𝒸𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉

[Chapter 30] Where Were You?

I stand in front of a white door with a bright, glittery pink sign hanging on it that proudly states, 'AMBER'S ROOM ~ FUCK OFF'.
Very middle school.
I swallow hard.
What am I really about to do? Barge in on Harry and Amber making out? Having sex?
What's the plan? What do I say?
My hand shakes as I reach out to grab the doorknob.
It's better you know now before you really fall for him.
I silently close my eyes, knowing we're already past that point but I push the thought aside.
1, 2 , 3–
I turn the knob and swing the door open before I can change my mind and brace myself for what I'm about to witness.
My eyelids snap open like roller shades only to see—absolutely nothing.
"What the hell..."
My eyebrows crease in confusion as I stare in front of me. No Amber, no Harry—there's not a single soul in the bedroom at all.
"Whoops, wrong room, maybe."
Adam is suddenly behind me and I stumble as he nudges me forward into the dimly lit room.
All the lights are off save for the pink and orange lava lamp on a nightstand, casting an eerie glow into the room.
"Adam, what—"
I pause as I watch him shut the door behind us and a knot forms in my stomach as he turns the lock with a deafening click.
"What are you doing?" I take a step back from him and he tilts his head as he eyes me. "What do you want me to do?"
"You lied to me." I ignore his question, glaring at him.
Every step he takes forward, I take another one back.
"Come on, Kelly—I know how bad you've had it for me since Freshman year."
He arches an eyebrow and I don't respond.
"And now what? You're sleeping with my sister's boyfriend just to get my attention?"
My eyes nearly bug out. "What? No!"
"You've got my attention." He smoothly disregards my answer as I quickly scan the room for something I can throw if need be or the easiest route to the door. "The question is, what are you gonna do now that you have it?"
I feel ill as I watch him watch me. Sick blue eyes neatly untying the bow of my camisole before ripping it to shreds.
"Nothing." I stare him down, hoping he can read the disgust in my eyes.
"Oh come on." He scowls. "You ghosted me back then because you weren't ready, right? You're ready now, aren't you? Passed around a couple times?"
His fingers twitch at his sides.
"It's not how I wanted it but I'll take my turn."
"Adam, stop." I attempt to keep the fear out of my voice. "Back up."
He doesn't though.
My back hits the wall of the bedroom and before I can side step to uncage myself, Adam's hands connect with my forearms.
I struggle against him and he presses his body against mine to inhibit my legs from kicking him.
"Quit." He hisses through his teeth but I don't.
I use all the force I can muster to push against him, grunting as I do so. "Let go of me, Adam—I swear, I will fucking scream."
"Do it, bitch. Everyone knows you're a slut now—they'll just think you're enjoying it."
I freeze in fear at his words and he just smiles a twisted, sadistic smirk.
He releases my arm to grab my face and I forcefully push against his upper body, yelling as I do. "Let go! Get off of me—"
He forces his mouth over mine but I don't stop screaming.
His fingers grip the sides of my jaw as my head is slammed back against the wall and I continue wrestling against him, beating my fist against his chest, his head—anything I can reach.
Silently screaming.
My nails begin defensively clawing at his face to the point I see blood, but I don't stop.
"You stupid bitch!" he suddenly growls in pain, yanking me away from the wall and I shriek as he throws me onto the bed.
"Stop!" I kick my legs as I attempt to scramble away which he catches and uses as leverage to drag me back over to him.
"Come here—"
"Adam, what the hell are you doing?!"
A new voice joins the conversation and I freeze as I realize it's not my own.
"Get out!" Adam is suddenly yelling at the top of his lungs and when I look, I see Carmen standing in the now open doorway of the bedroom closet—phone in hand, eyes wide.
"Help me!" I screech in terror, still struggling to get away.
"Amber said just a picture, you fucking psycho!" Carmen glances between me and Adam, who is still forcefully holding me down—one hand on the waistband of my jeans.
My eyebrows crease, despite my predicament and Adam glares at her, eyes flashing but he doesn't move. "Carmen—Get. Out."
Carmen's gaze falls to me and even though I know she doesn't give two shits about me, I still beg her to help.
"Carmen, please—"
"Get off of her, you asshole. This wasn't the plan."
The plan? The plan?
What plan?
"Fine, then you can watch."
Carmen's scream is only outdone by my own as Adam drags me towards him at the edge of the bed and latches a hand around my throat.
"Stop!! HELP!!" Carmen begins shouting, running towards the bedroom door and I wheeze out as best I can with what little air is left in my lungs.
Carmen's yelling becomes distant and incoherent as I now grip Adam's wrist, attempting to pry his hand away from my neck as I choke.
"Stay here," Adam growls, roughly shoving me before removing his hands and I roll to my side, coughing as I attempt to catch my breath.
Through watery eyes, I watch him stride to the bedroom door—Carmen nowhere to be seen—and shut it. Turning the lock again.
"No!" I try to scream but it comes out as a hoarse whisper, scrambling to the other side of the bed as he turns back to face me, undoing his belt.
"Don't try to fight me, b—"
His words are cut off by the bedroom door suddenly being kicked open and cracked against his spine.
He howls in pain as he crumples to his knees, hand to his back and I watch as Harry walks into the room, leaving the door swinging on its hinges.
"Kelly!" His gaze lands on me and all I can do is watch as Amber and her entire posse walk up behind him.
Harry steps over Adam's writhing body, staring at me as he does so. "Please tell me you're okay."
But I'm not okay. I'm terrified. I'm embarrassed. I'm angry.
"What the fuck, Adam?" Amber snaps from the doorway.
Carmen's usual resting bitch face is replaced by a pale, emotionless void which Mariah is mirroring perfectly.
Amber just looks annoyed.
Adam continues groaning in pain while Harry's eyes repeatedly scan over me, clearly searching for something. "Did he hurt you?"
I don't answer. I don't have it in me to answer. I am so inexplicably full of rage right now.
"Kelly."
There's something in his tone, something I recognize but not from him.
He's angry.
"Did he hurt you?" He repeats and Carmen answers for me.
"He was choking her on the bed and—"
"Shut up!" Amber snaps at her and I scoff as more tears flow out of my eyes. "I told you. You call me fucking paranoid and look."
I point an accusing finger to Adam's frame on the bedroom floor. "Look!"
"Kelly, I didn't know, I swear."
"Where were you?" I stare at him, slowly standing to my feet and pulling my hand away as he tries to reach for it. "With her, right?"
"Kelly—"
"Just leave me alone." I push past him, dizzy from Adam shoving me around.
"Hey." He catches my hand anyway, stopping me. "I'm going to fix this. Don't worry."
I don't know what he means by that and I don't care.
I just want out.
I pull away and cross the bedroom floor, skirting to avoid Adam and forcing my way past Amber, Mariah and Carmen.
My trip downstairs is rushed and self-conscious.
There's no way everyone here knows what just went down.
Unless this was Amber's plan all along.
I don't know how having her brother assault me was supposed to work in her favor but she got me away from Harry so I guess she got what she wanted.
I almost trip taking the last step but I catch myself, picking up the pace as I make a break for the front door.
I weave my way through the same crowd Carmen and Mariah towed me through, not stopping for anything or anyone.
I just need to go. Screw Amber, screw all of this.
I waste no time in yanking open the front door but just as I begin to rush outside, there's someone in my path.
"Lake!"
I look up at him in surprise and his smile slowly fades. "Are you okay?"
"What? Yeah." I brush it off, feeling uncomfortable and exposed as he looks me over. "What happened? You're crying."
"I'm fine—I'm going home. I'm sorry you came all this way—"
"Hey, stop," he interrupts, eyeing me intently. "I came here for you. Talk to me."
"I can't." I start walking past him, unsure of where I'm even going considering I don't have a car.
I'll just call Dakota and hope that she's not too busy with Jack to answer her phone.
"Kelly."
He says my name forcefully, like he's commanding me to stop and I do, purely out of habit.
"Come on, let me drive you home."
I hesitate. I don't want to be alone with any man right now.
But knowing my choices are either let Lake drive me home or stay here at this godforsaken party—I slowly nod. "Okay."
"Attagirl."
"Kelly!"
My eyelids slide shut. Fuck me.
I turn around and sure enough it's Harry standing in the front doorway of the Donovan's house.
He takes one look between me and Lake—back to me and shakes his head. "No."
"Lake, can you just wait in the car for me? Please?" I cross my arms over my chest and Lake nods, eyes not leaving Harry. "Yeah."
He presses a kiss to the side of my head—like it's a performance to prove a point and I mentally brush it off as Lake strolls away, car keys in hand.
"Kelly, seriously. Don't do this."
"Why not? You want me to stay here so I can take the rest of Amber's abuse?" I raise my eyebrows and Harry's jaw tightens. "I didn't know, I swear. If I had known, none of this would've happened—I can promise you that."
"I told you." I shake my head with a disbelieving laugh. "You didn't believe me."
"I know and I'm sorry!" He insists. "I'm trying to make it right now."
"Just..." I hold up my hands in frustration. "I can't be here right now. Goodbye, Harry."
I turn on my heel and start walking towards the street just for him to follow me.
"Let me drive you then."
"Lake is taking me home, I'm good—thank you."
He doesn't let up.
"I've known guys like him before, Kelly. Everything I've seen never ends well."
I scoff. "You don't even know him."
Once Lake's Accord comes into view, running and waiting—I whirl around to face Harry again. "Seriously. Go inside."
"No." He pauses. "I just wanna talk to him."
He starts to walk past me and I instinctively plant my hand against his chest. "Stop."
"It'll take two seconds." He sidesteps me and I follow, exhaling in frustration as he walks up to the open passenger window. "Hey."
"Hey, what's up, man?" Lake casually greets him as if they didn't just see each other a minute ago.
Harry rests his arms on the window sill. "So, why the hell are you messing around with Kelly when you have a girl?"
My jaw drops open as I attempt to push him away from the car. "What are you talking about? Move."
I expect Lake to immediately set the record straight but to my surprise, he's silent—glaring at Harry.
"Just ignore him—" I grunt, still trying to force him out of the way. "Clearly someone had too much drink."
Harry doesn't break eye contact with Lake, though and refuses to budge. "Actually, I'm totally sober."
Lake taps his thumb against the steering wheel with a shrug. "I don't know what you're talking about, man."
"Yeah? The name Sol doesn't ring a bell?" Harry doesn't let up and I scoff. "What—"
"Who the—" Lake suddenly stops and then proceeds to scoff, looking away. "Whatever. Fuck off, bro."
Harry moves over to exchange looks with me and I purse my lips.
If this is the ex that cheated on him, why doesn't he just say that?
"Kelly, we going or not? Come on."
Lake turns his attention to me and when I reach for the door handle, Harry beats me to it. "Kelly—"
"What the hell is your problem?"
Lake's tone is irritated and while I could understand being frustrated at being accused—he almost seems too pissed off.
Harry doesn't take his eyes off of me. "Please listen to me."
"You don't even know him," I say with less confidence than before but even still, open the car door.
He shuts it. "Fine, you don't believe me? Ask Veronica."
My eyebrows furrow in confusion at the mention of my...coworker?
"What are you talking about?"
I look to Lake for backup but his face is pale.
"Yeah, you thought I was just running my mouth? Your friends talk...a lot, Lawson," Harry comments and now, my gaze turns. "Lake, what is he talking about?"
"Just get in the car, Kelly."
"Why won't you just—"
"Get in the fucking car, damn it!" Lake suddenly snaps and I instinctively open the passenger door, eyes wide.
"Don't fucking yell at her." Harry slams the door shut again.
"Why don't you mind your own business before I get out of this car and make it my business?"
I think back to Lake—the first time we met at the party—the guy he was fighting. The knife he pulled on him.
I haven't thought about Lake like that in awhile.
That Lake. The party Lake. The Lake I thought wasn't around anymore.
"Come on then." Harry stands up straight, backing away from the car. "Let's go."
"Stop," I interrupt, resting my hand on the door handle. "I'm...going."
Before Harry can stop me again, I pull open the door and climb into the Accord.
"Kelly—"
"Hey, man—I think she's made her decision." Lake raises an eyebrow, clearly gloating.
It makes me want to throw up.
Harry's gaze lingers on me a bit longer before he removes his hand from the car and takes a step back. "Alright. Just be safe, Knockout."
For a moment I question myself, the validity of Harry's accusation and most importantly, if Lake is being genuine.
"If you need me, call me. I'll answer."
"Thanks but I'm okay." I force a half-smile I don't really feel as Lake shifts gears and pulls away from the Donovan's house, leaving Harry standing where I left him.