Warnings: dark elements, noncon, abuse, gaslighting, manipulation, cheating, other dark elements. Proceed with caution.
Note: Please let me know what you think as it helps me a lot with ideas and I love interacting with you all.
Part of The Club AU
The entire left side of your face is swollen. Your eye is black and your cheek is purple. You can’t part your eye lid more than a small slit. You’re effectively half-blind.
Your head throbs as you examine the damage. You put ice in a baggy and wrap it in a dish cloth. You hold it to your head as you drink your coffee. This isn’t just a hangover.
Through your spinning drunkenness, Frank’s face popped up over and over. Your alcohol-laced dreams were haunted by him and the crack of bone on bone. You drain the mug and leave it in the sink.
No makeup today. Shit. Nothing wrong with a bare-face but you had a meeting at noon. A client you penciled in last-minute. You can’t really cancel on them now, but showing up like this...
You check your phone as you get ready. Nothing from Maria. You expect as much. You sigh and dress.
You meet Bethany downtown. When you walk in, you notice how she stares then pretends not to. She acts as if she doesn’t see you right until you come up to her table.
“Bethany?” You greet. “Pleased to finally meet you in person.”
“Oh god? It’s you!” She shakes your hand. “I’m so sorry—oh, what happened?”
“This,” you smile and wince. “Clumsy. Took a tumble on some stairs.”
“Stairs? Oh my?”
“Arms were full,” you laugh. “Couldn’t catch myself.”
“I-- it looks so painful,” she says. “You didn’t have to come all this way.”
“I’m good. Nothing a little ibuprofen won’t fix,” you wave her off. Actually, it hurts like hell. “You are planning a baby shower.” You take out your tablet and prop it up in the case. “Do we know the gender?”
She stares a minute then blinks. You see her shake the sense into herself. You try not show your discomfort. You don’t like being seen like this.
“Do you have a theme in mind?” You redirect.
She nods and looks down at her phone. “Pinterest. I have some boards...”
You settle in. The appointment goes as well as any other once she’s past the shock of your appearance. You have notes and a starting point. You’ll get back to Bethany with some swatches and options for decor. It’s all very cut and dry.
She leaves first. You linger and work on your mostly untouched shaken espresso. The caffeine isn’t helping but you drink anyway.
Do you file a report? Is it worth the trouble? You remember in college when that guy shoved his hand right down your jeans. You went to the police and they shrugged. Then there was the time your professor pressed his bulge into your back as you wrote an exam. Campus security made it into a joke.
Fucking Frank. You will never say I told you so to Maria, it’s not her fault he’s a prick, but dammit. This is messed up. He as good as broke your face. You probably have a concussion. You should at least see a professional.
You turn your empty cup and sit up. Before you can stand, the chair across from you scrapes. You frown and flinch again. You cup your cheek as Frank turns the chair and straddles it. You stare at him.
“What the hell are you here for?” You growl.
He scoffs. “Where is she?”
You narrow your one open eye. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen her since last night. Kindly go the fuck away.”
He snorts as he looks at you. “I’ll be happy to even it out, now tell me where the fuck Maria is.”
You furrow your nose. You stand up. He does too. You look around. Several other patrons look in your direction. You tilt your head at him.
“Lots of witnesses today.” You say.
He rolls his eyes. He points in your face and gets close. “I know you fucking did this.”
You stare back at him. You shrug. “Do something or get out of my way.”
He postures. Squarring his shoulders, balling his fist. Big tough man. You’re scared but you won’t show it.
“Alright. Tell Maria I love her.”
You shake your head and sidestep him. You march out, gripping your purse tight, and barge out into the street. You don’t look through the window as you pass his looming shadow. What a pyscho. You’re happy to hear Maria tucked tail at last.
🍺
You think of calling Maria. You don’t. She’ll call when she needs to. It must be a lot with the kids. And who knows how long until Frank catches up to her.
The TV garbles in the background. You’re not paying attention as you put together an invoice. You’re very particular about filing it all.
As you save it and send it to the client, there’s a buzz. That’s unusual. Nine at night. You’re not expecting anyone. You let it go again before you get up. It could be Maria.
You tap the button, “hello?”
Silence. You let go of the button. It buzzes again. You frown. You’re building is secure. You chose the condo because of that. You could afford safety; or the illusion of.
You push again, “do you have the wrong unit?”
The speaker clicks. You exhale and walk away. Whatever.
You go back to the table and close out of all the programs. Your head is already throbbing from the bruises and the blue light isn’t helping. You shut the laptop and drop onto the sofa.
You flick through the menu. You’re not interested in anything. You’ve seen that one. Shitty ending. And you never got past the third episode on this one.
A knock at the door jars you. You don’t move. It comes again. You turn the remote in your hand. It’s not Maria, you have that feeling about it.
Frank...
You get up and cross the apartment. You stop at the door and peer out the peephole. Not him either.
“Get outta here, Billy,” you call through. “Tell your buddy to piss off.”
“Just checking in,” he chimes back.
“Go!” You holler. “I already called the police.”
“Cool,” he grins straight at the peep hole. “I’ll stick around and say hi.” You huff and he snickers. He wiggles the handle and you double check the lock. “I already know she’s not here. Just making sure you are.”
“What the hell does that mean?” You snarl.
He just laughs again as he spins on his heel. You watch him strut away. No good snake. No wonder him and Frank are inseparable.
I have probably posted this clip before but it's worth doing again because it makes me think so much of high school (not getting spanked yet) and early community college (starting to get some of the spankings/ wallopings I deserved and needed).
Black jeans, unlikely to be as clean as they should be, black rock t-shirt (hopefully not obscene), black-dyed hair. Bad, angry, hostile, belligerent attitude. No doubt didn't do something I was supposed to.
Looks harsh but you add in the fact that I alternated between being ungrateful to the people trying to look out for me and desperately professing how much I needed them...
No, I wasn't a rock star, just really badly behaved and everyone knew it...
And the woman could be my stepmother, who never spanked me but probably should have at least once a week...
Finally watched Agatha All Along for the first (and second, and third) time very recently and became full on obsessed with it. ✨
Agatha is such a fun character and Kathryn Hahn is absolutely killing it in this role. So obviously that triggered an overwhelming urge to vid her that I simply couldn't resist. 😏
Love how this turned out and might even have some more vids in me if life doesn't get in the way. 👀
Song: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Bad Reputation
