Skinny • Book 1 In The Reality Series

Katy

Trigger warning : nudity / suggestive language

"I have to go to the bathroom."

Taking his cigarette from between his chapped lips Ashton glanced over at me, "Again?"

Wordlessly I nodded.

"Is your bladder the size of a thimble?"

I shrugged.

Sighing in annoyance, Ashton swerved onto the exit ramp.

"You're worse than most kids." He informed me.

"I am a kid." I whispered.

"What?" he questioned.

Glancing down at the purple bracelet of bruising encircling my wrist I said nothing.

"I asked you, to repeat yourself." Ashton said slowly.

"I am a kid." I answered, copying his deliberate tone, "You think, I don't know what you think. But you're a lot older than me Ashton and I think sometimes you forget that."

Pulling to a stop in front a rest stop, Ashton killed the engine, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Nothing." I muttered, waiting for him to unlock the car before climbing out.

"Don't make this take all day." He called after me as I closed the door.

The cold night air, whipping my wash needing hair around me, I shoved my hands into my pockets and entered the squatty brick building.

There were a row of vending machines against one wall. A table with an assortment of travel brochures laid out on it, a single, flickering ceiling light and two doorways, one for men and one for women. There was also a man.

He was short for a guy, around my height, and thin. His dark hair was flattened against his forehead with what appeared to be sweat and his eyes, which were trained on me were sunken and drooping.

I contemplated going back out to the car and requesting Ashton drive me to the next exit, however I knew that would just make him mad. Smiling at the man I waited for him to smile back at me, which he did not.

Feeling my brow crease with worry, I bowed my head and hastily skirted into the deserted women's bathroom. It was somehow even more dimly lit inside, the back three stalls completely hidden in shadows.

Swallowing the lump of fear in my throat I picked the brightest lit of the stalls and hastily disappeared inside.  Making sure that the teal stall door was locked, I carefully wrapped the grotesque toilet seat in paper before pulling down my jeans and sinking down.

Relieved that I was alone and didn't have to worry about stifling the sound of my flow from other girls and women doing the same, I began to relieve myself, however stopped hearing footsteps entering the bathroom.

My heart racing I watched as the man from outside shuffled into view through the crack in the door. My stomach dropping, I quickly pulled up my pants. I didn't dare flush, or move or breathe. It was stupid I suppose to think he wouldn't know where I was when he'd watched me walk in, however I had hope, at least I did until I realized that his reflection in the mirror was watching me, through the crack.

Instinctively my hand slipped into my pocket, reaching for my phone, but it wasn't there, Ashton had it.

Not bothering to flush the toilet since making any kind of sound somehow felt unsafe, I reached out and unlocking the door, threw it open and slipped out.

Not making eye contact with the man in the mirror, I made a beeline for the door however before I could make it, I felt his hot sweaty hand, wrap around my wrist.

I wanted to scream, but my vocal chords seemed to forget how to function.

"You're beautiful." The man informed me, reaching out and stroking my cheek, the skin he touched feeling as if it were shriveling up and falling off at his touch, the muscle and fat in my cheeks melting and my bones crumbling to dust, "I like a big girl. More to love."

Horrified, I tried to pull from his grasp, but his grip was surprisingly unyielding.

"Get off." I managed to choke out.

Smirking, he held his hands up in surrender and backed away from me, moving to stand in front of the exit.

"What's your hurry baby?" he questioned, before reaching down and unzipping his jeans.

Tears of fear filling my eyes I backed away from him, unable to look away he pulled himself through the fly in his underwear, revealing the thing I knew all boys had that I'd never seen.

Grinning, he just held it there, seemingly pleased with himself and how uncomfortable he was making me.

My stomach clenching I took a step backwards and he one forwards, and another and another until the door was around the corner and I was shrouded by the shadows of the dark side of the bathroom.

"What's your name sweetheart?" the guy questioned, not seeming to care that his junk was hanging out of his pants.

I didn't answer.

"You've got to got a name." he chuckled, "You got a big girl name?"

Closing my eyes, I felt my back brush against the wall behind me, and felt the space between us decrease as he took another step forward, and then, he was gone, a strangled sound leaving his mouth.

Startled, I opened my eyes to find the man lying on the ground and Ashton stood over him.

My heart hammering wildly in my chest, I watched shocked as wordlessly, Ashton raised his foot then brought it down with a tremendous amount of force on the man's head.

Letting out a squeal of horror I watched, and listened as he did it again, and again, grinding his face into the tiles.

Blood and teeth littered the floor as Ashton grabbed the man by the hair on the top of his head and dragged him into a bathroom stall.

Horrified, I watched as he shoved his head into the toilet and flushed, once, twice, three times, four times...

"Ashton stop!" I screamed suddenly, realizing what was happening.

Ignoring me, Ashton flushed again.

"Ashton!" I shouted, "You're killing him!"

Again, he flushed the toilet.

"Ashton!"

Running forward, I grabbed him by the arm, "Ashton please." I pleaded, "Please stop, it's okay now, I'm okay. Please stop."

The fog which had been covering his eyes lifting, he looked down at his hand as if he'd never seen it before, and let go of the man, letting him slump over limp on the bathroom floor.

"Sick fuck." He snarled, before spitting on the unconscious body at his feet.

"Ashton come on." I whispered, "I don't want to be here anymore."

Hearing the fear in my voice, he turned to face me and frowning, pulled me against his chest.

"I'm sorry." He mumbled into my hair, "You shouldn't have had to see that, any of that."

"Let's just go." I whimpered.

Nodding, he steered me out of the rest stop and back to the car where Sam was sleeping.

It wasn't until several miles later that either of us spoke.

"Thank you." I whispered.

Glancing over at me, he reached out and slipped his hand into mine, silently replying.

Turning my head towards the window I closed my eyes, just wanting to sleep and be with Calum in the only place I could, my dreams.