Vita

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"I need to find Levi," I say the next morning, "he needs to know. Even though we broke up, I still hope I can be friends with him."

"I understand. I trust you, Hale," Isaiah pauses, "did anything happen between you two?"

"What do you mean?" I hold my breath.

"Did he hurt you?" he asks me in a whisper.

"What makes you think that?"

"It's just when you two first started dating... it was different than this fall."

I sigh, I don't know myself, "he did, in a way. After the school year ended he told me he didn't want me to talk to you... and I listened."

Isaiah nods, "But did he physically hurt you?"

"Once. Over the summer he slapped me, but it was nothing. It was just a problem in our relationship that we had to get over," I try to push it away, but the events that happened that July came tumbling back...

"Happy Fourth, princess," Levi kisses my forehead gently.

"Happy Fourth to you too," I smile and pull away. We stand in his backyard, where we can see the fireworks in the distance. It's perfect.

I can see something is bothering Levi by the tension I can feel. I take a deep breath then ask, "Is something wrong?"

"It's nothing," but he doesn't make eye contact.

"There's something. I can tell," I move myself so I'm looking at him directly.

"I didn't hear from you yesterday," his fists clench and I sigh.

"In the morning I was hanging out with my aunt. We went shopping," I inform him.

"And the afternoon?" Levi asks.

"I was talking to Isaiah over the phone. And I know you told me not to talk to him because you didn't trust him, but he called me and was curious where I've been so far during the summer because we're friends! Do you not want me to hang out with my friends?"

"No, Eleanor. I don't want you hanging out with him," he yells at me.

"Levi! For God's sake! We're just friends, you don't have to worry," my jaw clenches.

"I don't care if you're 'just friends', Eleanor. I don't want you around him!"

"Since when did you become my parent?" I scoff.

Anger flickers in his eyes and it all happens so fast. His hand radiates pain in my cheek. I gasp and grab my cheek where pain radiates. He hit me, Levi hit me.

I look in Isaiah's eyes and take a deep breath, "can you come with me to Levi's?"

"Of course, Hale. I'm with you till the end," he kisses my cheek and we leave for Levi's house. My wound now feeling better, but still sore. I hope Levi believes me, and I hope he isn't as mad anymore.