He's going to kill me.
And perhaps it would be for the best. He'll never let me go, of that I have no doubt, and howcouldI doubt him when he's making his point so zealously? I'm beyond certain a lifetime with Robin isn't one I want to live.
Chocolate eyes with a ring of honey flash through my mind unbidden.
Cam.
He's the only thing keeping me clinging to a shred of hope. Of survival. That Robin won't go through with it.
Vaguely I hear a monstrous groan that sounds strangely distant through the roar of blood muffling my ears. But somehow I know it's still Robin - that he's still right here. On me. In me. He stills suddenly, expelling panting breaths right into my face. My sight blurs and I can't keep my eyelids from falling closed.
Finally, Robin's cruel hand relaxes and I instantly gasp in giant gulps full of precious air. I wince as he pulls out of me, but I can barely register anything other than replacing my lost oxygen.
Robin sighs as he steps back and grasps me by the waist. He makes to set me down, but my legs don't hold, and I slide unceremoniously to the cold concrete floor, shoulders heaving and eyes raining torrents.
"Look at me," he demands.
I force my eyes open and look up at him, terrified of what he might do if I were to defy him now. He looms over me, powerful and inherently threatening, as he tucks himself back into his jeans and fastens his belt. I flinch unconsciously at the jingle of his buckle, a sound I rather die than hear again.
"You brought that on yourself," Robin murmurs.
I sit frozen, a pathetic pile on the bathroom floor, tears still gushing down my cheeks. My bare behind is ice cold against the dirty tile and my breasts are still exposed, but all my energy is devoted to breathing, and holding myself in a seated position, palms planted desperately on the floor.
"I gotta get goin'... You get this weekend, but only 'cause I'm so damn mad I can't even fuckin' look at you right now. I will see you Sunday, Rory," he spits. "And then you'll remember this the next time you think you want fuckin' space from me," he mutters bitterly.
Robin turns, and I think he's about to leave, but then he turns back and crouches down so we are eye to eye. I flinch when he reaches out to tuck my hair behind my ear. He adjusts the cups of my bra so that they are back in place, then gently takes hold of the hem of my top, pulling it back down before fixing my skirt. I have no underwear to speak of.
"You know why I had to do that, right?" he murmurs softly.
I don't know what to say, and like I'm in a trance, I just nod.
"You know I love you, sweetheart, right?"
I nod again.
Robin presses a soft kiss to my cheek, and with that, he turns and leaves. I count his footsteps descend down the concrete floor. Thirty steps. The locker room door slams.
I sit, stunned, on the bathroom floor, in wonder that I'm even still alive. Part of me still wishes I wasn't.
****
Time passes quickly... and also slowly.
It's hours before I pry myself off of the floor. The sky has darkened, and I worry someone may come through to clean. I don't dare look in the mirror. Instead, I return to my locker, and pull out a spare pair of jeans and a tee shirt. I stuff my uniform in my bag, and stagger out of the school. I fear Robin is waiting in the dark somewhere, but rationally I know he must have been in Gainesville for hours by now.
My parents are down at my grandmother's, so I could go home and no one would know I didn't go with Robin until Sunday, if at all. But I don't want to be alone. I drive in a daze and reach my house before I even realize I've left the parking lot. I stare at Cam's empty driveway. I know his mother will be at the hospital until late tomorrow morning. Cam must be out, too. I go around back to his back porch and try the handle. It's locked. I pull out the key Cam's mom gave me years ago and let myself in. I make my way to Cam's room and close the door. Only then, do I allow myself a look at my reflection.
Not as bad as I thought.
Blood stains the front of my jeans thanks to Robin's creative use of his house key.Damn, I should've cleaned that right away.
Bruising already colors my neck and wrists, which means they'll be real bad come morning. There's also a tiny football shaped indent in my neck from my necklace. I rip it from my neck and throw it across the room. I never want to lay eyes on it again.
My back aches terribly, and I'm thankful I can't see it. My face is a mess. My cheeks are streaked with black mascara filled tears, and there's pink staining around my swollen mouth from Robin's crushing kisses. There are hickies on my neck and shoulder, as well as bite marks. I can still see the perfect mold of Robin's teeth in two places.
And a burning pain radiates from between my legs. It's not unfamiliar to me, but it's more intense than ever before.
I take a deep breath, and slowly, so as to aggravate my injuries as little as possible, pull my top over my head. I undo my jeans and carefully tug them off before kicking off my sneakers and socks. I am naked but for my bra, but even through the lace, I can see the swelling and bite mark on my right breast.
