Shadows

Chapter 4

~AN~ THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS VIOLENCE AND SWEARING. ITS ALSO A LITTLE ANGSTY.  Just thought I should warn you all :D Vote and comment! ~AN~

“Charlie, I’m going to bed, you coming?” Sammy shouted across the noise of the TV. It was 10:05 at night, so Charlie only had about an hour to wait until Chris and his friends were coming to get her.

“Ye-yeah sure, gimmie a minute!”

They got ready for bed in almost silence. Neither felt like talking as they brushed their teeth and got their pyjamas on.

“G’night Charles” Sammy mumbled from her bed in a sleepy state. Charlie new she wouldn’t have to wait long until she heard snores signalling her sister’s sleep.

She had been right of course. No less than 10 minutes later, snores could be heard from all around the house. Jumping out of bed and pulling her wardrobe open, Charlie retrieved a short cocktail dress, tight fitting and all black. She threw her hair up into a loose bun. She slapped on some make- up and texted her boyfriend.

 

It didn’t take long for them to pull up outside the nightclub. From the outside it looked quite boring. It was on a plain road and was painted a dark blue colour, like a rain covered sky. However the inside was completely different. Plush purple sofa’s, dark wood tables, a small stage for singers and bands to perform like the local band tonight. The bar stretched across one side of the room with a couple of people in dark uniforms standing behind smoking who knew what.

None of the staff seemed to car that all of them were underage and happily served them up whatever they asked for. Charlie wasn’t too into the idea but after vodka and coke, she stopped complaining. Chris had ordered a beer but was under strict instructions from his girlfriend that that was it. Drinks in hand, the group moved to a sofa near the other side of the room; an excellent view of the stage and the rest of the room. Not long after had sat down, another group of student came in, recognizing Chris and his friends.

“Who’s the midget?” One of them asked Chris, staring Charlie up and down. “She’s fit, got a boyfriend have you hot stuff?”

Instantly Charlie was aware of how tight and short her dress was, and she drew herself closer to Chris, who placed his arm around her protectively. This action seemed to alert the guy of what he said, and he stared at them both with wide eyes and an open mouth, obviously trying to think of something to say.

“Wow, She’s a bit young for you, aint she?” Another one of them laughed. This got them all laughing at the pair.

“Just ignore them Babe, they’ll leave soon.” Chris whispered in her ear.

“Oooh, Sorry did we interrupt her first grown up experience? Why don’t you just run home and tell your diary all about it darling” The second boy sneered.  

“James, I’d leave if I were you. Now.” Chris said through gritted teeth.

“Oh dear I fear my comment has offended! Have I woken the beast? You’re so scary Chrissy you know that don’t you?” Even a deaf man could hear his voice dripping in sarcasm.

“I said, leave.” Chris was close to breaking.

“Make me, Chrissy wissy.” James whispered loud enough for them both to hear.

This was the last straw. Chris jumped from the sofa and launched himself on James, punching him as hard as he could. The other boy screamed and it was clear he didn’t think Chris would have done anything.

“CHRIS STOP!” Charlie could hear herself shouting.

Hearing his girlfriends shout, he stood up slowly turning to her. He stepped forward but didn’t get very far as James pulled him back to the floor.  

“NO!” Before Charlie could stop herself, she had run forward and was trying to pull the two boys of each other.

Punches were flying randomly everywhere and neither boy seemed to have much aim. One hit Charlie in the eye, one in the mouth and one in the throat. She gasped and fell to the floor, tasting the blood dripping down her chin. Seeing her, both boys ceased their fighting and Chris picked up his girlfriend.

Charlie could barely breathe. The world was going fuzzy and darkness threatened to claim her vision. The last thing she remembered was his arms cradling her as he walked her too his car, shouting to the others that they would have to get their own way home.

Headphones still in, Charlie woke up the next morning with a numb arm. Apparently Sammy didn’t get that Charlie had wanted to be alone. She’d had a rough night and her sister’s worry wasn’t helping. Her sister had been so oblivious too, not noticing the blood staining her clothes, or the black-blue ring around her eye. Not even the fact that she had been wearing different clothes, high heels, makeup.  She got up and shook her arm to regain some feeling. It worked for a bit until the pins and needles kicked in.  She knew that the dream of last night’s event s would play when she went to sleep for weeks to come, but it couldn’t be helped.

Charlie decided a show was in order to clear her head, and of course to was the blood of her arms and face. The dress was going in the bin as soon as possible. Blood like that didn’t wash out easily. She could be sure how much of it was hers, Chris’s or James’s.

Looking in the mirror, her face looked like it had been in a mangling machine. There was a huge bruise around her left eye, dried blood crusting around her chin and down her neck from a gash in her lip. A bruise coloured her throat as well, but it was quite faint. That didn’t stop it hurting though.

There was a chime across her room and her phone lit up. 3 texts from Chris and one from Sammy. Apparently Sammy and their parents had gone to Banbury for the day to do some shopping, but didn’t want to disturb Charlie. How had none of them noticed the state she was in?

That was what Chris’s texts were about: Are you okay? Sorry about last night Charles…I’ll make it up to you I promise!; Please respond to me, I’m getting worried; Sammy just texted me. I’ll come round later and see you.

 That’s what a boyfriend should be like. Caring and kind, unlike some boyfriend’s she’d had that treated her like a piece of shit. That’s why she loved him. That’s why she knew he would come round. That’s why she opened the door when he came to see her an hour later.