It has been two months since the prison escape. The media became tired of reporting about a nineteen-year-old girl with supernatural powers, who was a threat to society. Since then, the Apple Queens went from hiatus to disbandment after the band’s reputation went down the drain. Dakota could not forget the day when Mr. Travolo had a press conference, explaining to the media journalists how they were not aware of the ‘criminals’ under their company.
In his words: “Maybe we didn’t background check them more thoroughly. We apologize for our mistake.”
But the drummer knew that this fool was damn well aware that was not the truth. She knew the man was lying about everything and that Darren, Leticia, and Chantel were Supernaturals and not dangerous to anyone. She remembered sitting there during the press conference with her band, nothing but flashing cameras and a barrage of questions from reporters.
One question that bothered her was this: “Were any of the Apple Queens members murder accomplices with their leader?” which made the drummer stand up from her chair and left without saying a word.
Not a professional thing to do and Dakota wanted to say something, but she was told to say nothing as if she knew nothing. This was all cover up, a sick betrayal to the Apple Queen’s band leader!
Kiki went backstage after her, only for Dakota screamed at her: “This is all your fault!”
The keyboardist said nothing, then watched the drummer march away from her. No one knew the actual story of what went down. After the conference, Casey and Nico scolded her for her behavior. Dakota could not give two fucks what they think of everything. The label was throwing her friend under the bus.
“Nothing personal, Dakota. It’s business,” Casey added.
It was not until a week later; the band disbanded.
Sitting in her home, Dakota looked at her cell phone, looked at pictures of The Apple Queens over the years. The pictures from the time when the girls were in high school spending their entire summer touring around the region. One picture that stood out to her the most was a picture when they were at the summer camp where Jesse, Darren, Chantel, and Leticia. A younger Leticia was in the picture, hugging a younger Dakota with a big smile, showing off her braces.
The girl was wearing a yellow, sparkling dress and sandals, always drawing attention to herself. Dakota wore a black shirt and jean shorts with matching gray sneakers. As annoying her friend was, that was Leticia. Her annoying friend, not a monster like everyone was saying. Dakota then put down her phone to look at the emails on her computer.
Some of them are emails from her new band, which had recently hired her, and others are from Cho. She was the only member of the Apple Queens that Dakota has talked to since the band’s disbandment. The drummer still feeling too pissed at Kiki for trading Leticia off to the authorities, because of her paranoia. As for Raleigh, she moved away from the city, to where she did not know. The rhythm guitarist avoided to deal with all of this mess and the band, but acted like she did not know any of the band after all the chaos happened.
All Dakota knew that Nico had plans for her and was the only Apple Queen’s member he wanted after the disbandment. As Dakota finished reading the emails from her new band, she read Cho’s email.
Hey, can we meet at Marble Cafe today?
-Cho
Dakota did not mind a nice little meet up, so she replied to ask about the time. It was time for her to head out for work to start the day. She could not wait to meet Cho again after not seeing her for a while.
----
Things have changed in Clare Point View slightly: Robert’s Music Shop has been closed. Dakota walked past the boarded up shop with a huge “CLOSED” sign, heading to Marble Cafe after work. The rumor has it, since the NorthEasters’s image pummeled because of having Supernaturals in the band, Robert committed suicide. No one knew what happened to the NorthEaster’s manager, other than simply he disappeared, which was true. Pushing through a crowd of people on the sidewalk, Dakota finally reached her destination: Marble Cafe.
She pushed open the doors to find Cho, who was sitting at one table, waving at her. Dakota plopped herself in a chair when Cho offered her a second cup of coffee.
“I got this for you. Your favorite,” Cho smiled, her face shined bright like; a sun.
Dakota sipped her cup, then put the cup down and remarked, “Just how I like it. So...how have you been, Cho?”
“Oh, I have been fine. How about you?” Cho grabbed a chocolate muffin in a box and took a bite of it.
Dakota wanted to laugh, since it was the same sugar-addicted Cho, as always.
“Fine. Though I am just surviving… It’s nice to see you again...”
“It’s good to see you too, but that’s not why I am here. Read this,” Her former band mate looked around, then pulled out a paper and slid it to Dakota.
Dakota took the paper and read to see what it was. It was from a journalist. She wanted to groan at first because she has been sick of reporters asking her about Leticia during that time. Still, Dakota wanted to respect the rich girl’s time and continued to read to see the message.
Hi,
My name is Jessica Mountson. You may remember me when I first interviewed your band a while back. I want to help you all. I am investigating the events that happened with the Rockwick Massacre incident and the Apple Queens Scandal, but I’m not here to get money out of this, just to clear the names of Leticia Hernandez, J-ia Chantel Delisle, and Darren Cross. I am on your side and I want to help! If you are interested in a meeting, please, contact me at this number.
Dakota did not know if she could trust this reporter fully, even though this one helped them before. She could not think what good would it do to talk to this person to help Leticia and the others. Dakota gave the paper back to Cho, then just got up from her seat, grabbing her coffee cup.
Her former band mate took her arm, pleading for her to stay, “Dakota, this could be our chance! We could help Leticia! This would help all of us!”
Dakota sighed, “And what good would it do? The Apple Queens are done, Cho. Leticia is a fugitive. I’m tired of dealing with this, Cho. Let it go. We moved on and you should too.”
The conversation ended in short between them, but Cho slammed her hand down on the table and screamed at the drummer, “You’re supposed to be her best friend, Dakota! Fine, if you won’t help me, then I’ll do it myself!”
The girl’s outburst had people look at their table when the girl grabbed her all her things, then left the cafe. Dakota just sat there, then looked at the message that Cho left her again. She knew that Leticia and the others did nothing wrong, but who would believe her in that? Still, Dakota put the paper in her pocket and grabbed her coffee cup for the road. As she walked out of the cafe, she still wondered if responding to this reporter could do anything to clear her best friend’s name.
Could Dakota gamble on that chance? Only time will tell.
~~~~
Author's Note: Thank you for reading my story. The story continues in the new book: Closing Act of True Colors.
The link to the story is in the description!
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