Not So Perfect

Love

A wave of icy disappointment crashes over Angela, quickly followed by the burning sting of tears. Tony has disappeared, swallowed by the swirling crowd within the pavilion. She watches the sea of bodies, the flashing lights, and feels utterly alone. Then, a hand clamps down on her arm, yanking her to her feet. It's Lewis, his eyes gleaming with a disturbing intensity.

"I'll give you what he wouldn't," he growls, pulling her away from the bench.

"Let go of me," Angela says, her voice shaking, trying to pull her arm free.

"He doesn't want you," Lewis sneers, his grip tightening. "But I do."

Angela struggles, her fear escalating as he drags her towards the shadowed path leading to the apartments. The air thickens with a menacing undertone. Abruptly, his lips are on hers, a forceful, unwelcome intrusion. The taste of his cheap liquor and his aggressive advance sends a wave of revulsion through her. She bites down, hard.

Lewis recoils, a snarl twisting his features. Before she can react, a sharp, stinging pain explodes across her cheek. She stumbles, falling to the ground, the rough pavement scraping her skin. Shock paralyzes her, her mind reeling. She stares up at Lewis, her eyes wide with disbelief, unable to comprehend what just happened.

"Lewis, what in the hell are you doing?" Diane's voice, sharp and alarmed, slices through the air.

"Sweetheart, relax," Lewis says, turning to her with a forced, placating smile. "Just helping her back to the apartment."

"Did you just hit her?" Diane asks, her eyes wide with horror, tears threatening to spill.

"No way, baby. She tripped," Lewis lies, reaching down to pull Angela to her feet.

Angela recoils, stumbling to stand on her own. She wants to vanish, to disappear. Her eyes burn with unshed tears as Diane stares at her, her face etched with disbelief.

"Angela?" Diane asks, her voice barely a whisper.

"I need to go home," Angela says, her voice thick with emotion, taking a shaky step away from Lewis.

"I'll take you," Diane says, moving towards her, her eyes fixed on Angela's bruised cheek.

Angela shakes her head, her gaze darting between Diane and the looming figure of Lewis. She stumbles, her heel catching on the uneven ground. Lewis's arm snakes around her waist, pulling her roughly against him. She tries to push him away, but his grip is like iron.

"She's too much for you," Lewis says, his voice possessive. "I'll handle this."

"I'm coming with you," Diane insists, her voice trembling.

"No," Lewis snaps, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Then I'll take her," Tony's voice cuts through the night, cold and hard.

"Get him off me," Angela pleads, her voice cracking.

"Didn't I tell you to stay away?" Tony's voice resonates with a dangerous undercurrent.

"Lewis, let her go," Diane begs, her voice rising in panic. "She doesn't want you touching her."

"Tony, please," Angela whispers, her body trembling, "I don't want him."

"You heard her," Tony says, his voice low and menacing, closing the distance between them. "Let her go."

"Come on," Diane begs, her voice pleading, "She's clearly not going with you."

Lewis shoves Angela roughly in Tony's direction, and she stumbles, her knees hitting the ground with a jarring thud. Tony immediately kneels before her, his expression a mixture of concern and barely contained fury. Angela remains motionless, frozen in a state of shock and intense humiliation.

"You actually turned her down?" Lewis sneers, his voice dripping with contempt.

"Were you spying on us?" Tony asks, his voice low and threatening.

"Doing it in plain sight," Lewis retorts, a cruel smirk spreading across his face. "I saw how she was practically begging for it."

"Lewis," Diane interjects, her voice tight with a mix of anger and mortification, "we're leaving now."

"Kyle said she's a slut," Lewis yells, his voice escalating, "That's why he dumped her."

Angela feels a fresh wave of tears sting her eyes. Kyle's words, always intended to wound, strike a devastating blow. She knew he would retaliate, but this public humiliation feels like a final, brutal confirmation of her deepest fears. Every man, it seems, sees her as nothing more than a disposable object.

"Angela," Tony says softly, his voice a gentle rumble, reaching out a hand towards her.

Angela shakes her head, her gaze fixed on the ground, her body trembling. Tony is the only one who has consistently treated her with respect. Even when she had initiated the kiss, he had pulled back, honoring her boundaries in a way no one else ever had.

"Kyle was a coward then, and he's a coward now," Angela says, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. "Tell him to explain why he suddenly transferred schools. Tell him the real reason."

"You're making up lies," Lewis sneers, his face twisting with anger.

"Tell him to come say that to my face," Angela challenges, her voice rising. "Tell him we have unfinished business. Let's see if he's man enough."

"Angela," Diane calls out, her voice laced with a strained concern.

"I just don't understand how you let him walk all over you, Diane," Angela says, her voice thick with emotion. "Is this what you call love?"

"This is all a load of crap!" Wendy interjects, her voice harsh and dismissive. "Just leave us alone."

"Wendy," Diane protests, her voice tight.

"He's kissed half the girls here. Including me, probably. He can't keep track. That's just how we roll," Wendy says, a cruel smile playing on her lips.

"It's all rumors," Lewis insists, his voice wavering, "Just malicious rumors."

"He hit me," Angela states, her voice flat, pointing to her bruised cheek. "You saw it with your own eyes."

She feels Tony's grip tighten on her arm, a silent display of his anger. She places her hand on his arm, attempting to calm him.

"He's just a little rough," Wendy mocks, her eyes glittering. "What guy isn't?"

"Tony, I want to go," Angela pleads, her voice barely a whisper.

"Yeah, let's go," Tony says, his voice low and dangerous, guiding her away.

Diane stands frozen, her expression unreadable. Angela stops beside her, gently touching her shoulder. "Talk to your brother," she says softly. "He'll understand."

"Is everything alright?" Maggie asks, joining the group, her eyes filled with concern.

"Diane, come on, let's go!" Lewis commands, his voice sharp.

"I'm going home tonight," Diane says, her voice firm, taking Angela's hand.

"Maggie, can you grab our bags from behind the bar, please?" Angela asks.

"Sure thing," Maggie says, moving quickly towards the pavilion.

"Honey, please, just think about this," Lewis pleads, his voice suddenly soft and manipulative. "I was going to take you on a date. Just us."

"I'm not in the mood," Diane replies, her voice cold.

"How can you do this to me?" Lewis asks, his voice rising in hurt. "You're always complaining I never take you out!"

"She said no, Lewis," Tony growls, his voice a low warning.

"Fine, fine, I'm sorry," Lewis says, his voice softening again, his eyes pleading. "I'm just a little upset." He reaches for Diane's hand, "Don't let her turn you against me."

Maggie returns, handing over the bags.

"Is it alright if I walk with you?" Maggie asks Diane.

"Yeah, let's go," Diane says, turning and walking away, her steps quick and determined, avoiding Lewis's gaze.