It's a Long Way Home (Luke Hemmings)

An End to the Madness

   I woke up feeling really crap. I groaned, knowing I would have to get out of bed at some point so it might as well be now. I rolled over in my mattress and peered into the empty suitcase beside me.
   I got out of bed a little less than gracefully and undid the bun in my hair. I brushed my teeth, took a quick shower, and thew on some mascara. Then I started packing. I was tossing the clothes from my drawers into my suitcase carelessly when I heard the front door slam. I flinched at the sound of a loud screech.
"Where the hell is that bitch?!" Avery screamed.
   I stopped packing halfway through my second drawer and decided to see what Avery was making such a big deal about. God knows what she wanted to yell at me about today.
"You're such a slut. I mean, really," Avery screamed.
"What the hell are you talking about. Calm down your boyfriend is asleep."
"Oh and of course you'd know that, right? You were with him, weren't you?"
"No. Why the hell are you yelling."
   Avery groaned and shoved me so harshly that I fell to the floor and landed on my butt. I was just about ready to beat her to a pulp.
"My boyfriend texted me while he was drunk last night. Only, it wasn't meant for me. It was for your skank ass."
I rolled my eyes at her, "how is that my fault?"
Avery stopped and pulled her phone out of her pocket, "I love you Dani. Please come help me," she read aloud.
I knit my eyebrows together in confusion. He couldn't have meant that for me, he was mad at me. I almost didn't believe her until she shoved her phone in my face telling me to see for myself.
I sat there not knowing what to say. I mean, this time she kind of did have a reason to be angry. Granted, not this angry.
Luke's bedroom door opened and he stepped out in nothing but a pair of boxer shorts. He stumbled into the living room and stood in front of Avery.
She didn't even hesitate before slapping him across the face. Not just some quick and easy slap, either. She hit him hard. He looked at her like she had just told him she was cheating on him. I saw more emotional pain that physical pain in his expression. I knew about his ex girlfriend abusing him, but did Avery know?
Luke clenched his jaw and helped me up off of the ground. He smiled at me apologetically. Avery scoffed impatiently.
"Dani, you are the biggest whore I have ever seen," Avery said.
I crossed my arms over my chest, "mhm. Go on."
She narrowed her eyes at me, "you're ugly, worthless, and your whole life is just pathetic. I mean, really, what's it like knowing that no one loves you? Even the love of your life here couldn't give two shits. Because I'm better than you."
I bit down on my lip so hard that I was beginning to taste blood.
"I called Michael before I came here. Thought I'd tell him you were having sex with Luke behind his back. He ought to know, don't you agree?" She flashed me a sly grin.
"That never even happened," Luke protested.
"You're lying scum, Luke. But since we're being honest I couldn't give less of a shit because I've been cheating on you for months. You're just way too needy to be the only boy I'm with."
Luke shifted uncomfortably. He didn't look hurt anymore. I think he was past hurt. He was numb.
"You're so useless," Avery sighed.
"I am not useless," Luke said aggressively, "and Dani isn't pathetic."
Avery scoffed, "I'm so much better than Dani will ever be."
At this point I was so heated that I could practically feel my blood boiling under my skin. I looked at Luke who just pressed his lips together in a tight line. I wasn't about to let Avery get away with this, not anymore.
I clenched my hand together in a tight fist and punched Avery across her left cheek. It hurt my hand so much so it had to have hurt her face a hell of a lot more.
She screamed and pressed her hand over her mouth where a fat bruise was surfacing. She spat out the tiniest amount of blood and panicked.
"Luke why the hell aren't you helping me!" She screamed.
"I have no obligation to help you," he said flatly. I looked at him with surprise, and a little bit of pride.
"Of course you do, are you stupid? You're my boyfriend."
"No I'm not."
Avery's jaw dropped. She whined about the pain in her cheek and stomped her foot like a little girl.
"You can't break up with me again. You need me. No one's going to love you."
Luke chuckled and straightened his body out.
"Don't call me. Don't text me. If I see you anywhere near this apartment again I'll put in request for a restraining order due to domestic violence and verbal abuse. You're an evil, manipulative bitch and I never want to see or hear from you again. I don't deserve it. Dani doesn't deserve it. Delete my number."
"You're the biggest jerk I've ever met. Good luck finding someone who's going to put up with you."
"Get out."
Avery yelled and stomped out of the living room knocking a bowl off of the kitchen counter in the process. There was a loud shattering sound that almost met the intensity of her scream while she walked out and slammed the front door.
"Good fucking riddance," I said.

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Luke and I had cleaned the glass up off of the ground and he put a pair of pants on. I was too distracted to even think about packing so I heated up some leftover pizza in the fridge and Luke and I sat in comfortable silence at the kitchen counter eating our soggy pizza.
A few hours later around 4 PM Michael walked in and dropped his bag on the floor when he saw just how bad Luke and I looked.
My hand was red at the knuckles from making contact with Avery's face. My lip was swollen because I had busted it when I was shoved onto the ground. Luke's cheek was bright red with a few purple spots scattered over it and he had a long scratch mark down his shoulder.
"What on earth happened to you guys?" Michael asked.

I told Michael everything. I told him how Avery had been treating Luke and I and how we both just got fed up. Luke told Michael about his tendency to stay in abusive relationships because he hadn't known any other way. He also said that I was his intervention, which made me smile.
"Avery said she told you that I was hooking up with Luke," I said to Michael.
"Oh. Yeah. I didn't really believe her, I knew she was just trying to start things between us. She did send me a screenshot of Luke's text, though."
Luke's face flushed red, "sorry about that. I was a little intoxicated."
"A little," I remarked sarcastically.

"Well, how are you feeling then Luke?" Michael asked.
Luke had a big smile on his face and said, "I feel like I'm finally in control of my life for the first time in a long time."

The three of us had spent hours and hours sitting on the couch talking. It wasn't even about relationships anymore. At some point we just all started talking about weird experiences we've had and all of the stupid things we've done but never told anyone about.
It came to a point when it was really late at night and Michael said he should be getting home so that he could get some sleep. Luke offered for him to spend the night and he agreed to sleep on the couch.
Luke and I walked into our own rooms so that we could go to sleep.
I slipped under my covers and smiled excitedly when I heard my phone buzz from beside me.
Luke:
Goodnight Dani. Thank you for letting me know how stupid I was being. You kinda saved my life, in a way.
I smiled and sent him a quick response before going to bed.
You're welcome, Luke. Goodnight.

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A/n:

Hey!
This chapter is empowering. I just wanted to kinda reach out to anyone who has experienced/ is experiencing an abusive relationship. It's a serious thing. Whether it be emotional or physical, please be careful. If something doesn't feel right, that's probably because it isn't. Don't ever stay in a relationship or friendship with someone who shows signs of abuse.
That being said, I love you all so much have a fantastic day. Please vote, comment, and share. It means the world to me.
Miss America