Secrets | 5SOS

[9]

Luke's POV*

They didn't notice it, but i did. I may be a gynaecologist, but I've seen these signs before. I watched as her breathing sped up when Calum saw those hickies. I saw her tense and flinch when he scolded her.

Bella barely even went out, she only went to school so i don't even think she has a boyfriend. I did not like the signs i was seeing.

"Calum you should've let her explain!" Ashton spoke exasperated as him and i locked eyes. He saw the same signs that i did.

I ran up to Isabella's room and the state she was in broke my heart.
She was sitting in a corner, her body curled up in a ball, shaking as she cried and struggled to breathe.

I went closer to her trying to hug her. The poor girl was gonna pass out if she didn't regulate her breathing.

"No! Please don't touch me!"
She flinched and inched back into the wall, if it was even possible.

My own body panicked, these were all signs of assault. I was broken out of my thoughts as i heard a door slam.

"Ashton! Ashton, please come in here!"

Ashton ran up the moment i called him, his eyes widening at the sight of Bella.

"Oh God, please no." Ashton spoke his voice breaking.

"Bella, baby please talk to us." Ashton tried to be as gentle as possible, trying to respect the boundaries Bella had just set with us.

Isabella’s POV

Ashton and Luke were trying their best to calm me down, but my thoughts were racing, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. The memories of my parents, the pain, the fear – it all came rushing back.

Michael walked in, just home from work, his expression turning from confusion to alarm as he took in the scene. Without a word, he pulled out his phone and dialed Calum's number.

"Cal, you need to come home. Now," he said, his voice tense. "It's Isabella. She's... she's not okay."

Calum had been on a drive, trying to cool down after our argument. I could hear the panic in Michael's voice, and it only made my anxiety worse. I tried to pull myself together, but the weight of everything I’d been hiding was suffocating me.

"Bella," Ashton said softly, crouching down to my level. "You're safe. We're here. Just breathe with me, okay? In and out. Slow and steady."

I tried to follow his instructions, but every breath felt like a struggle. My vision was starting to blur, and I felt like I might pass out.

Calum burst into the room, his face pale. He took one look at me and his expression softened, the anger from earlier melting away into concern.

"Isabella," he said gently, approaching me cautiously. "What’s going on? Talk to us, please."

I shook my head, the tears flowing freely now. I couldn't keep it inside any longer. The dam had broken, and everything came pouring out.

"I'm disgusting." I choked out, my voice barely a whisper. "You'll be disgusted with me. Please don't hate me."

"Bella, no," Calum said, his voice breaking. "We could never hate you."

Ashton wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a comforting embrace. "You're safe now," he whispered. "You're safe with us."

Michael sat down beside me, his eyes filled with a mix of rage and sadness. "Bells, Please talk to us."

Luke was kneeling next to me, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. "You're so strong, Bella. We're here for you."

“They hurt me,” I whispered, feeling the tears coming again.

Michael’s face tightened. “What do you mean, Bella?”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “There are kids at school who bully me. They call me names, push me around, and sometimes... it gets physical.”

Calum’s fists clenched at his sides, and Ashton’s grip on my shoulder tightened. “Why didn’t you tell us?” Luke asked gently.

“I was scared,” I admitted. “I thought it would make things worse. And then... there’s more. One of the boys... he...” My voice broke, and I couldn’t finish the sentence.

Ashton’s eyes widened in realization. “Bella, did someone hurt you?”

I nodded, unable to look at them. “He... he touched me. In ways he shouldn’t have. I tried to fight him off, but he was stronger. He said if I told anyone, it would get worse. Him and his girlfriend made me meet him by the park. They said they'll post my secrets if i don't."

A silence fell over the room, heavy and filled with unspoken rage and sorrow. Calum was the first to speak, his voice shaking with anger. “Who is he? Bella, tell us who did this to you.”

I shook my head, the fear still gripping me. “I can’t. I just... I can’t.”

“You don’t have to be afraid anymore,” Michael said softly. “We’ll protect you. We’ll make sure he never hurts you again.”

Ashton pulled me into another hug, his voice soothing. “We’ll get through this together. You’re not alone, Bella. We’re your family, and we love you.”

But all i could do was claw at my skin trying to get the feeling of him off of me.