Soapy

I'm not your girlfriend.

Things are hazy as I open my eyes slowly. I have a massive headache and I feel like I can barely breathe. My face stings, my ribs feel like they're broken, and I can tell there are bruises in various parts of my body. I look to the ceiling and notice I'm in a car, and we're moving. Now that I notice the car is driving very fast, I feel sick to my stomach. What's wrong with me?

Then I remember what happened. The fight with Jake, he was drowning me, I died. Did I die? No, stupid question, I'm having thoughts so that means I'm alive. Dawn never came back to help me. Who's driving the car? Jake? He's probably trying to hide the "body". Get rid of me forever. Erase me from existence. I need to get away from him, now. I panic and jump up in my seat immediately and reach for the car door handle.

"Whoa, whoa, calm down, you freak of nature," I hear Dawn say from beside me. She did come to save me? I look towards her, feeling a bit light headed and dizzy. "Don't move too much, I don't want you to hurt yourself."

My eye's carefully scan the car looking for my glasses. Everything is blurry and I feel like being able to see will help me get a grasp on everything.

"Your glasses are in the cup holder," Dawn tells me as she watches me while trying to watch the road at the same time.

I see them and put the bent up and bitten frame on my face. Everything gets clearer, and I look at Dawn. She's been crying. Her eyes are puffy, her face is flushed, and badly rubbed of mascara stains her cheeks. She's also bleeding, looks like there's a cut on her lip and a deep red area on her cheek. He must have punched her.

"He hit you?" I say, my voice sounding hoarse and causing my body to ache.

"Don't worry about me, pup. You're in pretty bad shape yourself."

"Did you kill him?" my monotone voice gives her chills.

She looks at me worriedly but focuses her eyes back on the road quick, "No,"

"Okay," is all I say back.

My casualness of the situation puts her even more on edge and I watch as more tears slide silently down her cheeks. Poor girl, she must have thought I was dead. Shit, I thought I was dead. I wished I was dead. I don't anymore, though. I feel different somehow. The only person I want dead is Jake. If given the chance, I will kill him and I will watch the life leave his eyes. I was a stupid, naive fool to actually think that I could just break up with him and be done and move on. The next time I see him, I won't be afraid. I'll be prepared.

"Puppy?" Dawn says softly, trying to get my attention.

I give her a blank stare.

"You kinda zoned out for a second there,"

"I'm alive, Dawn. I'm fine." I tell her.

"Fine? No, you're not fine. He almost killed you, Yustina, how could you say you're fine?" she raises her voice.

"Because I am." I say strictly.

"You didn't look very fine when I found you floating in the water as Jake hit me then ran away from the scene! You didn't look very fine when I pulled you out and gave you mouth to mouth, just for you to pass out right after you woke up. You died, Yustina! You were dead. You cannot sit there and tell me that you're fine, its bullshit." she screams as the car speeds up.

"Slow down," I tell her calmly.

She ignores me and the car continues to increase in speed. At this rate, she'll get us both killed. I sure as hell didn't survive nearly getting murdered just to die twenty minutes later in a car crash.

"Slow down!"I shout at her.

She takes a sharp turn into an empty parking lot and makes an abrupt stop, making both of us nearly fly through the windshield. I wince in pain, my whole body responding to all the movement. I look at her and she sits there for a moment, her hair blocking my view of her face and she suddenly freaks out. She begins slamming her fists on the steering wheel and kicking her feet and screaming, "I'm gonna kill him!"

I grab her arms while she slams them all over the car, she hits me a few times too but I ignore it. I get a good grip around her wrist and pull her to look me in the eyes. She continues to kick and scream, avoiding my eye contact but I don't let go. I need her to be okay, because if she breaks down then I'll break down. I'm tired of crying, I'm tired of being hurt, I want to be strong for once in my life. I need her to be strong so I can be strong. When she finally stops, she stares into my eye's and I see she's crying harder. I don't think I'll ever see Dawn cry again. She closes her eyes and turns her head away from me.

"It's okay, Dawn. I'm okay. Look at me, Dawn. Look at me," I hold her chin and tilt it to face me, "I'm okay. Okay?"

She nods her head and cuddles against my arm and I wince.

"Shit, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." she sniffles.

"Don't worry about it. You kinda saved my life not too long ago, I think that makes up for accidentally touching a wound."

"I'm being a weak bitch," she sighs and puts her head in her hands. "I need to stop being a weak bitch."

She sits there like that for a moment, mentally and emotionally collecting herself. When she's done, she shakes her head and her hands and sighs. She looks at me with a sad smile but a strong look in her eyes. She's back to normal.

"I didn't want you to ever witness me being a weak bitch," she laughs softly and sadly.

"I don't mind. You thought I was dead, I would have been offended if you didn't cry."

She smiles and starts up the car, "Let's get you to the hospital."

"No," I shout, sitting up too quickly for my body to handle.

Dawn gives me a strange look.

"His mom is a nurse. I don't want to run into him or anything. Just in case, ya know."

"I'll be there with you this time. You might have a broken rib or permanent lung damage or something. I can make sure you get treated safely." she insists.

"No, no way. My mom is really good with nurse and doctor stuff, let's just go to her."

"But,-" 

"No, Dawn. Do you want them to keep me over night so he can suffocate me with a pillow or something? I just really want to go home, please." I plead with her, using my hurt appearance in my advantage.

She gives me a hard look and sighs, "Fine. As long as my girlfriend is getting treated,"

My head snaps towards her and I smile. "I'm not your girlfriend,"

"Not yet," she smiles back.