Mandy was a party girl. She lived for parties. Everyone around her knew it. As a young teen, she would slip out as soon as her parents went to bed. She barely ever got caught. You could almost call it a life skill. Mandy knew what it meant to be a good girl. She was a good girl when she needed to be and a law unto herself the rest of the time. She lived in the moment and that was how she liked it.
Louis and Mandy had been going out for a while now. The start of their relationship was as exciting as life got. Louis loved a good night out so when he met Mandy, he couldn’t wait to show her off to his mates. Louis and Mandy were like lovesick puppies, at least at first.
Mandy and Louis were staying in residences which was pretty much how they’d met. It wasn’t quite your classic laundry story, more your 3am drunken snog. They knew they’d seen each other somewhere the next day; they just couldn’t figure out where. That was how they came to be Mandy and Louis, Mandouis to those around them.
Life couldn’t be better to start with. A missed essay here and there wasn’t to be included here. That wasn’t a problem when you were in first year and knew that grades didn’t count until second year. Shame? What was that? No. For the two of them, living life to the full was what it was really about. Anything else could wait.
It wasn’t until the day they bickered for the first time that they realised the honeymoon period was fast coming to end. Louis had frightened Mandy that day. She’d seen a different look in his eye for the first time. Everything comes to an end, one way or another. The thought petrified Mandy who knew deep down that six months into their relationship, she’d fallen head of heals for Louis. They hadn’t said the big L word yet. She really didn’t want to be the one to say it first, but this didn’t stop her wondering. Would he ever take that first step before she did?
Louis could sense that Mandy was becoming intense. He didn’t mind it. At least not at first. It didn’t help though that Mandy was dropping hints here and there. She was subtle at first. Not so subtle after that. Louis was getting frustrated.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’
‘Out!’
‘What do you mean, out? We need to talk about this!’
‘Talk about what? Your constant whining? The constant hints you’re dropping everywhere I turn? Jeez, I’m nineteen, for goodness sake. I’m not ready to settle down. We’re having a great time Mandy. Why can’t we just leave it at that?’
‘A great time? Are you serious? Is that how you see us? I’ve given up friends for you. I’ve refused nights out with them. They’ve stopped talking to me. And that’s on you!’
‘On me? Of course it is. Blame the guy. You’re all so good at it. It’s pathetic.’
‘Pathetic? Pathetic?’ Mandy edged towards Louis. ‘What do you mean pathetic? Have you looked in the mirror lately?’
Mandy watched on as Louis clenched his fists. His eyes darkened, as if she wasn’t looking at the same man she was falling for. She’d seen that look once before.
‘What you gonna do? Punch me? Do you worst!’ Yet before she knew it, Mandy stumbled to the ground.
Louis didn’t seem aware of his actions. Mandy could’ve sworn that Louis had almost gone to speak. But he didn’t say a word. He looked Mandy in the eye for just a second, and ran.
Mandy was in shock. She couldn’t believe what she had just seen. The look in Louis’ eye had completely disconcerted her. How would she hide the black eye that was quickly swelling up? What would she tell others? Which others to be honest?
Mandy sat for a while and sobbed. She knew Louis wasn’t coming back.
‘Are you coming out tonight? Hey, what’s that on your face?’ Helen was about the only friend that Mandy had left. Yet she didn’t trust her enough to confide in her. She knew that after a drink or two, Helen would blab.
‘No, not tonight. I’m not in the mood. Oh this? Nothing. I slipped in the shower if you can believe it.’
‘I don’t.’
Mandy couldn’t bring herself to look up at Helen. She knew this would lead to more questions and she couldn’t answer them. Hopefully agreeing to go out would shut Helen up, at least for now.
‘You know what? Go on. And as for my face, it’s nothing a bit of make-up can’t cover.’
‘You sure? There’s something you’re not telling me Mand. I will find out.’
‘Sure you will. Right, I’d better go.’ Mandy couldn’t get away fast enough.
‘Hey sweetheart, so I’ll see you tonight at eight at mine.’ Mandy looked at her phone in total disbelief. Was Louis serious? She didn’t know whether to be relieved or furious with him. Was he actually acting like nothing had happened? It seemed so.
‘I guess…’ Why had she sent that back? What was she playing at? She couldn’t believe herself. She tried to delete the message. It was too late. Louis had seen it.
‘Looking forward to it. You can stay at mine tonight.’ Absolutely not. There was no way this was happening. Mandy decided she wasn’t going to respond. She would go out with Helen instead. For too long, Mandy had let her friends down. She’s refused invitation after invitation to spend time with Louis. She’d become the stereotype she absolutely loathed. There was no way she was falling for that one again. He could stew. Better still, he could get stuffed.
‘Helen, let me know where to meet you tonight. Looking forward to a good catch up. Thanks for… well thanks for not giving up on me.’ It was time to start thinking about the people who deserved time.
‘Great, see you tonight! And if there’s anything you want to talk about, let me know. You’re not alone, you know.’
Mandy had thought about it, but she decided against it. The last thing she wanted was to come across as a victim. Had she deserved it? She had been provoking him. Maybe she should call him, sort things out properly. Mandy’s head was spinning. She decided to take a nap. She’d missed her last classes of the day anyway.
It was half seven when Mandy woke up. She was in a panic. She knew Louis would be expecting her. She had a bad feeling about tonight. Helen had just texted to say she’d be at the bar soon. Mandy put on the first top she found, glammed herself up as much as she felt she could, accidentally forgetting the cover the bruise, and left her room. She knew she should probably let Louis explain, so that was where she headed. She made up an excuse to Helen, who she knew would be fuming.
Going to Louis’ was a mistake. Her gut was telling her to turn around, but she couldn’t bring herself to. She loved him. He was her world. She couldn’t just forget the last year. He had lost it with her, yes, but she could forgive him. She thought she could forgive him anything.
Louis had given her a key so she let herself in. Immediately she knew she was in trouble as she saw a look in his eye she had never seen before, not even this morning.
‘What are you doing talking about my business? Telling everyone?’
‘I didn’t… I wouldn’t…’
‘Of course you would. You’re a slut. You all are. You couldn’t wait to go blabbing to Helen. You know she’s friends with Eric.’
‘I know she is. I didn’t…. I didn’t say anything.’
‘Well someone did. And the only two people who know about this morning are you and me. What does that say to you sweetheart?’
‘Why are you being like this? I swear I didn’t say a word. I wouldn’t do that to you Louis.’
‘Swear! Get on your knees and swear.’
‘What? Are you joking?’
‘I said get on your knees and swear. Beg me Mandy. Beg for my forgiveness.’
‘Louis…’ Mandy couldn’t believe what she was about to do.
‘That’s it. You slut. Get down on all fours. You’re so good at it.’
Mandy was in tears. She knew she had to fight them. Louis was in no mood to take pity on Mandy. She had never seen him like this. He was obviously getting a sick pleasure out of this.
‘Louis, please…’
‘Do NOT please me. Did you please me the night you kissed that guy in the bar? Did you love me then?’
‘What guy? I didn’t… You’ve got this all wrong.’
‘Beg me. Beg for my forgiveness. NOW!’ Louis roared at Mandy.
Mandy followed Louis’ orders knowing there was no way out. She couldn’t explain that she’d backed away and hadn’t kissed the guy back. There was no point in trying to give an explanation. Mandy could never have anticipated what was about to happen next.
Mandy crawled out of Louis’ room. She was so dazed, she could hardly walk. Louis was nowhere to be seen. When Mandy eventually managed to drag herself out of his building, she was met by a group of people she didn’t expect to even stop. She thought she could hear one of them calling the police.
The days’ events had passed her by in what seemed like a blink of an eye, yet today had felt like the longest day in her life. She found her phone and tried to make out Helen’s message. Louis had smashed her phone so the text message wasn’t clear. It seemed Helen had located Mandy’s whereabouts.
‘What has he done to you? You have to tell the police. You have no choice. The medics have been called. They’re on their way. You’re not alone Mandy. I’m here.’ Helen tried to hold Mandy up as gently as she could.
Mandy had never been so grateful to hear the words. She didn’t know what would happen next and she had no idea what she would do, but she knew she had to tell the police. She couldn’t risk this happening to anyone else.
‘I’ll tell them everything Helen. I promise…’