Always and Forever

Chapter 8: I Return a Virgin

As I covered Joseph with kisses I realised that I was madly in love with him and falling for him hard. I know, I know, I'm only in high school and don't know what love is; but, when it hits you in the face you damn well know what it is. I lay on his bed running my hands through his silky brown hair. I sat up abruptly and looked at Joseph.

"What? What's wrong?" Joseph said looking at me and sitting up.

"Nothing it's just..." I stopped.

"What?"

"Well, what if we break up?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we can't guarantee we'll stay together forever. I mean, we're still in high school and we don't really know what love is." I responded turning to face him.

"Babe, why would we break up? We have no reason to. We're both happy, at least I think we are. You are happy right?" He said fidgeting with the sheets.

"Yes, I'm very happy it's just a, thought of what if it did happen? You know?" I responded lightly.

"Babe," he grabbed me and pulled me to his chest, close enough to where I could hear his heartbeat. "Babe, you know I'm madly in love with you, isn't that enough?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Did someone say something?" Joseph asked puzzled.

"No, I was just thinking about it."

"Mmm okay then." He started running his hands through my hair; he also planted gentle kisses on my temple.

I stopped focusing on the what ifs and started focusing on the now. As he ran his hands through my hair, I started to get drowsy and then eventually fell asleep in his arms. I started to dream, but little did I know this dream was the start of an awful nightmare.  It started quite happy with Joseph and I sitting on the couch. The scene changed and I was in the kitchen arguing with my significant other.  And my little daughter, Stephanie, watched us fight. We were screaming and yelling and then, Joseph slapped me. As a result Stephanie screamed.

She stopped, dropped her Barbie and screamed. "Stop hitting mommy, daddy! Stop it!" She cried.

I was screaming and crying and he told me to shut up and punched me. Stephanie screamed again. "Stop daddy! Stop hitting mommy!" He kept punching and slapping me until, he shook me awake.

"Babe! Baby! Wake up!" Joseph said shaking me awake.

I was breathing hard and tears were streaming down my face. I looked up and for the first time,  I feared him. Even though it was just a dream, I still pulled away.

"What's wrong? What were you dreaming about?"

I looked at my hands and started sobbing.

"Hey, hey, hey it's okay now, just tell me what you dreamt about."

"You were..." I swallowed hard. "You were hitting and punching me." I started sobbing once more.

"Baby," he tilted my chin up towards his face with his index finger. "Baby, I would never lay a hand on you I promise." He kissed my cheek and tried to pull me to him, but I hesitated.

"What happens if it actually does? I can't go through an abusive relationship again or relive my past. You have to pinkie swear that you won't hit me." I said drawing further and further away from him.

He pulled me close and I let him this time. "Baby, I promise I won't harm you or let any harm come to you. I will be your knight in shining armor, your guardian angel, your best friend, your protector, and the love of your life. I Would take a bullet for you any day of the week I won't let anything happen to you I promise." He he kissed my fingers and I laid my head in his chest and listened to his heartbeat against my ear.