Pattern

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

// Avery //

I felt a little bad leaving Prudence, but I didn't realise how much of a mistake it was until I got back. I'd basically run home, in not exactly heavy clothes, but more than any female in Crystal's house was wearing. Dad left his keys on the mantelpiece, and he was out, so I just got them and got in the car. I had my licence - I passed my driving test when I was sixteen, but I'd never gotten a car.

I drove back to the party, and when I got there, I instantly felt like something was wrong. The music had died down, but it was still there, except louder than it was the sound of shouting. And screams.

"Stop it! Leave her alone! Stop it!" I recognised the voice as I rushed out. The voice was that of Prudence's best friend, the one who despised me. But I had more things to worry about. Because outside, there was a crowd gathered in a circle, all in Crystal's back garden. Everyone had relocated in the few minutes I had left. I fought through the crowd, which is easy when you're tall and well-built, but I already knew what was happening. Still, I didn't want to.

Prudence was lying on the ground. Her eyes were jammed shut, as if she wanted to block everything out. Her top was ripped, and Howard was literally standing over her, with his foot on her throat. Some guy was holding Madi as she screamed, she kept screaming. I noticed Prudence's knee was cut and bleeding, and as I stared, Gareth's girlfriend went over and kicked her in the stomach.

And he grinned, then Gareth pulled her up by her hair, and turned to face me. "We were waiting for you to turn up." I hadn't realised he'd noticed I'd appeared, and Prudence opened her eyes, and she shook as tears fell down her face.

I lost it.

And I can't remember it all, but Gareth was on the ground, and I was punching him like Howard had punched me, over and over. But someone jumped on me, pulling my hair and arms away, and I rolled over, and suddenly I was the one being hit. And there were screams and shouts, but no one tried to help me, because they didn't care, not about me or about her, because they were ignorant, and they didn't want to get involved.

I think I hit them a good few times, not enough for revenge though. I struggled with Howard for ages, and I could see his determined, gleeful face grin down at me as he plunged his fist into my stomach.

And after a while, he was down, off me, but someone else kicked me, and I blacked out.

--

"Avery, Avery! Please, just open your eyes!" I could feel someone shaking me. "Avery!" Were they crying? I opened my eyes, and Prudence was there, her mascara marking on her face from when she'd cried. Her neck was bright red, like her eyes. I moved to get up, hissing in pain.

"We have to go," Another voice said. Madi was sitting there, on the grass, looking exhausted.

"Where is everyone?"

"Madi threatened to call the police," Prudence said. Her voice was so quiet. "They scattered. Crystal's probably still around, but I doubt she'll do anything."

"Are you okay?" I asked, standing up. She shrugged. "I guess." Her eyes, of course, said otherwise.

We all left Crystal's house awkwardly, and into my car. "I'll drop you home," I told them, and Madi just nodded. "I live closest." She directed me to her house, which was indeed, nearby. She left, but not before huggging Prudence and promising to call. And then it was just me and her in the car, and I noticed her knee was still bleeding.

"Do you need a plaster?"

She shrugged. "It won't stop bleeding, so it'll probably be a good idea." I drove back to mine and she sat down on a chair in my kitchen while I searched for the first aid box. We were both so quiet. I don't think we knew what to say, and Prudence looked so overwhelmed, as if she'd break down any minute.

I found the plasters, and she insisted on putting it on herself.

"So," I said. "What happened?"

She looked down. "It doesn't matter."

I brought over another chair and sat opposite her. "Yes, it does."

She sighed. "Howard approached me, after you left. And he was joking around, just insulting and stuff, but then he pulled at and ripped my top, saying I looked like a skank and I pushed him away.. And then he grabbed me, around the neck and told me that he'd warned me before not to touch him..He basically threw me outside, and I could barely breathe, and then everyone was around us, and I could hear Madi trying to get to me, but her friends were stopping her so she wouldn't get involved, and some people just hit me, or kicked me, or whatever, taunting, asking where you were.. And you came back, then so.." She finished, threading her hands together and biting her lip. "And y'know, he told me, he said he'd get back at both of us, and I just thought he was saying it to scare me.."

Prudence wasn't even angry, she looked so defeated. But I was - I was livid. I wanted to murder every last one of them. And it was my fault, of course, that Prudence was hurt, that her neck would be covered in bruises and her stomach would be sore for the next few days, and that she'd been publicy humiliated. She was biting away at her lip, so I got up, and awkwardly held out my arms. She looked at me for a few seconds, then hugged me. And after a little while, she started crying again, into my shoulder and my nice shirt, and I didn't care.

I just held her, until she went limp and let go. And then I drove her home, and her dad still wasn't there, which was a good thing really, and made sure she got in okay.

And I went home to sleep, and avoid doing something that I knew had to be done.

Once again, I had to leave Prudence.