Together Apart | ✓

|Chapter II|

You were given this life because you are strong enough to live it

Chapter 2: It's not strawberry scented, it's mint flavoured

Sometimes I feel like I'm being held captive. The only times I left the house was when I went to school, the mall or a friend's house. I hardly had a life which made me want to leave. I just wanted to finish school and run away to wherever.

I couldn't go anywhere without him. He's with me at school. I couldn't go out anywhere without him escorting me and what's worse was that he lived with me. At first the idea of living with my boyfriend sounded great until changes started happening.

It killed me inside every single day. I hated living this way. A boyfriend was supposed to protect you, care for you, listen to you. He didn't do any of that. He couldn't protect me from himself. He thinks that he cares for me but all he does is hurt me.

He doesn't even listen to me. Even if he did listen, he hears what he wants to hear. Which was the stupid sh*t that came out of my mouth.

At the same time, I couldn't help my feelings. He did protect me, he cared for me and he did listen to me. Him not doing any of these things were only seldom. It was a confusing, messed up relationship that I didn't want to let go of.

It was like there were two sides of him, the Jordan I knew and the Jordan who wasn't concerned of my feelings.  That made his possessive side come out but it wasn't the kind that was attractive.

I finished up my homework and took a shower. I got dressed into a pair of blue ripped jeans, and a hoodie. I would've put in more effort in my outfit but I wanted to prevent another argument based on my clothing choice.

I just tried my best to do what he wanted because it stopped me from getting hurt. I already had enough bruises on me.

I descended down the stairs with my hands tucked in the pockets of my hoodie. Once I reached the first floor, I tossed myself on the couch and watched some television.

I stayed there for a good twenty minutes and then Jordan came down. I stared back at the screen and acted as if I didn't hear him. I fiddled with the strings of the hoodie barely concentrating on the screen.

"Babe."

"Yeah?" I lowered the volume.

"Let's go." I got up and switched off the tv. I slowly walked up to him avoiding looking at him.

He examined my outfit choice and appeared please. He came closer to me holding my jaw looking at where he had hit me. There was a huge red hand mark which I covered with some make up.

"Ray, babe. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." He rubbed the pad of his thumb against my cheek. I looked down the floor. He lifted my head and I was forced to have eye contact with him.

"Sorry isn't going to cut it all the time." I snapped. I then closed my eyes. "Jordan, you keep hurting me." I whispered and looked up to him.

His eyes had a sudden change of emotion. They became soft with a hint of worry in them. I was starting to give into his look. This was why I didn't look into his eyes. I tended to forget about all the things he'd done to me just by a simple look.

"Ray, can we please forget about what happened today? For both of our sakes."

I couldn't help but nod. I was one to forgive easily and I hated that about myself. Couldn't I be like other people and hold a grudge? Maybe then people wouldn't push me around and I'd be able to stand up for myself.