Battered and Bruised | Emblem3

Chapter 10: Worst Nightmare

Shayley POV

I read the text message over and over again.

Max: Get your ass back home. NOW.

I couldn’t believe it. I don’t want to go back there. I would do almost anything to not go back. But this is for Keaton. You need to do this to protect Keaton, my mind kept telling me. If Max ever found out about me being with Keaton, he would hurt both of us. I don’t want to leave him though. My heart is broken already just thinking about it.

I turned to my boyfriend who was tearing up. He looked at me with his green eyes full of sadness and guilt. I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. I hugged him for a good 5 minutes. We just cried to each other the whole time. He kissed the top of my head. I’m going to miss those kisses. More than he knows.

“Baby, it’s okay. We’ll figure something out. You are going to get away from him soon.”

“That’s the thing, Keaton. I’ve tried. He always finds me and then beats me worse. I can’t escape him, no matter how hard I try.”

“Well, you’ve never had me on your side… I’m going to get you out of there.” I didn’t argue with him. I can’t argue with him right now. Although I do think he’s wrong, I’m not going to argue. I’m stuck with Max until one of us dies, unfortunately.

“I better get going,” I said in a weak, cracked voice. My heart broke even more as I said those words. Keaton grabbed my hand and walked upstairs with me so that I could go get my things that I brought.

“We can do something in a few days, right?” Keaton looked at me with sad, but hopeful eyes. I felt so bad for him. All of my focus right now is on him. He is my priority, not what’s going to happen to me.

“I don’t know, I hope so.” He walked up to me, grabbed the back of my neck, and kissed me like he had never kissed me before. This kiss was going to be one of our last kisses in a while, so he was making it count. I kissed him back with just as much passion. I could kiss him forever.

“I love you, Shayley.”

“I love you too, Keaton. I love you so much.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m still going to be your boyfriend. I’m still going to love you just as much. These next few days will be hell, but you’re mine. Okay?”

His words just made the tears from earlier form again. I cried and hugged him just as I had before. Leaving him hurt me more than anything Max could ever do to me. He kissed me once more.

“I love you guys,” I said after I hugged Wes, Drew, and Macy.

“We love you, be safe.”

I gave them all a weak smile before walking out of the front door with Keaton. He helped me carry my stuff to my car. “I won’t text you unless you text me, I don’t want him to see.”

“Okay, that’s smart.” I smiled at him.

“I love you.”

“I love you, Keats.” I barely got it out before I crashed my lips into his one last time.

I got into my car and started the engine. I haven’t left this house in three days, it feels so weird. I looked at Keaton one more time before I pulled out of the driveway of the gigantic house. This is my home. I’m leaving my home to go back to a house with the jackass that inhabits it.

I put my key into the door of the familiar house. I dreaded opening this door more than anything.

“It’s about damn time. Where were you staying?” the jackass asked me.

“With Macy,” I lied.

“You’re lucky she puts up with you. If you didn’t have her you wouldn’t have anyone,” he laughed at me. Oh, but little did he know I had three other people who loved me. Not just Macy. Although Macy was enough, I was just blessed to have the boys as well.

“I know it.” I agreed with him to prevent a beating tonight. Maybe he’ll spare me for one more night. He dismissed me by walking into the living room.

I put my stuff away that I had at the boy’s house. I cleaned up my room and the mess Max had left behind in it. He must have been searching for something, because my drawers were all out and some of the clothes were on the floor. I ignored it due to my lack of energy.

I went to the bathroom to take a shower. I peeled off my shirt and shorts. The belt bruises were turning yellow, meaning they were almost gone. Thank goodness. I was tired of being reminded of it and I’m sure Keaton was too. Keaton. I broke down in tears again just thinking about him.

I climbed into the shower so that the sound of the water would muffle my sobbing. The fact that this wasn’t Keaton’s shower or Keaton’s shampoo made me cry even more. This is the place I had lived in for the past 4 years, yet it seems so strange and abnormal to me. I’m used to Keaton’s house now, just after three days.

After I got out of the shower, I dried off and combed my black hair. I put on a tee shirt and got into my bed. I hated this bed now. I pulled out my phone and texted Keaton.

Me: I love you, Keats. Goodnight.

He texted me back almost immediately. He was probably waiting for my text message.

Keaton: I love you too, baby. I wish I was there to kiss you goodnight. Sweet dreams.

I deleted the messages and shut my phone off. I cried more and more as the night progressed and all I could think was: “Me too, Keaton, me too.”