Escape | Updated Weekly

6

"What the actual fuck?" I looked around the room wondering if this was some kind of joke. Chloe actually set me up on a date with the same guy that harassed me at the gig. Lyle held his hands up gesturing to his face. "I was worse of... Don't you think?" I just stared at him. I still didn't know what to make of the situation. "Are you serious right now?". He leaned in over the table "Look, the other night. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. Your fucking bodyguard messed up my face. So you're gonna sit here with me or I'm gonna call the police and tell them what he did". He was bribing me? Actually bribing me. 

"I wanted to say sorry. I found you attractive and the alcohol made me horny. I just wanted to give it chance". I slammed my hand down on the table. "I don't give a fuck. You can't threaten me but you can't force me to stay here with you ". I stood up but as I tried to leave a hand had grabbed my arm. Lyle was trying to stop me from going. "Come on Eve. Please". I squirmed in his grip but he wouldn't budge. 

"Is there a problem here?" the handsome man from earlier had strolled over. Lyle let got of me, probably worried he'd get his ass beaten again. I didn't look back as I hurried out of the bar, scrambling for my phone to call Chloe and tell her what had happened, who the date was actually with. It was raining now as I searched my jacket pocket but I couldn't feel my phone. I looked down to double check. It was 100% not there  but I was sure that's where I had put it. I knew I didn't leave it on the table so where-

I put my hand to my head as I walked round the corner, trying to put some distance between me and the bar in case Lyle tried to follow me. "fuck" I breathed trying not to say it too loudly. Lyle must have grabbed my phone out of my pocket as he was grabbing hold of me. I couldn't call anyone and I didn't know my way around. I couldn't go back to get it. Lyle was far too hostile I didn't need to add fuel to the fire and aggravate him more. I couldn't even go to the police to report my phone as stolen, I didn't know where it was. The rain was pouring now, getting me soaked. I didn't even care this point. Everything had gone way more wrong than I ever imagined.

"Aren't you supposed to be on a date?" called a voice. I spin round instantly thinking it might have been Lyle. Instead it was coming from a car that had pulled up on the side of the road. I bent down to peer inside. Mac was leaning across the passenger seat looking up at me. His window was only down a crack, probably trying to keep the rain out.

"Erm... It's not.. I.. erm"

"Are you okay?"

I didn't know what to say. Twice in two days the same guy tried coming onto me and twice someone had to come save me. I felt useless. "Get in" said Mac. I didn't see any other option for myself, so I got in the car and Mac pulled of. "I've just gotta grab something and then you can cleaned up?" he asked it as a question but I didn't answer. I noticed him glancing at me a few times. I felt bad that I was soaked and soggy and getting it all over his car seats. I just nodded trying to keep the silence between us. I knew he could tell the date was awful. Clearly it was otherwise I wouldn't have been wandering the streets. Thankfully he didn't push for answers. 

He drove to the other side of town and pulled up outside some flats. He told me to wait in the car and I watched as he jogged up to one of the bottom floor flat doors, pulling his hoodie over his head, trying to stay dry, and knocked. A couple of seconds passed and then a middle aged man answered. I couldn't hear the words that Mac exchanged with him but I could tell they weren't on a friendly basis. The man went behind the door and grabbed a small envelope, handing it to Mac. 

Mac snatched it out of the man's hand and headed back towards the car. I bowed my head pretending I hadn't been watching, but I did still wonder who that guy was and what was in that envelope. I didn't want to jump to any conclusions but it looked dodgy and my noisy curiosity really wanted to ask what was going on. I figured it was best to stay out of it.

Mac got back in the car without saying a word to me. His whole mood was completely different from what it had been before he got in the car. He looked furious and fumbled with his set belt nearly losing his patience with it. He set off again  quickly speeding away. It was 20 minutes before we arrived at the next location, the rain had started to ease off now. This time it was a beautiful neighbourhood. It looked like something out of a film. Every house looked big, not mansion big but a good family size. The front gardens all decorated with colourful flowers  and ornaments. Mac drove down the street and turned into a cul-de-sac and pulled up onto one of the drives. "Who's house is this?" I had to ask, my curiosity finally getting the better of me. It was probably the most beautiful neighbourhood I had ever seen. "My Mum's" Mac said simply as if it were normal that this is where his mum lived. Where he lived before uni and possibly grew up in. Why on earth would he more down the road into a cramped uni house when he could have stayed here?

"You coming?" he asked as he unbuckled himself and got out of the car. Now I was the one to fumble with my seat belt. I needed to see the inside of this house. Mac unlocked the front door and let us both inside. I was bewildered by the sight. To the left was the door to the living room, all decorated with blues and neutral colours, a curved corner couch and pictures hung on the wall. To the right of the front door was another room but the door was closed so I couldn't peer into it. Mac lead me down the hallway. At the end of it I saw that the kitchen was In front and round the corner was the stairs, leading up and around to the upstairs. The Kitchen was open plan with big double doors leading to the garden. The whole house was carefully decorated, his mum had good taste and put a lot of thought into it. 

Mac threw his keys and the envelope onto the counter and poured himself a glass of water. I noticed a picture on the wall and examined it. The man that Mac had met with earlier was on a chair next to a stunning blonde woman. She looked slightly younger than the man did. This must have been Mac's parents. I glanced at the envelope. His parents must be divorced but now I was even more curious as to what Mac had collected from him. Behind his Dad stood Mac, on the opposite side was another male. Older than Mac but he looked so much like him. He didn't have the same  blonde hair, it was brown matching his Dad's. Then in front of his parents were two younger girls, who looked exactly alike. I had to blink a couple of times to make sure I wasn't seeing double. 

This was his family? He had siblings and I'd never heard him speak about them before. He has a wonderful family home and yet chooses to live away from it. I looked at his Dad in the picture again, thinking about how he's at some flats in a much less nice place than this grand house. Tom did say that Mac didn't like talking about personal stuff. Maybe they weren't as happy as what the picture fools you to believe. It reminded me of my own family. 

"Do you want a drink?" Mac asked finally turning back round to me. I quickly turned away from photo hoping he didn't see me gawping at it. "No thanks". Mac poured out the rest of his water. "You can shower if you want. I can lend you some clothes so you don't have to stay... soggy" I saw him look me up and down, examining the soaked clothes "That would be great. Thanks". I followed him up the stairs. It looked just as amazing up there as it did downstairs. There were multiple doors leading to the bedrooms. To the left was the bathroom, but Mac continued to the bedroom In front of us. 

From the first look there was no doubt it was a boys room. It had an ensuite, rock band posters, pictures of Mac at various events with either his family or  some old friends. His bed was in the middle of the room, neatly made. It looked as if he had never even moved out, like he was living two different lives. I felt my cheeks blushing as I stood there. I had never even been in his room at the uni house. He grabbed a towel from his wardrobe and handed it to me. He gave me a quick tutorial on how to use the shower and said he'd leave the clothes on the bed for when I got out. 

We heard the font door open and the sounds of people talking. "Er.. that's my mum, I'll leave you to it". And with that he left.