When Annabelle woke up, alone in a bunk, her head was killing her. She had a pain in her abdomen and she felt an intense nausea. She groaned, pressing her palms into her eyes. The bus was moving, and she could hear the TV on in the lounge as her surroundings were realised. She blinked, not wanting to get out of the bunk, but needing to get water. She slowly picked herself up; vertigo hit her like a tidal wave. She dropped to the ground putting her head between her knees and moaning quietly. She could not do it, and so she crawled back into the bed and cowered under the cover until the throbbing in her brain subsided to a dull ache and she fell asleep.

She woke up for a second time when the bus had stopped. This time she felt a little better, so she willed herself to get up and get water. She was parched, and by the dryness in her throat and the throbbing in her head she knew she was dehydrated. She shuffled into the lounge. Jack was the only one in there. He looked at her with wide eyes. She ignored him as she sipped a cup of water and refilled it, sipped it slowly again and filled it again. While waiting for a sudden rush of nausea to pass she sat next to him on the couch, pulling Alex’s t-shirt over her knees. He coughed. She looked at him. Last night, Jack had watched Alex punch Emery until he explained what had happened to the girl. The look Jack was giving Annabelle was confusing.
“What?” She asked.
“You look like crap.” He stumbled; he hesitated, and then put an arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him.
“Always the charmer, Jack Barakat.” Annabelle replied hoarsely. He sniggered half-heartedly. She had some more water, forcing her body to rehydrate.
“I’m really hung-over.” She said, somewhat astonished. “Hey, where is my boyf?”
“He, ah, went on a walk. With Rian.” Jack said, “I’m a lazy fuck so I stayed back to play video games.”
Annabelle snickered, “That’d be right.”

“Are we at the venue?” Annabelle asked, uncurling from under the t-shirt. Jack nodded, smiling. “Does it have showers?”
Jack nodded again and Annabelle sighed in relief. She got up off the couch and stretched, the t-shirt grazing her upper thighs. Jack noticed bruises on her legs and swallowed. She didn’t know. She couldn’t remember. He couldn’t tell her, how could he?
“I’m gonna go shower.” Annabelle said, scratching the back of her birds-nest head. Jack tore his eyes away from the glimpse of the discolorations on her legs. He nodded, regaining composure.
“Yeah, you stink.” He laughed gently. She thanked him sarcastically and gathered her stuff from the bunk, pulling on a pair of Alex’s boxers underneath his t-shirt. She stuffed her sock clad feet into flip-flops and shuffled her way across the parking lot, her head down as she traversed the venue. She nearly walked into Matt in one of the halls.
“Woah, there.” He said, taking her shoulders gently before she crashed. She laughed.
“Sorry, Matt.” She felt sick, “Where are the bathrooms, do you know?”
He gave her directions and looked worriedly after her. She didn’t know yet, did she? He bit his lip, suddenly realising what would happen if the school found out about the night before. Annabelle’s safety was the upmost concern, but, where would it leave him? He stared after her as she shuffled down the hallway, shook his head and rushed toward the next thing he had to do.

Annabelle stepped under the spray, suddenly feeling much better. There was still that feeling in the pit of her stomach, but she ignored it. She washed the smell of party out of her hair and exfoliated her skin until it shone clean and red. When she stepped out of the shower, she was wide-awake. She caught her reflection in the mirror. She blinked and stepped closer, studying the flowers of blue, purple, black, and green that had blossomed on her body. They hurt to touch. The finger marks on her wrists, how could she have not noticed them before? She pressed one and wondered. The feeling in her stomach intensified. Tears started to roll from her eyes and she began to sob. She didn’t know why she was crying, but she wrapped the towel around her like a blanket and slid down the wall of the cubicle. She yelled at herself in head, to stop crying, they were just bruises. However, the feeling in her stomach made her realise it was a lot more. She swallowed, breathing deeply in an effort to calm down. She stood up and calmly got dressed, glad of the long-sleeved top she had brought to wear. She bundled her hands in the sleeves and grabbed her stuff to put back in the bus.

When she returned Alex and Rian were back, sitting on the couch with Jack. Conversation diminished as she entered. But Alex stood up to greet her. She smiled and accepted his hug. Alex followed her as she put her stuff away.
“Did you have a nice walk?” She asked, even though she felt claustrophobic. He nodded slowly, watching her. “What’s up?”
“Nothing.” He replied. Annabelle gave him a look.
“Seriously.”
Alex swallowed and watched her; she fiddled with the sleeves of her top. He knew about the bruises that blemished her soft skin, he had checked on her many times throughout the night and day.
“Ugh.” Annabelle shouldered past him, he caught her elbow, trying to be gentle. “What?” She turned toward him again. Alex pursed his lips. He thought he was going to cry. He closed his eyes for a moment, and felt her gaze burn into him.
“What time is it?” She asked suddenly, realising how disorientated she was.
“Uhh,” Alex checked his phone, “four o-clock.”
Annabelle widened her eyes. It was late. She had slept for a long time.
“Wow, I slept for ages.” She forced a smile, willing to forgive his strange behaviour. But he didn’t play along, he nodded, biting his lip and pushing back his hair.
“Seriously, Alex, what is up with you?” Annabelle asked, genuinely concerned, his eyes were watery. “Did I…D-did I do something last night?” She knew how she could get after a few drinks. Alex couldn’t handle this. He broke a sob, tried to disguise it as a cough. He opened his arms for her and she compliantly stepped into them. He held her head against his chest, forcing the tears back down.
“Can you tell me?” She mumbled into his chest. Alex knew that he would have to do it.
“Meet me outside.” He whispered, his throat raw. When Annabelle left Alex punched the door to the bathroom, denting it. He pulled away, swearing loudly, but not feeling the pain that was colouring his knuckles red. Jack walked in. He looked down at Alex’s hand and patted his friend on the back.
“She doesn’t know.” Alex’s voice cracked. Jack swallowed and nodded. “What the fuck am I supposed to say?”
“I…I dunno” His friend shook his head, at a loss. He clapped Alex on the back as he passed. Alex didn’t look at the rest of the band as he stepped out of the bus.

Annabelle was leaning against a tin shed, studying the bruises on her wrists, trying to remember. Things were slowly coming back to her. Dancing, lights, smoke, bass. Grass spiders and cracking bones. Alex appeared in front of her, scratching the back of his head, and watching her shoes.
“I-” She began, he looked up. “I…”
She couldn’t say it but she was beginning to realise; the weight on top of her, the pain in her abdomen. She choked. He closed his eyes. She felt her blood begin to bubble, rising up inside her like a scream. Her anger filling her like molten lead.
“Tell me.” She said quietly, her teeth clenched. Alex stared at her, her face was flushed. He gritted his teeth and tried to find the words. Eventually he used the words that Emery had coughed out the night before.
“Gavin…took advantage of you.”
Annabelle bit her lip and began to nod. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Alex reached out to her but she shrugged him off. Her anger caught her in a chokehold, strangling her. She twisted around, and let her fist fly at the tin. Sobs welled up inside of her as she pummeled the metal, the noise of it filled her ears. Her knuckles split and Alex grabbed her arms, turning her back around. She cried, trying to make him let her go. She gave up and buckled. Alex held her as she cried, rocking her gently, hating Gavin for what he had done to her.

After what seemed like an eternity, she struggled free, wiping her eyes on her sleeves. She sniffed, and braved a smile.
“It’s okay.” She said as Alex stared at her, so worried and concerned. “I want-” She started, but couldn’t think of anything. So many things were rushing around her, spilling and bursting like waves.
“Anything.” Alex said, taking her hand. She shrugged.
“I don’t know.” She wanted to be away from people. She wanted to take Alex to the forest and they could live in trees. They could be nomads, hermits. Alex’s voice would be hers, and she could be Alex’s. They could become one, the same person. She stroked his thumbnail with her own tiny thumb, but she didn’t know how to say it to Alex. Instead she swallowed and glanced around the carpark. She needed to get out and do something. She petted the tin shed apologetically. Alex chuckled slightly and Annabelle dipped her head.
“Can we go on a walk?” She asked, staring up at him with big eyes. He nodded.
“Of course we can.”