Part 3

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by Emmmaa_x

by Emmmaa_x

Grace’s POV

Grace began to wake up because of the sound of her phone vibrating on the table beside her bed. She groaned and turned to look at the clock and then groaned even louder when she noticed the time. She reached for her phone to see the caller ID lit up on the screen. Why would Hannah be calling at this time? She thought, a bad feeling immediately settling in the pit of her stomach.

“Hello?” Grace spoke cautiously as she answered the phone.

“Hi Grace, um, would there be any chance that you could come pick me up?” Hannah responded. Grace could hear the younger woman’s voice shaking slightly.

“Hannah what’s wrong?” Grace questioned worryingly. “Where are you?”

“ I’m fine. I mean, I just need a ride home is all. I’m walking down Megan’s street.” Grace knew that Hannah was lying about being fine, but she also knew that Hannah was speaking through tears so now wasn’t the time to question her further.

“Stay where you are, I’ll be there soon,” Grace replied hanging up the phone and jumping out of bed. She quickly changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt before grabbing her keys.

Grace slowed down as she drove past Megan’s house looking for Hannah. She carried on driving down the street and eventually spotted a figure sitting on the ground by the road. Grace pulled up next to Hannah and opened the door as Hannah stood up. She was shocked to see the floral tie which she picked out scrunched up to Hannah’s face and stained with blood.

“Hannah, what happened?” Grace asked concerned.

“I just tripped up after leaving Megan’s and hit my face off the concrete,” Hannah spoke looking anywhere apart from directly a Grace. “We had an argument so I left which was why I needed picked up.” Grace stared at the dried up blood on the side of Hannah’s face not convinced that she was being entirely honest with her.

“Get in,” Grace gestured towards her car. “You can get cleaned up at my place and just stay the night. Well, technically the morning since it’s a good few hours past midnight,” Grace joked giving Hannah a comforting smile.

“Sorry about that, dude,” Hannah apologised getting into the front of Grace’s car. Grace watched as Hannah buckled her seatbelt and then stared the other way out of the window. She looked so vulnerable like a child that had just been shocked into silence. Grace had a sudden urge to embrace the younger woman as she could sense the uneasiness radiating from her, but instead she put the key in the ignition and began to drive.

Hannah’s POV

After arriving at Grace’s, Hannah headed straight to the bathroom to clean up. She splashed some water on her face and watched as the liquid turned red as it poured down the drain. After examining her face in the mirror and ensuring that she had rinsed off all of the dried up blood, Hannah allowed herself to recap what had happened. Megan might be cheating on me. Hannah’s chest began to ache at the thought. Megan hit me. She noticed that her heart had not slowed down since the event occurred. I lied to Grace. Hannah couldn’t bring herself to tell Grace what had happened. She didn’t want to admit to herself that what Megan had done was wrong, because the truth was she didn’t want to leave her.

Hannah left the bathroom and walked to Grace’s couch to find that there was a t-shirt and a pair of pyjama shorts laying across it with a blanket and a pillow in the corner. The corner of her mouth twitched up at how attentive Grace was being. Hannah changed quickly before lying down on the couch and wrapping herself tightly in the blanket almost protectively. She realised that her body was still wide awake and on high alert. She closed her eyes in an attempt to calm herself down but her thoughts were still racing and the feelings of agitation were still present. Hannah opened her eyes again due to the anxiety she was feeling and because of the sound of footsteps entering the room. Hannah watched as Grace walked into the room slowly and sat on the edge of the couch at the opposite end.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Grace asked softly. Hannah tensed up at the sound of the question which didn’t go unnoticed by Grace who shuffled up the couch closer to her. Again, Hannah began glancing around the room avoiding Grace’s eyes. “Hannah?” She could feel her heart beginning to beat fast again. Hannah could just see Grace out of the corner of her eye and noticed that she was moving a hand slowly towards Hannah’s face. Grace placed her palm delicately on Hannah’s cheek and turned her head gently so that Hannah now had no choice but to look at Grace. Grace’s eyes were warm and reassuring. “You don’t have to tell me what happened, but you know I’m always here for you, right?” Hannah nodded relaxing at Grace’s words and the warmth of her hand against her skin. “You’re safe here, now relax and go to sleep.” Grace held Hannah’s gaze before smiling reassuringly and leaving the room. This time, Hannah closed her eyes and drifted off almost instantly.