mistakes

one.

i lay down on the bed, exhausted from the long drive, as my boyfriend rolls in our suitcases. closing the door behind him, he breathes a sigh of relief as he hangs my dress on the door then comes and lays beside me.

"i thought we were never going to get here with your driving" he grumbles. i force a laugh, and apologise. he's just grumpy because he's tired and stressed. thats what i tell myself each day.

"are you looking forward to the wedding tomorrow? you will finally get to meet my friends, and lily!" i smile at the thought of seeing everyone again. i moved to london a few years ago, where i met darren, but most of my friends stayed in our hometown. lily, my best friend, lives relatively close to me in oxford where she is completing her masters, but we don't see each other nearly enough.

"yeah yeah sure, i just don't get why we have to wake up so fucking early" he murmurs, not even looking over at me.

"well we need to have enough time to get ready and get to the church early, so we have to get up early to do that, i'm sorry" i sigh slightly, and he pulls me towards him.

"its fine i guess, you can just make it up to me now" he presses his lips to my neck, his stubble scratching my skin. i place my hands on his chest and tell him that i'm not in the mood, but he doesn't seem to care. his hands rake my body as he presses his body to mine, attacking my throat with his lips. i lay there, still, not knowing what to do to stop him.

"i really don't want to do this now darren, i'm too tired, and i don't want our first time to be like this. please, stop!" he ignores me as i plead, shoving his hand under the skirt of my dress, not caring. jamming his fingers into me, i wince in pain, trying to push him off of me. he wont budge. i bring my knee up to his groin as hard as i can, forcing him to remove his hand, clutching his crotch in pain as he rolls away.

"you're going to pay for that you fucking bitch" he growls, as i rush up off the bed, grabbing my handbag and the dress hung on the door as i run out of the room as fast as i can. praying that he wont follow me, i speed down the stairs to the lobby.

"excuse me? do you have any rooms available?" i ask the lady at the front desk, who frowns at my disheveled appearance.

"no. sorry. fully booked." she tells me. i thank her, and just leave the hotel, hoping that darren isn't coming after me. i find my car and lock myself inside of it, unsure of what to do. i can't sleep in here tonight, and thats the only hotel in town. my friends are staying with their families, with no room to spare. the reason i was staying at the hotel in the first place. it pains me as i realise i will just have to drive home. i might be able to make it back in time for the reception tomorrow, but definitely not for the wedding. i pull out my phone to call gabe, to let him know i wont be able to make it tomorrow.

"hello?" he picks up, and i smile slightly at the sound of his familiar voice.

"hey gabe, its may. i had to leave the hotel and i have no where to stay so it looks like i'm going to have to drive back to london for tonight. i should be able to make it back for the reception, but i will miss the wedding, i'm so so sorry" i try to keep calm as i speak, but my voice breaks slightly, probably giving me away.

"don't apologise, its okay. you can stay with me if you want? sarah is staying at some spa with her bridesmaids so i can make up the sofa for you, i would hate it if you missed the wedding" he sounds concerned as he speaks. my eyes well up with tears, out of his kindness and the situation i have just escaped. gabe has always been one of the sweetest guys that i know, this proves it. i ask if hes sure, not wanting to intrude on his last night as an unmarried man. he tells me to stop being silly, its totally okay, and gives us a chance to catch up away from the madness of tomorrow. i thank him, and hang up. he soon texts me his address, i take a moment to collect myself then turn on the engine, following his directions.