The Idea Of You

25| She has a plan

LAYLA

"He sent me this..." I said, pulling out my phone to show them the pictures he'd sent me the other day. "He wants me to come to the party..."

Diana's eyes widened as she scanned the images. "Ever since Alejandro did what he did, Jason hasn't bothered me, but who knows what he has planned. I've been checking Instagram and Snapchat all day to see if he posted anything about me." My voice rushed out in a single breath, the anxiety swirling in my chest.

"The party is tonight..." Diana looked at me nervously, her brow furrowing. "A-Are you sure you want to do this? You were the only one invited."

I felt a tear roll down my cheek, my emotions boiling over. "Y-Yes, I just want to be done with him." My voice trembled, but I tried to sound resolute.

Roxy stepped closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. "We're here for you. But you need to be careful. You know how he can get."

"I know," I whispered, feeling a mix of fear and determination. "All I have to do is download the file to my phone, send it to you and we can go to the police asap."

"Yeah!" Diana replied, her voice rising with a mix of excitement and urgency. "Once we have that evidence, we can finally put an end to this."

Roxy nodded, her expression fierce. "No more hiding. We'll make sure he can't hurt you again or any other girl.

I took a deep breath, feeling a surge of courage. "Okay, let's do this. Tonight's the night we take back control."

*
*
*

I stepped into the party, my heart racing as the music pulsed around me. The room was packed, and I felt exposed, but I had to stay focused—I was here for a reason.

Scanning the crowd of teens dancing, drinking, and flirting, I finally spotted Jason in the kitchen, leaning against the wall, chatting with friends. Just as our eyes met, I quickly looked away. Great.

I made a break for the other side of the living room, weaving through the throngs of people. But suddenly, I felt a firm grip on my arm. I turned to see Jason standing there, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Thought you could just slip by me?" Jason said, his tone teasing yet menacing.

"I—" I started, feeling my pulse quicken. "I was just looking for someone."

"Really? Because it looks like you were trying to avoid me." His friends snickered behind him, and I felt heat rise to my cheeks.

"I'm not avoiding you," I insisted, trying to keep my voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in my stomach. "I need..." My mind raced for an excuse. "I need to use the bathroom. I was going to head upstairs."

Jason raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing as he leaned in slightly. "Upstairs, huh? Convenient timing."

The pulsating music felt like a drumbeat in my chest, and I could smell the mix of alcohol and sweat in the air. My palms were clammy, and I fought the urge to glance toward the exit, where I knew Diana was waiting outside.

"Come on," he said, stepping closer, invading my space. "You can't just waltz in here and then run off. Let's make this interesting."

His friends snickered behind him, and I felt my cheeks flush. I had to stay calm. I couldn't let him see my fear. "I'll be quick," I managed, though the words felt weak. I had to find a way to slip away and search for what I needed before he caught on.

In the distance, I could hear laughter and the clinking of glasses, but all I could focus on was the mounting tension between us. Time was running out, and I needed to act fast.

I stepped into Jason's room, the door creaking ominously behind me. I hated coming in here... The stuff he did to me... The air felt thick with tension, and the faint glow from the neon lights outside flickered against the walls. My heart raced as I scanned the cluttered space, searching for anything that could hold the evidence I desperately needed.

I rifled through his desk, tossing aside crumpled papers and empty bottles, my breath quickening with each second that passed. "Where is it?" I muttered under my breath, frustration clawing at me. The walls felt like they were closing in, the music from the party muffled but ever-present, reminding me that I wasn't safe here.

I opened drawers, my fingers trembling as I dug through clothes and random junk. Nothing. I felt a wave of panic wash over me. What if I didn't find it? What if I was caught?

The sound of laughter echoed from downstairs, making me jump. I glanced at the door, anxiety tightening in my chest. I couldn't afford to be discovered. I forced myself to breathe slowly, focusing on the task at hand.

I moved to the bed, pulling the sheets aside and peering underneath. Dust and forgotten items scattered across the floor, but still no drive. I felt a knot forming in my stomach, desperation creeping in. This had to work.

Then I noticed a small backpack crammed in the corner. Hope surged within me as I hurried over and unzipped it, hands shaking. I pulled it open, but inside was nothing but a few small bottles of pills and a bag of weed. I reached for a bottle, "Steroids." I read out loud, why the fuck is he taking steroids.

Frustration clawed at me, but I couldn't  fucking give up. Just then, I caught a glimpse of something outside through the window—a cabin in the distance, partially hidden by trees.

I quickly put the bag back into its place and tiptoed out of his room, my heart racing. As I stepped into the cool night air, I made my way toward the cabin, each step filled with both fear and anticipation. The ground crunched beneath my feet, and the distant sounds of the party faded away, leaving only the rustling leaves and my own heartbeat echoing in my ears.

When I reached the cabin, I reached for the knob and turned it but of course it was locked. I squatted down and looked under the mat, and a shiny gold key starred back at me.

"Yes!" I quickly unlocked the door, the lights automatically flicked on. The place was neat, I vaguely remember Jason taking me here once...

Jason! get off of me!

My heart raced as I shakily walked up the stairs, the wooden steps creaking beneath my weight. With each step, fragmented memories began to surface, and I recalled why Jason had brought me here. Reaching the top of the stairs, I walked towards the guest bedroom. I hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and stepped inside. The space was sparsely furnished but cozy, with a bed in the corner and a desk piled with old books and papers.

As I rifled through the clutter on the desk, my fingers brushed against something hard and cold. I pulled out a small USB drive, my heart leaping. This was it. The evidence I needed.

"Thank you," I whispered to no one, clutching it tightly. I quickly turned on my phone and connected the drive, my hands shaking with anticipation.

The screen lit up, and I navigated to the files, adrenaline coursing through me. Each second felt like an eternity as I searched through the folders, praying this would contain what I needed to expose Jason.

I clicked on a folder labeled "Fun" and tapped it open, my heart racing as the screen loaded. There they were—multiple folders with names of girls I recognized, and my eyes immediately locked onto my own.

With trembling hands, I clicked on my name. The moment the folder opened, a rush of nausea hit me as videos and pictures flooded the screen.

I scrolled through, my stomach churning with each new image. I had to get this onto my phone and out of here. I quickly began to download everything I could, my fingers moving frantically.

"Come on, come on," I whispered to myself as the files began to transfer. Each second felt like a countdown to disaster.

There was a ding on my phone saying downloading complete. I texted the group chat:

Here is everything.

and I sent them the files.

I'm coming out now!

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Jason stood in the doorway, his expression a mix of shock and anger.

"What the hell are you doing?"