Scholarly (Yelena X Reader) ON HOLD

Chapter Twenty-Five

 CONTENT WARNING: This chapter contains brief allusion to past SA. If you are sensitive to this topic please read at your own discretion. 

 My body stiffens as Hitch comes into the room, the man trailing behind her awkwardly. Yelena notices the shift in my body language and looks down at me, concern flashing across her features.

I just shake my head at her once, not wanting to draw anyone's attention. Hitch sits on the floor in front of Sasha and I, twisting to face us with a smile.

"Hey guys, sorry we're so late. Marlowe's roommate was being a pain in the ass," Hitch says, grabbing a handful of popcorn from the bowl Sasha holds.

"You're good, we just turned it on," Sasha replies, returning her smile. "I'm Sasha by the way," she says in Marlowe's direction with a wave. He gives a halfhearted two finger wave in response, quickly turning his attention back to the movie.

"He's just shy," Hitch whispers to us with a shrug before turning back around to watch the movie.

Yelena's arms stay firmly around me as I try to focus on the TV, my thoughts getting muddied with memories of the night Hitch met Marlowe at the club. I can tell Yelena knows something is wrong and she does her best to comfort me silently; her hand moving in soothing circles against my back.

I can't help but fixate on the fact that this new man is somehow connected to the person who almost ruined my life. How close was Marlowe to that man? Was he just a casual acquaintance brought along that night? Or something more?

The thought makes me feel sick, knowing there's even a chance that he and I could ever be in the same room again.

"I'm going to grab a refill," I mutter as I stand, quickly moving away and into the kitchen. I set my cup on the counter and lean over, resting my elbows on the scuffed surface and holding my head in my hands.

I breathe deeply, trying to get myself further away from the edge I'm teetering on. I hold the air in my lungs until they ache before exhaling and repeating; all the while telling myself that I'm probably overreacting. For all I know Hitch could tire of Marlowe at any moment, especially having Annie around.

"Are you okay?" Yelena asks, causing me to jump in surprise as I hadn't heard her approach.

"Yeah," I sigh; standing as she comes up to me and allowing her to wrap me in her arms. "Do you remember that night you had to pick me up from the club?"

"It would be pretty hard to forget," she says, pulling away slightly so she can look down at me. "Why do you ask?"

"Hitch, the girl who came in last, the guy she brought with her was there at the nightclub that night and-" I have to stop abruptly and clear my throat, feeling choked. "He was with the man I saw. That man," I say, looking down at our feet instead of meeting her eyes.

Her hands fall still on my back and we're silent for a long moment; the sound of screaming loud in the background from the movie. I'm suddenly pulled back into her tightly, her hand coming up to hold my head to her chest.

"I'm so sorry," she says quietly, her other hand moving in comforting circles on my back. "Do your friends know that he's associated with him?"

I shake my head, not trusting myself to speak. We stand in silence again after that, her arms around me bringing me the respite needed to get my emotions back in check.

After a few minutes I pull away, giving her a small smile. "I'm going to grab a drink then go back in there before they come looking for us," I say, knowing someone would come snooping soon.