happened....” He never used that tone with her ever. Sure Barry did if she did sometimes but never Andy. “tell me...”

“I had a run in with a few kids at the school....” She whispered. When he kept looking at her she couldn't help it she started crying and poured out everything that happened.

When she finish pouring out everything that had happened., she ended the telling with her arms hugged to her chest, and shivering. So lost in the telling of what had happen, she didn't notice the drape of a blanket that was kept in the car over her, or Andy moving over to draw her against his chest. Finally, feeling empty she sagged into Andy and just waited in silence not daring to look up at him. She knew he was angry she could feel it in the tense way he held himself. She finally looked up at him seeing the anger in the depths of those brown eyes. “I am okay ...”

“no you're not..” He stated trying to control his temper. Robin and he had actually been talking because they didn't trust whoever did what they did at the concert. Somehow they knew it wasn't a one time thing that it had to do with someone at the school. Andy had actually thought maybe Patrice did it. He kissed the top of her head hugging her close to him. “lets get you home out of those wet clothes .. then we will talk...” He kept one arm around her as he drove back towards the house. His thoughts were in turmoil in Shanell telling him what happened at school she had inadvertently told him that it was Patrice that had thrown the tomato, somehow he had known it was her but now there was definite proof. They pulled into the drive at the house, “do you need some help?”

Shanell shook her head grabbing her bag though Andy took it out of her hand then helped her out the other side. She knew that the minute they saw him help her out of the car there was gong to be hell. She sighed and leaned against Andy as they walked into the house. She didn't notice till now but she was limping. She must have done that when she fell down the stairs. She had just reached the door when Robin was out like a shot. She didn't get to protest as she was up in the air she heard Andy protest but knew that was another lost cause. She sighed as Robin lifted her into his arms and carried her inside.

Barry heard them come in and stopped when he saw Robin carrying their sister inside. “what happened ...” He moved the cushions on the couch directing Robin to set her down. “Mo get a blanket ….. Mum Dad Andy's home with Shan.....” He moved closer seeing her soaked clothes and the way she was holding her wrist. “Rosebud what did you do to your wrist....” He moved closer kneeling by her while Andy set the bag down on the table. He moved close moving her sleeve up seeing her wrist was all black and blue. She also had another spectacular bruise starting to form on her chin. His gut clenched seeing this

Robin had set her on the couch her coat already tossed off to the side not caring. She shivered and he wrapped the blanket around her and pulled her into his lap rubbing her arms trying to get her to warm up. “what happened princess tell us ….” he looked at Andy who was pacing back and forth in the living room their parents had come in when Barry yelled for them. “Andy?” Something told him that their youngest brother knew what was going on. He looked back down at their baby sister who wasn't looking at Barry or Andy just curled in his arms. She was so tiny that she could still fit easily even at sixteen. He brushed a hand through the blonde hair on her head.

“What happened “Barbara asked as she sat down in a chair watching her youngest son pace.

Hugh looked at his sons and his little girl. His little girl just seemed to curl into her brothers arms not saying anything. His youngest son looked ready to spit nails. Andy was never very out spoken more like his brother Barry very soft spoken unless it concerned their little sister. While the twins were close the three Barry and Andy with Shanell were like triplets of different ages. When he didn't response to his name a couple times Hugh stated it louder. “Andrew what's going on....”

Andy froze midstep and looked at his parents “We need to call the police.... but Shanell is not going back to that school....” he looked at their mother. “Mum....” he shook his head “they shoved her down the stairs! Then shoved her outside in the rain … “ His whole body was shaking with anger he was not one to get angry easily but this just was a step too far. “and that GIRL ..” he spat “Patrice someone who used to be a friend is the one ...” he looked at Robin “she's the one that hit Shanell with the rotten fruit.... Shanell told me....”