Sweater Weather//n.h.

It's Too Cold

Haleii shielded the blows as they kept being forced onto her olive tan skin. Each one sent her buckling to the floor, pulling her knees to her chest to stop the pain. She never said a word, she just let the abuse come, speaking back could be fatal. "Next time you try to run. I'll know." He spat, and kicked with each word. "You won't escape me that easily. I'm not that gullible."

His cold hands, that felt way to cold for the temperature in the room, grabbed both of her arms and stood her up, so he could look into her pale green eyes. Tears followed a small trail down each crevice of her cheeks, and dripped to her shirt that she always looked so beautiful in to him. Even if the beauty lead to his abuse. He knew not to apologize. "Don't you love me anymore, Haleii? Don't I mean anything to you?"

Haleii only cried in reply. She did love him. But she saw the monster he had become. She knew he would try and say sorry, then be the perfect boyfriend for a while, until he abused again. She wasn't going to be alive much longer to be able to tell if one day Christpher Carver would change. She didn't want that life with someone who couldn't look past a flaw into a world of beauty.

It's too cold for her in this world. But Christopher could live in it, with no problem at all. Haleii waited for him to turn away and leave but he didn't. "I won't let you leave, Haleii. You loved me once. . ."

"That's until you changed. . ." Haleii whispered.

He looked taken back. His hands felt a whole degree colder, as he gripped her tighter, her arms feeling like hammers pounded into them. Christopher dragged her up the creaky oak stairs and up into their bedroom. "Changed? Changed how? That I'd rather throw you in front of a bullet than take it myself? That if we lived by a cliff, I'd push you over it without a second thought!? Changed how, huh?! How have I changed!?"

He tugged her inside the bathroom and pushed her against the beige walls. "Because you're no longer the person I fell in love with!" She shouted, the tears streaming from her eyes once again.

Instead of being shocked, Christopher grinned. And it was one of those terrifying grins that scared her into realizing the situation she was in. His full pink lips that used to kiss her every night, and place chaste kisses to her temple, tugged in, showing his sharp insisors. "See now we're getting somewhere."

Christopher tugged her back into the bedroom and threw her onto the red silky duvet. "You liked it when I used to do this. . ." He pushed her down roughly, holding her body down by his thighs. "And you liked it when I touched you here!" His voice was getting louder by the second, as he grabbed her waist. "What's changed here!? Tell me, bitch!?"

"Everything!" She shouted back, trying to shield the body she once wanted to show him wholly. "Please, stop!" She choked out. "P-please! What did I do to deserve this!?"

"Everything!" He mimicked her answer. "Don't talk to me like I changed you! Because you little bitch, I didn't do anything to you. If you weren't so damn crazy, someone might actually love you! And to go one further, I did! Until you strung up your own noose, and buried your own grave!"

Christopher got off of her, but not without one more blow to her already broken body. "I'm going out." He started, "I might find another woman, I might fuck her. I might bring her home. Make yourself fucking scarce, or maybe I'll tie you up so I can pleasure a different woman, and show you a treatment that could've been you."

He walked swiftly to the door and stopped before leaving, "Maybe, I'll fuck her and you. . . And I won't feel remorse when you scream for her help, and she's already on the sidewalk, in her hooker heels and on her way." He slammed the door behind him, the house shaking on its base.

Haleii hugged her knees and sobbed into them. 'What did I do to deserve this?' She thought. 'I've been faithful. I've been his shoulder to cry on. Why is it, I'm not perfect enough for him?'

She stood up from the bed and wobbled down the stairs. Christopher was going to be gone for a while, and she knew it. She also knew he probably would bring another woman home. He's done it before, and she knew he'd do it again. She looked around the kitchen and realized Christopher made a mess while hitting her this time, and that was mostly trash knocked over.

She grabbed the trash from the black trash can and the empty beer cans from the floor and took it out to the dumpster just up the road. When she passed, him.

They've been neighbors for years. And every major holiday so many people fled into his house. He was always merry and never looked down on anyone. He was super sweet. Every holiday he'd bring a pie or two for her and Christopher, and his crooked teeth always brought her a small smile. He was a genuine guy.

Just like Christopher was.

She lifted the lid to the dumpster, Niall threw his away first. "Oh-" he almost ran straight into her, and when she tried stepping out of the way, he only followed, "I'm sorry, Haleii. . ." They finally sorted out their directions. "Oh, let me get that for you." Niall took the jumbo black trash bag from Haleii's hands and tossed it into the large forest green dumpster. "I-I'm sorry. . ." His cheeks blushed a bright red, like Christmas lights on a Christmas tree.

Niall was super shy in front of her. Even in high school he found her so stunning, so beautiful. But she loved Christopher, not him. Living by both of them was a constant reminder that she loved him. Every major holiday she'd smile at Christopher whenever he brought something over, like a pie or a delicious holiday food. But she was so stunning.

"No, I'm sorry Niall. I'm in your way," she said quietly. Niall's heart only fluttered by the softness. "I'm sorry to bother you."

"N-no no!" He chuckled warmly, making Haleii smile on the inside. He had a wonderful voice. Every once in a while she'd walk by and hear him singing and his voice was so joyous. Especially when his guitar was strummed as well. "No you are definitely not bothering me!"

Haleii looked at the ground with a slight blush. "Y-you don't have to. . . You know say those sweet things. . . I-I'll just go. . ."

"Wait!" Niall smiled at her bright emo styled hair as she walked away. He sprinted after her, his Nikes striking the pavement with a scuff. "At least let me walk you back to your apartment." He said as he was right next to her, not even slightly winded. She didn't protest, so he assumed it was fine. They weren't far from it, but why not. He never saw her alone any other time. "So uh- how are you and Christopher?" Niall asked, putting his hands into his white pants pockets.

"Fine." She said rather quickly. "We're fine Niall. Just like every other functional relationship." She opened the door to her apartment and held the door against her hip. She didn't mean to sound rude, but nobody here knew what Christopher was like. They assumed he was still human.

"Yeah. That's good." Niall nodded. "Hey if you need anything just come on over. I got hot chocolate. . ." Niall's eyebrows wiggled. "And Oreos. And fried chicken. Netflix. I-if you need anything of course." Niall smiled at her.

Those crooked teeth made her smile to herself, although she was sure Niall caught it. "I-I'll keep that in mind, Niall. . . Thank you."

"Anytime Haleii. What are neighbors for, huh?" He chuckled, "I'll see you later." He waved and walked back towards his apartment. And she turned into hers.

Christopher wasn't going to be back for a while. She knew that. But when he got back, she knew it'd only be heartbreak. She couldn't afford that. But what could she even do. Run away? Nope she's tried that. Tell someone? How could she do that? Act happy and pretend Christopher was her love? That seemed to be the only option.

Haleii looked towards the blond who was talking to Shannon. He threw his head back in laughter which made him glow bright. Maybe he was her ticket out. . . Maybe he was her guardian Angel. . . Maybe the demons in her could glow like the Angel in him.

With one last glance to Niall, she stalked upstairs to her room that she shared with Christopher and laid down on the bed. Her body ached, her lungs burned. 'Maybe tomorrow will be different. And Christopher would love me again.' She thought quietly.

But she knew otherwise.