Stitch (5SOS)

Chapter 10.

Bay's POV


I sat next to Luke as he wrapped his arms around me. A million thoughts ran through my mind. How was I supposed to tell him, Luke Hemmings, that I was a punching bag? I looked at him, taking in every feature. He returned my gaze, sending chills up my spine. He looked scared, distraught, like a small child, hiding in a corner. In that moment I realized, I couldn't let him think all of this was his fault.

"Luke, I have to tell you something," I paused, realizing it was a hell of a lot harder to talk about than the shrink said. "What happened, the reason I, kind of, freaked out doesn't have anything to do with you, really." I lifted my hand to cradle his face for only a short moment. "Last year, well do you remember Stephen McClay?" He nodded, signaling for me to continue."Well last year, or last summer, I guess, we broke up and," I knew that the longer I dragged this out, the more it would hurt,"that night, he snuck in through the basement window. He, then, made his way up to my bedroom and dragged me out of my bed. He took me outside, shoved me into his car and drove. He took me to the old cemetary on Round Station and." I stopped, my mouth and brain, both unable to form the words I was screaming in my head. Luke looked at me, as though he could see me battling with myself in my head. I finally mustered the words,"and he beat me." I knew that the next part would feel like I was the doctor, telling my mom and brother what happened. "He cracked 4 of my ribs, one of which punctured my lung. He broke my arm, leg, and bruised many of my vertebrae." I looked down at my hands, my lungs on fire because I had forgotten to breathe. I took a deep breath that was accompanied by waves of tears. I had said it. I had told him. I had told someone outside of the people who knew. I pulled my legs to my chest, expecting him to leave, to be scared and run out. To my surprise, he pulled me to his chest and let me sob, not caring that I was getting mascara all over his shirt. I remembered one part I had left out. "He's out of jail now." I managed between sobs. He pulled me closer, engulfing my body almost completely.

"He won't hurt you ever again, not while I'm still breathing." He whispered to me, as he kissed the top of my head. "I'm here forever. I'm never leaving you." I lifted my head and kissed him. It was the kind of kiss you wished could last forever. The kind you run through airports for. We pulled away, our eyes still closed, and kept our foreheads together. I heard Alissa come out of the kitchen and over to where we were. I shifted and looked her in the eye, as she bent down in front of me. With Luke's forehead pressed, lightly, against my temple, I reached out a hand to her. She took it and held it between hers, never breaking eye contact. Calum appeared by her side, wrapping an arm around her. We stayed like this for several minutes, silent but it comforting. I motioned for Alissa and Calum to sit down, after a while. Alissa let go of me as they sat down beside Luke and turned on the T.V. Luke didn't move, just like he said, he wasn't going anywhere, ever.