chapter fifteen

I stood outside the house in the dark and folded my arms across my chest. I noticed a shadow through the glass come to the door and heard her unlock the chain. The minute she opened the door and I set eyes on her, I burst into tears. She hugged me tightly before she took me into the house and into the living room.

"Sit down. I'll be back in a minute." She told me as I perched on the edge of the sofa.

It seemed ages until she came back in, two cups of coffee in her hands. She placed them both on a counter on the coffee table and sat down beside me. I smiled weakily, wiped the tears that were rolling down my cheeks and picked up the cup. Cradling it in my hands, I took a sip and thought about breaking the silence between us.

"What's wrong?" Duffy asked, her face full of concern and I sighed.

I was about to answer that it was nothing major but she replied that I never usually came to her unless it was a big problem and I never usually cried. I chewed my lower lip slightly as I put the cup down on the coffee table.

"I've had a bit of trouble."

"What kind of trouble?" She asked and I made eye contact with her briefly and then looked at the floor.

"With a lad." I mumbled, "He—you know."

She looked at me and touched my arm. There was a silence for a minute before she asked, "Are you saying what I think your saying? Did he—"

She trailed off and I nodded, muttered yes and burst into tears for a second time. I ran out of the living room and I went to the one place I knew I'd be safe. Closing the door behind me, I locked it and slid down the wall, my knees tucked under my chin.

I wasn't alone for long when I heard a gentle knock on the door.

"Lauren, were you raped?" She asked gently.

With the back of my hand, I wiped away the mascara lines that were running down my cheeks and whispered, "Yes."

"Do you know who by?"

"Yes." I whispered, "He was an old school friend but—"

"No buts Lauren, it's not your fault." She told me. She told me I hadn't done anything wrong and he was the one who should feel bad and not me because I was the victim. I didn't believe it though. It was my fault!

I was the one who accepted the drink, I was the one who went home with him.

I was just as guilty as him!

"No! Your wrong! It was my fault I shouldn't—"

"Lauren, you didn't ask to be raped." She answered back and I shut up. She was right. I hadn't asked to be raped but why did I still feel so guilty? I heard her sit down on the other side of the door and there was just a silence between us.

"When did it happen?"

I was silent. I couldn't tell her just a couple of hours ago, "Lauren? Has it happened more than once?"

I chewed my lower lip hard and whispered, "Yes."

"When?"

I stood up and put my hand on the lock. As I unlocked the door, I pulled the door open. Staring at Duffy, I took a step towards her and whispered that he had raped me twice, once the other night and the other being a couple of hours ago.

She pulled me into a hug and whispered that it was going to be okay. I shook my head and told her it wasn't, he had threatened to hurt Megan if I didn't do what I was told and I was scared he'd go through with his threat.

Little did I know he was already planning his next attack on someone too close to home.

a/n: if you like it enough to favourite/alert, please leave a review.
tbf, i think there's way too much dialogue but it's relavent i think :|