Trauma - Skephalo

Chapter 35: Stop It

It has been a few days now since the party. I am currently making my way back to class from using the restroom. I can't help but think of Zak as I'm calmy walking down the halls. I'm then stopped at the feeling of someone's hand on my shoulder. As soon as I'm touched, I tense up. I have gotten used to Zak's gentle, caring touch, but one, Zak said he wouldn't touch my shoulder, and two, this person's grasp on my shoulder is anything but gentle or caring. Even though the grip doesn't hurt at all, it is still a careless and strong grip. I know exactly who this is...

I jolt away from the person's grasp and turn around to face them. I am met with the powerful gaze of the person I expected, Oliver. The sight of him just completely ruins my mood. Oliver shows his sickly grin at me. He then asks, "Did you miss me, darling?"

In your dreams. I want to gag from his words. I just stay silent but take a cautious step backward. Oliver's face becomes serious quickly, and he says, "Come on, Darryl. Stop playing these games and just come back to me. Do you really want to throw away everything we've been through together?"

Together? L like what you put me through. I silently mutter out, "Just leave me alone..."

Oliver starts stepping towards me while saying, "Come on, Darryl. Let's just-"

I cut him off by jolting backward and exclaiming, "DON'T- come near me."

Oliver seemed stunned at my attitude as he's never seen this from me before. I would usually be frozen in fear. But the stare that he's giving me right after I said that was just enough to spike up my nerves again. But I quickly mustered the courage to say, "Just give up Oliver. Stop chasing after me."

Oliver gives me an evil grin and says, "Now, why would I do that? I love you too much to just let you go like that and let anyone else have you."

I can't help but let out a sarcastic laugh, though it only lasted for a second. I then spat out, "Love? This isn't love. This is a straight-up obsession. An obsession over desperately wanting to find someone who you find weak enough to do your bidding. You found one, and now you can't stand the thought of losing something you had such a major control over. Not anymore. I'm done with you."

Oliver looks at me, shocked for a moment. As this is, this is only the second time that I've stood up to him without trembling in fear or shedding tears, basically begging for my life. He then says, "Well, if you believe that, that's up to you, but even so, I know you still loved me after you broke up with me. Even though you believe that I hurt and used you, regardless, you loved me. It is very much possible for you to love me again."

"The past is the past. So let's keep it there. There's no need to repeat something that is a lost cause. Instead of wasting my time on you, I'm going to spend it on someone who actually cares about my well-being."

"Oh, getting feisty now, are we? This love that you have made up in your mind isn't real."

"You have no right in telling me whether my feelings are true or not."

Oliver scoffs and says, "I bet he hasn't even done half of what I did for you."

I can't help but let a small smile spread on my mouth as I say, "You're right. He has done way more than you can ever imagine doing."

Oliver just stares me down in a death glare. I continue by saying, "Just move on and forget about me. That's what I've been trying to do for the past few years, but you just had to show up, didn't you?"

"You can't actually be serious. You just want to erase our love from high school?"

"Precisely. I was just a naive lovestruck teenager who didn't really know the cost or real meaning of true love. I faced the consequences of my mistake, but I learned from it, and I'm not going to commit it again. The love that I didn't even know was lacking in our relationship in the past is what I'm getting with Zak. I don't care if you don't think I love him, because I genuinely do love him. Now, leave me alone."

I turn my back to him and start walking away. But before I could get even two steps ahead, I'm pulled back and forced to face Oliver as he holds my arms to my body. There's that glare in his eyes full of rage, that glare before he does something horrible, and I'm quickly reminded why I've lived in fear of this man. My breath gets caught in my throat as he stares me down. He leans close to my face and says in a strong tone, "Now let's make something clear. You're not one to tell me what to do. I won't tolerate this attitude of yours, Darryl. Do you need me to teach you some manners? Don't test my patience, but let me tell you, I'm NOT going to give up on us."

I feel tears threatening to form in my eyes as he starts gripping my neck tightly with his hand. I barely manage to say, "Pl-ease... j-ust leave me al-one... let me g-o."

He completely ignores my words and instead asks, "Do you have that clear, Darryl?"

Before I get something out, a voice behind Oliver says, "He said to let him go."

I look behind Oliver to see Nick. Oliver turns around, still holding me, and looks at Nick. Oliver then says, "Oh, you're one of Darryl's little friends, aren't you? I've seen him with you before."

Nick looks at Oliver angrily and says, "Let him go, or I'll get the cops."

Oliver scoffs and lets me go. Before walking away, he whispers in my ear, "This isn't over yet."

I watch him walk away and feel a wave of relief hit me. I look at Nick to thank him, only to stop dead in my tracks. For some reason, Nick seems... mad? It seems to be targeted at me. Why? Nick says abruptly, "What's really going on here, Darryl?"

I stare at him a bit dumbfounded and then say, "W-what?"

"I heard some of your conversation with him. There's clearly something more going on than just some random guy who is crushing on you and possibly stalking you."

I tense up. I haven't explained to the others about my past with Oliver. I haven't had the courage to yet. Honestly, I hoped I would never have to explain it to them. But now, Nick is catching on. He says, "Tell me the truth, Darryl. For a while, I have been thinking something else was up, but I didn't want to be jumping to conclusions. But now, I know that there is more to the story. So what's going on?"

I start taking a few steps back from fear as I stutter out, "I-I..."

Nick then grabs my arm and says, "Oh, no. You're not getting off the hook. You know I hate being left out on such important things, Darryl."

Before I say something, I hear a voice say, "Nick, there you are! You disappeared on me, bro!"

Nick and I turn to face Zak walking towards us. His smile gets wider as he sees me but falters as soon as he notices Nick's strong grip on my arm. He looks between us and says, "What's going on here?"

Nick says, "I got Oliver to get away from your boyfriend, but before that, I overheard their conversation. There's something other than what meets the eye that is going on here. I'm asking Darryl about it."

Zak freezes and looks at me nervously. Nick notices his expression and says, "I knew it. You know damn well what's going on! This situation isn't just some creepy guy who has a crush on Darryl, is it?"

Zak stays silent as he looks at Nick's hand on my arm. Thankfully, Nick lets go of my arm and says, "I want to know what the f*ck is going on here."