Secrets | 5SOS

[6]

"Care to explain why your teacher called asking to see me next week?" Calum spoke the moment he came home.

"You're not in trouble are you?"

"No Cal, he just wants to talk about my progress chill out!" I chuckled.

"Hey!! Its the weekend, lets all go out and do something fun together. It'll be nice for us to bond" Ashton suggested.

"Ok Mr. Therapist!" Luke chuckled.

It was true, Ashton was a therapist, Luke a gynaecologist, Calum a general doctor and Michael an orthopedic surgeon.

"Why don't we all go watch a movie?" I suggested.

In the dark, they wouldn't see my bruises and they definitely won't notice that i wasn't eating.

*Isabella’s POV*

"Excellent idea, Mini Hood!" Ashton complimented, scooping me up and putting me on his shoulders, starting to run around just to annoy me.

"Put me down!! I'm heavy, you're gonna end up breaking your back."

"Bella, you weigh absolutely nothing. Do you think you're too heavy? Bella, do you feel comfortable in your body?" Ashton spoke, his concern evident as he gently set me back on the ground.

"Ash, I'm fine, I was joking. Stop stressing!" I laughed nervously, trying to brush off his concern.

But just as I thought I had managed to calm everyone down, Luke decided to join in on the fun. "Tickle attack!" he shouted, his hands diving toward my sides.

"Luke, no—" I tried to protest, but it was too late. His fingers found my ribs, pressing into the tender, bruised skin. The pain shot through me like a lightning bolt, and I couldn't suppress the gasp of pain that escaped my lips.

Instantly, everyone froze. Luke pulled back, his face etched with worry. "Bella, what’s wrong?"

"I... nothing. It’s nothing," I lied, trying to hide the grimace that threatened to take over my face.

Ashton, now more concerned than ever, stepped closer. "Bella, that didn’t sound like nothing. Lift your shirt."

"No, it’s fine, really," I protested, backing away slightly.

"Bella, please," Michael interjected, his voice soft but firm. "We’re worried about you. Just show us."

Reluctantly, I pulled up the hem of my shirt, revealing the dark, mottled bruises that marred my torso. The room fell into a stunned silence, the air thick with unspoken questions and concern.

"Isabella," Calum finally spoke, his voice breaking. "Who did this to you?"

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of their gazes on me. My heart pounded in my chest, and the words felt like lead on my tongue.

"It's... it’s not what you think."

"Then what is it Bella?"

I took a shaky breath, my eyes darting between their worried faces. "They're from... from our p-parents."

The room seemed to close in around me as I saw the horror and sadness in their eyes. The silence was deafening, and I couldn’t help but feel exposed, vulnerable, but also oddly relieved. The truth was out, and there was no turning back now.

Calum stepped forward, his eyes brimming with tears. "Bella, what? Is that why you got taken away from them? Bella, you came to us 2 months ago how are they still that bad? Why didn't you tell me? I could have protected you. Scratch that, I should have protected you!"

"It’s not your fault, Calum," I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "You couldn’t have known."

Luke disappeared for a moment and returned with a bag of ice. He gently placed it against my bruises, his touch tender and careful. The cold numbed the pain slightly, but the emotional weight of my confession lingered.

"Tell us everything," Michael said softly, his voice steady. "We need to know, Bella. You’re safe now."

I hesitated, but the supportive presence of my brothers gave me the strength to continue. "It started when I was little," I began, my voice trembling. "They... they would get angry, and... they took it out on me. It got worse over the years. Hitting, yelling, sometimes even locking me in my room for days. They would tell me how I'm worthless, how i would amount to nothing. They would tell me that i was disgusting, fat and amount to nothing."

Calum pulled me into a hug, his arms wrapped tightly around me as if he could shield me from all the pain I had endured. "I'm so sorry, Bella. I promise you, you're safe now. We'll protect you."

Oh Cal, if only you knew.