expectations.

Alan holds a sobbing Pres close to his chest. She cries harder, so angry at herself that once again, she’s making someone pick up all of her pieces. Can’t you pull yourself together? Her subconscious snarks and she whimpers, tugging harshly on her hair.

“Stop,” Alan whispers. She pulls harder, so so so angry with herself.

“Presley, stop.” He says it more forcefully this time, moving to hold her hand. She sobs harder and she it feels like her throat is closing.

She tugs on her hair, almost pulling out a chunk. So stupid. So desperate. Such a disappointment.

Her hand balls up into a fist and she hits herself on the leg, hard.

The sound of flesh on flesh makes Alan force her to the floor and straddle her, all the while pleading for her to stop.

She screams, not being able to force air down her throat.

“What the fuck?” Sage screams as she flings open the van door, punching Alan repeatedly to get him off Pres.

“Vic! Austin! Help, please!” She kicks Alan right between his crotch and he lets go of Presley’s hands in pain.

“What’s wrong-” Austin pauses, seeing Presley in the middle of a panic attack, Sage yelling, and Alan kneeled over.

“He tried to rape her!” Sage screams and Austin’s reaction is immediate. He punches Alan’s jaw and knocks him out cold.

Presley screams, gulping air as she tries to explain.

“He tried,” she pauses, still pulling her hair, “I know, P.” Sage interrupts, rubbing her back. “We’ll make that bastard pay, I promise.”

“NO!” The sound of her voice echoes throughout the van and they all look to her, concerned.

“He was trying to calm me down!”

“Pres, don’t try to lie for him.”

Presley shoots everyone a wide eyed, panicked look. “I’m not! He found out about my self harm and he was trying to-”

“Wait,” Sage demands, “he found out about your what?”

Notes

Super short, super shitty, and super stressful. Sorry, guys.