Aquiver (Original)

Attack. Retreat. Attack. Retreat

The week came and went and it was finally a nice, calming, Friday evening. Julie was out with her friends for the night and Becker took this as the perfect opportunity to spend time with Isabella. He drove up to Boulder after making plans with his new friend. He parked his bike and knocked on her door.

Isabella opened the door with a smile. "Hey Becker!" she giggled. "How are you? Please, come in!" She moved to the side and let him into her apartment. "I'm doing good!" Becker replied. "Thank you for letting me come over. The guys went to a concert and I didn't want to go. And Julie's out with her friends."

"That's all good! Are you hungry or anything? And is Julie okay with you coming over? You don't really talk about her much," she asked, going to the kitchen area of her small apartment. She was wearing a bright red, fit and flare dress with red converse. Her hair was styled in soft waves.

"Yeah. She's fine with it."

"Okay! I have chicken in the oven with some vegetables. I hope you're okay with that."

"Absolutely perfect. Thank you."

Isabella smiled and she set the table. "Please, sit! Dinner should be done in a couple minutes."

Becker took off his coat and nodded, sitting down.

"So, how come you don't really talk about Julie?" she asked, taking out the food from the oven.

"Oh. I just don't," he replied. "She's not really too fun to talk about."

"How come?" she asked curiously.

"Um....she just isn't."

"Oh...okay. I just wasn't sure. I saw some bruises on your stomach one time when you stretched. Your shirt lifted up a little and I wasn't sure if it was from her or something else. I didn't mean to look. I was just curious."

"Probably something else..."

Isabella nodded and made Becker a plate. "There you go," she said, handing him the plate. "I hope this is alright for dinner." Becker grinned. "It's perfect," he replied. "Thank you very much." He took his fork and knife and began eating.

"I'm sorry to bring this up, but I have to know. This question has been buzzing in my head for months since I saw that bruise on your stomach. I want you to be honest with me...please," Isabella suddenly said. The two had just finished eating.

"Okay," he replied. "What is it that you want to know?"

"Does Julie abuse you?"

The question hit him like a semi-truck would a deer. He froze and zoned out for a minute.

"Becker?" Isabella said softly. "Becker, are you okay?"

Becker took a deep breath and then snapped out of zoning out. "Hmm? Yeah. I'm fine...um...about Julie..." he began.

Thoughts suddenly raced through his head like hawks swooping down for their prey.

What if she cuts me off?

What if she starts talking to me less and less?

But...we have so much in common and she's always been supportive of me.

Becker, you're losing it! Chill! WHAT IF...

"Becker?" Isabella said again. "Becker, hey, are you okay? Do you need anything?"

Feeling his heart rate increase, memories flooded back of every single time Julie ever hit him.

Called him names.

Degraded his personality.

Made fun of some part of his body whether it was his smile or his hair or how he dressed.

Threatened to hurt him.

Anything remotely abusive, whether he recognized it or not, came flooding back and the mental dam he had formed in his brain couldn't hold it back any longer.

Becker's hands trembled slightly and Isabella got worried. She got up and helped him to the couch.

"Becker," she said. "Becker, sweetheart, look at me." She held his face in her hands and made him look at her.

Becker snapped back into reality and he looked at her. "I'm so sorry," he said. "I'm so sorry..."

"Becker, you don't have to answer the question. Okay? I'm sorry for asking, sweetie pie. I think I have a good enough of an answer just from your physical response. And I promise you...I promise you, I will help you out of this. You don't deserve any of this. None of it," Isabella replied. She leaned her forehead against his and gently rubbed his cheeks with the pads of her thumbs.

Becker closed his eyes. Once he had calmed down and was fully relaxed, his body released tension like a machine being turned off. He sighed and opened his eyes, looking her in the eye. "Can I stay here with you tonight?" he asked sweetly.

Isabella smiled softly. "Yeah. Sure. But don't get any funny ideas, mister," she joked.

Becker chuckled softly. "You know me, dear. I won't." Isabella smirked and she got up. "I'll make up the bed for you then," she said.

Becker watched her leave to the bedroom and he rubbed his face. He took a deep breath and then checked his phone. Nothing from Julie, surprisingly. Alex had texted a few times, though. He replied to his best friend and then went to help Isabella out by cleaning the dishes for her.