(dedicated to @taboo0, your comments were so meaningful and insightful, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this topic!)
E:.
Her eyebrows raised as she took in my statement before she tilted her head and gave me a small, mocking smirk.
"And what makes you think I would want to talk to you of all people?" She asks, her eyebrow still raised.
"I just have a feeling you would want to hear what I'm about to say," I said a little louder, raising my posture straighter to show her that I was no longer fazed by her presence. I may have been internally backing away at this point but that was something she didn't need to know.
"Go on." She beckons with her words, giving me the green light to carry on. It wasn't exactly a warm welcome but it was better than anything I could have expected from her. At least she was willing to hear me out, I needed to get these words out, I needed to show her that this was a big misunderstanding.
I didn't want to be called a slut anymore.
Wringing my hands together, I started speaking the words that had been running through my brain from the moment I had entered the building.
"I just, wanted to talk about what really happened that night. I did sleep with your boyfriend but I had no idea that he was taken, I would never do that to someone. He made it seem like he was single. You don't understand how guilty I felt after you told me, I understand that you were upset but it was an honest mistake. You can't possibly blame me for something that was his fault. I'm so so sorry but it doesn't mean that you can just get people to call me names. Do you know how that feels? Being called a slut? Having others look at you in disgust? Because I do, and to be honest, it kills me inside every time someone makes that comment. I just-"
I was rambling and I realised that but I needed to get the next part out, taking a deep, shaky breath I carried on, "I'm hoping you can forgive me. Please?"
Silence.
The scowl was still etched on her face as she muttered something under her breath. Something I couldn't quite catch. I just hoped that whatever it was, it was a good sign.
I was still avoiding eye contact with Ria, gazing around the club as I waited for her response. In my frenzy I caught a glimpse of the bartender leaning down towards Heather who started whispering something to him in his ear, causing him to smile. Her gaze caught mine as she gave me a wide grin and a thumbs up. Her brows knitted together as she looked between me and Ria.
It was a silent question, asking if I wanted her to come over.
With a gentle shake of my head towards her direction I moved my attention towards Ria who was now grinning at me. Wide smiles and pearly teeth. Something about her smile scared me, I was so used to seeing the frown and distasteful look that washes over her when she glances at me in the hallways at school. It was strange seeing any other expression on her face.
"Okay, I understand what you mean. It was wrong of me to be so rude to you," She utters, pronouncing the words slowly, as if she was aiding a small child.
"You do?" It almost seemed too good to be true, half of me wanted to jump up and down in relief whereas the other half wanted to hear her say those exact words over and over again, just to make sure that I wasn't imagining everything.
"Yes, hey, why don't you join me and my friends? We're playing a game of spin the bottle. I think it would be a great way to start over?" She adds, looking expectantly over at me.
I could feel the alcohol getting straight to my head, making the surroundings slightly hazy for a few seconds before everything focussed again.
"Erm,I'm not sure," I was mumbling, already feeling slightly nauseous. Shaking my head to rid myself of the feeling, I clutched a protective arm over my stomach.
"Come on, it'll be fun," there was something about her tone of voice that made me want to do anything she said. Almost as if her words contained some sort of power that could just grasp and gain control of people. Without my own knowledge, I found myself nodding to her request, only realising my actions seconds after I had carried them out.
********
I was nervous.
No, I was a shaking, quivering mess. But I didn't want to tell anybody that, I didn't want to add to the ever growing list of 'why to hate Anya.'
What I had thought was going to be a simple game of spin the bottle turned out to be something extremely worse. When the bottle landed on you, you didn't just have to give a simple peck to whoever spun the so-called bottle, it seemed Ria would just give out a random task - which were far from innocent - for us to complete.
And currently, the bottle was pointing straight at me.
Ria, who seemed to be the leader of the group grinned wide. I could see the gears working in her mind and I was just hoping she would go easy on me.
"Anya......" she drawled out the words as I waited impatiently for her to carry on.
"Why don't you give Jacob here a strip tease."
My eyes widened at her request. She wanted me to give him a striptease. In front of everyone?
As if sensing my worry she turned to me and quickly muttered out the words "Oh, don't worry, we can get you a separate room, no one besides Jacob will be watching."
Looking around, she leaned into me and whispered the words "You wanted to make it up to me, here's your chance," into my ear.
It didn't take much time after that for me to accept the offer.
I would do anything if it meant that this nightmare would finally be over.
*******
Woo! That's another word complete :) One more and it should be the end of this story. What do you guys think of what's happening so far? What would you have done if you were in Anya's position?
I would really love to see what you guys thought of this chapter so comment down below! :)