Held Captive

Coercion

Laylah's POV

I will myself not to cry as I stare at my reflection through my vanity mirror, covering up the dark purple bruise on my cheek. It's the second time this week I've had to use makeup to hide some kind of bruise or mark on my body. I hated it. I hated this. But I knew there was no escape. I throw on a hoodie and sweatpants, leaving my hair a curly mess down my back, not even bothering to straighten it. I never really felt confident with my natural curly hair but right now I couldn't care less. I felt like nothing anyways. 

Neil snakes his arms around me from behind and I plaster a fake smile on my face. "Ready to go?" 

I nod and grab my bag. We head to his bright red Mercedes Benz that was parked in the driveway. I felt so empty. So depressed. I hadn't felt this way since...my eyes start to water and I pushed the horrid thoughts away. I told myself i'd never get like that again. That I wouldn't let anything in life, no matter how hard it gets, break me like that. Never again. 

The door opens, startling me out of my thought as I look up at an expectant gaze. I get out and count the steps until I get to my locker and we go our separate ways. I blew out a breath, finally feeling like I could breath again. I see Gwen walking towards me and start trying to compose myself. I didn't want her to start asking questions. 

"Ollie's taking me to some party tonight and you're coming with me!" She squeals, excitedly. 

Ever since they got back together she's been acting all cheery and happy but I know she's not. She just wants me to believe she is. I didn't know what she was doing or what her goal was but I had a feeling that a big part of this had to do with Chase. Whenever I went out with her and Oliver it's like he 'conveniently' appeared out of thin air but I know her. She's probably been planning it so we can run into him. I get it. She wants him to see her happy but then what? 

Her plans not going to work because she cheated, not the other way around. If anything shes just making him hate her more. But every time I try to bring it up she acts as if she doesn't know what i'm talking about. 

"I can't. Neil wants to have a movie ni-" 

"Bring him with you, I don't care, as long as you're coming with me." Gwen pleads. I look at her puppy dog eyes and sigh, giving in. 

"I'll mention it to him." 

"Thank you! Meet me at lunch?" 

I nod and wave as I walk in the opposite direction to first period. By the time lunch comes around I'm ready to go home and curl up in a ball on my bed. I hadn't been sleeping these past few nights.

"There's my favorite girl!" Leo wraps his arms around me in a bear hug, spinning me around. A smile breaks across my face that I have reserved for them. Whenever i'm with him, Sebastian or Gwen, it's like my whole world just lights up and their energy rubs off on me. 

Gwen puts a hand on her chest, acting offended. Leo switches to her next and messes up her perfect hair. "You know I couldn't forget about you if I tried." 

Sebastian wraps me in his arms next and we stay like that for a few moments before he lets go. "I missed you. Where the hell have you been?" 

I'd decided not to come to school for the past week due to particular bruises on my body that I wasn't able to cover up. I spent the week icing them until they were swelled down enough to go unnoticed. They were easier to cover up that way. The only person I had kept in contact with was Gwen and that's because I knew she was dealing with too much to notice anything off about me. 

"I was sick." The lie slips off my tongue before I can stop it and I can't help the ache that forms in my chest from lying to them. They were my best friends and i'd never lied to them before. Leo and Sebastian look at me skeptically and I silently pray they  don't ask any questions. I can only tell so many lies before they see right through me. Part of me hoped they knew I was lying so I could tell them everything. But I knew I could never do that. I couldn't tell anyone.