Where the White Rose Withers

by Harell Smiley

  Me : Thank you.

  Rachel : Us women have to stick together.

  Rachel : video attachment:

  There he was. The bald man ordered a young man to tamper with the car. No masks. Irish. “I’ve seen this man before. At one of my parents’ parties when I was a kid.” Mike says. “Find them and get rid of them. Put an orange rose with them since they like to leave those laying around. No jackets and cover your faces.” Bryanna ordered.

  She then called the detective and let her and the police know what happened. “You need evidence in order to convict someone. Otherwise everyone and their mother will be taking people to court that they don’t like then. Get me Proof.” She says.

  Staring at the phone, Bryanna sent the video to the news station.

  Nate knew something bad was about to happen. He knew someone was coming. “How much for it?” Nate asks the man. Standing in an alley in Brooklyn. “Eight hundred.” He says. The man was tall but not taller than Nate. He was Spanish with a rough voice. He had tattoos on his face. He looked as if he would kill Nate at any moment. “Here’s a thousand.” Nate handed him the money. “Damn you must really be in trouble. You know how to shoot it?” The man asks. “I’m a pro. Just need to protect myself from some people.” Nate aimed the nine-millimeter at the ground. Fake shooting the grass. “My name is Vortex. Pleasure doing business with you.” Vortex shook his hand.

  Nate made it back to the city in the town car. Gripping the book bag. Shaking his leg nervously. “Mr. Rose is everything okay?” The driver asks. “Yes. Just thinking about everything.” Nate answered. “I’m just making sure. I wasn’t happy about you buying drugs from that man.” The driver replied. “Tony, I promise I was not buying drugs.” Nate looked up into the rear-view window. “Take me to The H Hotel please.” Nate ordered.

  Making his way into the hotel, Nate goes to his usual spot on the roof. He could think and breathe. He wasn’t worried about anything. He knew what would happen next. Just like last time, they pack up and move away from their problems. “I hope you’re not going to jump.” Erica lets out a snicker. “Debating it.” Nate doesn’t take his eyes away from the view. “I am sorry. What I did was done out of anger. He was supposed to go to jail. When I saw my sister’s name and then the eggs I had to do it.” Erica tried to explain. “What you did was stupid and reckless. You not only put yourself in danger, you put me in danger too.” Nate yelled. He could feel himself getting angry. He could feel himself losing who he was. “Carl was supposed to go to jail.” Erica starts crying. That doesn't faze Nate. Not this time. Not anymore. “Guys like Carl do not get jail time. Guys like Carl gets off and gets to live their lives.” Nate stepped closer to her. “You mean guys like you?” Erica comments in a moment of sudden anger. And that was it. Nate gripped her neck and pinned her against the wall. “You are fucking dead to me.” He whispered. “The difference between me and Carl, I made a mistake and lived every day dying on the inside knowing I hurt the girl that I could see my future with. He never cared and never will.” Nate let her go and stormed into the hotel. All Erica could do was fall to the ground and cry.

  Felton and Hazel walks out of the lawyer’s office. “What do we do now?” Hazel asks crying. “You start your life Ms. McVan. I transferred all of my assets to you so that you’re not struggling. You are a very wealthy woman who married a murderer. And you had nothing to do with it. I love you and I will always love you. I hope our paths cross again one day. I am so sorry for this.” Felton hugged her close and gave her one last kiss. “Mr. Rose.” The FBI agent called. Felton knew what had to be done. He put his hands behind his back and held his head up high. “You are under arrest for the murder of Julian and Charlotte Dayton and the attempted murder of Bryanna Dayton.” The agent started to read him his rights but the only thing he could do was stare at Hazel. His now ex-wife. She hurried to the car before the paparazzi showed up.

  “Danielle are you with Nate?” Hazel asks crying. “No. Mom what’s wrong?” Danielle asks. “Your father. He was arrested for murder and will be going away for a while. I will explain later. Just be safe please.” Hazel says hanging up the phone. She drives to the beach and sits in the sand. The sun hitting her skin. The waves crashing on the shore. The breeze calming her mind. There was only one place like this. She missed for so long. She opened her eyes. “It’s time to go home.” She whispers.

  When the sun started to go down, Hazel made it to a bar in the Upper East Side. “A martini please.” She ordered. “Long day I see.” A man in a royal blue suit commented. He was handsome. Long, chiseled face looked like something Michelangelo would create, slim but muscular. Short brown hair that was well maintained. He was young but knew his business. His smile was warming. They talked and had multiple intellectual conversations and shared laughs. “So, what is your story?” He asks. She looked at the TV and saw the news report about her husband’s arrest. “I got divorced today. And I guess I am just starting my life today. I settled down too young and was in a stressful marriage.” Hazel fixed her eyes on him. “I hope I can take your mind off of it.” He places his hand on hers. “I think you can.” She smiled. “Let’s head back to my place. I have a pretty nice guest house I would love to play in.” She bites her lip. He helps her out of her seat and kisses her hand.

  After driving around for over an hour, Danielle finally sees Nate. “Hey loser. Get in the fucking car.” Danielle yells out of the window.

  13. Embers and Diamonds .

  C arl walks into his kitchen with Lucas laughing and joking about the case. “Carl get in here.” His father yells. Carl walks into the living room to see a crying Crystal and her angry parents. “Lucas this is a family matter. Please go home.” Mr. Terril orders. “See you man.” Lucas pats Carl and hurried out. “How long have you known about this young woman’s pregnancy?” Mr. Terril asks. “Not long.” Carl lies. “Tell the truth. Now. There is no more room for secrets.” Mr. Terril grabs Carl by the neck. “He found out he had an STD and blamed me. We hooked up a lot throughout the school year and I went to get tested and I was clean, but I was pregnant. That was two months ago.” Crystal starts crying. “You will take care of this child. You will be responsible for your actions. You want to be a man. That’s what men do.” Mr. Terril yells.

  The parents gather in the kitchen to figure out what to do next. “You just want to ruin my life.” Carl couldn’t make eye contact with her. Crystal sat next to him. “Carl. You are a real asshole. I have a heart of gold and just wanted to feel loved. I fell in love with a guy who kept me a secret because of my weight. Who constantly put me down and hurt me. The sex wasn’t even that great. Just good enough and easily accessible.” Crystal pulled his face closer for one last kiss. And in that moment Carl felt something. Something like love. “Don’t worry. I won’t have this baby. The father of my child won’t be anything like you. I promise.” Crystal gets up and walks into the kitchen to get her parents.

  After fighting the crowd of protesters outside, and unknowingly passing Amber, Crystal and her mother wait in the clinic, waiting to be called. Sometimes the decisions we make affect everything around us. How people look at us. What they think about us. What they will wish for us.

  Amber : “Hey where are you?

  Crys : I have something to take care of. TTYL

  “It will be okay.” Mrs. Lopez said, kissing Crystal’s hand. “I am so sorry. For all of this. It wasn’t supposed to happen. I was just lonely and sad. I never felt loved.” Crystal says, wiping a tear from her cheek. “486.” They called. “We will talk after.” Her mother kisses her forehead.

  Crystal followed the nurse into the room and laid on the table. “You’ll feel a slight pinch, I promise it is normal.” The nurse says in a calm voice. Crystal grips the sides of the table and breathes in. After a short time, it was over. That part of her life was in the past. What could have been was no longer. She only had a future to build with Vic. Who loved her and showed her how she should be treated. What she deserved, true
happiness.

  Amber sits in the psychiatrist’s office with her parents and little brother. She sits tensed in the teal chair while Chase plays on the floor with toys and her parents sits on the couch. Tiffany sitting close enough to make it look like things are somewhat getting better. “Amber, tell me and your parents what you are thinking.” She says in a calming voice. The room smelled like vanilla, it was soothing. Amber took a few deep breaths. “Dad, for a while you have been getting worse and worse. Your drinking started getting out of hand and then you became aggressive and then came violence. I do not feel safe with you in the house anymore. For the sake of my life and my little brother. He is scared. I am terrified to come home sometimes. I cry myself to sleep. I wake up extra early to put makeup over the bruises. I am tired.” Amber explained. “We can’t live like this anymore. I understand you are still hurting over uncle's death. You were angry at him for so long and didn't get a chance to say goodbye to him. But that was over two years ago. We have been waiting for a change and I have given up waiting.” Tiffany hands him a folder. “I am leaving. This time I am taking my kids. Sign the papers.” She says. He sits there in shock with the rest of the room. “I can change. I can get better. I promise. I will go to AA, I will never drink again.” He begs her. “Honey, I love you. Please.” He adds. “You have said that eight times throughout the year and I gave you chance after chance. I am over it. Please sign them.” Tiffany replies. With a sudden burst of rage, he signs. “Thank you.” Tiffany packs her things. “Let’s go kids.” Amber picks up Chase and walks to the door. “Show me you will change. Until then, my children are not safe with you.” Tiffany shut the door. “Marcus. I did not see that coming.” The psychiatrist says. “She was always one for the dramatics. Thank you.” He crawls out of the office. The pain he felt was unbearable and most definitely unexpected.

  Danielle made it to Evverruns Path Woods with Nate and parked in the lot. “Dani, why are we doing this?” Nate sighs. “Closure. Make sure this chapter of my life is finished. Just stay here please.” Danielle explained getting out of the car. She started off into the woods. The creek was close, she could hear the spring water. There he was. In the distance, that tall slim man. His orange hair brought out his pasty skin and blue eyes. Danielle could admit he was handsome. His smile said one thing but the look in his eyes said another. Danielle tucks her hair behind her ear and gives a smile. “You look so beautiful.” George compliments her, examining her body. She tugged her skirt down a bit. “Thank you. You look very handsome.” She replied. Something wasn’t right. Something was off about him. She took a step back as he took one forward. “Why did you want to meet here?” She asks. “I wanted to see you. I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop wanting you. I crave you Danielle.” He explained. “I just want you to know I didn’t tell on you.” Danielle confesses. “I know. I know you didn’t.” He smiles. “I think we shouldn’t do this anymore. It’s not safe.” Danielle says, backing up again. That’s when it happened. The gun pointed at her. “You want to end it? This special bond we have. You aren’t going anywhere.” George hissed.

  “Get over there. Now!” He yells. His voice echoes through the woods. Danielle does as instructed for once. She stands in front of the stream. “Take your clothes off.” His voice is unrecognizable. “Please. Don’t do this.” She starts crying. George walks over and nearly rips her clothes off. “If you scream, I’ll fucking kill you.” He whispered as he turned her around. She felt something hard. Press against her. This isn’t what she wanted. She wanted to flirt and have fun like before. Not this. “I gave up my career for you. It’s your turn to give up something for me now. You have played and teased me all year. You little slut. You will get what I give you. What a man gives you.” He says, unzipping his pants. Danielle sees an opportunity and disarms him. The gun goes into the river. “You stupid bitch!” He yells, now gripping her hair and dragging her to the water. He holds her head under for just a moment. “I’m going to give you the time of your life.” He turns her over and spreads her legs. “Help!” She screams, hoping her brother would hear her. She screams and kicks and repeats it until she is on her feet. Nate followed the screams and tackled George to the ground. “Stay the fuck away from my sister!” He says, punching and punching and punching. Danielle makes it over to the river in searches for the gun. Frantically searching in the water until she heard a shot go off.

  George stood there, shocked. Speechless. When he coughed, blood started dripping from his mouth. The gun in Nate’s hands trembled. “I… I had to.” Nate started to panic. “Don’t. It is okay. I need you to get that bullet out of him. Clean up in the river.” Danielle orders him. “Rose, get in the water.” Nate shook the thought out of his head and ran over to George and looked for the entry wound. Danielle puts up her curly wet hair and helps him find it. She sticks the bullet in her bra. “Help me move the body into the river.” She says. “What? We will get in more trouble. I already have a case against me.” Nate panicked. “No body. No case.” Danielle looked at him. “Please.” She whispered. Nate looked down at his sister and saw something genuine for the first time in a very long time. He helps drag the body into the creek. And they returned to the car and drove to the beach.

  Handing Danielle her Starbucks drink, Nate sat next to her in the warm sand. “Thank you for saving me.” Danielle says through the tears. “You’re my sister. I will always save you.” Nate walked behind her and held her. “I know you hate me. I know I ruined all of our lives. But just know I love you so much and I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you.” Nate rested his chin on her shoulder, watching the waves come in.

  Bryanna,Ben and Michael met. Bryanna strutted up to the Rose mansion in her sister's famous Louboutin’s. She looked through the glass door, but no one was home. No staff. No pets. Learning some skills in prison, Bryanna picked the lock and was in. Her heels clicked into the kitchen as Ben took apart the pipe to the gas stove, exposing gas into the air. Bryanna and Michael trailed gas from the front door. “I lost everything. My family. My life.” Bryanna flicked a match into Nathaniel’s bedroom trash can.

  The three stood in front and watched as the house burned and then exploded. “The men were taken care of. What is next?” Michael asks. “We return to Georgia.” Bryanna smiles, walking to the car. Neighbors come pouring out of their homes and sirens appear in the distance. The Dayton legacy has been restored. The war was won. Bryanna will expand her father's work and build the empire not only for her, but for her daughter too. Ben and Michael will go back to their regular lives. She never understood why her sister always felt so good after winning a take down, until this very moment.

  “Miss Rose. This is serious. Someone was killed amongst other events that happened. What do you know about it?” The investigators asked. Danielle sat in the chair, arms and legs crossed. “His body was found in the river. Given your recent relationship with the victim, it is important for us to discredit any possible suspects. Please.” The investigator slides a picture of the corps. A tear fell from Danielle’s puffy red eyes. “I want my lawyer.” She demands. “You’re not in any trouble or anything. We just need the truth.” He says. “The truth is he was a creep. He watched me at lunch, he kept me after class, he followed me home and hanging out with my friends. He was always there. I’m sure he was doing it to other girls too. That is the truth. I didn’t kill him. And after he tricked me into preforming sexual acts I really just want to forget and move on.” Danielle started crying. “You may go. I apologize if we triggered any traumatic feelings.” The other investigator said, opening the door. Danielle walked out of the police station with her smile and her curly orange hair bouncing with every step. “You ready sis?” Nate asked opening the car door for her. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” Danielle winks.

  “The autopsy report shows Elijah Ethans died from drowning. Even though Mr. Rose defended himself from this boy who assaulted him. My client did not kill him.” The lawyer says.

  The Rose�
�s relocated to a new city and state. New lives. To start over. Los Angeles, California. Hazel was still healing from the explosion. Nate and Danielle finally moving on from everything that happened. Nate and Danielle struts into a random house party that was in full affect. Wearing a white one shoulder mini dress from CB. “ Did you really think you could have a party without inviting moi? ” Danielle smiles at everyone. “Who are you?” A girl strutted over to her. “I am the new girl. Seeing if your parties are up to my standards. Danielle but everyone calls me Dani.” Danielle smiles. Danielle catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror and sees other people staring. “I look like a fucking goddess. You know, from the gossip that’s being spread right now.” Danielle says, fixing her makeup. “Your standards? You wish you were that important.” The girl laughs as she walks off with her posse. "Listen up fives, a ten is speaking. By the time school ends, you all will know who I am. I hope you can handle the heat." Danielle explains. The lights went out and black lights came on, revealing all the neon colors on the guests. Everyone danced and drank and smoked. The music was euphoric. Aside from the smoke from weed floating around the room and the couples nearly having sex on the dance floor, she saw a group of guys in the corner. “What are you guys up to?” She asked flirtatiously. “Just a little fun.” The blond guy replied, licking his perfect white teeth. “I like to have fun too.” Danielle pulled out a tiny bag of molly. “What is it?” He asks as she crushed the pills. “I thought we were having fun.” She winked. She made two lines and rolled her hundred-dollar bill. Colorful lasers danced around the room. White lights strobed to the beat of the music. They both sniffed the lines and smiled at each other. “Let’s dance.” She pulled him onto the dance floor to the song Conga by Gloria Estefan. There was something about her that he liked. Everyone looks at the two. They watched as if she was dancing with the most popular guy in school. Little did she know… she was. Not a care in the world. New life, same game. She turned and kissed him. “I don’t even know your name.” He smiled, holding her close. “You will.” She kissed him again and took a blunt out of rotation.