Where the White Rose Withers

by Harell Smiley

  The company employees were finally coexisting with the gang members. No fights or killing. Everyone was professional. “You are a natural born leader. You have brought together a biker gang and professional business men together in peace.” Michael watched everyone in the office. “I am doing something my father didn't. And that is why everyone is at peace.” Bryanna explains. “Here you go. And here you go.” The assistant handed them the coffee. “Did you hear anything recently from our enemies?” Bryanna asks, sipping on her coffee. “The twins were arrested. The parents are planning something big. If you are going to make a move, you need to play a card now to set them back.” The assistant informs. “Thank you.” Bryanna gives her a smile of appreciation.

  “Why are we here?” Danielle asks, annoyed. “Well, I am detective Bennings. I heard you are friends with Spencer Love. Am I correct?” Bennings asked. “Yes. Why? What did she do?” Danielle sits up straight. “Something happened at Carl’s party. This is an investigation.” Bennings informs. “I want my lawyer.” Danielle ordered. “Just tell me what happened. Where were you?” Bennings changed to a softer tone. “I was here. They called me in for questioning and I went home with my dad.” Nate blabbers. “Did you tell Spencer to go to the party?” Bennings ask. “No. I told her I might show up there. And I was going to go with my girlfriend. I did not tell her to go to the party. What happened?” He states. “She was raped. And she named you and a few others. This is an investigation now.” Bennings informed. “I didn’t do anything to her.” Nate slammed on the table. “Calm down Mr. Rose. Now, or we will place you in cuffs.” Bennings threatened. “We need to know who your girlfriend is, so we can have her in for questioning.” Bennings added. “Why do you need her?” Nate asks, calming down. “We need everyone that might have witnessed her there. The more you cooperate with us, the faster we can get you guys set free.” Bennings wrote on her notepad. “Erica Worthington.” Nate sighed. Donovan sat next to Nate silently writing everything down.

  “Ms. Worthington. You were at the party, correct?” Bennings asked the purple haired girl. “Answer honestly.” Her mother commanded. “I was there.” Erica says. “And did you see Spencer there?” Bennings writes on her notepad. “I am not sure who that is.” Erica shook her head in confusion. “Well she knows you.” Bennings slid a picture of her on the table. “She was at the game. She said she was going. I do not know her though.” Erica explained. “You didn’t know her enough to place a drugged drink in her hand?” Bennings looked at Erica. “What? Erica, tell the truth now!” Her mother ordered. “Was it that Rose boy? I told her to stay away from that family. They are worse than the Dayton’s.” Her mother added. “Nate wasn’t at the party. He told me not to go because Carl was a creep. I went anyway. Carl pretty much was a nice guy and got me a drink until...” Erica trailed off. “What happened Ms. Worthington?” Bennings asks. “You guys are going to hate me. Carl made me a drink and dropped something in it. He didn’t know I saw. I pointed at a fight and poured my cup into his. He took me up to his room and said Nate was up there waiting for me. Nate wasn’t at his party though.” Erica explained. “So, you roofied Carl in his attempt to drug you. What was in the room?” Bennings started to write something on the pad. The room fell silent. She placed a black book on the table. “There were other football players having sex with girls. I am not sure if there is a video. He says it's tradition. I know because my sister was involved in this tradition. I thought Annabella Dayton was bullying my sister from like jealousy, until I saw their names in the book. Annabella’s name was crossed out instead of checked marked. They were drugged. He slammed me against the door. I kicked him and ran out of the room. He ran after me and pulled at my arm. I threw my drink in his face and bumped into a girl, but I was not stopping.” Erica finished. “Spencer was raped. She says it was Carl.” Bennings informed. “I wouldn’t be surprised. I should have listened to Nate. He didn’t want me to go. I thought he just didn’t want me to make friends, but I see he was protecting me.” Erica dropped her head into her hands. “Go home and rest. We will be in contact just in case.” Bennings escorted them out.

  Passing the lobby, she sees Nathaniel. She runs up and hugs him. “I should have listened to you. I am so sorry!” She cries in his arms. Everyone watches them. Spencer’s mother enters the station. “What happened at that party?” Nate asks her. “Please don’t get mad.” Erica says. “This is serious Erica. What happened?” Nate asked sternly. “Carl tried to drug me and rape me. I ran out after he tricked me to go to his room. He said you were waiting for me.” A tear ran down her cheek. She saw the rage build up in him. “Son.” Felton placed a hand on Nate’s shoulder. “Did he touch you?” He whispers. “No. I left before he could.” She struggled through the tears. “Glad to see someone taking this seriously. If it wasn’t for you, my daughter would be home.” Ms. Loving accused Nathaniel. “Ma’am I only had one conversation with her. I don’t even know her.” He contested. “You too. You and your whorish ways corrupted my daughter. You slut!” She pointed at Danielle. “I understand you are extremely upset. But, you will not talk to my children like that or you will have a bigger problem on your hands. Do you understand me?” Hazel threatened. “Is that a threat? Mrs. Rose.” Ms Loving asks. “Yes. A mother will go to any length to protect her children. Now back off. Let’s go, children.” Hazel orders.

  Back at the finished home, The Rose family has a meeting in the living room. Donovan and Elizabeth included. “Liz, hun can you give us a moment?” Felton asks. “She is a part of the family now. I trust her.” Donovan says. “Things have gotten out of hand. That Dayton bitch has taken the one thing I needed to make our family expand. I will not stop until I get it back.” Felton banged on the table. “What do we do?” Elizabeth asks. “Take that family down. Once and for all. And we can’t do that when you two are in the spotlight.” Felton answered. “I did nothing wrong but make a girl have friends. I did a good deed. Nate is the one in the spotlight.” Danielle corrected him. “I wasn’t even at the party!” He says. “But, you possibly killed someone. Someone said they saw you. If it is true or not, you are the face of an investigation.” Felton explained. “Especially since we are here because of your actions in the first place.” Danielle shaded. “That is not helping.” Donovan whispered. “It isn’t supposed to help. Remember what you are capable of doing. Just be lucky a higher power kept you from that party.” Danielle says. “Bryanna will play dirty, but she isn’t capable of going low to exploit someone. She got what she wanted and thinks she is untouchable.” Felton thinks out loud. “We need to find out her secrets and exploit them. Her sister already confessed, but she has more. Talk to people in that prison. We will get this bitch.” Felton says.

  Danielle sits at her vanity fixing her hair. A knock appeared at the door. Nate. “Yes?” She asks. “Why do you hate me so much?” Nate asked. “I don’t hate you. When I look at you I see a disgusting trash of a boy that shares a bloodline. But I don’t hate you. Every time I look at you I question what I could have done to stop you that night. Every time I miss home and I want to talk to someone I remember I can’t. You ruined my life. But, we are family. So, when I am mean to you, when I say the things I do, it is because you not only ruined my life. You ruined theirs too.” Danielle explained. “It was the biggest mistake of my life. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” Nate started crying. “Save it and get out of my room.” Danielle turned back to the mirror and watched him walk out of the room before her tear fell.

  The phone rings. Bryanna rushes to pick it up. “Sammy it is almost midnight. What is it? What happened?” Bryanna asks, sneaking out of bed, trying not to wake Devon. “Take a seat because this will blow you away!” She says. “What news do you have for me?” Bryanna listened and smiled a smile she has seen Annabella make too many times. The ammunition she needed.

  “My name is Jada Masse and I saw something happen to Elijah the night of his party.” She says to the New York police. “What do you know?” The office
r asked. “Do you want the full story or just the Reader's Digest version?” Jada shot a look at them.

  Part 2.

  the eleventh hour

  Rome wasn’t built in a day, but a day was all it took to burn down.

  8 . How Do You Solve A Problem Like The Rose’s

  “ R ecent news has been released regarding the rape of a teenage female. The party at the Terril’s residents turned out to be more than she expected when the alleged football star raped her in the bathroom. It has been said to be more than a house party, but a traditional hazing by drugging girls and sleeping with them against their will. The investigation is still ongoing.” The news reporter shouted. “I am off!”

  Nate says, walking towards the door, uniform in hand instead of on. “Why aren’t you wearing your football uniform?” Danielle asks, fixing her curly half ponytail. “I quit. I don’t need to be around what they are about. It is not who I am anymore.” He says. “I will go with you.” Danielle grabs her bag and they are off. “You don’t have to Dani.” He holds his head down. “I am still going.” She followed.

  The two siblings walk into the locker room and into the coaches office. “Coach. I can’t be on the team anymore. It is too much going on. I need to focus on school.” Nate put the uniform on his desk. “Abandoning your brotherhood will end badly. Especially at this time.” Coach says. “Roses are strong. Let’s go Natey.” Danielle pulls him out. Before walking out, Carl slams Nate into the locker while Eddy and Lucas holds Danielle back. “Get off of me you disgusting pervs.” She yells. “You leave this team. I tell everyone you killed that boy at the party.” Carl threatens. “Tell them. Because if you retract your statement from the police we all go down. So please tell everyone.” Nate laughs. Carl punched him in the stomach and threw him down and they proceeded to jump him. Lucas and Eddy jumped Nate, while the screams of Danielle went ignored.

  The guys finally stopped and walked out of the locker room. Danielle helped him up and out of the locker room. “Let’s get you home.” She struggles through the tears. “No. They are not going to run me out of Oberlin. This is our school now. Let me be a part of your crew.” Nate struggles through the pain. “Yes. You’re in.” Danielle hugs him. “Let’s get you cleaned up.” She holds him up and walks to the girl’s bathroom.

  She pats his bloody and bruised face with a damp tissue. “I meant what I said.” I never meant to do it. I wouldn’t hurt anyone.” A tear fell from his eyes. “I know. Don’t ever speak about it in public.” Danielle says, throwing away the tissues. A girl barges into the bathroom, Amber. “Dani. Nate. You need to see this. Now.” She panics. “What is it?” Nate asks following. Passing the “ RAPIST ” spray painted in silver on Carl’s locker. There it was. Painted on Nathaniel’s also.

  Hello Oberlin. It’s been a while since something this big was exploited. Well, Georgia’s Rose, Nathaniel was keeping a huge secret from us. He indeed is a rapist and for the first time the family of the victim is speaking out. If it’s hard to comprehend, here is some help. Once there was a pretty princess named Brielle, she was liked by many under the wing of Danielle. Invited to a party and drank pretty hardy and raped by a drunken prince named Nathaniel. Sound familiar Rose? Remember when I said what goes around comes around? What are thorns, when you are stepped on by boots?

  Love TheDot.com

  Everyone stood and stared at them. Two speechless siblings in the middle of the hall. “Leave them alone!” Jason and Mr. English escorted them to the dean's office. “Your parents were contacted. We will discuss it more when they get here.” Mr. English had his hand around Danielle. “Thank you. I can take it from here.” Jason pulls her closer. “How are you babe?” Jason asks. “I am fine just… in shock.” She pulls away. He started feeling like she wanted nothing to do with him. “Should I go?” Jason asks. “Yes. This is a family matter. I will text you.” Danielle kisses him and closes the door behind him. “Well now the world knows.” Danielle says. Her phone kept blowing up with notifications. “Do you want to check that?” Nate asks. “Why? I already know what it will say.” She replies. “Are you alright?” Mr. English caresses her arms. “Yeah we will be fine. Thank you. Go teach your class.” She shuts the door behind him. “Don’t do it.” Nate says.

  The room fell quiet for a moment. “Do what?” Danielle asked, knowing what he meant. “The student and teacher scandal isn’t something you want to be attached to. The way he looks at you and how he hides in the shadows around school and lunch to watch you is weird.” Nate explained. “He watches me at lunch?” Danielle asks in shock. “Are you okay? What happened?” Felton busted through the door. Danielle shows him the text. “This was sent out to all of the students in surrounding schools.” Danielle explains. “What is going to happen?” Nate asks, crying. “We will handle it. Don’t worry.” Felton held him. “Mr. Rose. We have a lot of parents calling in about your son. I think it is best that he takes up virtual school until we make our final decision.” Headmaster Rogers entered the room and informed the family. Felton started to get angry. “If my brother gets kicked out, then Lucas, Eddy and Carl needs to also, for jumping him and assaulting me this morning in the locker room.” Danielle argues. “Get them in my office.” Rogers orders his assistant. “We will take care of the other boys. Danielle, head to class and Mr. Felton, we will be in touch.” Rodgers exited the room. “Dad I can come home if you need me.” Danielle insisted. “No. Stay here and finish the day. We will figure something out. Thank you honey.” Felton hugs and kisses her forehead.

  Danielle makes her way to class, everyone hushed as she passes. “She probably helped him.” One student whispers. “Do you think she knew?” Another whispers. She sees her girls and she sped up. “This morning has been hectic.” Danielle sighs, finally making it to her friends. “Listen, Dani. You can't be a part of this group anymore. Your brother is a rapist.” Amber says. “From now on, I will be taking over the group.” Crystal smiles, fixing her clothes since she lost weight. “ Expect the unexpected. Isn’t that what you always say?” Crystal laughed as they strut away. Another Rose taken down.

  Well, well, well. Seems like the Rose’s are being plucked out of the garden. Hope they can survive without water.

  -Love TheDot.com

  “I know that bitch is behind it. I just do.” Hazel says, walking out of the Gianvito Rossi store. That is when she saw her. “Please. Mrs. Loft. Don’t do it. He is just a boy.” Hazel begged. “And that gives him a right to get away with it? My daughter is my world. Justice needs to be served. This is the check for the forty million. Your hush money was never used and never will be. Your son deserves to rot in hell. Now get out of here before my daughter sees you.” Sabine Loft handed her the check and walked into the store.

  Hazel raced home to her husband. She fought through the reporters and paparazzi. “Where is Nate?” She asks in a panic. “They suspended him from school. He is in his room.” Felton explained. “I saw her. In the city. They will be doing an interview.” Hazel informed him. “Who?” Felton asks. “Sabine.” Hazel covers her face. “It is just a scare tactic. They will not do it after accepting that money.” Felton snapped. Hazel handed him the check signed by him. “We will have to do something.” Felton whispers. “We didn’t make as many friends as we should have because you wanted to keep it business. The Daytons had parties and events to build allies. This family is alone and surrounded.” Hazel started crying. “Even I lost all my friends at school because of this.” Danielle struts into the house, mortified. “You guys turn on the television to Darcey Mann.” Donovan storms into the house.

  Felton does as instructed. There she was, Brielle Vandermen. She had her black and brown hair curled to the side. She wore a navy pants suit. That familiar butterfly necklace. “It is great to have you here today. How do you feel?” Darcey Mann asked her. “I feel better. I feel stronger.” She says in a sweet tone. “That girl is all but innocent.” Felton yelled at the television. “That is really good to hear. Talking about this i
s not easy. So, I will just let you tell the story before I ask any questions.” Darcey leaned closer on the white couch. Nate watched from the hall.

  “ Well, I was best friends with Danielle Rose. She was the popular girl of the school. She had her clique and I was a part of it, they made me feel… wanted. We were friends for years, like all of elementary school to high school. One night we were going to a house party. I dressed in a black dress and heels. Did my hair and makeup and left. While we were there, I danced and socialized. I saw Nathaniel Rose there, I said hi because we were friends, our families were extremely close. He handed me a mixed drink. I accepted. People ask me why I accepted it. Like I said, we were friends for years, I went on vacations and sleepovers and I have trusted this family that has never ever done anything to hurt me. They treated me like I was their family. Until that night. So, the party went on and there were some older kids doing drugs. Like cocaine and weed. I just had a mixed drink and danced. I saw Nathaniel starting to pass out, so I literally took him to the bathroom and stuck a toothbrush down his throat and forced him to throw up. I didn’t know what he did exactly. I just knew he was drinking before we arrived. Every time he came around drunk I would help him and make sure he doesn’t get in trouble. Same with Danielle. I was like the mother of the group. So, he turns around and stumbles into me. He gives me this...this look. It was strange. It wasn’t a romantic look. He pushes me against the door and tries to kiss me. He has never made a pass at me before. We never shared any feelings other than brother-sister type of feelings. Only little jokes and compliments. I told him to stop and tried to push him off, but he was a football player that worked out every day. My little self cannot push that much muscle off of me easily. His hand slid up my dress and I heard his zipper open. I begged him to please stop multiple times, but he ignored me. I tried to fight, but... ” Brielle trailed off. Her closed eyes started to drop tears like hail. The audience were crying and sniffling.