Chapter Text
Aurora Vale Mysteries: The Stranger Admirer
Chapter 9
It took only a day or two for the truth about the Sanders and Anderson parents to spread throughout Aurora Vale, as well as the incarceration of the Anderson parents and the escape of the Sanders parents. The fallout was...not at all what Becky expected. Sure Sarah West tried to mock her, to start taunting her for being related to criminals, to imply Becky was a criminal herself. But only Alison Reed joined in, as she always did in Sarah's antics. Much to Sarah's frustration Becky's friends stuck by her and did everything they could to help Becky, who was understandably distraught at the reveals and fallout of the case. Spencer in particular stepped up, showing just why she was considered Becky's best friend. Thanks to Spencer, after collecting her belongings, Becky now had somewhere to stay after her parents absconded, living with the Richards family. Then there was the issue of Angela, nobody knew where she was living now, but she didn't have the same support system that Becky did. Yet somehow she blatantly ignored Sarah's mockery and continued to attend school as if nothing happened. But at the same time, Becky was still feeling the effects and it impacted her mood and day to day actions, which led her to attempt to resign from the cheerleading squad, something that the coach refused and Becky was soon going to get earful about from the rest of the squad.
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Becky was startled to find herself surrounded not only by her friends offering her comfort, but also the Cheer squad, especially with the look on Ava's face.
"What were thinking Becky, trying to resign?" She said firmly. "You know full well I can't hold a candle to you."
"Ava, that's not-" Becky tried to say.
Ava shook her head. "You're the best out of us and you know it. Stop acting like this thing with your parents defines you. So they were part of some criminal group. You weren't, you're not and you are Becky freaking Sanders, you are still the captain and we're still all right behind you."
Becky blinked back tears hearing this and smiled.
"You guys...thank you." She choked out.
Even as they all hugged she noticed something however and politely excused herself.
She soon reached the quiet corridor and saw Angela ahead of her. She bit her lip noting that since the incident Angela had ditched her usual casual style in favour of wearing all black.
Hurrying up she spoke.
"Angela."
The girl turned and shockingly, glared at her.
"I..." She began, taken aback. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry this happened, we-"
"Spare me." Angela snapped. "I don't know what game you're trying to play Becky, but it's not going to work."
"What...?" Becky gasped.
"You think I'm stupid, so convenient for you that your family escapes while mine is arrested." Angela spat.
Becky shook her head. "Convenient, they are criminals, they should be brought down-"
"Nice try."
That was when Becky remembered the talk at the hideout. Angela already knew the truth about her parents. She must gave assumed Becky did too and was in on some scheme against her and her family.
She trued to explain. "Angela, it's not-"
"Save me your excuses, you've ruined my life Becky, you abd your family, but you're the only one I can reach." Angela said darkly, her bright eyes ablaze with fury. "I swear now I will ruin yours in return."
With that Angela turned and stalked away, leaving Becky feeling worse than before, especially as a new source of sorrow would soon be upon her.
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It was the time for the school dance and that left Becky sitting listless in the new, beautiful, deep red dress that fit her just right. Spencer had insisted on her getting it on, along for the right shoes, doing her hair and make-up, but it all seemed so pointless to Becky.
"Why bother Spencer, without Damien there's nobody who would go with Mr. Everything I planned for this was with him." She said dejectedly.
Spencer shook her head. "Not true Becky, I found someone willing to take you abd the rest of us will all be there too. So I promise you'll have a good time."
Becky was surprised. Spencer Richards, that paragon of bashful reticence, had found her, Becky Sanders, someone to take her to the dance. As if to answer her unspoken question the door opened and her jaw dropped as her face went as red as her dress at the sight of an awkwardly smiling, suit clad Jake standing there.
"Hey." He said softly, extending his hand. "You ready."
Becky allowed herself to smile and stepped up to him, taking his hand.
"I am."
With that the three of them headed down and piled into the back of the Richards family car, with Terri soon driving them off to the school. Settled in the back with Jake squeezing her hand and Spencer smiling at her, both reassuringly, Becky allowed herself to feel it. Perhaps there was hope for the future after all.