You'd Better Hide the Bullets

An hour into driving and we had barely even said a word to each other and I honestly don't know why. It's not like things should be awkward, we are meant to be happy right? I looked down at my phone and sighed. In about 2 hours time my parents will be informed that I haven't returned to the institute and they'll begin trying to get a hold of me. I looked at Vic and he had a small smile on his face as he drove. It made my stomach do flips but a part of me was nervous about the events of the day already.

I could feel the air getting thin and my forehead began to sweat. I tried to take deep breaths but my lungs just refused to co-operate. "S-stop the car." I told Vic, he gave me a concerned look at pulled over to the side of the road. I quickly opened the door and ran over to the grass. I struggled to breathe, it felt like the whole world was collapsing in on me, making me feel weak. My vision began to blur and my heart raced.

Vic approached me and looked at me with concern on his face. "Scarlett." He said softly. I looked at him trying to breath but I couldn't. He put his hands on my shoulders and stared at me. "Take deep breaths, count out loud." He informed me. "1...2...3..." He started. I followed his instructions and began to think carefully about every breath that was coming out of my mouth.

"4...5...6...7...8...9...10." I continued the counting. My breathing went back to normal and I closed my eyes, relieved that my panic attack was over.

"Are you okay now?" Vic asked. I nodded and looked up at him, he smiled and pulled me into his arms.

"How did you know what to do?" I asked, my eyebrows knitted together.

"I have a cousin who has really bad panic attacks and well I guess I just adapted what to do." He shrugged. I nuzzled into his neck and inhaled his scent. It took my mind off the last few minutes, making me forget everything.

"Thank you." I mumbled, my lips connecting wit the skin on his neck. I felt him shudder a little when I done so, indicating that he liked it.

He pulled back a little to look at me, a sad look in his eyes. "Why did you have a panic attack?" He asked with sadness lacing his voice.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I began panicking because..." I started but forming the words in my mouth suddenly felt impossible.

"Because..." He repeated to push me along.

"I done something horrible Vic." I said with fear in my voice. The look of panic spreading across his face almost made me throw up.

"What?" He seemed like he was scared to even ask.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. "My therapist informed me that when I turn 18 I can legally leave the institute as long as he deems me mentally stable enough to do so." I began to explain. Vic nodded along but I could tell he was waiting for me to drop the bombshell. "He then went on to blackmail me Vic." I could feel the tears beginning to form in my eyes.

"What did he ask you to do?" Vic asked sternly. I couldn't look him in the eye and tell him. He placed his hands on my shoulders and tried to look into my eyes. "Scarlett?" He asked again.

"He tried to kiss me." I said softly, a tear rolling down my cheek. Vic closed his eyes and ran his hands over his face.

"Is that all?" Vic asked through his hands.

"No." I simple stated. Vic lowered his hands and stared at me.

"Please no, please don't say what I think you're gonna say." He begged, I felt my eyes blur from the tears building. The tears turned into sobbing. Vic slowly walked backwards shaking his head. "No, this can't be happening." He said in disbelief.

I just stood there, crying my eyes out. "I'm so sorry Vic, I'm so fucking sorry." I choked on my tears.

"Scarlett don't." He warned me. I looked at him and couldn't stand to see the hurt on his face. He walked away about 20 feet and then sat on the grass with his back to me. I walked over to him and sat down next to him.

"I did it for us. If I didn't he would stop me from seeing you for the rest of my life. You know yourself that if I got locked up for more than a certain amount of time then you'd forget me and move on." I tried to explain. "I just needed to secure my freedom so that I wouldn't lose you." I wiped away the tears streaming down my face.

"I don't really care about the excuses. He took advantage of you and I couldn't stop it. Yet again I wasn't there to protect you." He said softly. He turned his head to look at me. "Maybe he's right, I am no good for you Scarlett." It broke my heart to hear him speak like that.

"I don't care if you're bad for me, I want to be with you regardless. I love you Vic." I told him, trying to be as sincere as possible.

Vic grabbed my hand and kissed it. "I'll kill that motherfucker." He growled under his breath and scrambled to his feet, walking to the car fast. I jumped up and followed him. Before he got to the car I grabbed him and stopped him from getting in the car.

"Vic, stop." I told him.

"No he needs to learn a less Scarlett!" He shouted at me, I jumped back a step and stared at him.

"What's he gonna learn from this?" I asked him. "Vic, he isn't going to learn anything from you beating the shit out of him. This isn't another kid from school, he's a professional and could have you arrested." I explained to him.

"He blackmailed you though, you should be telling someone." Vic frowned.

"And who are they going to believe? Some whacked up crazy person or a therapist?" I pointed out to him. His face was filled with realisation.

He held out his hand for me and I took it, he pulled me into his arms and leaned against the side of his car. "Let's just continue on out of here and forget everything Scarlett, please." He told me, leaning his forehead against mine. I nodded against his forehead and kissed his lips softly, a small smile spread across his face.

Notes

Sorry it's been a few days, had a hectic weekend but here you go!