“Open up! You can't leave me here until Monday,” I roar, but I know that there is no one around. The university gym is going to be locked in an hour and no one cleans up here on the weekends. I punch the door, sliding through to the puddle of water at my feet. The tears fill my eyes as I throw the towel away. I'm naked, locked up in the changing room with no way of escape. There is nothing I can do. I have no doubt it's Oliver's idea. I can bet he made Mackenzie do it. She probably called him and let him know that I was alone at the gym, and they both came up with the tremendous idea of leaving me here to sulk until Monday. I didn't even have my phone with me, because I was supposed to be back in the afternoon.
I punch the door a few more times, crying like a pathetic creature. I truly despise Oliver now. He’s gone too far and he might have finally cracked me, because Braxton is the last place that I want to be right now. I know that as soon as someone lets me out I’ll go home and pack. Oliver wants me out and now he’s crossed the line. I sit on the cold floor thinking about my old self. I was cruel and without feeling, so maybe I deserve this, being locked up alone with no one to rescue me. I should have just told Oliver that Christian beat me up. I should have revealed that his perfect brother wasn’t so perfect. I shuddered, remembering how pleasure filled his gaze when he was hurting me. But that was just the beginning of the nightmare.
Minutes pass, then hours, and I sit there drowning in my own tears and hatred. Mackenzie is not coming back; no one is. I try to reason with myself that Oliver just did what he had to. He hates me and he will continue to do so, until he wins the bet.
I don't even have the energy to lift myself up. I'm broken. He wants to show me what he had to go through in high school when I bullied him. Oliver had said he would stand up for me, but he never showed up. When Christian discovered the truth about us, he did things to me that I'll never forget. He damaged me to the point of not knowing what was real and what was an illusion.
I close my eyes, drifting away. The pain doesn't ease. It strikes all of a sudden, blinding me, as I remember his cruel hands moving over my body. I tried to scream, but he silenced me, clenching his palms over my neck.
“India, are you there?”
I hear a voice and lift my head.
“I'm going to come in, all right?”
Before I can even detect if this is happening to me for real, the door opens and I see Jacob’s face.
“Oh Jesus,” he hisses, looking away, trying to be a gentleman while I still don't move. My body is numb and I don't care that he is seeing me naked. It's like I'm made of brick with no emotions, stripped right back to become no one. He takes the towel and covers me. His left eye is puffy and violet; his upper lip is split.
“Jacob?” I ask, confused “What are you doing here? How did you know that I was here?”
“It doesn't matter. Come on, I need to take you home.”
He helps me on my feet, and I wrap the towel tightly around my body, feeling dizzy. Maybe the nightmare is finally over and I can just go home.
“Mackenzie locked me up. She took all my clothes,” I tell him. I have a splitting headache.
Jacob smiles, he runs his hands through his hair. “I know. We couldn't let you stay here until Monday,” he says, pushing me forward, but I stop in the doorway.
“What do you mean by we?” I ask, narrowing my eyes. “Oliver ordered Mackenzie to lock me up here.”
Jacob looks uncomfortable, switching his body weight to the side and letting out an uncontrollable breath. “India, just leave it like that. Let me get you out of here. I can give you my jacket and I brought trousers. I don't keep girls clothes and Dora—”
“Shut up, Jacob, and tell me why you are here,” I press, still shaking like jelly. Jacob passes me a jacket, looking hesitant. I already know what he is going to tell me. Oliver couldn't go through with this prank. He changed his mind.
“Fine, but if he finds out that I told you, he might kill me this time,” Jacob says. “Mackenzie came into the house a few hours early and told Oliver that she took all your clothes when you were in the shower and locked you up the changing room. Oliver didn't order her to do this.”
“What?” I ask. “You're telling me that she came out with this idea alone and Oliver wasn't involved?”
Jacob can't be serious. Oliver wants me out of Braxton. He would do anything to make me unhappy and today he succeeded, because I'm ready to leave.
“When he heard what she’d done, he went a little mental. He kicked her out of the house and then told me to go and let you out.”
All right, I have to admit that this is unexpected. Maybe Jacob is messing with my head and they are both lying to me. Oliver hates me and now all of the sudden he changed his mind and decided to help me?
“I don't believe you.”
“Do you think that I understand this?” he asks, smirking. “He likes playing pranks on you, but even he knows that Mackenzie went too far, so he asks me to sort her mess out.”
“What about your black eye? He did that, I know, because I overheard Mackenzie talking about it with another girl,” I say quietly. I really need to know everything now. I couldn't be wrong about Oliver, it was obvious that it was his prank, but now I'm confused because he sent Jacob to release me.
“I don't know what this is about either,” he complains. “It was after lunch on Monday. He came outside and hit me.”
“Just like that? For no reason?”
"Yeah, without any reason. I wanted to know, so I kept asking him about it, but he just told me that I should know why, like I'm fucking mind reader.”
“Oliver showed me mercy today, and I appreciate it, but I just want to get home.” I put on Jacob’s jacket. He looks a little lost but also relieved that I don't dwell on this subject anymore. His car is outside, so that saves me more humiliation and embarrassment.
He drives me home and I wonder if I should thank Oliver for what he did for me. Two years ago I would have gone to Mackenzie and punched her, but I'm not reckless and cruel anymore. Oliver has grown in my eyes and maybe he is going to forgive me for what I did to him. There are still other questions that need answers, but I have to bring myself to tell him what went on that night just before Christian was killed.
Jacob drops me home and goes with me upstairs. When I tell Dora what went on in the gym, she looks like she is going to kill Mackenzie. I go to my room and stay there for the rest of the day before I tell her to leave it and let me take care of her.
Did Oliver try to show me that he still cares about me? That his anger has faded? He refused to listen to me, throwing insults at me like I threw garlic at him during the party two years ago. He could have left me there locked up until Monday, but he chose to help me. I still hate him—but today maybe a bit less than a few hours ago. It's time for me to face him and tell him the whole truth and the only truth.
Chapter twelve
Fighting the enemies
Present
On Monday morning I look like a zombie, so I buy two energy drinks to keep me going throughout the day. Since the incident on Saturday, my nightmares have come back and I barely slept. Dora has already been planning payback on Mackenzie all day yesterday. When I tell her not to get involved, she doesn't want to listen.
I have a headache throughout the lecture, and when I enter the canteen later on I automatically look for Oliver. His rugby buddies are out there, but his usual seat is empty. Deep down I want to face him and thank him that he sent Jacob to rescue me. We aren’t even yet, but I want to forget about my pride and talk to him. By the time I walk home, the rumour has it that Oliver locked me up in the changing room. People are saying that something went wrong and somehow I managed to escape. He was pissed, so he hooked up with someone new on Saturday night, and no one has seen him since then. There is nothing being said about Mackenzie and I haven't seen her today at all.
But there is another rumour about Jacob’s black eye. Apparently it was Dora that punched him. The story goes that she foun
d out that Jacob and I had sex when he came to rescue me on Saturday. It makes me laugh, the kind of stories people make up about what's happened to me. But in the end, I still want to know what is going on inside Oliver's head. Why he all of the sudden changed his mind and decided to help me.
A week Sunday it's Dora’s birthday. She already made plans and invited a few people to the local club to celebrate. After the drama with Mackenzie I'm not in the mood to show my face where I could be recognised, but I can't miss my best friend’s birthday party. Everyone with some kind of social status will be there, and I might even have a chance to talk to Oliver, if he decides to show up.
I don't see him for the rest of the week. Every time I walk to the canteen or wander through corridors, I feel like someone stole a part of me. A little piece of the puzzle is missing. We have been apart for two years, but I'm used to knowing that he is around. He is clearly avoiding me. Dora mentioned that she saw him a few times on campus, so there is something unusual going on.
Being ruthless and cruel has it's own points. The old India would have made sure that Mackenzie would get her payback. An old India would most probably make her suffer with humiliation, but I know that I'm better than that and I can't let her get to me. The karma always comes back and I’ve learned to be patient.
Saturday night Jacob arrives at our apartment with a present for Dora. He’s looking handsome with his new haircut.
“Present for my sexy girlfriend,” he says, smiling and handing her a small stylish box.
“Oh, thank you. I love presents. Are you going to tell me what's inside?” she asks, and her eyes gleam with excitement. It takes her a moment to open it and then a large smile breaks over her face. “Oh my God, a ring.”
“Don't worry. It's not that ring.” He laughs, looking at her worried face.
“Of course, I know that it's not that ring,” she mutters, blushing. “I love it. It's beautiful. Thank you, bear.”
Jacob embraces her with a passionate kiss, and I go to my room to give them some privacy. I try to look my best, hoping that Oliver will show up. Maybe someday he will forgive me, but for now maybe we could at least make peace. I put a bit of makeup on and pin my hair in a stylish bun in the back. I go for jeans and a funky top that I bought in Gargle.
The Morgan family was wealthy, and I got a lot of expensive gifts from Christian. When he died, I burned everything, trying to destroy my last memories about him. Mum had no idea what I did, but burning stuff that he paid for allowed me to gain some kind of ease and accept that he would never hurt me again.
By eight o’clock we leave our apartment and head to the club in a taxi. Dora reserved a small space upstairs for her party, and when we get there everyone is already waiting for us. Unlike me, Dora managed to make a lot of friends since we arrived at Braxton. She introduces me to a handful of guys and girls that stare at me like I'm the clown in the circus. She orders champagne for everyone. Her father gave her an injection of cash so she could enjoy her birthday.
“So you’re the girl that everyone has been talking about?” asks Katie, a tall blonde that Dora introduced me to a moment ago. “The girl that Oliver hates so much.”
I shouldn't been surprised. These days everyone wants to know the latest gossip.
“Possibly. Oliver and I aren’t on speaking terms, if that’s what you’re asking,” I say.
Jacob hands me a cocktail, and I give him five pounds, but he winks at me saying that it's on him tonight. When I start protesting he pretends like he can't hear me. Jacob is a nice guy and Dora is a very lucky girl to have him.
I spot familiar faces at the bar. It's obvious that most students would be here tonight. It's the biggest club in town.
“I don't know how you can handle what he is doing to you. It's barbaric.” Katie looks carefully around, afraid, as if Oliver might notice her talking to me.
“It's just a game,” I tell her. “I can handle him. Besides, something tells me he might be easing off on me.”
Katie sips her cocktail and leans toward me. “By the way, I don't want to be the one to spreads rumours, but I heard from one of the girls in my class that Oliver dumped Mackenzie. I don't know what he saw in her in the first place; she is such a slut.”
My heart gives me a giant smack in my chest. “It's just a rumour,” I mutter, feeling heat blaze over my body with new hope that his feelings for me haven't vanished completely.
Katie doesn't have a chance to tell me more, because the new guy, Russell, flops on an empty seat next to me.
“Hello, ladies, nice seeing you here,” he says, smiling. “What are we discussing?”
I try not to choke on my cocktail, staring at him bewildered. I wasn't expecting to see him here. Dora doesn’t even know him that well, so she couldn't have invited him.
“Just about Olie and what kind of dick he has been lately to India,” Katie explains.
Russell arches his eyebrows watching me intensely. “Oliver Morgan, the captain of a rugby team?”
“Yeah, like you don't know,” I say.
“Oh come on, ladies, he is a douchebag. You should talk about me; I'm far better looking than he is.” Russell smirks. Katie has an attack of hysterical giggles, and I roll my eyes.
“Of course, how could we not notice that?” I ask. “By the way, how did you get in here? It's a private party.”
“I hate break it to you, India, but Dora invited me.” He chuckles.
I purse my lips and narrow my eyes wondering why he has to be so annoying and so full of himself. I look at Dora, who seems engaged in conversation with Jacob and some of his friends. She couldn’t have invited Russell over. She doesn't even know him that well. Katie excuses herself, muttering something about the ladies room, leaving me alone with Russell.
“So, India, I think we got off on the wrong foot,” he says. “I'm Russell, it's nice to meet you.”
“I'm India,” I reply, grinning, knowing that the only way to get rid of him would be to play along. Even though Oliver showed me his mercy, I feel certain that he sent Russell to gain my trust. There isn't any other explanation for this.
“So, India, do you mind if I talk to you?” he asks.
“Fine, but don't get too comfortable. I'm not interested in dating if that’s what you're after,” I tell him, so I can cut to the chase.
“Wow, slow down, girl, we only just met. I don't work that fast. I might be handsome, funny and charming, but I'm a gentleman.”
I sip my cocktail as he continues talking about himself, asking me a few questions. It turns out that his family lives a few miles away from Braxton. He only recently found that his mother has been diagnosed with cancer. All his brothers live abroad, so he decided to move back home to help out. His father died a few years ago.
“What about you? What's your interest, apart from rowing and law, of course?” he asks.
I try to relax and have fun tonight. It's been a hell of a week and I want to forget about the nightmare with Mackenzie. Maybe I'm not as much fun as I used to be back in Gargle, but I can be interesting and funny if I want to be. “I used do cheerleading and gymnastics for a few years, but I always loved movies, cinema is my passion.” I say forcing a smile.
He shakes his head. “Movies, well, that’s a coincidence because I love movies, too. What sorts of movies do you watch?”
“All. I can pretty much watch everything, but since I've been here I don't have time to go, and Dora is busy with her new boyfriend and I'm trying to concentrate on my studies.”
“Right, that’s why we should stick together. I can be your new cinema partner,” he teases.
I keep drinking my cocktail, but I have a feeling I'm being watched. It's not long before I notice someone’s eyes on me. Desire whisks through me when I notice Oliver standing by the stairs. Our eyes meet for a split second before he turns to continue talking to some girl that I don't know. My breathing changes instantly. He looks tense and I begin to wonder if he only showed up here because of me.
I get to Dora, who is dancing with a few of her friends. It's not even ten o’clock yet and she is already hammered. Jacob should be looking after her, but he is nowhere to be seen.
“Hey, Dor, hey, focus,” I say, bringing her attention to me.
“Oh, Indi, what's up, having fun?” she garbles.
“Listen, Oliver, is here and it's your party. Do you mind if I get rid of him?”
This is just an excuse. I want to talk to him and I need to have a valid reason. It's time to find out if he thought about what I said. Forgiveness doesn't cost anything. He made me realise how cruel and vicious I was in the past.
Oliver keeps glancing at Russell. He looks like is ready to punch someone. Maybe he thinks Russell is just not good enough to work his master plan of destroying me. Something inside my stomach turns and I try to dismiss my racing heart and the skyrocketing pulse when I look at him.
Dora’s voice brings me back to reality. “Oh, let me dance. Do what you want, but I don't mind having him here,” she says, laughing.
I start chewing my bottom lip, contemplating what to do.
I go back to Russell, trying to ignore my violent emotions and the man that I love and hate so much at the same time. Russell keeps asking me about the movies and I make a huge effort to concentrate on my conversation with him. Instead of getting all worked up about Oliver being here, I drink my cocktail, keeping old India on a leash.
Oliver moves to the other side, chatting it up with the dark-haired girl. Again he keeps glancing at me, narrowing his eyes like he anticipates my next move.
Russell is funny, he makes me laugh and I feel comfortable being around him. And at this point I don't care anymore if he is playing me or is genuinely interested.
A few minutes before midnight, Jacob brings the cake and we all sing Happy Birthday to Dora. She can barely blow out the candles, and then she kisses Jacob and everyone starts cheering.
The rest of the night passes in a blur, and I keep drinking more and more. I feel like I'm back in Gargle. I'm the same India from before the party, fun and cheerful, full of confidence.
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