i'm right where you left me

6

leah's pov

my hands were at her cheeks, holding her face to look at me. her eyes were broken and i couldn't help but feel heartbroken for the girl. the girl i've grown to love. the girl who i consider as my best friend in the whole world.

"babe tell me please. tell me what is hurting you so bad" i said. "let me help you. let me take the pain away"

"you can't help me le." she said. i wiped tears from her eyes with my thumbs.

i pulled her face into my chest and let her cry into me. she wrapped her arms around my back and sobbed.

"look iz, i won't push you to tell me if you don't want to, but i want you to know that i'm here for you. i will listen to anything you have to say and i will try to help you as much as i can. your my best friend and i love you. i'm always here" i said. we stayed there in silence as i rubbed her back while she cried into my chest.

"he hits me" she said very quietly after a long time.

"what" i said loudly. she shushed me.

"when he gets really drunk, he gets abusive and takes his anger out on me. he hits me, punches me. he calls me horrible stuff" she said.

"i'm so fucking scared. i'm scared what he would have done if you weren't here. i'm scared what he'll do to me when you go, if he's not passed out on the sofa." she continued. i was speechless.

"why don't you tell the police" i said. she shook her head.

"please don't tell anyone le" she said.

"why not. you should report him. he should be in prison" i said.

"it's not that easy. leah please. just don't tell anyone" she said.

"what kind of stuff does he call you" i asked.

"uhm. like, uhh. fat and he basically says i should lose weight and nobody will love me because im so ugly" she said embarrassedly.

"oh iz. is that why you don't eat properly" i asked. she nodded with shame.

"babe you are not ugly. you are absolutely beautiful. you aren't fat. your body is absolutely perfect. lots of people love you. your mum, jack, my mum. i love you." i said. i held her even tighter.

"you want to be a footballer right?" i asked. stupid question of course she does. she nodded.

"well you need to have a good diet. that means you need to eat well. you cant keep doing this to yourself babe." i said. "just please tell me you'll eat something properly tonight"

"fine" she sighed.

"promise me" i said firmly.

"i promise" she said.

"i want proof" i said.

suddenly my phone buzzed. it was my mum telling me she's outside.

"my mums here. look i love you izzy." i said.

"i love you leah" she said.

we both got up and she took me to the door. i had a quick look into the living room and saw her dad passed out on the sofa. at least she'll be okay for tonight.

"see you at school tomorrow" i said.
"bye le" she said.

i went to my car and she shut the door.

izzy's pov
i went to my room and lay in bed.

leah: have you eaten?
me: yes
leah: no you haven't. go eat something now babe. i'll make my mum come back
me: fine.

i went to the kitchen and put in some leftovers from what my mum had cooked. i warmed them up and took them to my room. i sat on my bed and sent leah a picture. i ate it very reluctantly and then sent leah a picture of the empty plate