Underneath the clouds

XV

A/N: This chapter has very sensitive content. Specifically rape. So... TW to anyone. This isn't very that impactful for the plot, but it guides it along. If you get triggered easily you can skip this chapter if you need to.

Thinking over the last few months, Jolin concluded that the winter break had sucked. Now she was back at school, and things were awkward between her and Bree. And of course, Kimberly. Maybe she screwed up this time, but she was too blind to see the problem and the consequences. She started to hang out a little bit more with Mark each day, growing closer to him every passing school day. And every passing night, the nightmares seemed to grow more frequent... instead of a burning building though... she was strapped to a bed, bloodied by a thick red. Gravity was wonky there. Instead of dripping down, the blood dripped up, slowly drawing red lines on her naked body. The straps were across the lower part of her ribs. Her breast was exposed to the cold air, as searing pain tore through her legs. The room was filled with bright white, all while still being pitch black. Being forced down for hours, she seemed to grow longer, her legs became longer, her torso growing. The extra weight seems to be based on her head. Almost as if a helmet was placed on her head. Her body was covered with black bruises, cuts that went so deep, they acted like a little thin pool of blood in her skin. Instead of her blood is red, it stayed a deep purple... almost a black. Emerging from the shadows, stood a witch doctor. Which he pulled out a large needle, and started to shove it into her skin, starting with her stomach.

Shooting up, she was covered in sweat her eyes hurting from suddenly opening them. Burying her face into her hands, she sobbed silently, careful to not wake anyone up. It was 4 a.m. and she refused to go back to sleep after she woke up, but this time, she yearned for sleep, like how she yearned for Kimberly's forgiveness. Jolin didn't mean what she said, but of course, she thought, she had to be impulsive and an idiot. Getting up slowly and using her phone as a flashlight, she moved around her finished homework and started the slow process of getting ready for school.

A few hours later, she was in the first period, trying to keep a smile on, despite her sunken eyes. Her bags didn't look that bad, since she had put some makeup on to cover them up. She wore a dark sweater, since she had that blue spot on her arm, she always had something over it. If it was hot out she'd wear a bandage and a short sleeve, and if it moderately cold out, she'd just keep a sweater/long sleeve on. The first period was done, and she walked into the hall, avoiding eyes, and staring at the ground, whilst her mind kept taking mini naps, trying to properly reset. Walking over to her locker, she smelled Mark's repulsive cologne, but she learns to live with it. "Hello, Mark." She smiled. "How'd you know it was me?" He smiled, his sharp canines covered with a yellow tint, probably from what he ate this morning. "Because of your cologne." Mark chuckled. "Oh really? Do you like it?"
"No," Jolin thought. She slowly shook her head, giving Mark a frown. "Oh c'mon... you like it." He came closer, his chest touching hers. "C'mon, give it a big whiff." Jolin didn't want to, but obliged and did so anyway. It was revolting, but she pretended to like it, smiling and nodding. "Hmm... maybe it is nice." She smiled. Mark smiled too, looking down to Jolin, tapping all his fingers on the locker beside her. "How about..." Jolin glared at him, holding her supplies for the next class. "You come over so I can show you something." Her heart skipped a beat, watching as he chewed his lip. Stuttering, Jolin nodded, a bit of blush on her cheeks. "Yeah, uh... sure!"
"Perfect... see you soon then." He walked the other way, leaving her in the hallway, with nothing but her beating heart.

In lunch, Jolin noticed that Kimberly refused to sit with her, and instead stayed with Bree at another table. Setting her tray down, huffing and sighing... she ate alone, only thinking about what happened at the Christmas Dinner. Thinking it over, she came to a realization where if she thought about it, they were fighting over a boy, not for love, not for attention... but for, an unspecified reason. It perplexed Jolin to her core. Was Kimberly jealous? She didn't know, and she wasn't daring enough to ask. Lunch seemed to go by a lot faster, and her excitement kept up with her. Adrenaline passed through her veins, all up until the day came to an end, and she had to follow him out to the buses. What if they kissed? She was overrun with feelings, and hormones, blocking and blinding her from the dangers to come. "C'mon, I'll lead you to my bus." He grabbed her hand, sending little shivers, and goosebumps up her arm. "O-okay." She walked onto his bus, sitting down in the back with him. "Maybe I should text my parents." She took out her phone, texting the group chat they had.