Learning To Love Again (Foolish×Reader)

5

Chandler

As I pulled up to my sister's apartment, a sense of dread filled me. There was no way anything bad was happening. She lived in a nice neighborhood. Break-ins hardly ever happened around here.

I rushed up to her level and opened the door. At first, it was quiet, and then I heard crying and the sound of what sounded like hitting.

I cautiously but quickly followed the noise. The sight before me made me see red.

I acted before I could think, running over to John and throwing him to the side of the room, punch after punch from me followed. He was hurting my sister, his fucking girlfriend.

Y/N

I was in shock when Chandler came in and knocked John to the floor. Chandler was on top of him, punching him repeatedly.

"Stop! Please, stop fighting!" I yelled. At this point, John's face was bloodied, and his attempts to fight back were weaker.

Chandler seemed to snap out of it and got off of him to check on me.

I already know that I had a black eye forming, as well as small cuts on my face and arms. My stomach and thighs were already deep shades of purple before this episode. I'm sure they look more black now.

I couldn't take my eyes off of John. He sat up and seemed to take everything in. The gravity of the situation weighed heavy on him.

"It's not what it looks like," John said to Chandler once he found his voice.

Chandler laughed. "It's not what it looks like? Then, please enlighten me. Because it looks like you were beating my sister."

I shake my head.

"I love her, Chandler. You know this. You know I would never hurt her willingly." He turns his gaze to me. "Honey, I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me."

John gets back up. "I love you. Always have and always will," he says to me again. "This was a one time thing. It will never happen again. You know me, y/n."

"I know you," I repeated, looking down at the floor. He loves me. I know he does. He always apologizes after these episodes. We do what every normal couple does. Sure, we have a few fights. But everything else is pure bliss. Watching movies together, going minigolfing, and so much more.

My eyes well up with even more tears as I think back on everything. He doesn't mean to do what he does.

"Y/n, pack some of your things. We're leaving." Chandler says to me.

I want to leave. I hate when he's like this. But I know he'll be back to his normal self again soon.

I start to throw some clothes into a bag, trying not to cry out at the immense pain that my body is in.

"Please don't leave, y/n. I need you." John pleads.

I start sobbing. "We'll talk after your business meeting. I hope it goes well. You'll do great," sadness is evident in my voice.

The ride back to my brother's house was silent. I was in shock. Chandler tried to talk to me, but in response, I just turned the radio up. I never thought someone would find out.

When we pull into the garage, I grab my bag, movements slow. Chandler quickly comes around and takes my bag from me. He puts it on the ground and envelops me in a hug.

"It's okay. You're safe now. You'll be okay." Those words cause sobs to rack through my body. He brings one hand up to brush my hair down, comforting me like he would do when we were younger whenever I got scared.

Once I calmed down a little, he brought me inside and set my bag down in his guest room.

We both sit on the bed, not knowing where to go from here.

"Is this the first time he's hurt you?" Chandler asks. He's looking down, making me aware that he's afraid of the answer.

I whisper one word, "No."

He runs his hands over his face. "How long?"

"Six months." He looks over at me in shock. Saying it now, I'm surprised I've lasted this long without getting seriously injured.

"It's not his fault, though. His-"

Chandler cuts me off. "Not his fault?! He is in control of himself, Y/N. No one else makes his decisions."

His yelling takes me off guard, and I instinctively flinch. My eyes go wide, but I can't take it back now. I know he saw it.

Chandler just sighs. "Karl was the one who told me to check on you. He heard John when he got home. He was worried, Y/N, terrified even. What would have happened if I didn't get there? Do you know how dangerous this situation is?" Tears are threatening to spill from his eyes. I can't help but to feel upset. I'm the one who's causing him to cry. He's in pain because of my mistakes.

"He doesn't mean it," Chandler starts to respond, but I cut him off. "He apologizes afterward, and we still have date nights. We still have good moments. It's just a small rough patch."

Chandler shakes his head in disbelief. "I should have known. You're so much more reserved than how you used to be. Your eyes lost their spark. Maybe if I had known, it wouldn't have gotten this bad..." He trails off.

I didn't mean for this to happen. If only I had hung up on Karl sooner, cut our talk short. I should have planned for this. How does one even get out of a situation like this?

Before I even realized that I was zoned out, Chandler came back with a bag of frozen peas and held it out to me. "Put it over your eye. I don't want that to get any worse. Make yourself at home. It's pretty late. Get some sleep; your body needs to heal."

I oblige, knowing that he's right.

*AN*
I'm so sorry for not updating. It's been a wild ride. I love all of you. Be proud of everything you've accomplished today, even if that's just getting out of bed or waking up. You deserve to be here.