piper [n.h.] -Discontinued.

Chapter Six

There's a banging at the door. It's probably not even a "bang" but since I just woke up, the noise startled me and it keep getting louder.

"I'm coming! Fuck." I force myself out of bed without putting a shirt or pants on. I'm just walking around in my Calvin Klein briefs, and I don't care.

I open the door to see a small woman standing in front of me. It's Piper.

"Oh hey. I forgot you were coming today." I greet her. Her gray eyes are staring at my underwear and her cheeks immediately turn from pale to bright red.

"I-I should've called before coming here but I.. I had to get out." Her focus is back on my face.

"It's okay. Come in."

She slowly makes her way into the living room and takes a seat on the couch.

I look down at my morning wood and quickly run into my room, looking for sweatpants.

"I don't mind." She says shyly. "It is your house and all."

I walk back into the room with my black sweatpants and pull the drawstring tighter.

"I didn't realize how many tattoos you have. I've always wanted one on my wrist. An infinity sign."

"Can I ask you something?" I bite my tongue after the words come out.

"Sure. Anything."

"Why'd you want to come here, of all places?"

She pauses for a minute. "Because I have no where else to go." She looks up at me. "And I don't have any one else to talk to."

"Oh."

"Yeah. I just thought.. maybe we could get to know each other better. I mean, you seem like a nice guy." I have to laugh at that. But her face is serious, so I shut up.

"Well, I guess you're welcome here as long as you'd like." I rub the back of my neck, another nervous habit.

"Thanks. I hope it isn't any trouble. It's just.." She trails off, and looks away.

"It's just what? What happened? What did he do to you?" I feel my fists clench down by my sides, and I get angry. I don't know what's going on with me. I just met this girl.

She doesn't answer me. She just buries her face in her hands. Her back heaves as she lets out her sobs. I don't know what to do. I place my hand on her back and rub it in an attempt to calm her down. When she doesn't, I kneel down and lift her chin up.

"Tell me what he did."

Her bright eyes look dark and dull, surrounded by red, blotchy skin. "Let me show you."

I'm confused at first, but she lifts up her shirt, right below her breasts. My eyes widen as I see several bruises decorating her ribcage. I place my hand on them, and she flinches, squeezing her eyes shut. I trace the outlines of the black and blue splotches.

"Please..." She whispers. I look up to meet her gaze, and I pull away.

"I'm sorry. For this."

"It's not your fault." She shakes her head, pulling her shirt down.

"Can you tell me what happened that ended in this?"

"Where do I begin?" She practically laughs. "He's always mean. So it's nothing new. But he's been getting more and more violent lately. I'm his very own punching bag. And I'm an idiot for staying with him. My friends say all the time how I deserve better and all. But do I? No one would want a damaged girl."

"Anyway, I was arguing with him about God knows what. And I said something I shouldn't have. I knew right as the words left my mouth that I was in for it. He didn't hesitate, either. He punched me in my side, as you can clearly see. But I thought it was just one and done. I was wrong. He kept punching me. And with every blow he smiled. I couldn't breathe after the first two. I was practically gasping for air. I fell to the floor on the last punch, and he gave a kick to make sure I'd stay down. And I did."

I feel my anger boiling and my face is probably red. My breathing is faster and I want to punch something. No, I want to punch him. I want to kill him for what he's done to her. She doesn't deserve to be beaten, no one does.

"Where is he now?" I say through clenched teeth.

"Why? Don't go after him, Niall. Don't risk yourself for me. I'm not worth it."

"Stop! Stop saying bad things about yourself! Dammit. You are worth it and you shouldn't be treated like shit by some asshole." I pace around the room, trying to think straight. I rarely get this mad.

"You don't even know me."

"So? I thought you said you wanted to get to know each other."

"I do."

"So lets start learning some things. Right after I go beat the shit out of him."

"No. I don't know where he is. He's probably sleeping with some other girl right now. That's what he usually does."

"Why are you okay with this? It's fucking terrible! It's worse than terrible, it's.. it's.."

"Because it's all I know." She cuts me off. I slouch down in the couch. I take deep breaths to calm myself down.

"You could know more. You could know what it's like to be loved. Cared about." I run my fingers through my hair and I don't even notice that she's staring at me.

"What?" I ask when our eyes meet.

"I'd like that." She whispers. Her makeup is smeared from her breakdown earlier, but she still looks beautiful.

"Okay."