I Only Knew to Run (a Demi Lovato fanfic)

Catch Me

Demi's POV:

"I thought you'd be more excited to see me," she frowned.

"Marissa, you have no idea how glad I am to see you!" I said with relief, although still trying to hold in the tears. All I could think about was Valerie. 

"Demi," Marissa's eyes widened. "What happened to your face!?"

"What?" I tried to play it off, forcing a smile. "You don't like i t?"

"Honestly," she put her hands on my shoulders. "What happened to us? You used to tell me everything...  Now barely even talk."

"I"m sorry," my voice was starting to quiver. "These past few weeks have been crazy. And I was gonna call you today but..." Ten I lost it. God what is wrong with me? Within seconds I was crying in Marissa's arms. "She's gone," I sobbed. "I lost her."

Valerie's POV:

He pushed me  ino the wall. "What the fuck were you thinking?" He yelled eofre guplping down what was left of the half empty beer bottle.

I squirmed to the corner of the room and sunk to the floor, pulling my knees up to my chest. "You can' control me..."

"Is that what you think?" He staggered closer and I prepared myself for a blow."You ungrateful bitch..." I felt the same stinging on my cheek as Demi porbably felt. "Get up!" he screamed.

I scrambled to my feet, attempting to stay quiet but a whimper escaped.

"What is that? You're crying now?" He pushed e back but I didn't fall. "I took you in when your parents fucking left you." He shoved me again. Harder this time. My body collided with the wall.

"Cole," I begged. "Please stop..." This can't be happening. When did my life become so fucked up? I want Demi...

I took another blow to the side. And the he pushed me again. "You ungrateful bitch. You don't love me."

"Yes I do!" I lied. "Cole," I put my shaking hand on his arm. "You have to believe I love you." Trying to make my story more believable, I kissed him. Then again. I relaxed with relief as he leaned into it.

"Valerie, I'm sorr." He pulled me into a hug. I was suprised to feel everything in me relax. "You know I love you, right?"

Taken aback by his complete personality change, I tried not to hesitate with my response. "Of course," I forced a smle and tried nt to pay attention to the forming bruises on my legs and arms. "Actually, Cole?"

"Yeah, babe."

"I'm kind of tired." I lied. "I'm gonna take a shower and go to bed."

"Kay, babe." I sarted to turn but he grabbed my wrist. "One more thing."

"Yeah?" I said, my heart racing.

"Do you forgive me?" He looke dstraight into my eyes, I could feel the intensity all the way down to my toes. This look of hisalways made me forget the bad and see him only for the good. The stinging on my cheek still tingled and I snapped back to reality. "No," I cried.

As I pushed passed him and out the door, he fell to the ground with surprise. Two floors down the stairs and I heard his angered steps behind me. I ran out the door and gasped when I collided with someone as we hit the ground.

"Valerie!?"