Chapter 5

Pulling up home, Steve got out of the car and walked off inside like nothing had happened. I pulled myself out of the car, pulling my now ripped and wrecked dress tightly around me as I made my way inside, tears rolling down my face. Once I was inside and the door looked behind me, my legs gave out from under me, causing me to fall to the floor, my body shaking with fear and pain. As tears fell from my eyes, I remembered the paper that Brax had given me in the bathroom tonight. I pulled it out of my bra, thankful that Steve hadn't found it. The only reason he hadn't was because once I knew what was happening, I grabbed it out, holding it tightly in my hand. Written on it was an address. I was confused as to why he would give me a piece of paper with nothing but an address on it. I pulled myself together, dragging myself off the floor, and made my way into the bathroom. Turning the shower on as hot as it would go, I removed what was left of my dress, throwing it straight in the bin before getting into the shower. The boiling water burned my skin, but it helped a little to remove the dirty feeling that Steve had left on me.

As I stood under the scalding water, my mind raced. Why did Brax give me an address? What did he want from me? And why wouldn't he just leave me alone like I've asked him to? All these questions swirled around in my head as I tried to calm down and think logically. The one thing that came through the most was the question of whether I should go to the address to see what he wanted. I knew doing that was dangerous for so many reasons. If Steve caught me, he would make me pay, and he would kill Brax, or what if this was some sort of trap? Brax wasn't really being nice to me but was going to try and use me to get to Steve.

After what felt like hours, I finally turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around myself and going into my bedroom, sitting down on the end of my bed, my body still shaking from pain and fear. I picked up the piece of paper, taking another look at i. could I really trust Brax, and would he be able to help me get out of this hell? I have gone over everything a million times in my head trying to work out why he is interested in me and the only thing that makes sense is that he is going to try and use me to get to Steve which was stupid because if that's what he wanted to do then why wouldn't he use nat instead. I let out a loud sign, placing the piece of paper in the back of my drawer. I couldn't sit there and think about it any longer; I was tired.

I got dressed and crawled into bed. I was only going to get a few hours of sleep before having to go to school in the morning, but that was better than nothing. I closed my eyes, letting sleep completely overtake my body, praying that I wouldn't have any nightmares tonight.

the sound of my door being slammed up woke me up. I jumped up, looking around my room, realising that it was morning. I looked over and saw Steve standing there. He looked angry. My heart started to race, and I tried to think what I could have done to make him angry. I jumped out of bed. without a word he came towards me raising his hand at me i cringled away from him knowing that he was about to hit me a few seconds later his hand came down hitting me in the mouth i fell to the ground wrapping my arms around myself trying to protect myself from the beating i was about to get but instead i heard him turn and walk away closing the door behind him. I looked up, confused by what had just happened but also thankful that that was all that he had done to me. I stood up, heading to the bathroom. As my mouth was filling with blood, looking in the mirror, my lip was split, and as I opened my mouth to get rid of the blood, it just poured out. I cleaned myself up and got ready for school. I was going to be late because I'd slept in, but I would rather be there than here at home and risk getting another beating from him. He was clearly in a bad mood today, and I wanted to be as far away from him as I could.

walking into school the halls were empty as everyone was already in class I thought about going into the library and just staying there for the day but I didn't want to be left alone with my thoughts so I headed off to class i knew that there was a chance that I would see Brax there which I didn't want to but I would rather see him than be alone right now. everyone stared as I walked in I kept my head low trying to hide my growing fat lip I took the only empty seat at the back of the class pulled my hood over my head I sat there staring out the window but after a few seconds I got the feeling that someone was staring at me looking up I turned my head locking eyes with one of Braxs friends dillion he didn't look away instead he moved his eyes to my lip before pulling out his phone and messaging someone. I knew straight away who that would be, and if he was telling him that I was here, this was the last place that I wanted to be, so I grabbed my things and hurried out of the room, ignoring the teacher yelling at me. I headed straight for my next class. The room would be empty, and there wasn't long till the other one was finished. I would just have to deal with being alone with my thoughts for a little bit. I sat in the back of the class, crossing my arms in front of me, and rested my head on them. I heard someone come into the room I just thought it was the teacher until he spoke.

"Is there a reason you always make me chase you?" his deep voice said from above me.

I kept my head buried in my arms, not wanting to look up at him. Maybe if I just ignored him, he would give up and leave.

"look at me or I'll make you look at me"

the way he said it sent fear through my body I lifted my head looking up at him knowing that my face was filled with fear whenever someone spoke to me like that I had to do as they asked because normally it came with a beating if I didn't well it came with one when I did to it just wasn't as bad.

his face softened as he looked at me. "who did that to you?"

"Please, Brax, just leave me alone", my voice was tired. the bell rang, and the sound of people rushing to their next class filled the halls.

Brax stood there, his eyes locked on me. The classroom slowly started to fill with other people, but he didn't move. He just stood there staring at me. I didn't know what to do. I tried to look away from him and ignore him, but I couldn't. After a few minutes, the teacher yelled, "Brax, you are not in my class. Leave."

with one last look, he turned and left making me let out the breath that I had been holding and I went back to resting my head on my arms but that was short-lived because as fast as he left he returned the teacher yelling at him making me look up to see what was going on but as I did he grabbed my arm and my bag pulling me out of my chair and dragging me out of the room I tried to get away from him he was too strong he ignored my protest and the teachers yelling dragging me out of the room and down the hallway until we were out in the car park where he opened his car door and shoved me inside before he could shut the door I jumped out making him grab me again so I could run away. my heart felt as though it was going to come pounding out of my chest fear had overtaken all of my body as I stood there staring up at him.

"why wont you let me help you" he asked softly.

I pulled my arm away from him. "How is this helping me?" I spat at him.

"you won't talk to me. What else am I meant to do?"

"Because I don't want to, I have nothing to talk to you about, so please just leave me alone," I yelled, making the few people in the car park stop and look at us. But I didn't care. I was so angry at him for doing what he did and thinking that he had the right to touch me. I went to walk away from him, but he grabbed my arm, stopping me.

"I just want to help you,", he said before letting go of my arm.

"Why?" was all I could say to him.

Running his hand through his hair, I could see the frustration written all over his face. "I don't know why I just do, and for some reason, you are all that I can think about."

butterflies started to grow in my stomach, but I pushed them down. I couldn't let myself fall into his trap; I was already too close to him. "you can't help me, Brax, so please just leave me alone". I said as I started to walk away.

"Please, Willow, just come with me and give me half an hour of your time, and if you still feel the same way, then I promise you I will never even look at you again,", he pleaded with me.

I stopped in my tracks, considering his offer. Part of me wanted to give him a chance, to see if he could help me in some way. But another part of me was afraid, afraid of what might happen if I let him in. I looked at him, trying to read his expression, but I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

Finally, I made up my mind. "Okay, half an hour," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He smiled, relief evident on his face. "Thank you, Willow. I promise you won't regret it.".