April's POV

"Leave me alone Mark." I hated how weak my voice sounded around him. Like a child. Asking for permission from an abusive father. I need to be stronger. Braver. He wasn't anything. He isn't anything. He's pathetic. I look down in spite of myself. i can't look at him. I start to pick at a lose thread on my sleeve and i can hear his harsh foot steps on the lose ground.

"'I'm just saying hello."

"And I'm saying goodbye."

"You know you'll never land a guy with that attitude" Oh god he's getting closer.

"That's the dream." I feel myself pick up my shoulders to my head like I'm cold. He is catching up to me. I focus on the ground under my feet. The black and gray gravel with specks of brown dirt. My feet slowly covering it as I try to flee. Why can't I walk faster? It's like I'm in slow motion, frozen by his words. I just need to find a way out of this. Get away from him. Quit the internship first thing tomorrow morning. I can't keep going on like this. Leslie would beg to know why, but I could always lie, it's not like I haven't done that before. But what if someone else ask why? What if Ron does? Or Andy?

"Aw come on now." He's right behind me. I can feel his breath on my neck. God why won't he just leave me alone? A tear is welling in my eye. No. Do not. Don't you dare cry for him April. I swear to god.

"You don't mean that now." He reaches out and his hand is on my shoulder and turns me around. I can see the hunger in his eyes. Like a construction worker who yells "nice tits!" at you while you walk down the street. He's leaning in closer to me. I could scream. I should scream. Why am I not fucking screaming?

"Do you?" He leans in and kisses my head. I want to run. I need to scream now. He runs his hands down my arms and I can feel the red goosebumps forming as he works his way all the way down to my wrists before slowly sliding his hands to my waist.

"Get away from me." My voice is cracking and I doubt he even hears my meak protests. His hands are moving to my lower back. But I can't move. It's like I'm stuck right where he wants me. Frozen in time, in space. It's like I'm Zuzu all over again in that bedroom 3 years ago

"That'd be a waste you know. You're so hot." He's talking low so they won't hear. They are all only 30 feet away why isn't anyone coming? The tears break and I feel one run down my cheek. He's whispering everything right by my face. It would look sensual to anyone who didn't know the true nature of what was taking place.

"Get away from me Mark." I can barely hear myself. It's like I have floated away. This isn't happening to me. I'm not there. It's Zuzu

"I can't help it sweetheart." He leans in and his lips are touching my ear. His hands have moved to the waist of my jeans.

"You're too tempting April." I'm not April anymore. April wouldn't let this happen. April is stronger than this. April spent years creating a character of herself. Someone stronger than she was. Someone who could stop this from happening.

"Like a delicious little…" He pushes his hands down onto my hips under my clothes.

"Treat. I know that little scary April is such a mask. You should be like this more." His hands reach down to my inner thigh. I need to get away. I need to scream. I need to run.

"Complaisant." He whispers it quickly before he begins biting on my ear. Then I hear it.

"Mark?" It was Ann. She must be looking for him. Never in my life did I think I would be grateful for Ann.

"That's my cue sweetpea." Suddenly his hands were gone and he leaned away. He looks at me and takes a couple of steps backwards.

"We should do this again sometime." He winks and turns around to walk back to the lot. I stand there in complete shock of what just happened before it finally hits me. I need to get away from here. I start walking back towards the parking lot and see a small alley. More and more tears stream down my cheeks. I probably looked like some swamp monster. And sounded like one too. I let out a quiet sob before it builds and suddenly I'm walking back up against a building and sliding down the wall. The brick is cold against my back as the sobs get louder and louder. Why is it always me? I must've done something really bad in a past life to deserve one as cruel as this. How could I have let it get this far? I knew I should have just told Ron. But I can't anymore. What could I even say? It's not like he raped me. He just "felt me up". What would anyone say to that? Probably laugh. Say I should have just saw it coming and been more careful. It happens to everyone. It's part of the job. I could already hear it. And I couldn't tell Leslie, she'd die. Or Ann she would call me a liar. It was no longer a matter of whose side they would take. Because I already knew. It would always be Mark. How could I expect them to go against their friend and colleague of like, 6 years, over the stupid 20 year old intern who hated everyone and wanted to seduce a guy for fun? The choice was clear and I didn't even need to present it to them. I would be on my own. But I could handle it. I had too. Because I knew that the second I couldn't I would crash and burn like last time.

end of chapter 5