Hands off

After counseling

Lauren's POV

My first class is English. I have to work together with Brandon today. He doesn't do much. I don't really mind because I can do what I want and he doesn't care.

I take a seat and Brandon sits next to me after five minutes. He leans back in his chair and just looks at the papers.
"Are you going to look at that or also do something?" I know I just said I don't mind it but if he just sits there it's enoying.

"I'll try" he says and grabs his laptop and writes some stuffs down. After ten minutes he turns his screen to me and I read it.
"Wauw that's good." I say

"Why so surprised?" Brandon looks at me.

"Well untill now you didn't do much so I wasn't expecting this." I say.

"Well thanks I quess." He says while he begins on the next question.

The bell rings and we're far from done with the part we have to finish this week.

"We can do this later, maybe tommorow?" Brandon asks.

"Okay." And I walk out of class. The rest of the day went smooth. Tonight I have my first counseling.

Marcus drives me because it's on the other side of the city. He drops me of and he goes of the a store to get some food for the week.

I walk in and I already see people sitting in a circle. Mostly women. I look around and I see them all looking older then I'm. Some i believe are in there twenties but there are also some in there fourty's. I walk in the circle and sit down on a empty chair. 

"Hallo everyone. I see we have a new member. I'm Shenna." The woman says. She is the head here.
"Can you tell something about yourself?"

"I'm Lauren and I'm 16 years old."

"Welcome Lauren. We have rules here so I'm just going to tell them. Everything we say here are kept between these walls and everybody is free to say anything they want." I nod and she focussed back on the group. I feel eyes burning in my skin but I keep my head down.

"So is there anyone who wants to talk?" Shenna asks.

"My nightmares got less." A women says. She probably is about fourty six. She has straight dark hair.

"That's very good. And how is your son handling this?" Shenna asks her.

"Oh he's very happy." She says with a big smile on her face. I can see she is very proud of him.

"Great! Lauren do you want to talk? Don't feel pressured."

"I came here to also get rid of my nightmares and to talk about what happend so I think I'll say something. I don't really know how to start."

"That's okay. Just start with what happend to you. It doesn't have to be in detail." Shenna says.

"I was raped by two men this summer. And I have nightmares about it." I say.

After counseling I walk out of the buildig and look for Marcus's car. I don't see it. I look at my phone to see the time. Half past nine. He said he would be here.

"Should I wait with you?" I flich from the sudden voice. It's the women who talked about her son.

"Oh you don't have to. My brother should be here any minute."

"I just wait with you. My name is Claire." The women says.

"I'm Lauren. How are you going home?"

"My son is waiting for me in his car. He only is a year older then you." She says.

"I saw how happy you looked when you talked about him. I liked the view." I say.

"He's the greatest to me." Claire says while smiling.

"Good I bet you deserve it."

"Mom are you coming? It's cold I don't want you to freeze." I regonize the voice and I look around. Brandon is walking towards us. He stops with walking when he sees my face.

"I have to go, sorry." I turn my head back around and walk away quickly. How can it be that Brandon of all people is here. Why isn't Marcus here yet? I hear footsteps behind me they quicken but I don't want to look around. I hear them coming closser. Then someone grabs my arm and I get pulled back. I close my eyes because I'm afraid.

"Where're you going. It's dangeres to walk alone at this time." I open my eyes and see Brandon standin infront of me.

"Come on my Mom is in the car waiting." He lets go of my arm and we walk back in silence.

"My brother will be here soon. So you can go home." I say to Brandon.

"I may seem like a jerk but I'm not leaving you here alone waiting. Also if I did my mother would kill me." I laugh a little.

After a couple minutes I see Marcus car turning around the corner. The car stops and Marcus jumps out of the car.

"I'm so sorry! I was stuck in traffic and my phone died. Are you okay?" He hugs me and looks at Brandon.

"Who are you?" Marcus asks Brandon.

"I'm just picking up my mom when we saw your sister waiting so we waited with her so nothing happend." Brandon says.

"Well thank you. But we are going. Come Lauren." Marcus says while lurring me back to the car.

"Thank you." I say to Claire and Brandon. They nod and walk back to their car. While I get in ours.

"How was it?" Marcus asks.

"It was fine." I say.

"Are you mad at me? For letting you wait?" Marcus asks while starting the car.

"No of course not. You couldn't help it." I say.

"Because I'm really sorry. If something happend to you." I interupt him.

"Marcus it is okay. Nothing happend and you picked me up." I say. He nods and we drive away.

At home I directly go to bed I am tired and I need to get out of bed early for school. I change into my pj's and brush my teeth.
I lay down in bed and close my eyes.