Another Wall to Climb

Chapter 6

As much as I didn't want to, I got in my car and drove to see Brad. The purple handprint on my forearm flared with pain as I gripped the steering wheel. I dared not to look down at it as I made my way to Brad's house.

When I got to the front door, he opened it before I could knock. He smiled at me like he had done absolutely nothing wrong and lead me to the tiny bedroom down the hall.

"Hailey, I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to hurt you. I've just- I've been tense lately." He took my arm and examined the bruises. His lips were pursed together, eyebrows furrowed. I jerked my arm away.

"I'm fine." I simply said, looking at everything in the room but him. His straight, almost black hair was slightly messed up. His blue eyes stared back at me with confusion.

"Hailey, I'm not going to hurt you again. You don't have to be distant." With that said, he took me in his arms and laid me on the bed, curling up next to me. And I allowed it.

We stared into each others eyes, nothing to say. He inhaled and closed his eyes, placing his hand on my cheek.

"I love you." He whispered.

My lungs were on fire, searching for the oxygen I lost when those three words came out. As much as I didn't want to say it back right now, it was true. I did love him back. So I said it anyway. "I love you, too."

He leaned into me and kissed my lips softly. Something made me think of Josh. He ran his fingers through my hair and down my back.

"I think it's time for your surprise." He got off the bed and went to his dresser. Brad opened the door and grabbed a little green package. My eyes went wide as I realized what it was.

"What is that for?" I asked, trying to play dumb.

"I think we need to take our relationship to the next level. I won't hurt you."

"I don't want to." I shook my head. Something didn't feel right about it. About now.

"What do you mean, Hailey?" He said through his gritted teeth as he clenched his fists.

"I mean, I don't want to have sex." I got off the bed and stood in the corner of the room.

"So you're saying you don't love me!? You just lied to me then! I want you and you know you want me, admit it!" He screamed at me and pushed me against the wall.

"I- I do love you! But I wanna wait. Ow, Brad! You're hurting me! Stop!"

"You don't know pain!" He threw me to the floor. "Get up, you slut!" He yelled. I made my way to my feet. As soon as I stood up straight, the back of his hand hit me. My eye and cheek burned. I attempted to run. The things he screamed bored into background music. All I was worried about was getting out of there.

I was almost to the door when he grabbed my hair and pulled me to the ground. Brad got on top of me and continuously slapped me. Pushing him off of me was not an option.

When he finally got off of me, I dodged his grasp and ran to the door. I darted through the house and to my car. He didn't follow me. I backed out as fast as I could and sped away. I didn't look back, I didn't look at the mirror, just forward.

When I got there, I decided to take my balcony stairs up to my bedroom. My ribs hurt so bad, but I ran as fast as I could up the steps, afraid of what might be behind me.

I looked through the french door into my bedroom. Josh was lying on his bed throwing a football up in perfect spirals. I knocked on the glass since the door was locked. He looked up and smiled, then walked over to the door.

As he got closer, his smile turned to horrified and his pace got faster. He opened the door.

He gasped for air. My guess, he was speechless.

"Is it that bad?" Was all I'd managed to say.