CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
LAURA
MY SIDES ARE sore from laughing when our party ends. It’s a fantastic evening and I don’t want it to end. Ava returned a while ago and sat with her arms folded the whole time watching everyone. Well mostly me. She really hated me for taking Craig’s attention away from her but I wasn’t sure what she expected me to do. Not talk to him?
Could I stop talking to him?
No. I was in too deep right now. The more time I spent with him, the deeper I was falling. I didn’t expect to meet anyone in here, but like they say, you can’t choose who you fall for. I just wasn’t sure what I was to Craig, a friend? Or someone who he was passing his time with in here. I know if we were on the outside, he wouldn’t look at me twice. Actually he might look at me like the way I often see him look at Michelle or Maria. I chew my lip now as my mind can’t quite decide how I should feel.
Craig has an appointment with Rose and I have the remainder of the evening off. So I decide that, after the party, I would grab some food and head to the library. Tai will be waiting for me. I grab a fresh sandwich, bottle of water and a small carton of milk for Tai.
My hair still feels odd tied back, but I made a deal and I wanted to keep it. I still counted the steps to the library. The sense of chains falling from my shoulders hit me as I passed the double doors and entered the dark hall. I smiled. The dark always terrified me… or was that Violet? I frown now as I try to think. No, it was Violet who slept with the light on, yet I can picture myself in my single bed with the lamp positioned on the floor so it wasn’t too strong.
The milk and sandwich hit the floor along with the bottle of water as the wind is knocked out of me.
“Bitch, you messed with the wrong girl.” Ava pins me against the wall that she has slammed me into.
I swallow the panic that threatens to take over. “Ava, I didn’t do anything.” At my words she pushes her elbow tighter against my throat, nearly cutting off my air supply. Lucas face flashes before my eyes and a new panic claws at me. My heart pulses in my ears but I can still hear Ava’s words over my pounding heart.
“Don’t. I see how you look at him, all innocent batting your eyelashes. Well I’m on to you.” She pushes harder, and I fear I might pass out. I use all my force and push her off me, as I gasp for breath.
“Don’t touch me again.” My scream has her face turning white.
“Shut up or you’ll get us caught.” She’s whisper shouting but I’m so sick of people putting their hands on me.
I’m on top of her in a second. A squeal erupts from her mouth, but I don’t hesitate as I roll my fingers into fists and connect with her face. It’s not how I’d imaged it to be. The pain runs up my arms and I pull back.
“Don’t come at me again. Or I won’t stop.” I threaten her and let her up. I pray she goes because I won’t be hitting her again. My hand aches and I’m glad when she leaves, holding her face.
Gathering my food off the floor, I can’t find the water so I leave without it and make my way to the library. I carry everything in my other hand. My fist aches. I don’t think it’s broken. Maybe sprained. I’m smiling even has I shake. It’s the first time I’ve ever fought back and it feels good.
Tai is waiting for me when I arrive. The bowl that I had taken from the canteen is empty. I refill it; it takes me a few tries to open the milk with only one hand. Tai spends her time rubbing against my legs as she moves from one to the other. When I finally get it opened and into her bowl she drinks greedily, getting milk all over the floor. Once the bowl is empty she cleans it all up off the floor.
As she drinks I manage to eat the sandwich. I find water behind the mahogany desk. I had left a small stash there in case I didn’t have time to pick up supplies. I don’t fix the books like I’ve been doing each time I come here; instead I hunker down behind the desk, where I have built a kind of bed to sit down on. My hand is pretty sore but holding it up eases the pain. I still shake slightly, my adrenaline still pumping.