Chapter 1. Part: 1.
{Elouise's p.o.v}
I wake up at 6:30 like I do every morning. No need for an alarm my body wakes itself up at this time every morning, even though I was up until 4:45 trying to talk my best friend, Ella, out of suicide. More tears were shed than have been in a long time. It killed me hearing her say no one cares about her, that no one will ever love her, that she will always be alone. She's not alone. I care. I love her. I'll always be here for her. I go into my bathroom and start doing my hair and make up. I'm good at hiding the sorrows I have deep down. I have an abusive father. Mental and physical abuse is not uncommon in this awful house. He says I'm fat, ugly, useless, worthless piece of shit, lazy, and pretty much every other hate filled name you can call a person. I try to ignore him. Ignoring the mental abuse is easy. I just walk away and lock myself in my room for a few hours while he drinks himself away. The physical abuse, I can't ignore. I stare at myself in the mirror and lift up my shirt to see my bruises. I start covering my small visible ones with make up. The pain never lasts long. It only leaves me stronger than before. I finish doing my hair and make up. I get dressed in some toms and my colorful pants, red today, and a navy blue and white stripped shirt. I call this my "Louis Tomlinson" look. He's a man who has helped me through my struggling times. I've always been strong but he makes me stronger. He may not know of my existence.. But I can't let that bring me down. Sometimes the best lifesavers are only the ones you know of, but don't know you back. Why? Well, because. If he doesn't know about my problems and troubles, he won't worry about me or change. He will stay himself. Just the way I like him. I hear my dad stomping up the stairs. He's been drinking I can tell by his loud off beat steps. To drown him out I plug my phone into my speakers and get into YouTube. I press on favorites and start playing "Look after you" Louis' version of the song originally sung by The Fray. His beautiful voice makes me smiles an zone out, ignoring my drunken father. "TURN THAT SHIT OFF YOU WORTHLESS BITCH." he yells storming through the door. Before I can even reach my phone to turn it down he strikes me across the face. I gasp and fall to the floor. I grit my teeth and I hold back my tears. He starts kicking me in the side. "I told you that shitty boy band shit isn't allowed in this fucking house! You're 16! Grow up dammit!!" He yells. I stay silent. I hold back all the tears and wait for the brutal beating to end. By the time he storms out and stumbles back downstairs to pass out on the couch, I'm battered and bruised panting and holding my side and my head. I ache all over. I pull myself to my knees and go back to my bathroom grabbing my phone to leave for work. I look at the new marks. I sigh and decide to bring my make up bag with me. I drive to work and walk into the back. It's not a very big store so it's just my manager, Liz, and I today. She looks at me and gasps. "What happened?!" I look at her. I can't tell her. The beatings will get worse if anyone, including Ella, finds out. "I uh.. I.." I stutter.
Chapter 2:
Liz gives me a stern but soft stare waiting for my response that will explain the bruise across my cheek. "Erm.. I accidentally knocked my shampoo on the floor and it spilled.. Then uh.. When I got out of my shower.. I Erm.. Slipped, then banged my face on my cupboard." I say with a straight face and a slight grin the make it seem funny. She gives a small chuckle. "El.. You clumsy, clumsy girl! What am I going to do with you?" I giggle "Uh.. Help me cover this?" she nods laughing softly and starts applying foundation to my tender marking. I clench my fists to keep from cringing. She finishes applying the make up so it isn't as visible as before. She puts my stuff away and the bell rings at the front. I walk out to male with his back turned to the counter and his arm crossed. He has nice brown hair and a red and navy blue stripped tee on. He's totally a Louis wanna be. I chuckle louder than I had intended. He turns and looks at me sternly and quite pissed off. Our eyes meet and his expression softens. "I-I.. I just needed some assistance.." he says quietly. His eyes give himself away before his British accent got to me. He isn't a wanna be.. He IS Louis. I fling my hand to my mouth. He's the only think that could possibly bring me to tears. I feel my cheeks get warm and wet. I try and stop silently crying as he continues searching my eyes. "Love? What's wrong?" he asks stepping closer to me as I walk out from behind the counter. "You're Louis Tomlinson.." my small voice escapes. He nods "Yes. I am. Please don't cry." he says reaching his hand up to my pain filled face. His hand touches my cheek and I flinch. He pulls his hand back a little shocked. "I'm not going to hurt you.. What happened? And do not say you fell. I will see right past that." he says firmly. Can I trust him? I mean.. I know that maybe.. Maybe I could.. Should I? Will he go and tell on my dad and get me even more in trouble? He gives me a more demanding look. I take a deep breath. I'm about to trust this man I love so much, have never met, and I don't know how he will react. "My father beats me.." I mumble looking down. I feel his blue eyes staring intently at the top of my head begging me to look at him. I lift my head slightly so I'm looking at his chest. "I'm so sorry.. Is it just one bruise?" he finally manages to get out. I shake my head and pull my hair up into pony tail, I roll my shirt up slightly, along with my sleeves, revealing as much battered skin as I can without being naked. His hand cups over his mouth as he examines my body. I feel tears burn in my eyes as I watch his expression sadden. Years form at his tear ducts in the corners of his eyes. This is killing me. Watching my role model cry over me. This is exactly what I did not want happening. "Please! Stay with me tonight I have a room to myself and an extra bed. You can't go back to that house!" he pleads as I cover myself again. I look up at him quite shocked at his outrageous offer. "Louis.. You don't even know me. I'm just another fan. Nothing more, nothing less." I say realizing its the complete truth in my eyes. "You're not 'Just a fan' you already mean so much to me and my band for your support. We don't like seeing our girls hurt and if there is anyway to help our girls, we will. And I am. If I have to kidnap you, I will." he says quite seriously. I chuckle unsure of the tone in his voice. His face stays serious. Oh.. He wasn't kidding. I clear my throat and stop my small laughter and turn serious again. "Lou.. I couldn't ask you to do that.." I say. "You're not asking. I'm begging and soon I will be demanding and I will make you stay with me whether you like it or not" he says a little too seriously. I stare at him even more shocked. He isn't the sass master for nothing.. I sigh and look at my feet. His feet step closer and I see his navy blue Toms right in front of mine. I look up and his intense blue eyes are staring directly back into my soft blue eyes. "I'll look after you." he whispers kissing the bruise on my cheek softly. His soothing voice ringing through my head and his soft lips pressed against my cheek in the most gentle way sends a jolt through my spine. I get cold and goose bumps form all over my body. "Okay. I'll stay with you tonight." I whisper back. His strong arms wrap around me, embracing me in his warmth. For once in years, I feel safe in someone's arms. He slips me a piece of paper with his number on it. "Call me if you need anything, I can bring you lunch and pick you up after work." he says. I smile at his offer. "I'll call you after work. I brought a lunch." He nods and kisses my cheek. I smile and blush. "Oh! I just remembered. I came here for something.. I just don't remember what." he says looking around. I laugh and shake my head. "If you remember call the store and I'll bring it to you when you pick me up after work." he smiles and nods as he leave. "See you tonight, love!" he says walking out the door. Liz coughs and I turn to her sharply and quickly and a pain goes through my side. I grip my side and bend over. "Ow!" I squeal. She walks over crying and hugs me. "Why wouldn't you tell me any of that?" she asks sniffling. "I was afraid.." I say quietly. "Don't ever be afraid to tell me anything. Please trust me." she says. I nod "I'm sorry Liz.." "Shh.. Don't be sorry. I understand" I grasp her a little tighter before we release from the grips we have on each other. My phone rings and I pull it out of my pocket. It's Ella. "Hello?" I answer composing myself to a strong manner. "I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE! HE LEFT ME! HES WHAT WAS KEEPING ME HERE!" she screams. I jolt back at the sound of her screams through the speaker. "Ella! Calm down! Please! What happened?!" "Jaxon! He left me! He left me for another girl! I knew I should have NEVER trusted him! I'm leaving. Today." she says through sobs. "Where?! Where are you going? Can I meet you there?!" I ask. "No. No you can't. I'm going to a better place. I won't be so broken. No one will miss me anyways. You might, but you have other people" she says calming down. "Ella! No.. Please no.. Don't do this to me! I need you!" she sighs. I hear the sound of a door click, howling wind, and the faint sound of car honking. "I love you Elouise. You've helped me a lot. But I can't do this anymore. I'll miss you. I'll be waiting." she says. I hear the phone get set on the ground. "ELLA!! NO!! PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO ME!! I NEED YOU!! ELLA!!!!!" I scream hysterically crying. I hear more howling wind then screams. Screams of absolute horror from below. "ELLA!!! NO!! DON'T FUCKING DO THIS TO ME!!! PLEASE!!" I scream. Liz rushes to my side as my legs buckle and I fall to the floor gasping for air. "NO!! WHY! WHY WOULD SHE DO THIS TO ME?!" Liz starts crying and wraps me in her arms. "She's gone.. She's gone.. She's gone.." I repeat before the tears overcome me so powerfully that everything goes black and all I hear is my haunting voice echoing in my head "She's gone."
