EPISODE SEVEN
880 Words
OLIVIA SHEPHERD'S POV
Digesting the contents of the words displayed on my laptop screen, I quickly scan them one last time and then immediately exit out of the web browser.
I pushed away from my study desk in my bedroom and dove into my bed, pulling my blanket over my body just as my mother entered my bedroom without knocking. She does that a lot and I stopped complaining after a few because she still wouldn't stop.
"Olivia?. Are you still sleeping?. It's time for dinner". She called out as she pushed my door open.
"I'm not hungry mom". I told her as I poked my head out of the blanket.
"Olivia". She sighed, stepping into my room. "I don't know what is happening to you but at some point you are going to have to tell me. You can't keep yourself locked up in your room forever. It's not healthy". A look of worry crossed her face.
"I'm fine mom. I just want to be left alone". I muttered.
"What happened on that yacht?. You seemed to be getting better and you were more than willing to go back to school. What changed?". She pressed.
"I ....I just....don't want to attend that school anymore mom. Please. Tell dad to enroll me in a different school. I will go to a boarding school in england if I have to". I pleaded. For two weeks I have been begging her and dad to change my school but they refused, claiming it was the best school in the city.
"Don't be silly". She chuckled. "Your best friend, Amber, and all your other friends are worried about you. They have been here several times yet you refused to see them. Are you having issues with them?".
"I just want to be left alone mom!". I snapped.
"That is what you keep saying!. It's been two weeks since school reopened and you are yet to give me a valid reason for not wanting to attend the most prestigious school in the city". She chided.
Here we go again. I rolled my eyes at her.
"Get ready to return to school on Monday". She said sternly and began to walk away.
"Mom please". I begged, getting out of bed to follow her.
"No Olivia. Enough of this!. You are going back to school whether you like it or not". She snapped. With that, she walked out of my room.
I huffed, staring at the empty space where she had been. I wish I could tell her why I didn't want to go to that school anymore. Why I was afraid. But I couldn't.
What was I supposed to say?. Hey mom our new coach was an officer at my camp a year ago and he raped me and has threatened to do it again?. Who was going to believe that. Worst of all is the fact that he is dating Amber, my best friend. She knew I had been raped; but she didn't know the full story.
I couldn't return to school. Not with Tobby Spencer around.
*****
"No, stop, please!". I scream as I wake up from a nightmare.
Cold sweat covered my body as I tried to get a handle on my breathing and racing heart. It's just a dream. I sighed in relief as I looked around my dimly lit room. The sun was now coming up, slowly sipping through the curtains.
I have been having such dreams on and off for a year now. It was like a repeat of what happened at camp. At some point, it stopped but became more intense after what Amber's brother, Elliot, did to me.
He had called several times, asking to see me but I refused to see him. He had apologized for what happened several times but I couldn't get over it. Drugged or not, he raped me and I couldn't get over it. There was no way I can forgive him.
Once I was calm enough, I grab my phone and check the time. 6:15am. I groaned, knowing my mom would be barging into my room at any moment to drag me out of bed and force me to get ready for school.
I got out of bed, walked into my bathroom and grabbed my toothbrush from my bathroom sink. My hands were shaking as I tried to apply the paste to my toothbrush.
I couldn't believe my mom was forcing me to return to school. It wasn't her fault though. I had refused to tell her why I didn't want to return to the school.
Forcing myself to stay calm, I brushed my teeth, took my bathroom and got dressed for school. I got downstairs in time for breakfast, much to my parents' joy.
"I will drive you to school". Dad offered.
"No, it's fine. I will drive". I told him gently. I don't want to have to catch a ride with Amber and end up next to her evil boyfriend.
"That's fine sweetie. We are happy you are returning to school". Mom beamed.
I forced a smile, ate my breakfast and dragged my unwilling body and mind into my car. My parents had bought this car for me two weeks ago when school started but I didn't want to go.
- Writer
