Tangled in Tension.

Chapter 13.

It was the next day, Sunday, and the group was back at the school, including me. We had all gotten back at around 3 in the morning, after everything had settled down. And when i say settled down i mean when Marlon, Louis, Jax and Violet had their turns kicking the shit out of Jay. They were all so pissed off after Jax let it slip, every single one of them in disbelief before they all just sort of snapped, taking into him. Sophie and Brody didn't even try to stop them either, instead, they urged me out of the house, wanting me as far away from Jay and not wanting me to watch what was unfolding.

When we got back to the school after all of that, they all stayed by my side and we talked until around 6 in the morning, when we all decided to go to bed but Violet stayed with me. She didn't want to leave my side. It was now 10am and neither of us had slept at all. Both of us were in my bed, sat up against the supports at the top of it. I had my head on her shoulder while she had her arm around me, gently caressing my shoulder with her thumb.

"How's your hands?" I murmured, finally breaking the silence that was forming.

"They're fine." She whispered, "Don't worry."

"They are not fine Vi." I said, having heard about how she took into him after hearing about what he wanted to do to me. I knew they were not fine.

"You didn't need to do that. None of you did." I mumbled, feeling like somehow it was my fault.

"After hearing what he tried to do? Yeah i did. That prick had it coming, he deserved more than a beating." She huffed, still angry at him. "But that doesn't matter, are you okay?"

I nodded slightly, keeping my head on her shoulder.

"You sure? You can talk to me." She said quietly. I knew i could talk to her, i just didn't know where to start.

"I don't even know what happened." I sighed, shutting my eyes for a brief moment. "I was in the bathroom, and when i walked out he was there. He pulled into his room and shut the door, asking me did i want any drugs. I told him no and that i needed to get back to the group, to you, but he didn't want me to leave. He told me to stay up with him and have some.. fun. When i tried to leave he stood infront of the door. Then he was more persistent, like he really wanted me to stay with him but i kept saying no. He grabbed my wrist after i said no and said something like.. 'you'll enjoy it' or something. Then Cassy and Jax came in. I didn't even realise how close he was to doing something at first. And i didn't even tell Jax or Cassy. I just.. i guess i wanted to keep the peace." I had already explained it before, just not in as much detail.

Violet tightened her hold around me, still caressing my shoulder with her thumb. "Clem, none of this is your fault. Jay crossed a line. It's not on you to keep the peace when someone hurts you."

"I know but i just..." I paused and sighed, frustrated by the whole situation. "I just hope i didn't tear their group apart. I hope the rest of them can move on and still be friends. I don't want to think i was the cause of something that i've been through because it's horrible."

Violet shifted slightly, adjusting her position so she could look me directly in my eyes. Her gaze was reassuring and steady, filled with empathy.

"Listen to me," She started, speaking softly. "what Jay did to you was his fault, not yours. You're not responsible for his actions, and you're definitely not responsible for any fallout between the rest of his group. He did what he did and now he has to face the consequences which is getting fucked out of his group, rightfully so. But if the rest of them fall out over this which im sure they won't, it's not your fault. As much as you might think it is, it's not."

I nodded slowly, hearing her words clearly yet i still felt a lingering sense of guilt. "I just hate that this happened at all. I hate that i let myself get into that situation."