Be Quiet, He Can Hear [To Be Edited]

Chapter 5: Meeting Marcus: Picture of Marcus

Chapter 5: Meeting Marcus

{A/N: following this author's note will be Charlotte's dream/flashback of Jackie's marriage to Eddie. The wedding takes place two years after the last chapter. The rest of this chapter, post flashback, takes place four years after the previous chapter. This means Charlotte is 23, Nicholas is 24, and Cara is 4.

Enjoy the chapter and please vote/fan/comment 

-CourtneyNicole}

(Charlotte's POV) 

**I smiled proudly as I watched Cara walk down the aisle, wearing her little flower girl dress, holding hands with the ring bearer, Eddie's five year old cousin, David. My daughter obviously didn't understand why she had to walk down the aisle of the church but she knew that it was important to mommy and Aunt Jackie, plus she got to wear a beautiful dress and throw flowers on the ground. She was happy.

When the two children got to the alter it was my turn to walk. I flinched away slightly as Eddie's childhood best friend, Robert Everest, his name was, held out his arm for me to take. I took a deep breath, and lightly grasped his elbow, trying to put some distance between us so that Nicky, who sat near the front, wouldn't get angry.

I walked down the aisle with Robert, a tight smile on my face as I made eye contact with my husband. He was frowning. My breathing hitched in my throat as my chest tightened. Please don't let him hurt me and ruin Jackie's day! I prayed desperately. Robert and I parted to stand on opposite sides of the alter and I could breathe a little easier. As Jackie walked down the aisle on her father's arm, I glanced at Nicky who was still glaring. He was pissed.. Dammit!

Suddenly the scene changed and I was standing in the reception area with Cara, waiting for Nicky to dance with his daughter, but he was no where to be found. My father, who, along with my mother, were invited to the wedding as they had known Jackie for years, frowned at Nicky's absence and swept my daughter onto the dance floor, making her giggle. I smiled as they danced, absentmindedly wondering where my husband had gone.

Eventually, I turned my back on the dancing couples and walked into the bathroom and stared at my reflection in the mirror. I still looked like I had when I first got married but I was a little thinner and my eyes seemed permanently afraid. They were wide and they had stopped sparkling with life a long time ago. The amber color was murky with sadness and fear.

I sighed sadly and adjusted my hair and spread a little more coverup on the scars on the parts of my back that was visible in my brides' maids dress, and on my arms from the glass coffee table two years ago (they were still really noticeable, much to my dismay). I also spread some on the black eye that I had gotten from talking to David's father at the rehearsal dinner. Nicky was getting worse and worse and I was extremely afraid of him. I knew he was a good person though and he loved me and Cara so much. I'm just..provoking him.. I thought to myself. I deserve this...

The scene changed again and I was outside the reception area and Nicky was yelling at me. He screamed at me for walking with Robert and he called me a slut. He didn't care that i had no choice and had to walk with him. I was the maid of honor and Robert was the best man. It was required that I be partnered with him for Jackie and Eddie's wedding.

I tried to hold in my tears and stay strong as Nicky ranted and raved, but I couldn't... He slapped me hard, disgusted and demanded we go home..so we did.

Jackie was angry that I was leaving so early, she knew it was because of Nicky. I think she suspects what he does but she never said anything to me if she did. Eddie just smiled sadly at me. He understood why I had to go and I knew he wouldn't hold it against me. He was a good guy and Jackie was lucky to have him. I knew he wouldn't treat her like Nicky treated me, and even if he did, Jackie was so much stronger than me and she wouldn't stand for it.