Signal of Distress

24 - Assault

~ Swim - Chase Atlantic ~
❤︎❤︎❤︎

I want you to love me the way you kiss me
-River Mitchell

Eli stares at Isaac's hand not saying a word. I wonder if he's gone silent again? Isaac takes the hint, clapping his hands together before holding it out to me. "Lovely seeing you again River." He spares me a controlling smile.

I reach out to shake his hand but before I can Eli seizes my wrist. "Excuse us for a second," I mumble as Eli drags me away not saying anything. "Eli, slow down."

He stops walking once we're far enough from the group. "Is that the guy you wrote the poem about?" He asks. I shake my head. "I didn't ask you to fucking lie to me. Is that the guy you wrote the poem about?" He repeats.

I hate that he can see straight through my lies. How the fuck does Isaac even know them. "Yes," I sigh. I look up at Eli wondering what he's going to do.

He surprises me by wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into a hug. I hug him back, feeling safe and warm in his embrace. "You want to leave? We can go get tacos or something?" He suggests. I can handle Isaac, I'm not going to let him ruin my night.

I shake my head pulling away. "I'm fine. Promise. Plus burgerssss." I wiggle my shoulders and motion my head to the barbecue. Marcus, Dominic and Jordan are cooking burgers.

Eli tosses his arm over my shoulder and leads me towards the patio. We sit down on one of the outdoor couches while the boys finish the burgers.

We all greet each other and get to know one another. So far it's been okay. I've been avoiding eye contact with Isaac the entire time. But I know he's looking at me. The shit he put me through.

He grasps my wrist holding them down in front of us. "Why the fuck are you even talking to him." His breath blows against my face.

"Ow! Isaac, he's my lab partner. Shit, Isaac let go, you're hurting me!" I cry out. He lets go.

His anger issues were the worst.

"ISAAC! That's my project!" I shout as he smashes my hard work into pieces. He looks at me, his eyes filled with rage. "Build a new one." He takes out a cigarette and lights it. "Can you please smoke that outside or on the balcony at least. My mom is going to smell it," I ask politely. He blows his cigarette smoke in my face.

And unfortunately I made the mistake and kept crawling back to him. Every time.

"Babe I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." He kisses my temple running his hands up and down my arms. I shake my head, wiping a tear. He begins kissing my neck. "Come on. I'll make it better," he assures. He begins lifting my shirt but stops. I look down at the bruise he left on me. "I'll get you some ice cream. Yeah?" He looks up at me. I nod. As soon as he leaves the room I let out a cry.

A hand presses against my thigh and I look up at Eli and smile. He leans his head down, his lips graze my ear. "You haven't eaten? We can go back upstairs and eat in our room," he offers.

I shake my head. "I'm fine, don't worry," I whisper back. He nods, pulling away and continuing to eat his food. I don't think Marcus and Ebony have realized. They probably forgot about the one time I had mentioned him.

"So River. Are you and Eli..." Lora trails off.

I laugh, shaking my head. "No we're just..." How am I supposed to answer that? I look up at Eli who smiles. "Chilling." I decide on.

My eyes glance over to Isaac who is already staring at me. Even just looking at him brings back the horrible, horrible memories. He gulps down his beer before going back to his burger. And it was always worse when he was drunk.