I survive the first week of class and make it to the weekend. Matt sent me a few texts throughout the week, but I didn’t get to see him.

I find myself bored on a Saturday night and try to find out what to do.

“Hey, Daisy,” I say when she picks up her phone. “What are you doing?”

“I’m studying. I told you I have that stupid fucking test this week, so I can’t talk.”

“Can’t you just take a break or-”

“Allison, I said I can’t talk. Goodbye.” She hangs up and I sigh.

I put my phone away and go to Jamie and Jess’ room. I knock on the door and Jess opens it.

“Allie! Now I have more people in the audience.” She grabs my hand and yanks me inside the bedroom.

“What? What do you mean? What’s going on?” I see Jamie sitting on her bed.

“Allie, save yourself. She is holding me hostage,” she whispers.

“What?”

“Allie, sit down, I’m practicing a monologue for my class and Jamie is helping me.”

“Define ‘help’,” Jamie says.

I turn around to look at Jess again. “I was thinking we could do something, maybe watch a movie or go somewhere. I’m bored.”

“I agree.” Jamie jumps from the bed and grabs my arm. “Why don’t we go grab some dinner and come back to watch a movie?” She’s already putting on her shoes.

“What about my monologue?”

“Can’t you practice later or tomorrow?” I follow Jamie to the door. “It’ll be fun. C’mon.”

“I guess…”

We all go towards the elevators and go down to the ground floor to get out of the building. The dining room of our complex was just next door, so it would only take a minute.

We walk out the door and start crossing the small distance. Someone calls me from down the street and, when I turn, I see Matt coming our way.

“Hey! What are you doing here?” I frown as he gets closer. “I didn’t know you were coming.” I check my phone for any missed calls or texts, but I don’t see any.

“Can’t I just surprise my girlfriend?” He kisses me a bit too roughly.

“Yes, but right now I’m hanging out with the girls.” I point to Jamie and Jess standing a few yards ahead waiting for me.

“But I’m here now. Can’t we hang out? I haven’t seen you all week.”

“We already made plans, Matt. Maybe you can join us.”

“Allie, I came all this way to be with my girlfriend, not to hang out with her friends.” He frowns. “I guess I’ll go home, since I’m unwanted. I just wanted to see you, but I guess I’m not that important.” He starts walking away.

“Matt, wait.” He turns around. “Just give me a sec.” I walk towards the girls. “Hey, Matt came all the way here to hang out with me. Maybe we could reschedule our movie?” Jamie and Jess stay silent. "I’m sorry, but I don’t want to make him go back.”

“Fine, Allie.” Jamie huffs and starts walking away. “Go hang out with your amazing boyfriend.”

They walk away and enter the dining area. I just stand there staring. Why was Jamie’s tone so… weird?

“So?” Matt’s voice is closer to me now and pulls me out of my daze.

“Yeah, they’re cool with it. Let’s go upstairs.”

We get back inside the building and I’m still confused with Jamie’s reaction. Why did she just walk away like that? And Jess just followed her. I don’t get it. Did I do something wrong?

When we get inside my room, Matt takes a long look at my clothes and a small frown forms on his face. “Were you planning on going out wearing that?”

Now it’s my turn to frown and look at my dress. “Yeah… is something wrong?”

“It’s just-” he pauses and seems to look for the right words “Don’t you think it’s a little too short?”

I’m speechless.

I stare at him trying to figure out if I heard correctly. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“I think this dress might be a little too revealing.”

I look down at the dress that shows no cleavage and hits an inch or two above my knee.

“Are you serious?” I look back up with my brows furrowed.

“Why would I joke about that?” His frown deepens.

“I was going to grab some food and come back up. I don’t see anything wrong with doing that in this dress. Actually, I don’t see anything wrong at all.” Now I’m frowning too. “Is this what you came all the way here to say? That you don’t like my dress?”

“I came here to spend time with my girlfriend, but apparently she lost her mind.”

He has me speechless once again. What the fuck is going on right now?

“You are in a relationship. You’re not supposed to go around dressed like… that.” His tone is harsh and it hits me like a metal bar. He starts walking closer to me and I step back until I hit the wall. “You are mine, Allison. You can’t go around showing what is mine to the world! That isn’t how this works!” His face inches away from mine. “Do you understand?” I can’t manage to make a sound. “DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?” He screams in my face and hits the wall next to my head.

I nod. I’m scared. I’ve never seen him like this.

“Good.” He steps back, walks to the door and locks it. “I don’t want you wearing that dress or anything like that ever again, ok?” I can only nod, my voice is lost.

He comes back to me and stops when his face is in the same position it was just seconds ago. I close my eyes, I don’t know what he’s going to do.

That’s when I feel his lips aggressively crashing into mine. I don’t know what to do. How to react. What to think. So I just kiss him back.

The next thing I know we’re on my bed and he’s on top of me. He reaches down to the hem of my dress to pull it off. When he has it off me and in his hands, he looks at me, holds the neckline with both of his hands and then tears it. The sound of the fabric ripping apart reaches every single part of me and numbs my whole body.

My mind gets fuzzy and I can’t find myself inside my own body. It feels like my life is a movie with jump cuts through the scenes. Only a few moments of the last minutes get captured in my memory. The next thing I register after my dress being ripped apart is his naked body falling off of mine and him sleeping next to me.

That’s when the tears come. Without a sign they just start flowing full force out of my eyes.

What just happened?

When I’m sure he’s completely asleep, I get off the bed, grab some clothes and my phone, and go to the bathroom. After I close the door, I just stand there. My eyes can’t focus on anything. The tears keep falling down and I don’t think they’ll stop anytime soon. I feel confused. Lost.

What do I do?

Should I do something?

Could I do something?

I stare at my phone when the screen lights up. Jamie texted me a few times after I came back to my room, two from after I left and three right now.

Jamie

i’m sorry for just walking away earlier

i was confused with matt showing up out of nowhere

hey

is everything ok?

i texted you 2 hours ago and you usually reply quickly

Allie

im fine