The Bully

Chapter Fourteen

My ears were ringing and I tried to open my eyes. It felt like they were glued shut. As I tried to sit up I groaned. Every part of my body ached, as if I'd been tossed around a ring myself. Rubbing my eyes I was conscious of the sound of breathing beside me and looking across I saw Jay, an arm flung up over his head and felt a quiver of nerves. It was our last week in Blackpool and he'd arrived with a bottle of champagne, which had shocked me. He didn't drink but he told me it was a special occasion as we'd both been offered contracts. I had one glass; I didn't like the flavour anyway and his euphoria was a little overwhelming. Jay had finished the bottle and had talked excitedly about what was to come. My reactions hadn't been excited enough for him though. He'd become increasingly irritated with me, at my lack of enthusiasm. It wasn't that I wasn't excited for the new job, I was. But his drinking made me wary. The smell of alcohol and his slightly raised voice planted a seed of fear in me which only grew as his hands began to slap down on the table.

"You look like you've been told someone's died," he slurred at one point. "Miserable bitch." Before I could stop him he'd picked up the empty bottle and launched it past my head. At that point I went into survival mode, keeping my head down, only speaking when he asked me something directly and keeping my voice as quiet and calm as I could. I didn't try to reason with him, just tried to keep him happy. I swept up the glass while he watched me silently. When he instructed me to strip, which I'd known he would, I did so without hesitation, smiling up at him and kissing him. For once he stripped himself, but he still pushed me over the table, took me from behind before we headed upstairs. In the bedroom he kept me face down, slapping my ass and my thighs while he rode me, each slap leaving an angry red mark and I knew he was pissed with me. I took it though and only when he had collapsed unconscious into a heavy, drunken sleep did I go into the bathroom, standing under the shower as tears poured down my cheeks.

I went to get up from the bed but he suddenly wrapped a hand round my wrist, stopping me.

"Morning," he said, sitting up with a sleepy smile but then he groaned, bringing a hand to his head. "Remembering now why I don't drink."

"I'll get you a coffee," I said, quickly, standing up but as I went to pull my robe on I heard a muffled cry behind me. Jay was staring at my legs.

"Shit Angelina I'm so sorry," he said.

"What?" I asked. He got up and lifted the robe, inspecting my thighs.

"I bruised you last night. I am so so sorry. I just got carried away." He looked genuinely appalled with himself and I gave him a small smile.

"It's fine," I said. "It was just rough sex. I guess we were both excited." Jay narrowed his eyes slightly, dropping my robe.

"Are you excited? I mean about us going together?"

"Of course," I said and he searched my face before he smiled.

"We'll have the best time," he said. "It's just such a huge opportunity, hitting the big time. I mean I'd have wanted you to come with me anyway but this is better isn't it? That they wanted us both."

"Yes," I agreed. "I'll get you that coffee."

"Thanks," he said, flopping back down on his pillow, closing his eyes. A contented grin formed on his face and I felt the stirrings of fondness for him.  But after I'd switched the kettle on I went through to the living room and looked at the back of my legs in the mirror. There were angry bruises there from the night before and I shivered, taken back to my teenage years and Tom's abuse. Maybe when we got out to America and he was busy with his new job, maybe then I would have the courage to end this before it went too far.

***

William looked across at me as I took a seat opposite him, wincing slightly as I sat down. Jay had a meeting with management to discuss ending his contract so I seized the opportunity to grab a coffee with my friend.