Vivian tries calling her mom back several times,but the calls never went through, worried about what she had just been told, she paces back and forth thinking of what to do.Remembering Kathy's warnings,Vivian decides to leave the apartment, she waste no time booking a hotel room online, at least until she applies for a dorm,she thought to herself as she packed a few clothes into her handbag,few enough to go by unnoticed. She opened the front door about to leave,but runs into Stephanie at the entrance.
STEPHANIE: Well you look tense, something wrong?
VIVIAN: No.. nothing (she replied as calmly as she could) where have you been girl it's 5pm!
STEPHANIE: Lectures finished a bit late
VIVIAN: Steph, you and I both attend the same University, if you want to tell a lie at least come up with something a bit more believable (she said with a brow raised)
STEPHANIE: Okay fine (she groaned) I went out with this hot guy I met on my back home, wanna hear the 'gist' as you would say(she asked excitedly)
VIVIAN: Maybe later, I'm heading out now, I'll be back soon
STEPHANIE: But where are you going?
VIVIAN: um, to my aunt's place downtown
STEPHANIE: Aunt?, But wait, I thought you didn't have any relatives in D.C
VIVIAN: Yeah I thought so too, life is so full of surprises am I right? (She replied squeezing past Stephanie by the door
STEPHANIE: But wait, hey,when will you be back??..Vivi!..Vivian!?
Vivian doesn't look back as she continued moving forward, keeping her eyes open for a cab as she went through the busy street, her mind overcome with so many thoughts all at once, about to wave down a cab, someone grabs her hand
VIVIAN: Let me go!(she roared fiercely, Still feeling tense, she turned around to see Joshua, who lets go of her hand a bit startled himself)
JOSHUA: Geez, calm down
VIVIAN: oh, Joshua it's you (she pants)
JOSHUA: Who did you think it was?
VIVIAN: (sighs) no one
JOSHUA: What's wrong?, You feeling okay?(he asked concerned)
VIVIAN: I'm fine..I'm just, a bit stressed
JOSHUA: Do you wanna talk about it?
VIVIAN: No...no thanks(she replied firmly as she turned around to leave,but Joshua held her hand, holding her back)
JOSHUA: (chuckles) you know you can trust me right?(he replied still holding on to her hand)
Vivian notices the gift bag Joshua held in his other hand
VIVIAN: What's that?(she asked)
JOSHUA: This..uh, is something I actually got for you, actually (he replied nervously)
VIVIAN: Joshua,if this is what I think it is..then I'm sorry,but I don't feel the same way(she replied
Disappointment crosses through Joshua's face,but he manages to hide it with a smile
JOSHUA: (chuckles) Oh no, don't tell me I just ruined our friendship
VIVIAN: Ofcourse not Joshua, you're my best friend,that's never gonna change (she said with a soft smile)
JOSHUA: (smiles back) Well then accept this gift...from a friend
Joshua replied, holding out the gift back again, Vivian thinks on it for a moment before accepting it
VIVIAN: Thank you
JOSHUA: Don't thank me Vivi, you're worth more than whatever gift anyone could ever give you
On saying those words,Vivian looked up at Joshua in surprise, and before she knew it she found herself getting lost in his eyes, but thinking back on her mother's warnings,she snaps out of it and quickly turns away.
VIVIAN: I..I have to go now..bye Joshua(she said as she waved down a taxi)
JOSHUA: Vivi( he called out) if you ever need me,I'm just a call away
Vivian nods before going into the cab,and as it drove,she reaches out to the gift given to her by Joshua and opens it to find a beautiful lusrous pearl necklace with a flower pendant, captivating on the eyes as it glittered in the light, bringing a smile to Vivian's eyes as she remembered Joshua's words.
After a couple minutes drive,she arrived at a not so fancy hotel, she payed for the cab, going into the hotel,she checks herself in,collects the keys and head into her room
VIVIAN: This should do (she sighed as she slammed into the bed) I feel much safer here...hmm..I feel like I'm forgetting something (gasps) Steven!
Realizing she had forgotten about their date, Vivian picks up the phone to call Steven
STEVEN: (picks up) Hello?
VIVIAN: Hey Steven, it's me Vivian
STEVEN: Vivi?, Are you calling to apologize cause you stood me up
VIVIAN: I didn't stand up up,I'm sorryz I forgot to tell you , I..moved out of my old apartment for a while
STEVEN: Oh, so you and that girl, I think her name was Stephanie, aren't you roommates anymore?
VIVIAN: We are, but right now I'm lodged in a hotel downtown, 'Loomy Hotel' or something like that
STEVEN: Lummy?, That's not far from my uncle's, there's a diner right downstairs right?
VIVIAN: Um, yeah I think there is
STEVEN: Okay, crazy suggestion, but how about I come over and we have dinner over there?
VIVIAN: Um, that doesn't sound like such a bad idea
STEVEN: Okay it's settled then (he chuckled) see you soon
VIVIAN: Yeah see you (hangs up)
Vivian stares for a while at the necklace Joshua gave her,before placing it in her purse, she tries calling her mom again and even her cousin,but it never went through... Calming herself down she prepares for Steven's arrival but suddenly she heard a knock on the door.
VIVIAN: Who is it?
"Room service" , the voice of a lady replied from the other side of the door
VIVIAN: Come in
A young lady, almost Vivian's age comes in with cleaning supplies dressed in cleaning uniform
LADY: Hiii
VIVIAN: um, Hi
LADY: I'm terribly sorry, I know you net the room a bit untidy, I forgot to clean and I didn't think anyone would be lodging in today... please don't report me to the manager (she pleaded)
VIVIAN: (chuckles) No,no, I would never do that, and plus I'm not planning on staying long so I don't mind
LADY: Ah, Ofcourse, I mean, with the number of crimes that go on around here,it would be best but to(she smiled taking out some cleaning supplies)
VIVIAN: what, what do you mean?
LADY: Uhh, I mean, it's a pretty roughy neighbourhood, I thought you knew that (she replied as she began cleaning)
VIVIAN: But..But the app said the neighborhood was secure 24/7
LADY: (laughs) oh come on, even a 2 year old knows not to believe everything you see online,I mean we're you born yesterday or what(she chuckled)...(Gasps) ... please don't report me to the manager
VIVIAN: Oh good Lord(she said holding her head)
LADY: But hey, if you don't mingle around or stay out too late, you'll be fine (she said with a smile)
VIVIAN: (lightly chuckles) well thanks for the advice
LADY: (smiles) I'm Júlia by the way
VIVIAN: Nice to meet you Julia,I'm Vivian
JÚLIA: Same here,but It's Júlia,not Julia,it's a Spanish name
VIVIAN: oh, sorry,my bad
JÚLIA: It's okay, so are you gonna be staying here alone or?
VIVIAN: Um..yeah,I'm just waiting for ,uh, my boyfriend I guess
JÚLIA:uuuu, I can smell the romance already (she teased)
VIVIAN: Nah,it's not that (she chuckled)
JÚLIA: Then why do I see a sparkle in your eyes there?(she asked nudging Vivian)
VIVIAN: You better start cleaning or I WILL call the manager (she joked)
JÚLIA:Oh, you're such a bore(she chuckled as she continued cleaning
A short while later, Steven arrives and Vivi goes downstairs for their date. they both sit at the table at the diner with only a few people with not so friendly facesm
STEVEN: Something wrong?
VIVIAN: Nothing, it's just, I don't like the kind of faces I'm seeing here
STEVEN: Well it's a local hotel, what else did you expect?
VIVIAN: (exhales deeply) let's just get this dinner over with so I can go back inside (She muttered to herself)
STEVEN: I'm sorry what was that?
VIVIAN: Uh, I said,let's get this dinner started already, where's our food?
STEVEN: Oh I'm, let me go see what's taking them so long (he replied going over to the kitchen and coming back a few minutes later)
VIVIAN: Well?
STEVEN: It's gonna come in now
VIVIAN:(sighs) finally
STEVEN: You look really pretty by the way
VIVIAN: Thank you(she smiled), so how's exams been?
STEVEN: Good, some are a bit difficult, surprisingly
VIVIAN: Yeah I know right?
As they both chat a Waiter arrives and serves both their dinners
STEVEN: Yeah but, is it as good as it looks?
VIVIAN: Let's find out shall we (she said before digging in)
STEVEN: (begins eating too) So, how did you even find this place?
VIVIAN: Online. Other Hotels close to Uni were too expensive
STEVEN: But Ofcourse they are
VIVIAN: The food is realyas good as it look, I'm impressed (she said swallowing the bits of food in her mouth)
STEVEN: Yeah, not bad. But still tho, consider this a mere dinner, first dates should not be taken in a place like this
VIVIAN: ha, my bad (she chuckled)
STEVEN: If I may ask, why did you even come here?, I mean, just this morning you told me you live not far from where I saw you, so...what happened?
VIVIAN: Well, it's actually a long story, but to cut it short , I..am not comfortable living with Steph anymore, I mean, she's a good person but..the Friends she longers with are...kinda intense (she replied drinking some water)
STEVEN: Oh, that's not good
VIVIAN: Yeah and I...I just..(chuckles) I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me (she said feeling uneasy) Well I just didn't feel safe, you know(she replied drinking more water before bursting into laughter)
STEVEN: Are you feeling okay?(he asked unfazed by Vivian's attitude)
VIVIAN: I'm good,I'm good, it's crazy,it's ike the world is spinning or something haha!(she replied as she continued eating)
STEVEN: You know Vivi, it's a good thing you came here cause.. you just made my job a lot easier(he sneered with a devilish smirk)
VIVIAN: Hey!, Isn't there any music here!, Someone play us some music!, Let's have some fun woohoo!!(she cheered to the crowd)
STEVEN: I'm sorry guys,My girlfriend and I are just having a good time carry on(he said to the crowd) Hey ,you know, I have some awesome music on my phone, how about we go to your rooms and dance,at least then we could get away from these nasty faces(he said leaning close to Vivian).
Without giving it a second thought Vivi takes Steven to her Hotel room where he had unconsensual sex with her, then after leaving her asleep on the bed, He grabbed his jacket and left the Hotel room with a strut in his step and a smirk on his lips.
*. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *.
Walking down to an apartment a couple blocks away, Steven goes inside one of the rooms where Stephanie sat patiently awaiting his arrival, along with Emily who sat across Steph while on her phone,and Kathy who sat by the corner with gloomy expression on her face.
EMILY: Well you looked like you had a good time(she said with a smile)
STEPHANIE: Omg, so Vivi actually agreed to sleep with you??
STEVEN: I mean...with a little kick, who wouldn't?
STEPHANIE: A..a little kick?, What do you mean?, oh my god did you drug her!?
EMILY : Oh come on Steph,don't play dumb!, How else would she agree to have sex with him??
STEVEN: Trust me Steph, she enjoyed every bit of it, so chill (he winked)
EMILY: See, she wanted it just as much as he did, Like Steven said, it was just a little kick
STEPHANIE: No..no, this seems wrong(she replied getting up with her purse)
KATHY: It's a bit too late to start feeling bad now don't you think?
EMILY: Oh shut up Kathy!, Don't forget you were the one who drugged her food so you are in on this just as much as we are(she scowled)
STEVEN: Yeah, I'm not in for all this drama, Where's Mike?
EMILY: I think he went to get some groceries or something I don't know (she shrugged)
STEVEN: Well I'm off,see ya(he said before walking away)
EMILY: (turns back to Kathy) But really I should thank you, Kathy, If you hadn't gone blabbing who knows what to Vivi, This whole plan would have been much more difficult (she chuckled) And as the universe would have it, the dumbo lodged herself into the same Hotel you worked at, Making our job sooo much easier (she said with a devious grin)
STEPHANIE: What if she reports this to the police or something??, We could get in so much trouble! (Steph said frantically)
EMILY: That is NOT gonna happen, trust me Steph, what I need now is for you to go back home and have a good night's rest, act like this whole day never happened okay?
STEPHANIE: (Breathes deeply) okay!(she replied before grabbing her purse and leaving)
EMILY: Same goes for you(she tells Kathy with a glare)
Kathy gets up to leave but Emily stops her at the door
EMILY: A word of this to anyone , anyone at all and I leak out your little video to your parents (she growled)
With teary eyed Kathy leaves the room, as she leaves Emily picks up her phone to make a phone call
EMILY: Are you done?(she asked to the guy on the other end of the phone)
GUY: Oh come on,I just got here (he replied trying to catch his breath)
EMILY: Hurry the hell up and get out of there before someone sees you!(she yells hanging up the phone, and after putting on some lipgloss she leaves the apartment as well
*. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *.
It's dawn, Vivian eyes flicker awake weakly still dazed,she manages to look around the room and then at herself, realizing she was half naked and covered in bruises,as her vision becomes clearer she realizes the blood sheets are bloody..a horrendous sight that immediately took her to the blurry and painful memories of last night.
"Aargh!', she groaned in pain,still bleeding intensly,she tried muttering up some strength to call for help but fails as she fell to the floor,still too weak to stand up. She desperately tried to reach her phone but unfortunately collapses inches away from it, going unconscious helplessly on the ground.
NEXT:Episode 4
Where is Vivian?