The Unclaimed Human Luna
Chapter 17

El POV

She didn’t understand it, how she just couldn’t say no to that man, his touch on her skin, the way it felt to be kissed by him. He just showed up once again inside her room at the most intimate moment and had told her she needed him, that he needed her.

How did he even know? And she had been struggling to reach her o****m, had never really had that problem before, knew her own body and how to sort out her own needs. But just couldn’t, it seemed to get there now, not since she’d been with Conner that first time.

Then there he was and his every touch had been amazing, his every k**s had made her feel like he wanted her, needed her, he’d taken care of her needs and before he’d taken her even. She couldn’t stop him, not the first time, not the second or the third, her hand was on her mouth right this minute, as tears trickled from her eyes. He was just gone, ripped away from her and ran from the room.

It hurt to not have him with her, her whole body was shaking, and she felt cold all over at the sudden loss of him, pain welled inside her chest and she knew there were sobs coming. She was desperately trying to keep them inside of her. She didn’t want to cry over that man, but it seemed she just couldn’t, not do it, held them back for what felt like an eternity of pain.

Dragged her cold shivering body from her bed to a hot shower, and slid down the wall to just sit on the floor and finally let the sobs rack her entire body, as she hugged her knees to her, her forehead on her knees, curled up into a tight little ball of cold shivering pain, even the hot water wasn’t warming her inside.

She felt so cold and alone right this minute. She barely knew the man, had been treated terribly by him that first time, and she knew deep down inside, that it was not going to be any different when the sun came up. That nothing had changed between them.

He had a girlfriend. She had seen her with him that day, a pretty ginger-haired girl. She was tall and every part of her was lean and toned. She was nothing like that girl. The complete opposite of her, in fact, she didn’t have an ounce of muscle on her like that girl. Didn’t even understand why he came to her, used her like he did.

How was she going to survive being here, leaving this room and having to come face to face with him, when it hurt so much. It was her fault as much as his. She should have stopped him, said no and meant it, yelled and screamed at him to get out. Instead of leaning into him and kissing him back, wanting him and she knew she had. Hadn’t fought him at all.

His touch created something inside of her, that she just didn’t understand. Had no idea if it was just because he was the first guy she’d ever slept with and wanted to keep that connection. Wanted to believe it wasn’t just him using her. Or if there was actually something real there that neither of them could deny, once alone in a room together. Only knew that now he was gone she felt pain inside her chest.

Didn’t know how long she sat there in the shower, or how she managed to get up and move out of her bathroom. Looked at the state of the bed, the sheets were a complete mess and she could smell s*x in this room. Damned near reeked of it, couldn’t get back into that bed, it would smell of him, like walking through the deep woods after rain, the smell of pine needles and damp earth after freshly fallen rain.

Took a deep breath in, and made herself walk over there, pulled all the sheets from her bed and then shoved them down the laundry shute she’d found in her walk-in the other day. Then just grabbed pyjamas and pulled them on along with her dressing gown and curled up on the couch and stared aimlessly into nothing.

Perhaps this was the reason her mother couldn’t leave, perhaps she just couldn’t say no to Logan, only Logan wanted her in return. Eliza was under no illusions that Conner was going to be just like he had the last time with her. He was just a cheating a*****e and she was the mistress, it seemed. Didn’t like that thought at all, it just made her feel even more cold and lonely on the inside.

Forced herself to get up and eat something when her alarm went off, she at least was getting out of this place today, could spend all day at the university and not be anywhere near him. Spend her day trying not to think about him or what had happened between them.

Got dressed in a pair of tan cargo pants, and pulled on a long sleeved white high-collared knit top, it also covered that hickey on her neck, that he’d left. Didn’t want anyone seeing that. Didn’t want to look at it herself for that matter. Just caused more pain to see it there in the crook of her neck. At least it was in a place she could cover it.

Pulled on a pair of black lace-up chunky boots, which she always wore with her cargo pants, tied her hair up into a ponytail and looked at herself in the mirror, looked horrible, she realised, tired and miserable, just how she felt right this minute, didn’t know if make up was going to fix anything, at least she’d stopped crying a few hours ago and the puffiness of her eyes was gone, she just looked tired and like she’d not slept in days.

Stood and did her make-up, though only made it light. She didn’t have a steady hand today to put her eyeliner on, so didn’t do it, just foundation, mascara and soft pink l*p gloss. She wasn’t out to look good, she was just trying to hide how tired and drawn she now looked.

Made her way downstairs to head off to her tour to replace both Logan and her mother waiting for her, in the foyer of the complex, didn’t really want to have to deal with them at all. Had enough going on with her right this minute. Didn’t have the energy to be honest to argue with either of them.

“El have a nice day at the university today and honey really do think about it please.”

“It is a good university, Eliza, and you’ll meet lots of people your age. Make some friends for sure.”

She just nodded to them both “Remember I won’t be home till nearly 6.” She commented.

“We know honey. I heard Marlo say he’d been looking for you today, is going to be there himself.”

“I know, we’re having lunch.” She nodded.

“It’s good to see you are making friends with kids your age finally, Eliza.”

“I have to go, or I’ll be late.” She stated and excused herself, she didn’t want to be talking to anyone right this minute. Walked around them and headed out to her car. Drove herself to the university and parked.

She got there 10 minutes ahead of schedule and saw a coffee cart, got herself a double shot latte with vanilla syrup as well, needed the hit of caffeine and the sugar to function. Had been awake since 1am, she thought, not an ounce of sleep since Conner left her either.

Still felt like crap and couldn’t seem to pick herself up or shut herself down completely. Block it all out and just move on. Not even her drama classes were being able to be pulled on right this minute. Something was really wrong with her right this minute.

She strolled along with the group of potential students, chatted with a few of them. Some of them were from all over the country, it seemed like they wanted to come here to this place, it had a good reputation, it was massive too. It housed a lot of students and had other campuses affiliated with it that you could attend as well.

She was walking along after the tour was over with a map in her hand, just strolling around looking at things that had been pointed out but not on the actual tour itself. When she heard Conners’ deep voice grate out “What are you doing here at my University?”

Lifted her eyes to look at him after a moment to take a breath in, and deal with having to look at him and that angry scowl she knew was going to be on his face. Pain welled near instantly inside of her and then anger just burned and then bubbled up inside of her. He’d been the one to come to her, he’d been the one to leave her, it was not her fault. How was he so angry with her, when it was his doing coming to her room.

Lowered that map in her hand and turned her eyes right to him as she stopped walking, allowed all her anger to land right on him, knew she could look mean and nasty instead of sweet and innocent, had that Italian temper when she fired up properly.

Glared right at him with all she had “It’s not your university Conner. I can be here if I want to.” She grated right back at him.

“I don’t want you coming here, Eliza, pick somewhere else to go to.” He shot right back at her.

She could well imagine he didn’t, looked absolutely furious just with her thinking about it, “Then tell your a*****e of a father to let me go to Italy, and I’ll go there.”

Saw his jaw ticking in an instant and she didn’t think it was because she’d insulted his father, no it was because he likely already knew his father was pushing for her to go here. Wasn’t going to let her leave and go overseas.

“There are plenty of others in the state. Choose one of them, go stay on campus elsewhere, you don’t belong here. Eliza.” He shot right at her.

Stared right at him, could feel that well of pain getting worse with every damn word he spoke, ignored that fact that Adam was telling him to calm down not be so mean. They didn’t know just how cruel he was in all likelihood.

Oh, she knew she didn’t belong here. Didn’t need him telling her that and reminding her of it “You’re right on that, I don’t belong here. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be anywhere near you, or you f*****g family.” She yelled right at him, didn’t even care that she was practically screaming at him in a very public place. Screwed up that map in her hands and hurled it at him “I hate you Conner.” She screamed as she felt the tears burn in her eyes, as pain ripped at her, didn’t even understand why it bloody hurt to tell him that. Turned and stalked away from him before she was crying right in front of him.

Needed to get away from him, she would bloody leave, get the hell away from him, felt a hand on her arm as she stalked off, turned and swung her arm, didn’t want anyone touching her, her hand connected as hard as she could hit, with a face. It wasn’t Conner though. No, it was one of his friends, Brayden, she thought.

Saw him stumble back and let go of her, to touch his own face, looked completely shocked by the hit he’d taken, she might be small but could hit real good, had been bullied once or twice and learned the only way to deal with that was to stand up and fight. Her hand had connected in a full open-handed slap right to the side of his face. His eyes were very wide now as he stared down at her.

She didn’t even apologise to him, it wasn’t him she’d thought had put a hand on her. She had thought it was Conner, turned and stalked away from him back to her car. No one followed her or came after her. They let her leave, got to the exit of the car park and knew she was to turn left, sat there for a full minute and then snapped her right indicator on.

‘You want me gone, I’ll bloody go’ and she was. Just drove away from that school, from him. From where she was supposed to live. Was going home, back to California. She didn’t care to be here anymore, wanted the hell away from all of them. Needed to go back to her life.

Heard her phone ring about half an hour later and looked at it, Marlo. Sighed pulled the car off the road and stared right at it as it rang, he would be wondering where she was, couldn’t say she’d left to go home to California. Didn’t want anyone knowing that. Let it ring out, she didn’t trust herself not to cry if she had to talk to someone.

Text him “Sorry Marlo, I met a few like-minded students on the tour and were going to have lunch in Logan.” It was a full lie, but it was all she could come up with, she had completely forgotten about her lunch with him.

“Alright, perhaps we can hang out later.” Was his reply.

“Sure.” She replied and sat in her car, another lie. He’d been nice to her, admitted he liked her even and here she was lying to him. But couldn’t tell him the truth. What if he told Logan? How far would she get? No, this was her chance, she wasn’t due to return to that place he owned till nearly six. And it was only just after midday. She would be halfway home by then. Far away from all of them, before they even realised, she was gone.

Closed her eyes and sighed. Would he come for her? Would he send someone for her? She hoped not. She was 18 and didn’t have to stay there, though all her important documents were still there in her room. She’d not actually been planning on leaving today. But here it was, leaving and with nothing but her license, her passport and birth certificate were back there, had no idea if she would be able to get them back.

Maybe she could have Marlo mail them to her. He seemed nice enough. Called Cordi and got her message bank, “Cordi, I’m out, and coming home. Get there tomorrow sometime.” Clinked the line closed and put her car in gear and pulled back out onto the road. This was it, she was taking control of her life.

Going back home to California where her friends were, she wondered if six hours was enough to get away from that place. Pulled over to get something to eat around three and sent a text message to her mother after some thought while she tried to eat food, “Hi mum, I met some really nice students here today and we’re all going to have dinner together, they’re studying the same as me. I made some friends today. It was nice. So, I won’t be home till late. Just thought I’d let you know.”

It took a few minutes for a response to come back. “That’s great honey, Logan would like to know where you’re going to eat and roughly what time you’ll be home though.”

Shook her head, of course he would. The control freak needed to know where she was, so he knew where to send his people to bring her back. Little did they know she was already several hours away.

“I don’t know, one of the parents is replaceing a place now, for like 7, I think. But there will be a group of us and their parents as well, so I’ll be safe.” Used the word safe because Logan used it.

“Oh, we could come and meet them.”

“No, that’s fine.” She typed right back “I’ll text you when dinner is over, does that help?”

It took a full minute for the reply to come back, “alright. Have fun honey.”

“Will do.” She sent back and then sat and stared at her phone. She had just lied to her mother about where she was and what she was doing. Was in fact never coming back and had just given herself a bigger window to escape that place. Hoped Logan wouldn’t take his anger out on her mother, but it was all she could do.

If she told her mother she’d left she knew they’d be coming for her, now she had plenty of time to get away. Well into the night, no one would even come looking for her till like 9 or 10, if they realised that she wasn’t back by then. Wondered if she could text them, she was home and in her room, was tired and ready to crash out. They’d just missed her coming in was all. That would give her the entire night, and probably half the morning as well.

Could be home by then if she drove all night, that was. Actually, ate and drank, and was feeling a little bit better knowing she was out and had gotten away. But she was starting to get tired already, had been awake now for fourteen hours. But still had a very long way to go.