Eat Me

ChapterThree

Mustering up the best fake smile I had, her heels stopped right at my feet, two pills in one hand and a giant grin on her blood-red lips.

“So when Warren asks you to come out, here you are, but when it’s me-”

She wasn’t wrong. A night out with Bev meant a night of splashing cash and ending up in more than just a state of regret.

“I know, I know,” I held my hands up, “but you should be happy at least that I’m out now, and you get to see my pretty face.” I scrunched my face up and seized her cheeks in my hands before placing forcibly loud kisses all over her.

“Stop, you’ll smudge my eyebrows,” she laughed, holding me at arms' length.

When I was out, I was happy, but it was the build up every time that killed my mood and made me, more often than not, cancel. I was happy to see her though, both of them in fact. Tonight was when I’d forget about all my worries and stress and relish just being. The alcohol had made a dent, and now it was time to really let go.

“Now, pop one of these with me and let’s go get f*cked up.” She practically sang that last part and I laughed when she did a train motion with the drugs towards my mouth like feeding a young child.

Obliging my friend, I graciously stuck my tongue out, knowing full well she’d happily pop the pill in my mouth.

“To a long and beautiful night,” she laughed.

I threw my head back, satisfied that the pill slid effortlessly down my throat.

“And to a not so sh*tty come down tomorrow.”

“Damn straight. Now, who was the guy you were talking to?”

It was obvious that she was interested, Bev could have most guys in here, and I’m not saying it because she’s my friend. She was beautiful; tall, long chocolate-colored hair that flowed past her waist – which I’m sure wasn’t her real hair because nothing should be that soft, it was like f*cking silk. If she wanted him, she could have had him. But the way she passed him earlier was the usual start of her, ‘I haven’t noticed you, but you’ll notice me’ game. There was no chance of me winning in this and I could already see her scouting the bodies around us searching for him like a predator hunting prey.

“He was gay. Asked me if Warren was here with anyone.”

“f**k off?”

I kept my face neutral, not giving anything away.

That should definitely slow her down a bit.

***

Bright lights and dripping bodies consumed my view. Sh*t, I hadn’t felt this free in forever - despite my cotton mouth.

From all angles, it was like being hugged by an octopus, arms caressing my skin in tune with the thumping of the speakers. What was real and what wasn’t was beyond my realm of function. I didn’t care. Everything felt so damn good.

A cesspool of shared drinks from random people in the club swam around my mouth. I wasn’t keeping count of the free drinks I was given, and the drugs were readily passed around like goodie bags at a birthday party; everyone so off their faces, they were happy to share.

Two girls pressed up against warren, his tongue maneuvering from one mouth to the other like a snake, almost devouring them whole. No doubt I imagined it, but I was sure I heard them all moaning a sweet, seductive tune.

It was hypnotic.

Bev was throwing some serious shapes on the dance floor, her dress so ridden up that the bottom of her cheeks were on show and god help her if she bent over, because knowing her, she wasn’t wearing underwear.

I smiled to myself – not enough energy in me to break a laugh, let alone enough that when a hand grasped my face and turned my mouth to theirs, I went with it, falling into them and tasting their tongue. Stale cider and cigarette smoke invaded my taste buds, bile rising up inside me. There was no fighting when his hands dipped lower and found their way to my arse, squeezing and pulling me closer. When an uncomfortable moan escaped me, to him, I was signaling for more.

Sex with a random person had crossed my mind, sure. But this – it didn’t feel right. His hands groped and stroked me, the slow growing bulge in his trousers pressing into my hip. My mouth left his, using the fast depleting strength to turn my head towards his shoulder for air.

I thought about trying to piece together what he looked like if this ended badly. Already picturing how the police would react to me trying to explain what happened;

‘You were intoxicated?’

‘Are you sure you didn’t consent to this?’

‘Maybe you knew the guy and changed your mind after it happened?’

My train of thought shattered the minute his fingers slid underneath the hem of my top, lifting my bra and finding my n****e on it’s little adventure. Another round of bile burned my insides. This time I clenched my eyes shut, willing this all to be just a bad dream.

My heart was racing a mile a minute when I realized we were already leaving the club. I hadn’t even remembered moving off the dance floor.

Anchored down by the dread in my gut, my brain tried to communicate with my feet to just stop moving.

It was pointless.

The subtle smile he gave the bouncer as we passed by could have easily been missed had I not been trying to take note of my surroundings.

Did they know each other? Was this something he did regularly?

I wasn’t his first, I was fairly sure of that.

With his arm around my waist, practically holding me up, it was clear I wasn’t OK. No one thought to intervene.

Crisp Autumn leaves rustled beneath my Nikes as we continued into a secluded car park not far from the club.

I should have gone home early.

Blistering chills shot through my spine as my bare shoulders made contact with the cold bricks of the building behind me. My assailant wasted no time in hoisting up my skirt and tearing into the fabric of my tights. I tried to scream for help, ultimately silenced by his sweaty hand.

"If you're a good girl, I promise to make it quick."

Reaching forward with all the strength I could muster, my palm collided with his face. It took all of two seconds for him to react, using his body weight to slam me into the wall. The air knocked out of me, a burning sensation scorching my lungs as tears spilled down my cheeks.

I wasn't giving up that easily. This time I stomped down hard on his foot, right as his free hand began undoing his zipper.

If I was going out like this, then I’d at least put up a fight.

He cursed loudly, once again shoving me back into the wall, only this time, my skull cracked, ringing filled my ears, and my vision began to blur.

‘Stay awake’, I internally screamed.

My pulse moved to the overgrowing lump on the back of my scalp.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

At that moment, my legs betrayed me, unable to hold me up any longer. His hands no longer had hold of me and I slid down the wall, heavy lids covering my eyes.

The strangled cries of a man were the last thing I heard before everything went dark.