Taking me with it (An Ed Sheeran FanFic)

Chapter Eight: You'll get through it

As I step out of the Bailey's Coffee Shoppe, tears are streaming down my face. I never realized how emotionally unstable I could be. It is just that this was so important to me. Why wasn't what Aubrey did perfect enough for me? My standards must be too high. He had rose petals, candles, and he stayed the night, everything I had ever wanted right? 

"Hey Allie," I hear his soft voice call out. I slow down but keep walking. I feel catch up to me, and he sets a hand on my shoulder. "Bailey wants me to walk you home." I turn and face him, staring into Ed's eyes. He lightly smiles at me and pulls me into a hug once more. I go into them willingly, with no guilt. 

Slowly he releases me, and slips his hand in my own. "Thank you." I whisper. I feel him look at me, but I don't go to face him. We slowly start walking again, with an easy silence between us, only the sounds of driving cars and people walking is heard. 

My hand is warming up in his hand, and it feels good in the cold December air. Ed takes a deep breath, "Allie, I'm not good at talking okay, and I can't tell you that I know what you're going through, because first well... I'm not a girl, so I'm not as emotional," the last part makes me smile, and he sees it and smiles back, "But I'm still... yeah." His cheeks turn the color of his hair. I start laughing and he chuckles, "I'm glad you find my humiliation funny, Allie." 

"It's not that Ed. Well, only a little bit, but you're just so honest. And your cheeks match your hair." I burst out laughing, which only makes him go more red. Slowly our pace drops as we are in front of my flat. 

"Thank you for cheering me up Ed." I whisper then add, "At your own expense."

"My pleasure Allie." He smiles at me. 

"Okay, I'll tell you something that almost NO ONE knows about me," I say smiling like crazy.

"I bet it won't be as bad as mine." He laughs.

"Maybe not for you, but for me it is," I whisper as he nods, "My real name is Alice."

"Alice." He whispers seriously, "It's beautiful." 

"No. Now, you must never tell a soul!" I say and Ed throws his hands up before his chest to show he wont.

"Calm down, Allie." He smiles. I reach up and kiss him on the cheek.

"Thank you Ed. I'm going to go get ready for work, but um, you perform tonight right?" I ask, hoping he says yes.

"Yeah. I do." He says and smiles.

"Maybe I'll be your slave again tonight." I say and turn around so I can go inside, but i feel him grab my elbow. 

"I bet you'd you'd like that." He winks and lets me go, and I smile, then walk into my flat.

I walk in and see Aubrey at my kitchen table. "How have you been Allie?' He says gently, but I feel like there is something different about him, something dark within him.

"I'm fine." I slide on a smile that refuses to reach my eyes. He pushes back the chair and stands up, talking slow steps towards me. 

"What did I do wrong Allie?" He says lightly fingers a strand of my hair. 

"Nothing Aubrey. It was perfect." I say. 

"Then why were you crying? You were crying in your sleep, in the shower, and as you walked home from Bailey's, with that low life singer I might add." I stand in silence, my cheeks turning red. "Are you cheating on me Allie? Is that what you were trying to hide from me?" I shake my head as he steps closer to me. "I saw you kiss his cheek Allie. How you guys had held hands, and how you hugged." He states with anger in his voice. 

"He is just a friend." 

"That's what they all say." Aubrey yells at me, bringing his open hand against my cheek. My hands fly up to the slap, cupping my cheek. 

"What the hell Aubrey!" I yell at him, but as soon as the words are out of my mouth, I knew I shouldn't have. The dark had claimed his eyes, and shoved me back against the wall. I slam against it and sink to the floor. But he doesn't start there. He brings his fist down onto my mouth and then into my eyes, repeatedly.  I pull my hands up to block him, and pull my knees into my stomach, I feel him kick me, once, twice, many more times, and then I hear him walk out the door, slamming it shut. I curl up into a ball and fall sideways onto the floor, sobbing. 

After a an endless amount of time, I peel myself from the floor and drag myself up the stairs and into the bathroom where I turn on the sink, and grab a rag. I wait for the water to heat up, and put the rag under the water and scrub my face. After I'm done, I see the bruises forming, and my black eyes. My lips are swollen. Slowly I pull off my clothes, and see the bruises on my chest and stomach. I break down and start crying and dial a phone number.

"S-S-Sierra?" I cry out when I hear someone pick up. 

"Allie?" Her voice rings out in concern. 

"Who is that Sierra?" I hear his voice ring out in the background and I start sobbing. 

"Sierra.. Come over. I need you, please." I cry into the phone.

"I'll be there. Should I bring Aubrey too? He's with me." 

"No. Just you. Just walk in. Please," I cry out. 

"I'll be there in five." Sierra says and she hangs up.

I start sobbing, as I throw back on my clothes. I turn off the water and sink back onto the floor, sobbing.

Finally the door creaks open and in rushes Sierra. She sees me crumpled on the floor, and she pulls me into her arms, and I start sobbing all over again.

She pulls me up and starts leading me into my room. I shake my head. "I dont.. I dont want to go in there Sierra." I sob out, but she pulls me in there anyways. As soon as she sees the rose petals and candles she realizes what went wrong.

"Allie, that's so romantic! Why are you so upset?"

I turn to look at her fully for the first time, and she finally realizes the bruises. "Allie! what happened?!" She says scared.

"He... asked me to have sex with him. I tried to say no.. but.. We ended up doing it. He stayed the whole night and it was all sweet and everything. I woke up the next morning and got in the shower and started crying. He came in and got in the shower with me. Then we went our separate ways for the day, I went to Bailey's. Ed happened to find me, and asked if I was okay, which made me start crying even harder. Ed brought me in the back room and I told him what had happened then he walked me home. Aubrey saw me with Ed and beat me." My voice breaks on the last two words. 

"Oh Allie! I'm so sorry!" She says sincerely.  She pulls me close to her, and I just sob. 

"Sierra, I love him, but I don't." I cry out.

"You'll get through it. You will come through. You and Aubrey always do."