The Rainbow at the end of my storm

•20•

Hunter had been kind enough to walk me to my dorm room, but as soon as I slipped into bed I wished I wasn't alone. I wanted to curl up and cry.

From the beginning, I never wanted to date Mason, or any boy for that matter, but he tore threw me. He broke down wall after wall that had been carefully built, and then smashed straight through me too. I knew exactly what I wanted, but I also knew what I wanted wasn't good for me. My heart was a mess. How could one boy make you feel like that in a few weeks? Okay, maybe I'm not completely heartbroken or suffering from heartbreak, but I'm still hurt.

I lay awake, staring up at the white ceiling, trying to take him out my head. It was no good. I tried counting sheep, thinking about psychology, about Christmas break that was so far away, and all I got was images of Mason.

My phone buzzed and I dreaded looking at the screen. If it was him, I was about to scream the dorms down.

I crossed the room and glanced at the name. Bree. Relief shot through me, but not for long. She definitely knew something happened, probably exactly what.

I answered the call. "Where are you?! I'm freaking out! Mason said you both argued and you left with some boy-"

I had to stop her. She was panicking and shouting for no necessary reason, and right now my head was already developing a headache; I didn't want a migraine too.

"Calm down, I'm fine. I'm back at our dorm." I lay back in bed as I listened to her sigh of relief.

"Jesus,Victoria. You had me so worried about you, don't ever do that to me again, okay?"

Knowing I had an actual friend, one that cared and loved me the way she did, made me feel less lonely in this moment. I knew I always had her to talk to.

"Okay, I'm sorry. But the guy, I knew." I clarified. Silence filled the speakers. "Bree?"

"Sorry it's just, who was it?" I finally heard no more music, she must have walked off somewhere private.

"Hunter, he goes here." I was so confused, why was she asking this?

"You mean Masons ex-best friend?!"

What?!

"Wait, no way. It can't be." I stood abrupt from the bed, pacing up and down. No wonder he was so pissed!

"Dark hair? Drives a red Citroen?"

I nodded, then realised she couldn't see me. "Yes," I sounded torn, and I was. I'd practically left with someone he potentially hated. I mean, ex-friend screams hate to me.

But that didn't make what happened okay. I was still labelled a slut from his friend, and probably always would be. How could I see him as serious about me when all he does is sleep with girl after girl? Clearly, I initially didn't think about this error. It didn't even cross my mind. Nevertheless, he thought me and Hunter liked each other when we didn't. That's enough to piss anyone off. I had to explain to him, I didn't want him analysing something that wasn't true.

"I didn't know, Bree." I rubbed a hand across my face.

"I know, I know. Don't worry. What happened, though?"

I explained everything, from what he said in the car - which she heard, but thought we'd made up because he said he was coming after me - to what happened with his friend Harry. I felt tears pricking when I mentioned the latter.

"Oh, Vic. I'm sorry, what an ass! I've never liked that guy, he's a jerk!"

"I just can't do it, Bree. I won't be labelled a slut again."

"Again?" She asked, and I realised I'd slipped up. I still hadn't told her about Kieran. "Vic?" She sounded concerned, speaking in a soft voice. I just didn't know how to answer.

The memory's came back to me, spinning round in my head until I felt dizzy. The word slut and bitch written all over the school walls, my driveway, my moms car. All the times I'd had it shouted to me when I left the house, even to put something in the bin outside. I felt a sharp pain in my bottom lip and realised I'd been biting it for so long I'd made it bleed and slightly split open. I gasped at the blood dripping.

"Victoria!"

As my head returned to reality, I heard Bree's distressed screaming down the phone and rushed to reassure her I was fine.

"Sorry, I just cut my lip. I'm fine. Sorry."

"Victoria." His voice came through the phone, sending shocks through my body, tingles running down my spine. But a familiar sick feeling appeared too. "Cupcake, we're on our way. Don't do anything stupid."

What on Earth was he talking about? I heard a car door slam and then tyres screeching.

"Mason, put Bree back on please." I rose from the bed, applying a piece of cotton wool over my cut lip as I waited for him to pass her the phone.

"Victoria are you okay?" Bree sounded way too distressed for my liking.

"Bree why do you sound so upset? Where are you?"

"You didn't answer. I got worried, and then you said your lip was bleeding, I don't know, I just panicked." She was extremely upset, rushing her words and stumbling on syllables. But I still wasn't caught up. I had no idea what she was explaining.

"We're here."

What? What did she mean, we? I was even more confused now. What was going on? I wanted answers but, as I was about to ask, the phone call ended.

Shooting through the door came Mason and a Bree, both anguished and distressed. I looked at them with wide eyes while I dabbed my cut, waiting for them to answer.

Bree hauled me onto the bed as she threw herself at me, while Mason stood awkwardly at the door.

"Could someone please tell me what is going on?!" I yelled, beginning to get just as distressed as them.

Bree forced herself up, looking from Mason to me, before explaining. "You went blank. You wouldn't answer and I heard your breathing become heavy and ragged. I panicked. Mason came over to me because he sensed I was on the phone to you, and when he saw the state of panic I was in, he jumped in his car. I followed. I thought you hurt yourself, or fainted again or something." She came to sit next to me, where I was still lying in the same position as when she'd attacked me with her embrace, while Mason stood clueless and uncomfortable.

"Sorry, it's just, I can see your panties" he shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck.

I looked down and he was right. My pink lace thong was on full display. I jumped frantically to a seating position, pushing my T-shirt down, and covering myself with my duvet. He smirked as his cheeks turned less Scarlett. Bree was also giggling.

"Don't want to change the subject, but they're cute panties. And I thought you didn't own anything like that! I was so wrong!" She winked at Mason as he leaned against the wall. Always, always playing matchmaker.

"Well, back to subject-" which I really didn't want to talk about, but would rather than discuss my underwear. "- I'm fine. I just bit my lip when I was thinking. The only tragedy happening here." I smiled at them both and Bree nodded. She seemed a lot less stressed out now too.

"I understand why you're so angry, but please talk to him," she stood, heading for the door. "I'll be outside."

Before I could stop her, she was out the door and I was left alone with Mason. Where did I even start?