Ever since I was a kid I'd have nightmares. Bad ones. My dad always abused my mom and Delaney when I was really little. Ever since Marcus had come into my life they were gone, until this morning.
I felt fine, I went to sleep happy because Marcus was spending the night. I had a nightmare of my dad pointing a gun to Delaney's head, it replayed in my head ever since I saw it.
I woke up, breathing heavily as fuck.
"Baby, baby. It's okay. Just breathe." Marcus said, holding me in his arms.
I started crying. Why were they back? I didn't need that. I hated them.
"What happened? Hm?" Marcus asked, playing with my hair.
"I had another nightmare." I said.
"Same thing as always?" He asked.
"Yeah." I said.
"Hey, it's not happening anymore. He's gone. He can't touch your sister or you or your mom." He said.
"I feel really anxious right now Marcus." I said.
"Just breathe love. Breathe." He said, letting me hug him.
I took a few deep breaths, finally falling asleep in his arms. I really felt safe when I was with Marcus.
I woke up again to my school alarm.
I turned it off. I really didn't want to go to school. It was fall break anyway.
"Marcus." I said.
"Hm?" Marcus mumbled, half asleep.
"Do you wanna stay home?" I asked.
"Mmm... mhm." He muttered.
"Okay. I'll go let Delaney know." I said.
"Okay baby." He said.
I went out to the kitchen and Dylan was still here.
"We're staying home today." Delaney said.
"I was just about to tell you that I wanted to." I said.
"I heard talking at like 3 in the morning." She said.
"That was me." I said.
"What happened?" She asked.
"It happened again." I said.
"The nightmares?" She asked.
"Yeah." I said.
"I'm so sorry. Just know I'm safe and Dylan and Marcus aren't gonna let anything happen to me." She said, hugging me.
"I know. Marcus helped me." I said.
"Good. You should go get some more sleep." She said.
"Oh yeah, Marcus and I are together." I said.
Delaney and Dylan looked at me at the same time, wide eyed.
"Yes! Finally!!" Dylan said.
I smiled, going upstairs.
"Baby." I said, waking Marcus up.
"Hi." Marcus said, holding his arms around my waist as I got in my bed.
"I told Delaney and Dylan about us." I said.
"Okay." He said.
I smiled as I kissed Marcus on the forehead, falling asleep as he hugged me.
I woke up a few hours later, Marcus was gone. I hoped he was still here.
I brushed my hair a bit and went downstairs, Marcus was with Dylan and Delaney in the kitchen.
"Someone's finally awake." Delaney said.
"Yeah." I said.
"We can't do dinner tonight because Dylan has work." She said.
"That's fine." I said.
"I'm also gonna be at work so Marcus is gonna stay here with you." She said.
"Okay." I said.
Marcus went up and hugged me. I really needed a hug.
"Alright lovebirds. We gotta go." Dylan said.
I hugged Dylan and Delaney goodbye. Once they left I laid on the couch with Marcus.
"Baby." Marcus said.
"Hm?" I asked.
"If you have a nightmare like that again and I'm not there call me okay?" He asked.
"Okay." I said.
"I love you." He said.
"I love you more." I said.
Marcus smiled at me as I kissed him.
