T H I R T E E N | This Is Not Happening

{Gif of Hug}

Song: Do Right

Artist (s): GLADES

Your attitude determines your direction.

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Neel had the cart and guided us all down the aisles; even though we had only come for steak, Neel thought it would be a better idea to get grocery shopping out of the way so that we wouldn't have to come back again later.  Julian and Julius had already gone off to do their own little shopping which left Neel and I. Neel had said that I could get anything, but it didn't feel right to use his money. Maybe I should get a job, but with my anxiety I don't think it'll work.

"Wait right here, I'm going to go and grab the steak" Neel said walking away leaving me with the cart. I pulled the cart to the side of the aisle so I wasn't blocking anyone from going past and just waited.

"Olivia?" my blood ran cold at the familiarity of the voice. God, no. Please no. I clutched the handle of the cart, holding on for dear life. My hands got clammy and I could feel my breathing get heavier.

"My oh my, I haven't seen you for a while" the voice got closer and closer. He looked exactly the same. Nothing had changed. His lips were titled up with the same smirk and his eyes glinted the same intentions. Mark, my step-fathers best friend. This has to be a dream.

"It's about time I visited again, isn't it?" his eyes dragged down to my feet before coming back up to meet my face and it disgusted me. I didn't look at him and instead tried to steer away with the cart but he stopped me.

"Please" I choked. I couldn't deal with this. Not now. Not ever.

"Dammit, you know how much I love it when you beg" Mark laughed manically. He moved his hands over mine and dragged them slowly up my arms.

Why wouldn't my legs move?!

Gathering up the courage I didn't know I had, I pushed Marks chest taking the opportunity to run away, as he stumbled backwards, leaving the cart where it was. I ran down three aisles until I finally found Neel.

"Lets go" I grabbed Neels hand dragging him towards the entrance. Julian and Julius who stood behind him with a pile of food just stared on.

"Hey, hey. What happened." Neel pulled me back in-front of him. He assessed my face for a second before his face fell hard.

"Why are you crying? Is Tobias here? I swear to God if h-" I yanked on Neels arm again effectively shutting him up. Seeing the desperation in my eyes he listened throwing the steak in his hand to Julian asking to to pay for our stuff. Julian and Julius went off, probably in search for the cart.

I sped-walked to the car breathing heavily. I pulled the car handle wanting to open it, but it was locked. I turned around to face Neel who just stared.

"What happened?" I shook my head at him. Neel kept glancing back at the entrance before back at me.

"Can we please go?" my voice shook uncontrollably. I didn't want to see him again.

"What the hell happened, Olivia?" Neels voice began to rise and without thinking I ran towards him clutching onto his shirt, burying my face into his chest willing my self not to cry. Neels arms instantly wound around my shoulders without a second of hesitation. He held me for a few minutes, rubbing my back soothingly.

"It was one of my step-fathers friend. Mark" I finally said. Neel pulled back a little, his eyebrows scrunched, but didn't let me go completely.

"What did he do?" Neel asked his voice low. I pulled back completely from Neel and went to sit on the hood of the car and Neel soon followed.

"Mark was always over at the house. Practically lived there." I swallowed the lump in my throat and instead focused on Neel beside me.

"Which also meant he had free reign. He did whatever he wanted to and no one said anything. In fact, they enjoyed it." I clenched my eyes closed, not wanting to re-live the nightmare. Neel cleared his throat grabbing hold of my hand.

"Did he...did he touch you?" I scoffed at his question. There was a point in time where I thought everything Mark did was normal. As I grew older, I realised it wasn't.

"Whenever he got the chance" I hated this. I hated feeling like it was my fault that they touched me where they shouldn't have. I hate that I felt more ashamed than them when it comes to discussing it. In fact, I feel disgusted in the society we live in, where its more shameful to be raped than be a rapist.

I jumped when Neels fist collided with hood of the car. Before Neel could slide off the car, I held onto his arm thinking it would hold him back.

"Neel, please don't" Neel easily slid off the hood of the car, despite my death grip, taking me along with him. Why were we always in this situation?

"That bastard has it coming" Neel hissed walking away with me still hanging off his arm.

"Neel, you're going to get yourself in trouble" I cried trying to pull him back.

"It'll be worth it" I released Neels arm not wanting to fight anymore and instead watched him saunter away.

"You don't even know what he looks like"

"I'll find out"

Just as Neel neared the entrance, the doors slid open and Julian and Julius walked out. Sensing the atmosphere they walked to Neel and began talking in hushed whispered in-between themselves. Neel pulled at his hair before turning around walking back towards me.

"What did they say that I didn't?" I asked when Neel approached me once again.

"They said I can't risk getting into trouble, so I'll have to be strategical." My mouth dropped as I stared at the twins. They were encouraging him. We all piled in the car but didn't move.

"Let me know when you see him" I groaned at Neels statement. All this wasn't necessary. We sat around for another 10 minutes before my heart fell to my stomach and my eyes caught the image of Mark. Noticing the change in my mood Neel sat up straighter.

"Is that him?" Neel asked pointing at Mark and I numbly nodded. We stared on and just before Mark crossed the corner Neel jumped out of the car dragging me along with him. We followed closely behind not making a sound.

"Give me your scarf" Neel whispered pointing to my neck. Not questioning his motive I handed him the scarf from around my neck. Next thing I knew Neel ran up behind Mark wrapping it around his face dragging him into the alley.

Oh my God, this is not happening. I bet it was Julian and Julias's idea to cover his face so he wouldn't know who beat him up.

I followed in after and saw Neel landing punch after punch on Mark who couldn't see anything. Before I could say anything Neel turned around to face me holding a finger against his lip.

"What the fuck! Who the fuck are you?" Mark screamed trying to fight Neel. Neel landed another punch on him, effectively shutting him up. I let out a sharp gasp, scrunching my face when Neel landed a kick between Marks legs.

"Your turn" Neel grabbed my hand bringing me closer. Mark was withering on ground, when I approached him.

"Neel, I can't" I whispered.

"You can and you will. The bastard deserves it" Neel gritted his teeth pushing me forward slightly. I walked to Mark who was trying to take the scarf off from his face, but Neel stopped him. I closed my eyes thinking about every evil deed he did to him and when rage started to course through my veins I kicked him . Hard. And again. And again. And again.

Was it wrong that his screams pleased me. Did that make me just as bad as them? Neel smirked and the sight of him before he grabbed my hand and we ran off back to the car. Julian and Julius were already seated when we got back munching on a packet of crisps.

Neel jumped into the drivers seat as I did in the passengers seat.

"I'm still expecting that steak" Neel said looking over at me for a second before turning his attention back towards the road.

Steak it was.

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