Array
(
[text] =>
Vic whistles happily as he tears down the hateful notes from his locker. He’s been happy all day and he was happy all weekend too. God, his smile is beautiful.
I just watch him as he collects his things from his locker. I wonder if this is the Vic Mama and Papa talk about. If so, I can see why they want him back.
“Is Nicole coming home with us?” I ask Vic, just curious.
“No, she’s going home but we’re going to give her a ride.” Vic explains and I nod. “She’s going to meet us in the parking lot.”
“Okay.” I chirp.
Just at the moment, I hear a girl crying. Low and behold, it’s Nicole. Alex has a fistful of her hair as he drags her towards us. She in tears and she looks like she’s in a lot of pain.
“Fuentes, don’t you fucking move!” Alex shouts and I notice Vic gulp.
“Kells, go to the car.” He murmurs.
“No, I’m not leaving you.” I tell him, remembering what Nicole told me the other night. Alex is going to kill Vic.
“Kellin, I’m not fucking around. Go!” Vic snaps.
I nod, giving in then I begin to walk quickly down the hall away from Alex.
“You too, Quinn. Don’t you fucking move!” Alex booms.
Feeling frightened, I try to run but two of Alex’s friends grab me and stop me, dragging me back over to Vic and where Alex is now standing. He throws Nicole to the ground and she lets out a cry of pain. Seeing her in so much pain is sickening.
“You encouraged her to kill my kid!” Alex screams at Vic.
“I didn’t encourage anything! She didn’t want it!” Vic shouts back, a fire in his eyes.
Alex kicks Nicole and Vic leaps forward, tackling Alex to the ground. It’s the first time I’ve seen Vic attack Alex.
Nicole takes the opportunity to get up and run away. Alex’s friend grab Vic and yank him off of Alex, holding his arms behind his back. Alex gets up looking even more angry which makes me feel beyond scared for Vic. I can’t watch what happens next.
He steps forward, pulling his arm back then punching Vic across the jaw. I scream at the sight and struggle against the two guys holding me back but they have too good of a grip on me.
“Do your worst, Gaskarth.” Vic growls before spitting blood on the floor.
Alex’s pissed-off face turns to a sickly sweet smirk. He looks away from Vic then his eyes land on me and my heart leaps to my throat.
“Hold him tight.” Alex mumbles to the guy holding Vic.
He then strolls over to me which leaves me shaking in terror.
“You touch him and it’ll be the last thing you do, Alex!” Vic screams but I can hear the hopelessness in his tone.
I look at Alex fearfully as he stops in front of me. He then punches me hard and fast across the face, no doubt bruising my cheek and splitting my lip. I don’t even have time to cry out in pain before he punches me in the stomach, making all the air leave my lungs. He doesn’t stop there though, he continues to hit and kick me until I’m crying and screaming and I can faintly here Vic screaming in the background. And the entire time I’m being beaten, all I can think about is my parents.
After a while, I throw up all over myself which makes Alex stop. He just laughs then I’m dropped to the floor. Alex kicks me as he steps over me then walks off, laughing with his friends. I curl up into a ball, squeezing my eyes shut and I sob as I choke up blood and more vomit.
I feel Vic wrap his arms around me, holding my head to his chest. I can’t tell whether it me or him shaking, or maybe it’s both of us.
“I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry, Kells.” He sobs as he holds me tightly but him holding me is only causing me more pain.
“I want to go h-home.” I choke out.
Vic doesn’t listen though. I hear someone else’s footsteps which makes me whimper as I fear it could be Alex.
“I’m so sorry.” Vic repeats, seemingly ignoring me.
“Vic, take him home.” I hear Nicole whisper.
I find myself relaxes a little as Vic then picks me up but doesn’t stifle his sobs. He carries me out of the building and lays me down in the backseat, not even clipping a seatbelt over me. I curl up in a ball again and continue to cry. I hear the car start and feel it take off.
“You need to stop crying and drive.” I hear Nicole say softly.
I then hear Vic sniff.
“I’m sorry for all of this.” Nicole apologizes.
“It’s not your fault.” Vic whispers.
There’s a long silence then the car stops.
“Thank you for standing up for me.” Nicole whispers then I hear the door close.
The car starts moving and my sobs begin to settle. I’m not in any unbearable pain, I’ve been through a lot worse with my parents but the entire situation was too much for me, too overwhelming. We soon stop again and Vic turns off the car. I open my eyes and wipe them asI sit up, my body aching as I do so. There’s definitely going to be some bruising.
Vic gets out of the car and I slowly try to do the same but Vic stops me when he comes to my side.
“Hey, slow down. I’ve got you.” He whispers, carefully picking me up.
I wrap my arms around his neck and he carries me inside. I stare at his face. There’s blood down his chin and a swollen red mark on his jaw. His face is puffy and his eyes are still filled with un-shed.
“I love you.” I sniff, thankful that I’m now safe in his arms.
A tear falls down his cheek at my words so I kiss it away.
“It’s not your fault.” I tell him.
He doesn’t respond so I decide to just drop it.
He made a promise to let no one hurt me and I think failing that is taking a toll on him but it was out of his hands. I never expected him to keep that promise, at least not when it came to Alex. I knew this would happen eventually. Vic can’t protect me from Alex when he cant even protect himself.
He carries me upstairs and down to the bathroom. He puts me down gently and turns the shower on. He then turns to me and tries to pull my shirt over my head but I push it down, knowing that if it looks bad, its just going to make Vic even more upset and self-loathing.
“I’ve got it. I’m okay.” I tell him.
“You were curled up in a ball crying hysterically a few minutes ago.” Vic mumbles, trying to pull my shirt up again.
“I was just a bit shaken up. I’ll be okay. Can you maybe make me some tea if it isn’t too much to ask for?” I question, just hoping to get him out of the bathroom so I can shower.
“Of course.” he murmurs, kissing my forehead then leaving.
I lock the door and get undressed, my whole body aching but back when I lived with my parents, there were days that I couldn’t move so this isn’t so bad. I get into the shower and my lip starts stinging and the water starts turning a light orange, leading me to believe that my lip is split.
I feel horrible and it hurts to think that this is how Vic must feel quite often. I have no idea how I’m going to hide this from Mama and Papa.
I don’t spend too long in the shower. Soon I get out and wrap a towel around my waist. I leave the bathroom and go down to our bedroom where Vic is sitting on his bed, a mug of tea in his hand. He looks up and is instantly tearful when he sees my slowly bruising body.
I sigh and go over to my drawers, getting some comfortable clothes. I drop my towel and get dressed as quickly as I can before I get into my warm comfortable bed. I hold my hand out and Vic passes me my tea. I take a sip, put it on my nightstand and lie down.
“Can you cuddle me?” I ask Vic, who’s staring down at his hands.
He doesn’t answer me. Instead he sighs and looks up at me.
“We need to break up.” He says softly.
“W-what?” I stammer out. I couldn’t have heard that right.
“We cant be together, Kells. It’s not safe for you to be associated with me. You’re better off as far away from me as possible.” He mutters. A lump rises in my throat so big it nearly stops me from being able to speak.
“Vic, I can handle it. I’m strong. My parents have done worse.” I squeak, hoping to change his mind.
“That doesn’t mean that its okay, Kells. You shouldn’t have to handle it. The entire point of pulling you from your parent’s house is so you didn’t have to put up with this. I’m not letting you get hurt because of me. That’s final.” Vic explains, his voice cracking as he’s tries hard not to cry.
“I love you. That should be enough. We can get through this together. Don’t you love me enough to want to be with me?” I choke out, trying not cry.
“It’s because I love you that I cant be with you. I’m sorry.” He whispers standing up.
“Where are you going?” I cry as he walks to the door. “Now you’re just going to leave me? What happened to staying together forever?”
“I just need to think.” He whispers, not even turning back to look at me.”
“I-I told you things. I let you touch me. I trusted you. I gave myself to you. Why are you doing this?” I sob confused.
“Kell, don’t make this harder than it has to be.” he mutters then he leaves.
I lay there in bed crying and screaming into my pillow, feeling more sadness and more pain than my parents ever inflicted on me. My heart feels more bruised than any part of my body right now. I feel empty and broken for the first time since coming here, as if a chunk of myself has just been ripped away.
It’s not long before I hear a car pull up in the driveway and I wonder if it’s Vic but then realize its probably Mama and Papa. Not wanting them to see me like this, I get out of bed and go down to the bathroom. I lock the door behind me and then go climb into the bathtub.
“Boys, you home?” I hear Mama call as the front door opens.
I don’t respond and just continue to cry. Is it bad that I really miss Vic already?
I hear footsteps coming towards the bathroom and then the door handle jiggles.
“Vic?” Mama asks.
“Vic left.” I mumble.
“Kellin, are you alright?” Mama asks concerned.
“I’m fine.” I lie.
“You don’t sound fine.” Mama sighs. “Open this door so we can talk.”
“I don’t want to.” I choke out, not wanting her to question me about why I’m upset and covered in bruises. And honestly, I’d just prefer to be alone right now.
“Kellin, please. What happened?” I can hear the pain in Mama’s voice which just makes me feel even worse.
“I’m fine. Please just leave me alone.” I sob.
“Do you want me to call someone? Dr. Stump? Tay?” She asks.
“Leave me alone!” I shout.
I hear Mama let out a small sob which just makes me cry harder.
“Okay, Honey. If you need anything, you know where I am.” She sniffs then I hear her walk away.
I sink down in the tub feeling absolutely sick to my stomach. Vic claims to be protecting me but he’s hurting me more than Alex ever could.
[text_hash] => 4543ec7f
)