WHO: Charlotte Kemp, Lane [NPC], Renton [NPC] WHAT: Badness WHEN: Thursday night WHERE: Lane's house and then Renton's house WARNINGS: Violence, language, drugs
For nearly three weeks, Charlotte managed to keep secret the fact that she was spending most of her time with her ex-husband. It hadn't taken long for them to fall into bed together and Charlotte honestly felt like she had regained a part of her she'd been missing for years. It was good and easy, like a dance she hadn't done for years but fell right back into when the right music played.
On Thursday she let herself into Lane's house after stopping by her dealers for more pills. She used them less these days, but she wanted to have the option. When she saw Lane standing in the living room waiting for her, it was like another familiar dance, and she felt her throat seize up.
"Where have you been?" Lane asked, his eyebrows raised and his arms crossed across his chest.
"I was at Renton's," Charlotte explained, tensing up. Lane had always been so jealous, but he had been to anger management. Surely he wouldn't lose his temper, right? She found herself saying, "nothing happened," anyway, even though she had never actually told Lane they were back together, not to mention exclusive. She hated herself a little for saying it.
Lane tsked at her and he stepped forward. "You told me you'd be here at six," he said, glancing at the clock. "It's six thirty-seven. Would you like to tell me what exactly took you so long?"
"I-" Oh god, this was really happening. Charlotte's pulse picked up and her palms began to sweat as she wrung her hands. "I was just- He- Nothing happened, Lane! It just took longer than I thought, that's all!"
"And you didn't think to ring me?" he said, though it wasn't a question, it was an accusation.
"Lane! I- I was-" Charlotte licked her lips and watched him warily. "You went to classes. You tried so hard, don't do this."
"Me don't do this?!" he bellowed, and Charlotte's heart leapt into her throat. "You're the one who showed up on my doorstep and asked to get back together!" She hadn't, but Charlotte stayed silent. "And it took you less than a month to start fucking around again!"
"Lane, I didn't!"
"You want to know what I think you were late? I think you were paying your fucking dealer for his drugs by letting him fuck you. It's not like you have a job to allow you to pay for them! You fucking slut."
It was like a flashback to her life ten years ago, and Charlotte honestly felt like she was going to throw up. How could she have thought Lane had changed?! How was she going to get out of this? "Lane, calm down! I didn't sleep with anyone! Please. Please just calm down and don't hurt me-"
"Shut up!" he screamed at her.
"You worked so hard, Lane! You went to classes, don't throw that all away-"
"You are such a fucking idiot," he hissed at her. "I didn't go to shit. I just told you that. There's nothing wrong with me, babe, there's something wrong with you." Charlotte let out a whimper and he stepped forward. "You crawled back here and you're already fucked it up."
It was too much. Charlotte turned on her heel and tried to run for the door, but Lane caught her. All she could down was raise her arms over her face and try to curl into a ball while he beat her mercilessly, calling her every foul name under the sun.
When he finished, he stood and wiped at his sweaty brow. "Go clean yourself up," he hissed at her. "And you're not going to see that shitdick dealer ever again. You're mine, babe. You've always been mine."
Charlotte dragged herself to the bathroom, Lane watching her go. The moment the door was closed, she turned the shower on and used the sound to cover her slipping out his bathroom window. Lane didn't notice she had left until she was pulling up outside Renton's house.
"Oi," he said, pulling the door open to find Charlotte bleeding. "Oh bloody hell, what's this then?"
"My fucking ex-husband- Fuck it. Can I stay here?" she asked, one of her eyes already swelling shut. "I'll do anything you want. I just want to forget- I don't want to feel anything."
Renton smiled and pulled her gently inside. "That can be arranged."