Caught In Your Chaos ✓

Chapter Seventy-Seven

Anger spiked my blood, and adrenaline rushed through it as I captured the scene in front of my eyes. I could taste fury on my tongue, and a very similar flashback had me gutted to the core. I squeezed my way through the thickening crowd, the gin and tonic still clutched tightly in my right hand. There's only enough a person could be vile. But the person in question had tested my patience to its limit.

The music was so loud that Leah's words could hardly reach anyone's ears from that corner of the club. But I didn't need any confirmation or need to hear their conversation to assess the situation. The closer I got to them, my suspicion proved correct.

Leah was pinned aggressively to the wall by Chris. He was kissing her thoroughly, forcing his entire weight on her. By looking at it, I could tell there was nothing consensual or passionate about the whole situation. The way Leah thrashed in his hold and her muffled words made my heart lurch into my throat.

"No!" Leah said as Chris dipped his head to her neck. "Chris! Let me go."

That was the last straw to ignite the fire within me.

"You fucker!" My voice forced him to snap his head towards me. Oh! His obnoxious grin. I threw the cocktail at his face taking him by surprise, and he let go Leah momentarily. It gave me enough time to pull her towards me, away from his filthy proximity. "Did you forget the meaning of 'No' or your mother never taught you about consent ever?"

"Shit!" He cursed, taking a staggering step back. He seemed to be stunned for a moment and randomly wiped the wine off his face. A smug smile appeared on his face. He moved towards us but didn't act on it because of the crowd that gathered around us. His darkened gaze moved from Leah's face to mine and then to the people behind us, and I could sense the defeat in his eyes.

I gave him a death glare before I turned around and walked out of his presence. Leah didn't say anything but followed close behind me. A huge weight lifted off my chest with the relief that Leah finally knew his true face. And I felt liberated from the ugly flashbacks of his touches on me. It might still be in my memory, but it wouldn't haunt me ever again.

~~~

"You were right about Chris," Leah said, taking a seat beside me on the barstools. The Barman poured a gin and tonic for me and club soda for Leah. I gave him a quick nod and passed the glass to Leah. "I caught him cheating on me, and instead of an explanation, I got this." She pointed towards the angry red marks on her neck. "I should've listened to you."

I suddenly felt a pang in my heart. If I weren't so selfish, Leah would have never been with Chris. It wasn't a surprise that the guy was a total scumbag. Cheating and forcing himself on girls weren't a surprise coming from him. I had been a bear witness.

"Leah, I never wanted to hurt you. I'm so sorry. All of this is my fault," I looked at the content of my glass, tracing invisible liquid on its rim. It shouldn't have reached that point if I could have convinced her about staying away from Chris. But I was too busy wrapped up in my shitty situation.

"Amy, can I ask you something?" Leah asked, looking straight into my eyes. "Are you in love with Jake?"

At that point, it wasn't even a question to be thought through. It was probably the first time I didn't feel conflicted or unsure. How funny! We were on the verge of falling apart, and I realized my true feeling.

"Yes, I am in love with him, Leah, and I am not sorry about that. Maybe, it's not the right thing, but it feels right, and I am not sorry about how I feel for him either." I sighed.

"I believe you," she didn't say anything else but gave me a sincere smile, the one I was missing. "You know, deep down, I knew Jake wasn't the one for me. All charms but no life don't work for me. I think you have a thing for the latter half of his personality while I rooted for the first. We're cool, Amy. I wish things between you and Jake cool down too. I hate to see you couped up in our room like some hopeless romantic."