Comfortably Numb ↠ An Original Story

16- Hope

Author's Note: The concept of attempted rape is discussed in this chapter. If this triggers memories, please use caution when reading.

After Pierce The Veil's set, we all hung out in the dressing room. We were planning on inviting All Time Low and getting drunk, but then they realized that I'm 17 and Peyton's 18. Oh yeah, my birthday was today. So now I am officially 17. Peyton turned 18 a few weeks ago. So we ended up on agreeing everyone above 21 would get hammered and Peyton and I would just get sugar highs on coke shots and pretend they were Jack Daniels. Olivia and Ash were 20, so they were close enough to the drinking age.

I reached for my bag but then realized my bag was still in my car, which contained everything I need. "Ah crap, I'll be right back guys, gotta get my bag from Peyton's car." I groaned and unwrapped Peyton's arm from around my waist and grabbed his keys.

I stood up and walked out of the dressing room and into the cold night. I shivered due to my lack of appropriate clothing for this weather, I was just wearing a short-sleeve dress and lace leggings. I tried to pull down my dress a bit in order to feel less cold, but I felt eyes on me. I turned around slowly and saw a group of guys drinking and staring at me with smirks playing on their lips. I walked faster to Peyton's car. Drunken guys and a teenage girl don't mix well. Nothing good could come out of it.

"What's a pretty girl like you doing out here alone?" One of them questioned and grabbed my wrist, forcing me to face him. He had menacing grey eyes; they were full of bad intentions and hatred. "Don't you know something bad could happen to pretty girls out alone at night?" His breath smelled like whiskey and I crinkled my nose at the smell. The smell I was tortured by for so many years; the constant smell of my father. "Well, you're mistake." He stated simply before one of the other guys clamped a hand over my mouth and started dragging me to the alley the men were previously in before they spotted me.

I kicked and struggled, and finally bit the guy's hand. I tasted blood and he removed his hand and yelled a string of curses. I took his opportunity to spit out the blood and screamed at the top of my lungs for help. The guy I bit slapped me across my face, hard. The one with those terrifying grey eyes just snickered and whispered in my ear, "Naughty girl, I'll put you in place. But I wouldn't recommend doing that again." I felt a knife go against my throat, ready to split it open with the flick of the wrist. "Understand?" He spat, moving his head so it was even with mine, his eyes glowering into mine. I nodded in response and he pushed me against the alley wall, kissing my lips roughly and forcing his tongue down my throat. I squeezed my eyes shut and wished that this would be over already. He ripped my dress off and my leggings down, still kissing me disgustingly.

He moved his hands down my sides, leaving a trail of what felt like acid burning instead of tingling like with Peyton. Peyton, how I wish he was here to stop these repulsive men. Maybe I would see Peyton again if I fought against the guy. I bit his tongue hard, the taste of blood filling my mouth. I then kicked him in his... spot... and pushed his bare chest, causing him off me. He growled and grabbed my long hair in one tuft and continually pounded my head against the brick wall behind me. "I told you to not try something like that again!" He spat while the other boys, who were touching my breasts and hips while grey eyes made out with me, went back to their seats and drank more whiskey.

I crumpled to the ground and felt blood rushing down my skull. I knew I was going to bleed out if someone didn't help soon. It's funny; about a month ago all I wanted was to be dead. But now that I'm actually faced with the possibility of death, I'm wishing to stay alive. If I weren't in so much pain, I would probably chuckle. I felt a pair of muscular arms wrap around me and lift me from my crumple on the hard concrete floor. My eyes fluttered open and I saw Vic was the one who was lifting me while Peyton was beating up all the guys; it wasn't a hard fight since they were all wasted.

"V-Vic?" I asked softly, my consciousness slowly drifting away.

"I'm right here, Alex. Just don't fall asleep on me." He replied worriedly. I nodded and he carried me inside the venue and into the dressing room, laying me on the couch. My band members besides Peyton and the rest of Pierce The Veil shot concerned questions to Vic while they stopped my head from bleeding. Vic explained everything and I felt my consciousness slip completely, and darkness consumed me.

I felt fingers dancing along my stomach, which was now clothed, tickling the surface of the skin. They were tracing my scars, the ones that spelled out 'MISTAKE' all in capital letters. I stirred in my half-sleep and opened my eyes to be greeted with an immediate and sharp pain from my head. I winced at it and tilted my head to see whom the fingers were connected to. I saw Peyton staring down at me and the memories of the attempted rape washed over me. I felt tears brimming my eyes and Peyton opened his arms, inviting me to cuddle up against him. I accepted the offer and squirmed out of my previous position so I could sit on his lap and cry into his chest.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and whimpered into the crook of his neck. I then started full out bawling, soaking his shirt in tears and snot. He mumbled soothing words into my ear and wrapped his arms around my waist, rocking us back and forth slowly. Eventually I stopped crying and looked down feeling embarrassed.

"Sorry I soaked your shirt..." I said softly, playing with them hem of mine nervously. The shirt I had on was actually Peyton's oversized one though.

"It's alright, snot looks great on me." He chuckled.

I laughed sadly and looked into his eyes, which were almost always full of happiness. Peyton's always loved that sound; the sound of someone laughing after they cried. He said it always made him happy, even if it was someone he hated as much as Kacie laughing, his words not mine.

I guess I liked the sound too. It sort of displayed a form of hope. It showed that even after something horrible that made you cry happens, it always gets better. It shows that something good will eventually come along, even though how dreary and bad the future looks. The future always contains something good in store for you; even though how bad your future may looks. You just need hope to get it. Hope, a four-letter word that's changed so many lives. Including mine. All you need is hope.