Chapter 10
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A/N:""Psst..u got a bit of violence and sexual abuse ahead of you.""
***
<▪▪Naked▪▪>
I woke up with the sound of my phone alarm. I sat up immediately, then reminded myself that it was just an alarm. So I sank back in my bed taking deep, calming breaths. It was eleven in the morning already.
I picked the cigarette box from my bedside table and opened it only to find it empty. I clenched my jaws and threw the empty box angrily at the door.
Feeling my blood boil, I washed up then dressed up hastily. I threw on my jacket and headed out.
I made my way to a shop and bought some beer cans and a cigarette box. I calmed down a bit.
I picked the bag with the beers from the cashier counter and was about to leave when-
"Romeo!" I heard a familiar voice call me out and I groaned inwardly dropping my hand from the door handle. That was just about the last thing I'd want. More pretending.
I turned smiling, nevertheless, to none other than a grinning Caroline with a piece paper in her hand, a smirking Joe with two packs of beer cans in his hands and a frowning Ben with five chips bags between his arms. The golden trio.
I walked back to them despite the curl in my toes. I wanted to leave so desperately.
They were standing at the back of the short cashier line. "Hello. How are you?" I decided to ask as I looked at all of them. Caroline grinned while Ben rolled his eyes.
"We're fine, mate." Joe smiled.
"Guess why it's your lucky day today!" Caroline beamed looking gorgeous in the floral dress she was wearing.
I smiled definitely not intending to spend a second playing this guessing game.
"Mhm. Why?" I said, faking interest.
"Cause you're invited to the best party ever!" Joe said high fiving Caroline and I thought I needed some support to hold on to. Because I couldn't be hearing right.
"It was like a plan Ben came up with!" She looked proudly at Ben. "That if we see anybody we know, they get invited! Not only from the uni!"
"I currently want to kill myself right now," Ben muttered.
I didn't like parties and music. At all. That was absolutely horrific.
"Thank you so much. You're all so kind, but I'm not the party-" I started pleasantly, but Caroline almost jumped at me.
"Hey! I made you a favour and helped you find Sam. Now it is your paying back time!" She grinned, brushing back a hair strand that fell over my face. I flinched a bit. And, yes, some people loved unnecessary touching. Your best example is Caroline, whom I hoped wouldn't end up with only one arm by the end of my visit here. "You have to come!"
"I'm not from around he-" I started desperately. This was the biggest, ever possible, black hole I could ever get sucked in. I needed to back out.
"Then it's your welcome party, mate," Joe said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I looked down at his hand distractedly.
"I-" I was shaking my head.
"Hey. Romeo. It's done. Ben?" Caroline started, then turned to Ben.
"What?" Ben muttered with a scowl.
Caroline stuck a hand in front of him. "Address, time and dress code."
"I'm out of invitati-" He blabbed and I hoped I could use that time to run away.
"Address, time and dress code. Ben." She repeated stressing on each word. Cursing under his breath, he reluctantly reached for his jeans' back pocket while trying to hold the five chips bags.
He handed her a navy blue paper which she handed to me. "That's your invitation!" She exclaimed and I took it with dread.
"Thank you," I said, feeling the exact opposite to gratitude.
"Well, follow the dress code and we'll see you there!" She beamed and noticed that it was their turn at the cashier.
"Okay. I'll see you then." I said weakly, waving at them and exiting the bloody shop.
I seriously could have survived without cigarettes.
I walked to yesterday's park, sat on an empty bench and unfolded the invitation to find:
YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR
ANNUAL 'GREATEST' PARTY IN LONDON!
THEME: UV /BLACK LIGHT!
TIME AND DATE: SAT, 10, FEB!
DRESS CODE: EXPOSE AS MUCH SKIN AS POSSIBLE SO YOU CAN BE SHINING LIKE THE STAR YOU ARE! ☆☆
*Turn the paper for the address*
I turned the paper for the address, lips still parted in disbelief. I was not going whatsoever.
Absolutely not.
I vehemently folded the paper and placed it in my pocket.
I took out a cigarette from jacket's pocket and lit it up. I inhaled and exhaled immediately, feeling impatient with everything.
I didn't know what was wrong with me. I needed to get a grip on myself.
I closed my eyes then opened them again. I then looked at a group of guys no more than seventeen years old ganging around something...or someone between two huge cars. I squinted to see if it was serious. I heard their laughter and hooting.
But I heard whimpering too.
I slowly got up and walked quickly towards the group, making sure I drew no attention to myself in case nothing was really wrong.
They were four guys. One was holding a familiar cane, the other gave me his back as he advanced on his victim, the other had a pair of sunglasses in his hands, and the last had earphones in his hands as he laughed like a moron.
With a sharp realization, I instantly knew who they were ganging up on.
I placed a hand on the shoulder of the guy who had his back to me. He turned quickly laughing with his dick hanging out of his pants. When he took me in, his hands flew to his dick, tucking it in as his face turned solemn. I guess my 'Audrey's-handsome-criminal-face' was on. And now? I wanted it to be. Because what he was doing was so dangerously wrong for him.
He was under the mercy of my anger.
I bumped my head with his nose, causing blood to ooze out of it and stain his shirt. I then punched him in his face so hard releasing all the anger harboured in me.
The anger on my father.
The anger over Audrey's death.
The anger on my baby's death.
The anger at the fact that I still hadn't received an answer from Sam.
The anger of getting invited to a BLOODY party.
The anger of seeing that knobhead use a blind woman in that disgusting way.
I could tolerate anything. Anything but ****. Especially after witnessing it with Audrey. I even refused using it as a torture tool, no matter what.
He stumbled back and collided with one of the stationary cars, only to trip on his foot. He caught himself just before he fell to the ground as the other three stared at me in pure shock.
"Get out of my face! Now!" I thundered, acutely reminding myself of my father.
They dropped all they had and tried helping their injured friend who was drenched in blood that oozed out of his nose and split lip.
I glared at them until they were all out of sight.
I looked down finding Samantha curled up on the floor between the two cars with her hands clapped against her eyes as she hyperventilated. Her shirt was ripped open, revealing her peach bra and so were her jeans' zip and button. Her hair was standing out in all directions.
Who raped in a bloody park?
I shook my head at her destitute condition, feeling sorry for her. I then knelt down next to her and reached for her sunglasses.
I tried to reach for her hands, but she screamed.
"Hey, it's okay- It's just your sunglasses. If you want them-" I said hesitantly. She whimpered for a while before slowly turning a hand toward me, revealing a squeezed shut-eye.
I carefully placed her sunglasses in her hand. She tightened her fingers around it with her now chipped blue nail polish. She shakily then put them on.
"Should I help you up?" I asked awkwardly, cringing at myself.
"No." She said quickly, but firmly as she sniffed.
"Do you not recognize me?" I asked softly, genuinely amused.
"No. I recog-recognize you." She replied quickly.
"I'm not going to hurt you," I said, surprising myself with my sincerity. I then looked around to make sure that nobody was watching us.
"I wouldn't know." She said, shaking, still curled on the ground.
"Hey, if I wanted to hurt you, I would have done that a while ago. Trust me on yourself please?" I tried slowly still, cringing.
I was being too nice.
"No. Leave."
My eyes widened in shock. "But the retards can retu-"
"Leave me plea-please!" She pleaded before starting to cry hysterically and my heart might've broken as I retreated from her.
I shut up, sat down next to her (yet far enough), my back to a car and watched her for a while. I stared at her anklet that was shimmering in the sun. I stared at her powerless, vulnerable figure. And I, with all the power and strength in me, couldn't muster enough to just walk away from her.
"Leave!" She suddenly shouted startling me.
I got up immediately and was going to leave when guilt -my enemy- stopped me. I couldn't leave her vulnerable like that. So I compromised.
I slowly took off my jacket removing all the warmth that previously engulfed me and knelt down to drape it over her. I felt her flinch before her breath hitched and she looked up, looking at a point behind me.
I got up immediately scared that she'll start screaming again.
She then shot her hand in front of her. I looked at it and wondered what I was I supposed to do.
But I went forward and took it in mine. I looked at her waiting for an insult, but there was nothing. Relief flooded me as I pulled her up slowly.
She then grabbed her hand away and stood there like that. "My cane." She whispered and I immediately got moving.
I knelt down to pick it up, got up, held her right hand and squeezed it gently on her cane.
She smiled tightly as I looked at the jacket that didn't cover anything, but her shoulders. She started turning around to leave, but I immediately stopped her.
"Wait!" She turned to me. "Are you going to leave looking like that?"
"Is there something wrong with the way I look?" She said, sounding worried.
I looked at her showing bra, her hair and unbuttoned and unzipped pants.
"Uh- mostly. Let me help you." I said, approaching her.
I held the jacket so that she could put her arms in. Then I remembered that she couldn't see where to put them and helped her.
I zipped the jacket to the top. It covered her chin and I thought she looked adorable.
"Can you -uh- zip and button your pants?" I asked awkwardly, pointing at her pants and she looked shaken.
"They're open?" She dropped her cane and turned around to zip her pants, but I saw a family walking behind her.
Wrong image.
I grabbed her by the shoulders to let her face me as she yelped.
"There are other people walking on the other side," I told her urgently and she relaxed.
"Oh. Okay. Turn around then." She said and I almost rolled my eyes. It wasn't like she was trying to get naked.
I wondered what she would do if I told her that I saw her peach bra?
I grinned at the thought as I turned toward to face the park.
"Okay. I turned."
"I'm done." She said almost immediately and I turned back to her and picked up her cane.
I handed it back to her.
"You have to fix your hair," I commented and she patted it using her left hand.
"How does it look?" she asked worriedly.
"It looks human-" I said hesitantly as I eyed the random strands that surrounded her face. She looked homeless with my huge jacket and unkempt hair. I saw her frown. "-which is acceptable. I swear." I added quickly, and she nodded slowly.
She turned to leave.
"Wait-" I said hesitantly.
She turned quickly.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Do you know where you're-uh- going?" I asked awkwardly, shrugging.
"I guess."
"What do you mean, love?" I asked in disbelief. "It's either a yes or a no."
"Yes."
"Okay then," I said still concerned about her. "Are you sure though?" I added half-heartedly.
"Yes."
"Okay. Take care." I said simply and she turned to leave finally.
I watched her walk to the right, then on a pavement like she memorized this place. I sighed and looked at the ground finding none other than her mp3 player and earphones. Her earphones were smashed through.
I picked them up and threw away the earphones. I'd return it to her when I saw her. If I ever got to see her again, that is.
I reached for my jacket's pocket for cigarettes then remembered that I gave it to her.
I groaned and kicked the car next to me.
So I got invited to a party because I wanted to buy cigarettes and now I lost them.
I returned to my bench where I kept the bag of beer cans. I picked them up and decided that I really had to purchase some clothes. Especially a jacket if I were to survive the harsh cold.
It was shopping time but I couldn't stop thinking about something.
The familiarity of what happened to Samantha kept striking me in the heart.
Almost everything that happened reminded me of Audrey. Reminded me that I was reckless enough to make her end up dead. Why did it remind me of the fact that I wasn't there for her when she was buried or cremated? I didn't even know how Father 'disposed of' her body. And my baby.
I didn't know if she was at peace and yet I allowed myself to breathe and move on. It wasn't fair.
After getting myself a good brown leather jacket, a few shirts and denim, I was back at the motel drinking beer and flipping through channels on the tiny TV that sat on a tiny wooden table.
Most of the channels had porn.
I switched off the TV and sank under the bed covers naked.
It felt good to sleep like this.
Naked, but warm from the beer.
***
A/N: Mmm...Any thoughts bout this?
Love, love you all, whoever is reading this <3
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
A/N:""Psst..u got a bit of violence and sexual abuse ahead of you.""
***
<▪▪Naked▪▪>
I woke up with the sound of my phone alarm. I sat up immediately, then reminded myself that it was just an alarm. So I sank back in my bed taking deep, calming breaths. It was eleven in the morning already.
I picked the cigarette box from my bedside table and opened it only to find it empty. I clenched my jaws and threw the empty box angrily at the door.
Feeling my blood boil, I washed up then dressed up hastily. I threw on my jacket and headed out.
I made my way to a shop and bought some beer cans and a cigarette box. I calmed down a bit.
I picked the bag with the beers from the cashier counter and was about to leave when-
"Romeo!" I heard a familiar voice call me out and I groaned inwardly dropping my hand from the door handle. That was just about the last thing I'd want. More pretending.
I turned smiling, nevertheless, to none other than a grinning Caroline with a piece paper in her hand, a smirking Joe with two packs of beer cans in his hands and a frowning Ben with five chips bags between his arms. The golden trio.
I walked back to them despite the curl in my toes. I wanted to leave so desperately.
They were standing at the back of the short cashier line. "Hello. How are you?" I decided to ask as I looked at all of them. Caroline grinned while Ben rolled his eyes.
"We're fine, mate." Joe smiled.
"Guess why it's your lucky day today!" Caroline beamed looking gorgeous in the floral dress she was wearing.
I smiled definitely not intending to spend a second playing this guessing game.
"Mhm. Why?" I said, faking interest.
"Cause you're invited to the best party ever!" Joe said high fiving Caroline and I thought I needed some support to hold on to. Because I couldn't be hearing right.
"It was like a plan Ben came up with!" She looked proudly at Ben. "That if we see anybody we know, they get invited! Not only from the uni!"
"I currently want to kill myself right now," Ben muttered.
I didn't like parties and music. At all. That was absolutely horrific.
"Thank you so much. You're all so kind, but I'm not the party-" I started pleasantly, but Caroline almost jumped at me.
"Hey! I made you a favour and helped you find Sam. Now it is your paying back time!" She grinned, brushing back a hair strand that fell over my face. I flinched a bit. And, yes, some people loved unnecessary touching. Your best example is Caroline, whom I hoped wouldn't end up with only one arm by the end of my visit here. "You have to come!"
"I'm not from around he-" I started desperately. This was the biggest, ever possible, black hole I could ever get sucked in. I needed to back out.
"Then it's your welcome party, mate," Joe said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I looked down at his hand distractedly.
"I-" I was shaking my head.
"Hey. Romeo. It's done. Ben?" Caroline started, then turned to Ben.
"What?" Ben muttered with a scowl.
Caroline stuck a hand in front of him. "Address, time and dress code."
"I'm out of invitati-" He blabbed and I hoped I could use that time to run away.
"Address, time and dress code. Ben." She repeated stressing on each word. Cursing under his breath, he reluctantly reached for his jeans' back pocket while trying to hold the five chips bags.
He handed her a navy blue paper which she handed to me. "That's your invitation!" She exclaimed and I took it with dread.
"Thank you," I said, feeling the exact opposite to gratitude.
"Well, follow the dress code and we'll see you there!" She beamed and noticed that it was their turn at the cashier.
"Okay. I'll see you then." I said weakly, waving at them and exiting the bloody shop.
I seriously could have survived without cigarettes.
I walked to yesterday's park, sat on an empty bench and unfolded the invitation to find:
YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR
ANNUAL 'GREATEST' PARTY IN LONDON!
THEME: UV /BLACK LIGHT!
TIME AND DATE: SAT, 10, FEB!
DRESS CODE: EXPOSE AS MUCH SKIN AS POSSIBLE SO YOU CAN BE SHINING LIKE THE STAR YOU ARE! ☆☆
*Turn the paper for the address*
I turned the paper for the address, lips still parted in disbelief. I was not going whatsoever.
Absolutely not.
I vehemently folded the paper and placed it in my pocket.
I took out a cigarette from jacket's pocket and lit it up. I inhaled and exhaled immediately, feeling impatient with everything.
I didn't know what was wrong with me. I needed to get a grip on myself.
I closed my eyes then opened them again. I then looked at a group of guys no more than seventeen years old ganging around something...or someone between two huge cars. I squinted to see if it was serious. I heard their laughter and hooting.
But I heard whimpering too.
I slowly got up and walked quickly towards the group, making sure I drew no attention to myself in case nothing was really wrong.
They were four guys. One was holding a familiar cane, the other gave me his back as he advanced on his victim, the other had a pair of sunglasses in his hands, and the last had earphones in his hands as he laughed like a moron.
With a sharp realization, I instantly knew who they were ganging up on.
I placed a hand on the shoulder of the guy who had his back to me. He turned quickly laughing with his dick hanging out of his pants. When he took me in, his hands flew to his dick, tucking it in as his face turned solemn. I guess my 'Audrey's-handsome-criminal-face' was on. And now? I wanted it to be. Because what he was doing was so dangerously wrong for him.
He was under the mercy of my anger.
I bumped my head with his nose, causing blood to ooze out of it and stain his shirt. I then punched him in his face so hard releasing all the anger harboured in me.
The anger on my father.
The anger over Audrey's death.
The anger on my baby's death.
The anger at the fact that I still hadn't received an answer from Sam.
The anger of getting invited to a BLOODY party.
The anger of seeing that knobhead use a blind woman in that disgusting way.
I could tolerate anything. Anything but ****. Especially after witnessing it with Audrey. I even refused using it as a torture tool, no matter what.
He stumbled back and collided with one of the stationary cars, only to trip on his foot. He caught himself just before he fell to the ground as the other three stared at me in pure shock.
"Get out of my face! Now!" I thundered, acutely reminding myself of my father.
They dropped all they had and tried helping their injured friend who was drenched in blood that oozed out of his nose and split lip.
I glared at them until they were all out of sight.
I looked down finding Samantha curled up on the floor between the two cars with her hands clapped against her eyes as she hyperventilated. Her shirt was ripped open, revealing her peach bra and so were her jeans' zip and button. Her hair was standing out in all directions.
Who raped in a bloody park?
I shook my head at her destitute condition, feeling sorry for her. I then knelt down next to her and reached for her sunglasses.
I tried to reach for her hands, but she screamed.
"Hey, it's okay- It's just your sunglasses. If you want them-" I said hesitantly. She whimpered for a while before slowly turning a hand toward me, revealing a squeezed shut-eye.
I carefully placed her sunglasses in her hand. She tightened her fingers around it with her now chipped blue nail polish. She shakily then put them on.
"Should I help you up?" I asked awkwardly, cringing at myself.
"No." She said quickly, but firmly as she sniffed.
"Do you not recognize me?" I asked softly, genuinely amused.
"No. I recog-recognize you." She replied quickly.
"I'm not going to hurt you," I said, surprising myself with my sincerity. I then looked around to make sure that nobody was watching us.
"I wouldn't know." She said, shaking, still curled on the ground.
"Hey, if I wanted to hurt you, I would have done that a while ago. Trust me on yourself please?" I tried slowly still, cringing.
I was being too nice.
"No. Leave."
My eyes widened in shock. "But the retards can retu-"
"Leave me plea-please!" She pleaded before starting to cry hysterically and my heart might've broken as I retreated from her.
I shut up, sat down next to her (yet far enough), my back to a car and watched her for a while. I stared at her anklet that was shimmering in the sun. I stared at her powerless, vulnerable figure. And I, with all the power and strength in me, couldn't muster enough to just walk away from her.
"Leave!" She suddenly shouted startling me.
I got up immediately and was going to leave when guilt -my enemy- stopped me. I couldn't leave her vulnerable like that. So I compromised.
I slowly took off my jacket removing all the warmth that previously engulfed me and knelt down to drape it over her. I felt her flinch before her breath hitched and she looked up, looking at a point behind me.
I got up immediately scared that she'll start screaming again.
She then shot her hand in front of her. I looked at it and wondered what I was I supposed to do.
But I went forward and took it in mine. I looked at her waiting for an insult, but there was nothing. Relief flooded me as I pulled her up slowly.
She then grabbed her hand away and stood there like that. "My cane." She whispered and I immediately got moving.
I knelt down to pick it up, got up, held her right hand and squeezed it gently on her cane.
She smiled tightly as I looked at the jacket that didn't cover anything, but her shoulders. She started turning around to leave, but I immediately stopped her.
"Wait!" She turned to me. "Are you going to leave looking like that?"
"Is there something wrong with the way I look?" She said, sounding worried.
I looked at her showing bra, her hair and unbuttoned and unzipped pants.
"Uh- mostly. Let me help you." I said, approaching her.
I held the jacket so that she could put her arms in. Then I remembered that she couldn't see where to put them and helped her.
I zipped the jacket to the top. It covered her chin and I thought she looked adorable.
"Can you -uh- zip and button your pants?" I asked awkwardly, pointing at her pants and she looked shaken.
"They're open?" She dropped her cane and turned around to zip her pants, but I saw a family walking behind her.
Wrong image.
I grabbed her by the shoulders to let her face me as she yelped.
"There are other people walking on the other side," I told her urgently and she relaxed.
"Oh. Okay. Turn around then." She said and I almost rolled my eyes. It wasn't like she was trying to get naked.
I wondered what she would do if I told her that I saw her peach bra?
I grinned at the thought as I turned toward to face the park.
"Okay. I turned."
"I'm done." She said almost immediately and I turned back to her and picked up her cane.
I handed it back to her.
"You have to fix your hair," I commented and she patted it using her left hand.
"How does it look?" she asked worriedly.
"It looks human-" I said hesitantly as I eyed the random strands that surrounded her face. She looked homeless with my huge jacket and unkempt hair. I saw her frown. "-which is acceptable. I swear." I added quickly, and she nodded slowly.
She turned to leave.
"Wait-" I said hesitantly.
She turned quickly.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Do you know where you're-uh- going?" I asked awkwardly, shrugging.
"I guess."
"What do you mean, love?" I asked in disbelief. "It's either a yes or a no."
"Yes."
"Okay then," I said still concerned about her. "Are you sure though?" I added half-heartedly.
"Yes."
"Okay. Take care." I said simply and she turned to leave finally.
I watched her walk to the right, then on a pavement like she memorized this place. I sighed and looked at the ground finding none other than her mp3 player and earphones. Her earphones were smashed through.
I picked them up and threw away the earphones. I'd return it to her when I saw her. If I ever got to see her again, that is.
I reached for my jacket's pocket for cigarettes then remembered that I gave it to her.
I groaned and kicked the car next to me.
So I got invited to a party because I wanted to buy cigarettes and now I lost them.
I returned to my bench where I kept the bag of beer cans. I picked them up and decided that I really had to purchase some clothes. Especially a jacket if I were to survive the harsh cold.
It was shopping time but I couldn't stop thinking about something.
The familiarity of what happened to Samantha kept striking me in the heart.
Almost everything that happened reminded me of Audrey. Reminded me that I was reckless enough to make her end up dead. Why did it remind me of the fact that I wasn't there for her when she was buried or cremated? I didn't even know how Father 'disposed of' her body. And my baby.
I didn't know if she was at peace and yet I allowed myself to breathe and move on. It wasn't fair.
After getting myself a good brown leather jacket, a few shirts and denim, I was back at the motel drinking beer and flipping through channels on the tiny TV that sat on a tiny wooden table.
Most of the channels had porn.
I switched off the TV and sank under the bed covers naked.
It felt good to sleep like this.
Naked, but warm from the beer.
***
A/N: Mmm...Any thoughts bout this?
Love, love you all, whoever is reading this <3
A/N:""Psst..u got a bit of violence and sexual abuse ahead of you.""***NakedI woke up with the sound of my phone alarm. I sat up immediately, then reminded myself that it was just an alarm. So I sank back in my bed taking deep, calming breaths. It was eleven in the morning already.I picked the cigarette box from my bedside table and opened it only to find it empty. I clenched my jaws and threw the empty box angrily at the door.Feeling my blood boil, I washed up then dressed up hastily. I threw on my jacket and headed out.I made my way to a shop and bought some beer cans and a cigarette box. I calmed down a bit.I picked the bag with the beers from the cashier counter and was about to leave when-"Romeo!" I heard a familiar voice call me out and I groaned inwardly dropping my hand from the door handle. That was just about the last thing I'd want. More pretending.I turned smiling, nevertheless, to none other than a grinning Caroline with a piece paper in her hand, a smirking Joe with two packs of beer cans in his hands and a frowning Ben with five chips bags between his arms. The golden trio.I walked back to them despite the curl in my toes. I wanted to leave so desperately.They were standing at the back of the short cashier line. "Hello. How are you?" I decided to ask as I looked at all of them. Caroline grinned while Ben rolled his eyes."We're fine, mate." Joe smiled."Guess why it's your lucky day today!" Caroline beamed looking gorgeous in the floral dress she was wearing.I smiled definitely not intending to spend a second playing this guessing game."Mhm. Why?" I said, faking interest."Cause you're invited to the best party ever!" Joe said high fiving Caroline and I thought I needed some support to hold on to. Because I couldn't be hearing right."It was like a plan Ben came up with!" She looked proudly at Ben. "That if we see anybody we know, they get invited! Not only from the uni!""I currently want to kill myself right now," Ben muttered.I didn't like parties and music. At all. That was absolutely horrific."Thank you so much. You're all so kind, but I'm not the party-" I started pleasantly, but Caroline almost jumped at me."Hey! I made you a favour and helped you find Sam. Now it is your paying back time!" She grinned, brushing back a hair strand that fell over my face. I flinched a bit. And, yes, some people loved unnecessary touching. Your best example is Caroline, whom I hoped wouldn't end up with only one arm by the end of my visit here. "You have to come!""I'm not from around he-" I started desperately. This was the biggest, ever possible, black hole I could ever get sucked in. I needed to back out."Then it's your welcome party, mate," Joe said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I looked down at his hand distractedly."I-" I was shaking my head."Hey. Romeo. It's done. Ben?" Caroline started, then turned to Ben."What?" Ben muttered with a scowl.Caroline stuck a hand in front of him. "Address, time and dress code.""I'm out of invitati-" He blabbed and I hoped I could use that time to run away."Address, time and dress code. Ben." She repeated stressing on each word. Cursing under his breath, he reluctantly reached for his jeans' back pocket while trying to hold the five chips bags.He handed her a navy blue paper which she handed to me. "That's your invitation!" She exclaimed and I took it with dread."Thank you," I said, feeling the exact opposite to gratitude."Well, follow the dress code and we'll see you there!" She beamed and noticed that it was their turn at the cashier."Okay. I'll see you then." I said weakly, waving at them and exiting the bloody shop.I seriously could have survived without cigarettes.I walked to yesterday's park, sat on an empty bench and unfolded the invitation to find:YOU ARE INVITED TO OURANNUAL 'GREATEST' PARTY IN LONDON!THEME: UV /BLACK LIGHT!TIME AND DATE: SAT, 10, FEB!DRESS CODE: EXPOSE AS MUCH SKIN AS POSSIBLE SO YOU CAN BE SHINING LIKE THE STAR YOU ARE! *Turn the paper for the address*I turned the paper for the address, lips still parted in disbelief. I was not going whatsoever.Absolutely not.I vehemently folded the paper and placed it in my pocket.I took out a cigarette from jacket's pocket and lit it up. I inhaled and exhaled immediately, feeling impatient with everything.I didn't know what was wrong with me. I needed to get a grip on myself.I closed my eyes then opened them again. I then looked at a group of guys no more than seventeen years old ganging around something...or someone between two huge cars. I squinted to see if it was serious. I heard their laughter and hooting.But I heard whimpering too.I slowly got up and walked quickly towards the group, making sure I drew no attention to myself in case nothing was really wrong.They were four guys. One was holding a familiar cane, the other gave me his back as he advanced on his victim, the other had a pair of sunglasses in his hands, and the last had earphones in his hands as he laughed like a moron.With a sharp realization, I instantly knew who they were ganging up on.I placed a hand on the shoulder of the guy who had his back to me. He turned quickly laughing with his dick hanging out of his pants. When he took me in, his hands flew to his dick, tucking it in as his face turned solemn. I guess my 'Audrey's-handsome-criminal-face' was on. And now? I wanted it to be. Because what he was doing was so dangerously wrong for him.He was under the mercy of my anger.I bumped my head with his nose, causing blood to ooze out of it and stain his shirt. I then punched him in his face so hard releasing all the anger harboured in me.The anger on my father.The anger over Audrey's death.The anger on my baby's death.The anger at the fact that I still hadn't received an answer from Sam.The anger of getting invited to a BLOODY party.The anger of seeing that knobhead use a blind woman in that disgusting way.I could tolerate anything. Anything but ****. Especially after witnessing it with Audrey. I even refused using it as a torture tool, no matter what.He stumbled back and collided with one of the stationary cars, only to trip on his foot. He caught himself just before he fell to the ground as the other three stared at me in pure shock."Get out of my face! Now!" I thundered, acutely reminding myself of my father.They dropped all they had and tried helping their injured friend who was drenched in blood that oozed out of his nose and split lip.I glared at them until they were all out of sight.I looked down finding Samantha curled up on the floor between the two cars with her hands clapped against her eyes as she hyperventilated. Her shirt was ripped open, revealing her peach bra and so were her jeans' zip and button. Her hair was standing out in all directions.Who raped in a bloody park?I shook my head at her destitute condition, feeling sorry for her. I then knelt down next to her and reached for her sunglasses.I tried to reach for her hands, but she screamed."Hey, it's okay- It's just your sunglasses. If you want them-" I said hesitantly. She whimpered for a while before slowly turning a hand toward me, revealing a squeezed shut-eye.I carefully placed her sunglasses in her hand. She tightened her fingers around it with her now chipped blue nail polish. She shakily then put them on."Should I help you up?" I asked awkwardly, cringing at myself."No." She said quickly, but firmly as she sniffed."Do you not recognize me?" I asked softly, genuinely amused."No. I recog-recognize you." She replied quickly."I'm not going to hurt you," I said, surprising myself with my sincerity. I then looked around to make sure that nobody was watching us."I wouldn't know." She said, shaking, still curled on the ground."Hey, if I wanted to hurt you, I would have done that a while ago. Trust me on yourself please?" I tried slowly still, cringing.I was being too nice."No. Leave."My eyes widened in shock. "But the retards can retu-""Leave me plea-please!" She pleaded before starting to cry hysterically and my heart might've broken as I retreated from her.I shut up, sat down next to her yet far enough, my back to a car and watched her for a while. I stared at her anklet that was shimmering in the sun. I stared at her powerless, vulnerable figure. And I, with all the power and strength in me, couldn't muster enough to just walk away from her."Leave!" She suddenly shouted startling me.I got up immediately and was going to leave when guilt -my enemy- stopped me. I couldn't leave her vulnerable like that. So I compromised.I slowly took off my jacket removing all the warmth that previously engulfed me and knelt down to drape it over her. I felt her flinch before her breath hitched and she looked up, looking at a point behind me.I got up immediately scared that she'll start screaming again.She then shot her hand in front of her. I looked at it and wondered what I was I supposed to do.But I went forward and took it in mine. I looked at her waiting for an insult, but there was nothing. Relief flooded me as I pulled her up slowly.She then grabbed her hand away and stood there like that. "My cane." She whispered and I immediately got moving.I knelt down to pick it up, got up, held her right hand and squeezed it gently on her cane.She smiled tightly as I looked at the jacket that didn't cover anything, but her shoulders. She started turning around to leave, but I immediately stopped her."Wait!" She turned to me. "Are you going to leave looking like that?""Is there something wrong with the way I look?" She said, sounding worried.I looked at her showing bra, her hair and unbuttoned and unzipped pants."Uh- mostly. Let me help you." I said, approaching her.I held the jacket so that she could put her arms in. Then I remembered that she couldn't see where to put them and helped her.I zipped the jacket to the top. It covered her chin and I thought she looked adorable."Can you -uh- zip and button your pants?" I asked awkwardly, pointing at her pants and she looked shaken."They're open?" She dropped her cane and turned around to zip her pants, but I saw a family walking behind her.Wrong image.I grabbed her by the shoulders to let her face me as she yelped."There are other people walking on the other side," I told her urgently and she relaxed."Oh. Okay. Turn around then." She said and I almost rolled my eyes. It wasn't like she was trying to get naked.I wondered what she would do if I told her that I saw her peach bra?I grinned at the thought as I turned toward to face the park."Okay. I turned.""I'm done." She said almost immediately and I turned back to her and picked up her cane.I handed it back to her."You have to fix your hair," I commented and she patted it using her left hand."How does it look?" she asked worriedly."It looks human-" I said hesitantly as I eyed the random strands that surrounded her face. She looked homeless with my huge jacket and unkempt hair. I saw her frown. "-which is acceptable. I swear." I added quickly, and she nodded slowly.She turned to leave."Wait-" I said hesitantly.She turned quickly."Is there something wrong?""Do you know where you're-uh- going?" I asked awkwardly, shrugging."I guess.""What do you mean, love?" I asked in disbelief. "It's either a yes or a no.""Yes.""Okay then," I said still concerned about her. "Are you sure though?" I added half-heartedly."Yes.""Okay. Take care." I said simply and she turned to leave finally.I watched her walk to the right, then on a pavement like she memorized this place. I sighed and looked at the ground finding none other than her mp3 player and earphones. Her earphones were smashed through.I picked them up and threw away the earphones. I'd return it to her when I saw her. If I ever got to see her again, that is.I reached for my jacket's pocket for cigarettes then remembered that I gave it to her.I groaned and kicked the car next to me.So I got invited to a party because I wanted to buy cigarettes and now I lost them.I returned to my bench where I kept the bag of beer cans. I picked them up and decided that I really had to purchase some clothes. Especially a jacket if I were to survive the harsh cold.It was shopping time but I couldn't stop thinking about something.The familiarity of what happened to Samantha kept striking me in the heart.Almost everything that happened reminded me of Audrey. Reminded me that I was reckless enough to make her end up dead. Why did it remind me of the fact that I wasn't there for her when she was buried or cremated? I didn't even know how Father 'disposed of' her body. And my baby.I didn't know if she was at peace and yet I allowed myself to breathe and move on. It wasn't fair.After getting myself a good brown leather jacket, a few shirts and denim, I was back at the motel drinking beer and flipping through channels on the tiny TV that sat on a tiny wooden table.Most of the channels had porn.I switched off the TV and sank under the bed covers naked.It felt good to sleep like this.Naked, but warm from the beer.***A/N: Mmm...Any thoughts bout this?Love, love you all, whoever is reading this 3
