Chapter 14: Beating Me, Cheating Me, Mistreating Me

<<Trigger Warning: Abuse, Rape>>

Maria

After I spent the day with the sisters and Laurens, I headed over my boyfriends dorm. He hadn't given me a key yet, so I knocked on his door and waited for it to open.

I waited for about five minutes, still no answer. I knocked again and waited.

He finally came to the door and let me in. "Why are you making so much damn noise?" he murmured and pulled me inside.

"I-I'm sorry, James."

He rolled his eyes. "You're late. You were supposed to be here at 11:30. It's 12:15. Where were you?"

"I was out with the Schuylers." I lied about Laurens being with us because he would get mad at me for being around other guys. Even though Laurens is taken and gay.

"No boys were with you?"

"Of course not. It was just us."

He gave me a disapproving look. "You're lying."

"N-no I'm not."

"Maria. I can always tell when you're lying. You stutter, and you don't look me in the eyes."

He was right. I looked down at the floor.

"Now, tell me. Was there another guy with you or not?"

I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. "Y-yes. But he's gay and has a boyfriend!"

"I don't care. I don't want another guy around you. Do you understand?"

I closed my eyes and waited for the worst to happen. "Yes, I-I understand."

I felt a fire against my cheek. It felt like he got stronger every time he slapped me or hit me. I cupped my face with my hand and opened my eyes. He was lighting a cigarette. A few tears slipped down my face as he pressed it to my skin. I wanted to cry out in pain, but James held his hand placed firmly over my mouth.

He took the cigarette away and threw it in an ashtray. This was the worst part. He punched me hard in the arms and stomach. I shrunk to the floor and he kicked me all over. He finally stepped away. Blood rushed from my nose and bruises had already started to appear on me.

James snatched me up by my arm and threw me on the bed. I cried more and more. He did this every time. He would beat me and then force me to have sex with him.

Before he got into drinking, James was actually pretty nice. He would take me out on romantic dates and buy things. But one night I came home from a party. He was drunk and started beating me and then he raped me. He said if I ever left him, he would kill me.

I've been too scared to him. So, it was like this almost everyday. On some days, he would just slap me hard and then leave me alone. But on other days, it was like this.

He always gets mad at me if another guy is around, straight or not. He always blames me for them looking at me. And if another guy ever looks at me, he'll call me a whore or a slut.

I try my best to hide the bruises with makeup and long clothes and it works sometimes.

*2 hours later*

I woke up in James' bed. I was hurting really bad. James was gone and I was all alone in the dorm. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and texted Eliza.

RedBoi: hey Liza

SinnamonRoll:3: I called you about an hour ago and you didn't answer. Everything all right?

RedBoi: Yeah...

SinnamonRoll:3: U sure?

RedBoi: Positive

RedBoi: I don't think I'm going to classes on Monday. Can you get the notes from Mr. Adams for me?

SinnamonRoll:3: Of course 💙

RedBoi: thx Liza ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I set my phone back on the nightstand and stared at the ceiling. How did I ever get in this mess?

5/25/18