21 | how could you

- leilani's pov -

"time for lineup ladies!" sasha yelled into our dressing room before leaving out. "cmon cmon!"

the girls started rushing out, me included. we made it out into the hallway when i heard "rose, stay back for a second."

i rolled my eyes at the sound of the voice.

i stopped in my tracks and waited for everyone to pass me so that i'll stay back. once all the girls headed up front, i turned around to see mr. marino with his arms crossed, having a smirk on his face.

"what?" i asked, immediately annoyed.

"how are you dear?" he asked me in his feminine voice, trying to be funny.

"that shit isn't right," i shook my head starting to turn around.

"woah wait a minute," he grabbed my hand to stop me from walking away.

"the show starts soon, i need to go line up," i expressed.

"you're not doing the show," he stated.

"excuse me?" i rose my voice and eyebrows. "wha- why?"

"because i said," he shrugged. "you didn't fit the requirements this week."

"how did i not- i don't understand-"

"hey why are you two being so loud?" sasha walked into the hallway where we were. "what's going on?"

"mr. marino said i can't walk tonight," i looked at her.

sasha squinted her eyes. "why?" she looked at him.

he suddenly got nervous as he now needed an excuse. "look at her stomach, she's clearly bloated and not fit this week."

sasha gave him a weird look and then proceeded to look at my stomach. "she looks fine," she shrugged.

"sasha dear," he started. "you're not paying attention-"

"im also not paying you to waste my time," she looked at him. "leilani is one of our best models, she walking," sasha demanded as she walked off.

i looked down at the floor with a grin of relief.

"this isn't over," he shook his head.

i furrowed my eyebrows being so ever confused. "what is your problem? i haven't said anything to you in weeks."

"you didn't have to," he shook his head. "but you need to set the record straight that i will not be played with or threatened."

"what?" i asked, lost as ever. "whatever i don't have time for this. i have a show to do."

"you may can get away with doing the show, but i'll still make it hell for you up here," he glared at me.

my eyes got slightly wide in fear and i quickly walked away.

what the fuck?

the show ended and we all went back to the dressing room to change and pack our things for the night.

"hey lani," one girl approached me. "you drove billie's car here today?"

"hmm?" i looked at her in confusion.

"billie's car," she said again. "i saw it outside earlier when i was pulling up."

"oh she was dropping me off," i nodded.

"no one was in there though," she furrowed her eyebrows. "and it was parked on the side of the building."

"huh?" i asked, now lost.

"never mind," the girl said. "maybe it wasn't her car," she said as she started to walk away.

"did it have a custom licenses plate that says 'tarutula?'" i asked, putting my hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"yup," she rose her eyebrows before continuing to walk away.

i just stood there lost.

but then, it hit me.

and i got pissed.

i went and aggressively grabbed my duffel before exiting the dressing room. i walked into the hallway and met with margie who was completely confused as to why i looked upset.

"what's wrong?" she asked me.

"billie," i shook my head while still walking.

"wha- what did she do?" trying to keep up with me as i was walking with a purpose.

i just shook my head, while biting my lip in irritation.

we made it out the back door of the building and into the parking area where billie was leaned up against her car waiting.

billie had a smile that quickly dimmed as she saw the unhappy look on my face. her eyes got slightly wide as i quickly approached her.

"what did you say to marino?" i asked, now in her face.

the look on her face instantly said it all.

she just sighed.

"got damnit billie!" i slammed my hands on my thighs, dropping my bag on the ground. "i literally asked you not to say or do anything."

"you are my wife leilani rose," she rose her voice. "im supposed to just sit there and do nothing?!"

"hey guys," margie started. "can we not do this right here in a public area where there's paparazzi near by?"

billie and i just stared at each other in anger.

"fine i'll drive," margie said, taking the keys out of billie's hands.

the whole car ride was silent.

we made it up to my apartment and remained silent there too. billie sat on the couch and i stood in the kitchen.

"okay," marg started. "im gonna go," she grabbed her purse. "im gonna go stay with ethan."

ethan is this boy that margie has been seeing, im pretty sure their dating but she's always hesitant about letting a man cuff her.

anyway..

i just nodded at her comment.

"love you guys," she grinned. "whatever it is, it will be okay."

margie then walked out of the apartment, leaving just billie and i.

i shook my head again and started to walk to my bedroom.

"i just wanna protect you leilani," billie started. "that's all i ever wanna do."

"but you of all people should know that saying things like that can fuck it up for me in the industry!" i exclaimed.

"did he fire you?" she asked.

"no but he said he's gonna make it hell for me now," i breathed.

billie rolled her eyes. "oh my fucking god."

"so however you thought you were helping, you didn't," i shrugged. "thanks for trying i guess," i smiled sarcastically.

"do you know how fucking ungrateful that is?!" she stood up from the couch. "i went in there and stood up for you and this is what i get?!"

"you didn't help my situation though billie!" i expressed. "if anything you should've told someone who's over him, not that that would do anything either."

she scoffed. "i- i just can't see a problem with defending someone that i love. no matter the circumstance."

"i feel like you would if it were you," i crossed my arms.

billie groaned. "lani i- if you want me to apologize then fine. im sorry for defending you but someone has to!" she exclaimed but then mumbled "cause lord knows you won't do it yourself."

"excuse me?" i rose my eyebrows.

she just shrugged.

"fuck you," i said lowly, my feelings hurt.

"i was just trying to help," b shook her head.

"i didn't ask for your help billie," i said sternly.

now she looked hurt. "fine," she nodded and licked her teeth.

she walked over and grabbed her keys from the counter.

"where are you going?" i asked her, hella annoyed.

i mean because we're still in new york. it's not like we're in LA where she can go to her house or to a friend's house. but i guess she has friends here in new york too.

"to a hotel," she said lowly before opening the door and walking out.

"ughhhhhhh!" i groaned loudly. "fuck."

i leaned over my counter and took a few breaths.

"i don't have time for this," i said to myself.

i walked over to the fridge and opened it, grabbing a bottle of wine. it was just enough left to give me one full glass.

that's all i needed.

i poured the glass of wine and ran me a bath. i soaked in the bath tub for awhile, trying to relax my thoughts.

i sipped the whole glass and continued to blast H.E.R. through my mini speaker as i laid my head back and closed my eyes.

once i was done, i let the water drain and proceeded to get out of the tub. i dried off and kept the towel on as i walked back into the bedroom.

i set the empty wine bottle down on my night stand and walked over to my closet to search for sleep clothes.

while doing so, i heard a noise. a noise that sounded like a door opened and closed. frightened, i quickly turned the music off so that i could hear.

"baby?" i yelled, trying to see if it was billie whom i assumed it was.

but all i could hear was footsteps approaching the bedroom in which i was in.

suddenly, i felt my heart drop to my ass as he stood in my doorway.

i quickly backed up. "ma- marino what the fuck-"

"oh please," he started as he walked into the room. "call me luca."

"no no," i shook my head, now panicking. "what are you doing here-"

"i just wanna talk leilani," he smirked. "can we do that?"

"h- how did you get in here?" i stuttered. "how do you know where i stay?"

"babygirl," he started. "these rooms are funded by the company. we have them all on file where you guys stay. and also, you should learn to lock your doors."

"you can't just come in here!" i exclaimed. "that's illegal!"

"leilani please," he said, finally backing me up into a wall. "don't make this hard on yourself."

"please whatever it is," i started, avoiding eye contact. "just please don't hurt me."

"oh im not gonna hurt you baby," he whispered. "i wanna make you feel good."

"no no please no," i shook my head. "i'll do anything. i'll give you all the money i earned from modeling this season."

"i don't want your money," he chuckled. "i want you."

"i said no!" i shouted before kicking him in the balls.

luca groaned in pain as he kneeled to the floor. i quickly ran and grabbed my phone from the bed.

i began calling and texting billie at the same time. she wasn't answering the phone but i continued to blow her up with text messages. i had to text in short because i didn't have time.

'help'

'luca here'

'billie'

'answer'

'he broke in'

'please help'

'he's angry'

suddenly my phone was snatched from my hand and thrown to the wall. and i was then pinned against the bed by luca marino.

"please don't do this," i cried.

"you tell billie to watch who she's talking to next time," he said sternly as he pulled his pants down.

"no! please!" i screamed. "help! help!"

he slapped me. "shut up! don't think i won't kill you, rose."

fearful, i didn't say anything else. all i could do was cry and shake my head.

no lani, you've been through many things. but you've learned to defend yourself.

do something.

not willing to go down without a fight, i kicked him again but this time in the stomach.

he groaned again. "fuck!"

but this time, his face grew red and he put his hands around my neck. i tried plying his hands off of me but he continued to strangle me..

until i passed out.

...

i suddenly woke up and there he was, on top of me still, doing him. at this point i was numb, its almost as if i felt nothing emotionally. maybe because i got used to it at one point in my life.

because i had just woke up, i was no longer crying. but i was still scared and anxious and aware that i was getting raped.

i refuse to let him satisfy himself like this.

no way.

this isn't fair.

i looked up at him and could see he was about to, ya know. but he was too busy enjoying himself to even pay attention to me. he wasn't even looking at me.

i took that as my chance so i tried reaching for the empty wine bottle sitting on my night stand. i was so close.

so close..

i was able to touch it with the tip of my fingers, moving it closer to me. i kept looking at luca to make sure he doesn't notice me and he didn't.

after a bunch of tries, i was finally able to fully grab the bottle. but now that i have it, what do i do?

so many things were racing through my head, but then he started to finish.

and then my mind went blank.

everything just went blank.

you thought i was gonna hit him in the head with this bottle?

no.

i suddenly cocked my arm back and hit the bottle against my night stand, of course breaking it and making it sharp.

and then i stabbed him.