“Why you torturing yourself looking at them”Andrew asked sitting at his desk
“I don’t even know” Carmen sighed putting the assault pictures down “I’m so angry she let her do this to her”
“Carmen she was probably terrified, we see this everyday” Andrew explained
“It’s different when it’s someone you care about” Carmen explained “Jess has never been like this”
“What you mean?”
“She’s very determined and strong” Carmen said
“I’m just about to go take her statement” Andrew said
“I said I’d be there too” Carmen told him getting up
“Let’s go” Andrew said lifting the keys
They knocked on Bette and Tina’s door, a tired Tina answered
“Tina you okay?” Carmen asked concerned
“It’s been a long night, she was in a lot of pain, then she had a nightmare” Tina stated “Lisa’s with her”
“Where’s Bette?”
“She’s in the kitchen”
Carmen and Andrew followed Tina into the kitchen.
“Morning” Bette said
“Did you sleep at all?” Carmen asked looking at them both
“Nope” Bette answered “Jess is lucky if she slept for an hour”
“Let’s get this over with” Andrew said
“Do you want to be their?” Carmen asked
Bette and Tina nodded leading them up the stairs.
Lisa was lying beside Jess.
“Hey” Carmen said softly “How you feeling?”
“Sore” Jess admitted
“So this is Andrew you’ve met him briefly before” Carmen explained
“Nice to meet you Jess, I’ve heard a lot about you” Andrew smiled
“All bad I bet” Jess said
Carmen smirked “Very good Jess”
“Ok so I know this is not the best of times for you at the minute but you need to tell me absolutely everything” Andrew explained “Are you okay with everyone being here?”
“As long as no-one has a go at me” Jess stated
“No-one will or I’ll ask them to leave” Andrew said
“I don’t know where to start” Jess stated
“Ok I’ll help I’ll ask you questions you answer”
Lisa took a hold of Jess’s hand.
“When was the first time Kirsty physically hit you?”
“We’d been together a month, I’d been out with the guys and my friends from the summer set surprised us in London, Me and Jess form the summer set were having a laugh, dancing and joking, Kirsty got jealous, I got back and Kirsty lashed out, she pushed me and I tripped banging my head, I ended up in hospital after having an epileptic fit. She apologised said she didn’t mean to hurt me, I accepted it, it was only a little push, I can be rather clumsy on my feet”
“Okay when was the next time?”
“A week later Jace brought Carmen up in a conversation, I told him that I missed her, We were looking at photos and stuff from School, Kirsty overheard the conversation and went absolutely nuts, she slapped me and burst my lip, I fell to the floor and she kicked me a few times. I apologised for upsetting her”
“You apologised are you bloody kidding me?” Lisa snapped
“Lisa!” Bette warned
“She started to get real nasty since then, I’d always do something to tick her off, She started drinking a lot and when she was drunk I was every name under the sun, ugly, embarrassment, slut, she told me if I said anything she would ruin me, she told me no-one would love me for me they only wanted my fame or money, one minute she was angry next minute she was sorry and she loved me, I didn’t know wither I was coming or going with her” Jess said “She stopped me seeing the boys unless we were rehearsing and she had to be there”
“So this was a recurring thing?” Andrew asked
“Yeah Kelly and Jace guessed what was going on, Jace would not stay away he was always trying to get in touch or see me but kirsty had every excuse ready. I made Kelly promise to keep her mouth shut, I was terrified Kirsty got wind and I’d meet her first or her foot, I was tired I got to the point I didn’t even want to be here anymore” Jess said tears running down her face
Lisa squeezed Jess’s hand trying to show her some support.
“What bout when you came home” Andrew asked
“I knew the minute I got home I was moving out, she stated she couldn’t look after me properly here”
“Couldn’t kick the shit out you more like” Lisa stated
“Lisa I need to ask you to leave if you keep doing this” Andrew warned
“I knew my parents would click and Lisa so I thought what better way to hide it than to move out. Jace sent a few texts when I moved out and I paid for it that night, she threw my phone of the wall and to top it off Carmen visited that week, the thought of Kirsty seeing her there terrified me, She’d made me promise not to talk to her at my 21st, The engagement dinner set her right off, Amy mentioned me and Carmen and I left the table without her permission, when we got home she flipped she must have banged my head that much I ended up unconscious, I woke up in the hospital and I heard the doctor ring you, I knew with my luck Carmen would show up so I left, I managed to get to Kelly’s office and that’s all I remember”
“Thank you, Next question. Do you want to press charges?”
Bette, Tina, Lisa and Carmen all said yes before Jess could open her mouth.
“Is it worth it? The damage is done” Jess said
“Guys can I speak to Jess alone please?” Carmen asked
Everyone left the room and Carmen sat on the bed taking Jess’s hand.
“Look at me Jess” Carmen said
Jess looked at Carmen
“You need to press charges or we can’t help you, seeing you like this is destroying me, your family and everyone who cares about you” Carmen explained “She will go to prison for a long time”
Tears ran down Jess’s face, her head was all over the place, thousands of thoughts running in and out. Carmen wiped Jess’s tears and then cupped her face in her hands.
“I know you’re scared, but I promise you this is the right thing to do” Carmen locked eyes with Jess “Do you trust me?”
Jess nodded
“Then press charges on her”
“Ok” Jess agreed
“Ok I’m just going to get Andrew back in”
Carmen went to the door, she shook her head when she seen them all standing watching. Lisa went back over lying beside Jess again.
“So do you want to press charges?” Andrew asked
“Yes” Jess said
“Ok I need you to sign here” Andrew said handing Jess the clipboard
Jess signed the form and Lisa handed it back to Andrew.
“What happens now?” Bette asked
“She’ll be officially charged and bail will be refused due to the circumstances” Andrew said “After today me and Carmen will be took of the case”
“I’m not speaking to anyone else unless Carmen is there” Jess said straight away “I trust her”
“Unfortunately because of you and Carmen’s history were not allowed on the case”
“Why do people know about me and Carmen’s history” Jess asked looking at Carmen
“Because I nearly killed her yesterday when she was arrested, I got a verbal warning from my sergeant” Carmen said “I had to explain everything or I could have lost my job”
She had never lied to Jess and wasn’t about to start.
“She would have lost her job” Andrew corrected
Jess felt extremely guilty, she couldn’t even look at Carmen again.
“I’ll walk you out” Bette said following Carmen and Andrew down the stairs
Andrew got in the car, Bette looked at Carmen “Do not get yourself into trouble”
“Bette you just heard what she did to her, If I get my hands on her I really couldn’t give a shit about my job”
“You have worked really hard for 3 years to get where you are, we are so proud of you, don’t let her ruin your career, we will fix Jess” Bette said
“I’m so angry and annoyed and just I should have fought for her, I shouldn’t have let her walk out my life” Carmen said finally letting her own emotions out
“Shhh come here” Bette said pulling Carmen into her arms
Andrew watch his partner fall apart, his heart ached for her.
Jess was lying in Bette and Tina’s bed watching the summer set’s interview on MTV. Jace and Lisa came in and sat beside her.
“So guy’s you’ve probably heard now about Jess Kennard Porter and what’s been going on?”
“We have heard and were shocked to say the least, Jess is an amazing person and no way should she have been put through this, and that’s all were going to say on it” Brian stated
“Yeah absolutely, we know you guys have toured together a few times now so it must be upsetting”
“It is because we don’t see her as another artist we see her as our friend, and if we’d have known what was going on we wouldn’t have let her go on the plane back home to be honest” Steven said
“So you have a new single out called back to the start?”
“We do and we want to dedicate this to Jess and her boys because they must be feeling it to at the minute” Brian said
“Yeah we just want to say guy’s well see you soon and Jess we love you” Jess finished
“Ladies and Gentleman the summer set”