A Love Lost

Ana

I was happy for most of the party. I met people who knew nothing about my past and wanted to get to know me. Gabriel's friends were quite different than the ones I had back home. They were wild, lived life to its fullest, living every day in the moment. I loved being able to let loose. I danced to the music that blasted from the speakers with different guys. I met Olivia whose boyfriend, Pedro, was Gabriel's best friend. I knew we were going to be friends. She seemed genuinely nice and not a backstabbing bitch. I had fun until a group of guys found me at the drinks table.

"Hi.." One of them said. He was tall and stalky. "Do I know you from somewhere?" His accent was thick and pronounced as he slurred his words.

His question took me aback. He didn't look familiar. Therefore, that meant he knew me in the only way that a stranger could recognize me. I didn't want to go down the road that usually followed when guys knew me from my past.

"I don't think so," I said calmly, giving him a polite smile.

"No. I think I know where we all know you," another guy said. The third guy handed him a magazine. The second guy showed him the magazine.

"It's her," he said, pointing out that they had a teenage supermodel in front of them.

"Anastasia White. I can't believe it." the first one acknowledged me. "Why don't I take you to dance?"

I turned around to pour a drink even though I already had one. I wanted to dance. I wanted Gabriel to see that I was having fun. Having fun with other people. But I didn't want to dance with these guys. However, I knew that if I didn't they would continue to bother me.

"Sure," I said. I finished my first beer and quickly drank the other one.

He led me to where everyone was congregated in front of the speakers. His friends followed closely behind us. His hand rested on the small of my back. We danced together. He wasn't a bad dancer. He seemed like a nice person. But I had to remind myself that he knew who I was. I danced with each of his friends before returning back to him, not by choice. We danced for a few more songs before he started talking to me.

"You have only gotten more beautiful as you aged," he whispered in my ear as his hand traveled up and down my back. He pulled me closer to him. "I've seen your bare skin. It's a shame you cover it up.." I felt his teeth against my upper lobe. "What do you say about you seeing mine?" I had no idea what was going through my head. There were warning signs in my head, but I had so much fun and so much alcohol that I agreed to go with him.

He wrapped his arm around my waist and led me to a nearby park on the far side of the party. I searched desperately for Gabriel as we made our way, in the hopes that he could help me, but he was nowhere to be seen. I thought about shouting, but then thought better of it. I didn't know these guys. They could be very violent. So, if I shouted for help, it might not have had the affect I intended. When we arrived at our destination, w were met by the other members of his group.

"Well, boys. Here we are. Our very own. Anastasia White." I felt an odd sensation going down my spine. Not attraction. It was a paralyzing and mind-numbing fear. I knew what was going to happen. "She is not going to make one sound. Isn't that right?" He pulled tight on my ponytail. I whimpered as I nodded. His other two friends stalked towards me slowly. They sat me on the bench and began to strip off their clothes before removing my top and shorts.

I was there for over an hour. I was their toy. It wasn't a pleasure. It was pure lust for them. I was just the materialization of all of their wildest dreams. After they finished, they tossed me my clothes and went back to the party as if nothing had happened. It was at that moment that I wished I had worn less revealing clothing. The marks of their hands on my body were bright red against my skin. A stinging and burning sensation traveled down the whole right side of my face. I wanted to leave.

I looked around for where Gabriel had left his car. I wanted to hide. From everyone. Especially from him. He had asked about the tattooed initials on my wrist. That could be explained as nothing, but this couldn't. It was obvious that I had been touched. I picked up my shoes and hurried to the car. I pulled the handle, to my unbelievable luck, it was unlocked.

I waited what felt like an eternity for Gabriel to find me. I felt so ashamed. Tears rolled down my face until there were none left to cry. My chest heaved until a sharp pain radiated through my chest. Just as I was about to fall asleep, I heard a tap on the window. I jumped in my seat and turned. It was Gabriel, a stoic, worried look painted across his features. He circled the car and entered. After a couple of minutes of silence, he began questioning me. I couldn't speak. I definitely could not talk about what just happened. I was appreciative when he dropped the subject and focused on driving.

It was silent. I needed silence. When we arrived home, after seeing if I was okay with him holding me, he lifted me from the car and carried me in his arms. I knew he wouldn't hurt me. I trusted him. He carried me up to our floor. He shifted me in his arms as to open my door.

He placed me gently between the sheets and the duvet. As soon as my head touched the pillow, my body drifted off into unconsciousness. Before, I completely succumbed to the darkness, I plead with him "Stay?" I felt his warmth against my back. Needing to feel safe, I moved closer to him and pulled his arm so that I was in his arms. As I fell asleep, became less in control of my body, and wanted to say something before I fell fully asleep, but the darkness came too quickly.

The next morning, I had a monstrous headache from all of the alcohol of the night before. I turned around, expecting to still see Gabriel next to me. But to my surprise, he wasn't there. I don't know why I was surprised, nor even why I expected him to be there, but I was. I got dressed as fast as my body would allow me. I looked at myself in the mirror and saw the extent of the blemishes and bruises from the night before. I had no idea how I could cover them up. It was supposed to be in the thirties centigrade today. I couldn't wear long sleeves. I found a pair of basketball shorts that covered most of my legs and an oversized shirt. I went to Gabriel's room. He wasn't there. I had to suck up all of my courage and went downstairs. When I walked into the kitchen, I saw everyone gathered at the table. Mortimer, the butler, and Mariana, the maid, were fixing everyone's breakfast.

Hearing my footsteps, everyone looked up.

"Good Morning little sister," Francisco said, smiling.

"Hi, honey." My mother greeted me.

"Good morning." I greeted them collectively.

As I sat down, Nicholas, seated next to Gabriel and Tomás, took his turn to greet me. "What are you wearing?" he asked, laughing. "Were the clothes you wore yesterday the only nice ones you have?"

Everyone went silent. The sting of his interrogation astonished everyone.

"I'm sorry. I don't just wake up wearing Chanel, Dior, or Ferragamo." I said, returning his sting. "I didn't grow up in a bubble."

"Didn't you?" Tomás asked, scoffing.

Shit. He knew too.

"Tomás. Not now." his father reproached him.

"Sorry. Father. But we don't lie. So shouldn't she have to live up to that standard?" Tomás questions his father.

"It's okay," I said. "Tomás. You and I can discuss that in the late future." I said, pointedly.

There was a seat open next to me. Which I was thankful for. I didn't want to make a scene, but just moving a single muscle hurt. The guys from last night were really strong and rough. I couldn't even lift my fork to eat without my forearm yelling in pain.

"Is everything okay?" Nicholas noticed my lack of eating. "You not hungry, Ana?"

"I'm fine. Just sore from the long day yesterday. Mom, if you don't mind. I am going to spend the day at the beach." I excused my lack of presence for the day. There was a cove nearby that I could see from my room. It didn't get any waves but looked deep enough for me to bury my bruises in the water.

"Of course," she said. I had a feeling I could ask for anything and I would be granted it as she didn't want me to be unhappy. I left my plate and went to change for my day at the beach.