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The silence is thick and awkward as we both wait for the other one to say something and I silently pray that he'll drop the subject although I get the feeling that's highly unlikely by the look on his face.

"Do you wanna tell me why you fainted earlier?" Grayson finally breaks the silence but I just sit there as the memories of earlier come flooding back at his question. After a couple of minutes he sighs running his hands through his hair "Lacey you have to talk to me, I can't fix it if you don't tell me" I scoff backing away from him "fix it? It doesn't matter, you can't fix it anyway Grayson" I snap at him getting off the bed to put some distance between us and of course he's right behind me "I can, if you tell me what happened and who did that to you I can fix.." "who did what to me?" I ask the panic rising in my chest he can't know, no one can know. I'm not supposed to be the poor broken little girl here, this is my fresh start.

"I saw the bruises when you fainted, not to mention the fact that you flinch any time someone comes near you and your constantly trying to cover up the gasps of pain at the slightest movement" he all but yells at me pulling his hair in frustration "I don't" "Do. Not. Lie. To me" he cuts me off " I barely hugged you and you acted as if I punched you" he says getting angrier and angrier with each word.

This can't be happening, what if he tells everyone, no one will want to be my friend. My freedom is over before it ever began Danny was right, "I ruin everything" I cry backing away in fear; Grayson looks mad, like really really mad. He's breathing heavy and his chest is heaving up and down, the vein in his neck  is bulging and he looks like he could kill someone, unfortunately for me I'm the only other one in the room. "Lacey tell me who the fuck did that to you!" He yells walking towards me "I'm sorry I'm sorry please don't hurt me!" I cry repeatedly bracing myself for the blow but it doesn't come.

When I risk a sneak peek I see Grayson holding the bridge of his nose trying to calm himself down  I stare at him waiting to see if he changes his mind, I'd like to try and brace for the impact.

"Stop staring at me like that" he sighs slowly gaining control of himself "I meant what I said; I'm not gonna hurt you" he told me finally making eye contact but I keep staring at him in amazement.

He's the first man in my life that hasn't lied about that, my dad and Danny would have beat me within an inch of my life for not answering their question and then raped me until I wished I was dead, but death never came no matter how bad I wanted it to I'd always wake up the next morning to relive that nightmare over and over and over again.

Before I realize what I'm doing I attach myself to Grayson holding onto him for dear life, at first he is surprised by my actions but then he gently wraps is arms around me making sure to keep them on my hips so he doesn't hurt me.

"I'm sorry" I cry into his chest his answer is a kiss on my head and holding me until there's a knock on the door. I panic clinging tighter to Grayson at the sound "shh.. it's just Gabby" he whispers as the door opens but still I cling harder to him if that's even possible "here's the wrap and your clothes" she tells Grayson "clothes" what does he need clothes for "I'm not sleeping in my jeans" he answers chuckling as he takes the  items from his sister; I didn't dare look up to ashamed with myself to look at Gabby but I could feel her eyes on me.

"Let's go wrap your ribs" Grayson says gently nudging me towards the bathroom but I freeze again "Lace" he sighs "we have to wrap your ribs or they're never going to heal" "I..I can do it" I stutter pulling away reaching my hand out for the wrap but he just sighs like he doesn't believe I can handle it. "Baby I want to make sure it's done right" he says looking directly at me "I" I start to say but am cut off by Gabby "I'll help her" she offers which doesn't provide me with the relief it should, I didn't want anyone knowing, but now apparently both of them know just great I sigh putting my head in my hands taking a deep breath.

"Fine" Grayson agrees "I" "one of us is helping you whether you like it or not" he tells me matter of factly my mouth just gapes open at his audacity. I thought I had gotten away from overbearing control freaks but apparently I just attract them "come on Lacey" Gabby says softly opening the bathroom door not having another choice I follow her into the bathroom with the tears already starting.

"I don't know what happened I don't need to know what happened, I just want to make sure you're okay" Gabby says softly surprising me "I know Grayson can be a little overbearing, but he means well" surprised I look up meeting her eyes for the first time since we left the game last night.

"Okay fine, he can be a lot overbearing" she laughs "but he really does mean well" I don't respond, because I don't know what to say. I hardly know these people, I just met them yesterday and already I've spent the night in Grayson's arms, had more breakdowns than I have in my entire life, and they know about the bruises; yet they have been nothing but nice to me and somehow I know that she's right Grayson does mean well, he's just a lot, but he makes me feel safer than I ever have, than I ever thought possible and that scares me.

"Well?" Grayson knocks on the door bringing me back to reality "give us a minute" Gabby yells back shaking her head "so impatient" "you've been in there for 10 minutes, it doesn't take that long" ignoring her brother Gabby turns to me "if you want to do it I can turn around, I already know Grayson's gonna inspect it when we're done anyway" she laughs but I panic I don't want him looking "hey what's wrong?" Gabby asks concerned.

"Can you do it, I don't want him looking" I tell her feeling the panic rising "are you sure?" "Please! He can't look, he can't" I panic as he knocks again "Lacey" he calls out "okay, okay" Gabby tries calming me down "breathe" "what's going on in there?" Grayson calls again getting impatient "Lacey you have to tell him everything's okay" I look at her confused "he won't listen to me and if you don't answer him he'll break the door down" gabby answers "but" I protest as the knocking gets louder.

"Lacey!" He yells "just tell him you'll be out in a minute" Gabby tells me pulling up my shirt to wrap my ribs "just a minute" I call out but it comes out as more of a whisper when I hear the gasp from Gabby as she gets a good look at my ribs. My whole entire stomach and back is nothing but one big bruise, I've never seen it this bad, although they've never beaten me this bad before.

I don't even know how I was able to run but I'm glad I was, I don't think I could have taken anymore. I'm surprised my body hasn't already shut down from the abuse. "All done" Gabby smiles pulling my shirt down and opening the door as Grayson threatens to knock it down "what the fuck took so long?" He practically growled at his sister coming over to inspect me.

"Are you okay?" He asks as his eyes roam my body looking for I don't know what "mmhmm" I answer nodding my head "you're sure?" He asks again staring me down as if he doesn't believe me "yeah" I mumble taking in the sight of him in nothing but a pair of shorts slung low on his hips leaving his whole upper body on full display. I've never seen someone look so good, granted I wasn't allowed to look, but still I've seen tv and not even they look like Grayson.

"Please don't!" I beg in panic as I feel his hands start to tug my shirt up thankfully he stops as soon as the words are out "I just want to make sure it's wrapped right" he says staring me in the eyes "Gab..Gabby did it" I stutter praying he will leave it alone "fine" he secedes dropping my shirt and placing his hand on my low back "come on" he nods towards the bedroom and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as I hurry to my bed before he changes his mind.

"So, I was originally thinking we could have a girls night" Gabby announces as soon as I'm on my bed making my eyes light up I've never had a girls night "but since these two have ruined that idea" she adds playfully glaring at the two boys to which Grayson flips her off and Colton pulls her into him snuggling his face into her neck kissing it "I was thinking we could have a movie night" she grins pulling out bags full of candy and snacks .

" I didn't know what you liked so I got a little bit of everything" she smile's sheepishly tossing a bag on my bed. "And since it was my idea I get to pick the movie!" Gabby sing songs and both boys groan "please don't pick one of those sappy movies" Colton begs "we're gonna watch my favorite movie" she tells him with a big grin on her face making him and Grayson groan again "you're gonna love it!" Gabby guarantees me turning on the movie.

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