𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫. [𝐥𝐫𝐡]

chapter twelve: "the rain."

[carmen leigh]

the drive back home was extremely tense, to say the least.

ashton wanted to know what happened whilst i was with luke, but i didn't want to tell him. i didn't want him to be disappointed.

sure, we didn't do anything bad. but i didn't want ashton to think anything else was going on between us, because there definitely isn't.

he's always been protective over me. we grew up together, we're practically siblings at this point. he doesn't explicitly say it, but i know it's killing him inside that he couldn't help me when it came down to him.

he's just trying his best to make up for that, and i have to respect him for it.

so i let him worry, and i let him nag. i don't complain when he insists i take pepper spray with me. i don't get mad at him for being worried, for checking for injuries. i let him do all of this, because he didn't get the chance to last time.

in some weird, twisted, way... he's trying to make up for all of the times he couldn't put bandaids on my cuts and scratches.

when we eventually arrive home, nova is waiting in the lounge for us. she's smiling so hard it makes my face hurt, never mind hers.

"sooo..." she bounces slightly in her spot on the couch, "give me the details, cam."

ashton flops down beside her. "good luck with that one. i haven't been able to get anything out of her. nothing at all."

"that's because you weren't born with the gift of incredible interrogation skills. i'll make her tell us everything, babe. everything."

i gulp, terrified.

from the glint in nova's eyes, i'm guessing this isn't going to end well. for me, at least.

-

"ALRIGHT, I'LL TELL YOU. I'LL TELL YOU WHATEVER YOU WANT TO KNOW, JUST STOP. PLEASE STOP." i shriek with tears running down my face, "PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, STOP IT."

with a triumphant smirk on her face, and an impressed ashton standing next to her, nova presses the 'pause' button.

"i told you i could do it."

"but it's just a song, nova. i don't get how..."

"yummy by justin beiber is NOT just a song, it's a method of severe torture. as proven here."

the song may no longer be playing, but the emotional scars left engraved on my psyche will never truly heal. the trauma will never be forgotten, and i will remain permanently tormented by both the lyrics and the melody.

if you think i'm being dramatic, you've obviously never been tied down to a chair and forced to listen to it on repeat.

nova duct taped me to one of our dining chairs and connected her phone to our bluetooth speakers, from which she played the song at full volume.

i got through the song three times before i broke.

"put the phone down, and delete the song from your library, nova. no one else has to get hurt." i plead.

she appears to consider it for a second, before shaking her head. "nope. i'll put it down once you've told us the full story. if you lie, or leave anything out... i'll start playing it again."

just the threat of it sends a shiver down my spine.

at nova's approval, ashton cuts the tape off from around my wrists and ankles.