I made a new cover for "Escapism" . It might look simple but it gives away a hint of the story *wiggling eyebrows & winking*

Carry on Lovelies 💗

(Glimpse of last chapter )👇

"What are you doing here Mark ?" I asked but it somewhat seem to aggravate him more as he barked giving me chills "What is he doing here ?" Mark pointed towards Blake .
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Cindy's P.O.V
Mark looked at me for answers . I don't seem to have any but . Why do my throat feels clogged ? I opened my mouth but nothing came out . Tell him he came here to study . Why can't I say one simple sentence ? His questioning eyes and the anger radiating off him had my tongue.

"Well...?" Mark pressed . I took a deep breath . No no he doesn't get to barge in here and ask me questions . I frowned .

"For fuck's sake Cindy answer me" he yelled suddenly startling me . Blake took a hold of my wrist to assure me . He himself doesn't look very good under Mark's scrutinizing gaze .

"Blake came here to study" I let it out in one breath .

Mark scoffed "He came here to study with you ? Why ? I've never seen you two even talking in school before." Its true . We've only talked once , when I was going to the cafeteria . The other times were very rare .

"Mark . I came here because I needed help with some work . There's nothing for you to be worried . So stop this nonsense . You're being dramatic here" Blake scolded .

Mark chuckled humorlessly "Nothing to be worried about ? True . You're no competition for me . But she's my girlfriend . She'll do as I say . And you Blakey Blakey are a no-no for her . So fucking stay away from her" he stated . I didn't like it one bit . He's sounding so controlling , not the softie I know . I looked up to see Blake's vein popped in his head . Oh oh Mark certainty hurted his male ego .

"Stay away so she can't tell me how desperate you're to share personal issues with others . Atleast I won't do that to her or to anyone for that matter fuckhead" Blake blurted before I could stop him .

Silence . Mark looked at me starstrucked "You told him ?" I couldn't reply that . I hadn't told Blake intentionally . It was a slip of tongue in heat of the moment .

"Now where is your 'You don't have any right to share personal issues that involve me' " Mark shouted mimicking my words from before .

I was quiet . What can I say ...? But there's a difference between what I did and what he did . I even told Blake that its personal and whatever else I said was just in a ramble . And so I don't think I should just take whatever Mark is saying .

"What I said was unintended but you ? You went over to Alex to discuss bloody bed issues that doesn't involve her. Hell you had Thomas , Drew and even Jessica. Aren't they your friends ? So why did you went to Alex when you knew clearly that she's not good for us .If there's any to begin with." I panted heavily .

"So what Cindy ? So what ? Why did you befriended him in the first place?" Mark pointed towards Blake "He's a dickhead-" Blake cut him off "And you're an asshole" . I didn't knew it they don't like each other.  However I didn't get much time to ponder over this .

"What did you say?" Mark was furious .

"You heard me right looser " Blake stated emphasising the word loser . That seemed to tic Mark off because it is a sore topic for him. He lose a football match this year against the other team of our school . Speaking of which I remember now that Blake was on the other team . Shit .They are not on good terms .

He looked towards Blake's hand that had gripped my wrist when Mark first startled me . He looked back and forth between me and Blake . Then without a warning , he landed a punch to Blake's nose and gripped his collar . Blake was groaning while thrashing his hands to get a grip on Mark . I tried to hold Mark back .

"Don't you fucking dare , son of a-" Mark was interrupted when Blake landed a punch to Mark's face . I gasped . Now they are fighting in my living room .

"Stop it . Blake . Mark" . I was trying to hold Mark back while they both were strangling each other and landing punches and whatnot . "Fuck off" Mark yelled at me while punching Blake .

I screamed in pain when I felt my hand twisted around. Mark was trying to put my hand aside while fighting with Blake and he twisted my hand to make me lose my grip but that got my hand twisted with a loud sound . Tears were already dripping down my cheeks without me realizing .

They both stopped and looked at me.  Mark with guilty eyes and Blake with worried ones .Blake was going to open his mouth with knowing eyes while looking towards Mark , who was ready to fight again . But I cut them off  "Get.Out.Of.My.House" I gritted .

"But-" I cut Blake off again "I said fucking get out of my damn house" I yelled . The pain was too much even when my hand was not moving .

"Baby I'm so-" Mark started but i cut him off "No. You aren't" . I used my other hand to pull Blake , then Mark towards the door . They didn't protest much knowing my hand was hurt .

"Atleast let me see-" Mark said . "No" I pushed him further. "Wait ! Go to the doc-" I didn't let Blake finish "No" .  I practically threw them out of the house . I locked the door and slid off to the floor clutching and checking my hand "Ouch". That same hand that was scraped with the tree trunk after the argument with Alex .

Even if it Mark didn't intentionally made my hand injured he still lost control over him . Blake was fighting back but Mark ? He was not himself.  I never saw him act like this before . And even if I don't admit , it made me question my feelings towards Mark . Is he really good for me ?

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I went to the clinic which is at a walking distance from my house , to get my hand checked .

"It isn't much but I think the bone could break . Just avoid movement of your wrist . I've bandaged your wrist . You can take it off when we'll be sure that its ok . That will be the next time you come to the clinic" the doctor said . He knows me well.  I've been hear a lot of times in my childhood . I just told him that it got twisted . "Thank you"

I was turning to leave when someone came inside . Ash . "Here's your ....bag.. Cindy ?"

I smiled "Hello to you too Asher" . He rolled his eyes "Okay okay hello , what are you doing here ?" His brows furrowed and he looked towards the doctor with questioning eyes .

The doctor looked amused "Well she got a twisted wrist ... You two know each other?"

"Well let me introduce . Cindy , he's my uncle who keeps forgetting stuffs . And doc 'uncle' she's my friend Cindy" Ash introduced and chuckled when the doctor grumbled something about being called doc uncle despite him being still young and handsome .

Then Ash and I walked back to my house . It was almost dark. "You okay ?" He looked at me varily. I frowned "Yes , I am"

He sighed "Your eyes . Your eyes are rimmed and swollen...?" He asked unsure to which I replied with a "Oh"

"Well...?" He looked at me with a raised brow "Is it something regarding that guy ..what was his - aah Mark ..?"

"Umm.. Yes" I drawled out. "If you don't wanna talk about it-" I cut him off . "No.no it's just its just that...uff ! He g-got over protective a-and he fought with someone who came to study with me a-nd" I looked down at my left hand that was bandaged .

"He did this ?" Ash gasped . I told him everything that happened after we met at the club .

I looked up to see him being worried and angry "That fucker . Cindy , if he's like that I think he's toxic . You don't deserve it" his eyes softened .

I licked my dry lips "I think he was just angry and worked up so...-" he cut me off "So he gets to do whatever be pleases even beating that Blake guy and hurting you ?" 

I shook my head "He deserves a chance Ash . He did it first time and hopefully it'll be the last as well . I think there's still time to exactly call him ..what did you say ..?" I asked him

"Toxic ?" He asked and I nodded "Yes . Toxic" I chuckled to lighten the mood , Ash following along . We reached my house .

"If anything bothers you ..you can turn to me" his words melted my heart . We exchanged numbers . He patted my head . I went to my door , turning around to wave him bye and closed the door behind me .

I was thinking about everything that happened today and couldn't help but think one thing that seems to capture my attention more than it should .

toxic toxic toxic

I slept with the same thought in my mind . I don't even know when darkness engulfed me into a slumber .

"Mark don't do this please . I'll do whatever you say ." I begged him but he kept beating the crap out of the poor man . Who he is ..I don't know .

"You should have stayed away from others.  Haven't I told you , you are my girlfriend . You'll do as I say ." he was saying it in between kicking the boy / man while he was groaning on the floor .

"You are not ready for me . But for others ...? You are a bitch , noone else" his words stabbed through my heart . I felt a fire within but before I could protest or make him regret saying it all . I felt myself waking up .

I panted heavily , it was a dream . A nightmare . I felt thirsty so I went downstairs to get some water . I drank it and filled my glass again . I turned and the living room made me remember Blake and Mark's fight today . I bite my lip .

Is Mark really toxic ?

Do you think Mark is toxic or is Cindy just overthinking ?

(A/N) : I wrote this one in advance . I can't help but feel like the story is stretching but at the same time the chapters look rushed . There are still some twists 👉 👈 I think I might need a beta reader or editor ....🙀

Edit : I wrote it in advance but I forgot to publish it . Sorry ! I've started a new story "Snow White" Its a disney reimagined . You can find it on my profile . Check it out cuties 🐝 Also , I might not be able to update this book for a while as I'm having exams ( OFFLINE ) and after that I also need to plan out my other book and write new chapters for this book . So ....bear with me 😅