New love - Professor Hiddleston fanfiction

Chapter 15

WARNING: mentions of abuse

"Today I would like to teach you all about a play about abuse, parental problems and all that comes with it", Tom said. I felt my heart sinking in my chest and in the corner of my eye I could see Jonathan looking at me.

"I don't know if any of you have ever experienced such a horror, but if you did and you feel uncomfortable or anything else about it, you may leave class", Tom told us.

I can do this. It's been ten years since I've seen him...

"Leave her alone!"

I heard my mother screaming in my head, my father's angry voice shouting at her.

Is it me or is this room getting smaller?

"Often children get involved in the fights", Tom told the class.

I could hear myself crying in my head. The little girls' fear flew through my veins. My breathing quickened, my heart started beating in my chest. I felt something touch my back.

"Get out! Lauren get out!"

I stood up and ran out of the classroom.

"Lauren!"

I kept running to I don't know where. I saw a door with a lady on it.
The restrooms!

"Leave her alone. She's just a child! Take me, not her!"

I opened the door and fell on my knees, crying. I crawled to the corner of the room and pulled my knees up, close to my head. The door swung open and Tom entered the room.

"Go away", I cried as I tried to hide from him.
"I am not going anywhere", his low voice said. Hearing him was comforting me.
"Tom", I cried as he approached me, slowly. He held his hands out, afraid to touch me, as he kneld down to sit next to me.

"I am here love", he said. He laid his arm around me, pulling me closer to him.
"Talk to me", he whispered.

I couldn't. I couldn't get the words out of my mouth.

"I can't."
"Try."

I looked at him. His eyes more blue than ever, filled with love, sadness and guilt.

"Try for me", he said. I took a deep breath. He laid his hand on mine. His touch comforted me...

"My father- He... He abused my mother", I started. Tom's eyes widened and his grip on my hand tightned.
"It was already going on before I was born, but then they had me, an accident. I wasn't supposed to excist. My father was furious at my mother for having me, but an abortion wasn't an option since they didn't have the money... My mother gave birth to me and things got worse. She tried to keep me out of it, but in the end I was the reason for his behaviour."

"Did he hurt you?"
"Yes multiple times. There wasn't a single day that I could go to school without any bruises. Of course, the other parents and children noticed, but no one acted."
"And did he-"
"No, my mother was always protecting me from him."

"Oh Lauren", Tom whispered as he pulled me closer.

"Do you see your father", he asked.
"No, he got into jail. When I was around ten I once called the police. They found him and the evidence was so obvious that the judge didn't even had to think twice."
"Is your mother okay?"
"Yes, we moved houses, even another city and I grew up with her. I had never been so happy in my life, after he was gone."

"How does Jonathan know? He asumed our relationship towards one another to be because of your father."
"We were in the same schools, even classes. We grew up together. We were actually good friends, but things change."

"I feel so sorry for you El", Tom said while he slightly pulled back, "If I would have known-"
"Tom, sometimes you can't know everything."
"Thank you for telling me", he smiled before kissing my forehead.

"It's going to be awkward when I return", I said softly.
"Can I come over tonight", he asked.
"Can I come over?"
"You can", he smiled and gave me a quick kiss.

I smiled. His smile made me smile.

"That's the girl I fell in love with", he said.

"Fell in love with who", a voice said as the door opened.