[[[all of your flaws]]] [[[part i]]]

33.

Dan had already gone when I woke up the next morning with a bit of a sore head. Everything that had happened came rushing back and I smiled to myself. I stretched out my arm where the bed was still slightly warm where he'd been. I'd never woken up this happy.

It felt as though I was on a cloud, floating around. I turned on my new phone and found a message on it.

*Good morning! Hope you slept well. I'll be home around 4. Have a good day x*

I couldn't stop smiling. This had been the best thing to happen to me, ever. He was a nice guy and I trusted him implicitly. I enjoyed his company and felt at ease around him. Something I hadn't felt in a long time. Did this mean he liked me as much? I didn't know what to do. I'd never been in this situation. All I knew was I hadn't felt this happy since I was sixteen.

So why, half an hour later, did I feel guilty? Why did it feel as though I'd cheated? I knew how mad Steven would be if he ever found out what I'd done. Not that I'd done anything wrong. We'd only kissed. He hadn't pushed me to do anything else. The bliss was smashed. I felt sick with confusion. Steven was out of my life. But what if he did know? He knew everything. He probably knew where I was and who I was with. He'd always made sure he knew every step I took.

I found the bag I'd run away with, left unused now. There was nothing in it I wanted except for the phone. I turned it on, out of curtisoty. No sooner had it loaded, it began to ring. His number flashed up. I screamed out of shock. I felt paralysed. I had to answer it. I had no choice. I'd been beaten into listening to him so many times that I physically couldn't ignore his commands.

'H...hello?' I whimpered.

'Where the fuck are you? What the fuck are you playing at? Do you have any idea what you've put me through? I've searched this entire fucking city and I can't find you.' His words stung me.

'I...I'm sorry I...'

'Where are you? You better tell me.'

'I can't...I...'

'Listen to me you little whore, I have lost a lot of money because of your little stunt. How am I supposed to pay my suppliers if you're not bringing my money in, you thieving bitch.' The very memory of what he made me do for money reduced me to tears.

'I'm sorry.' I sobbed.

'I'm going to find you and I will fucking kill you I swear to God.'

'Please, no, don't-' I cried. I knew his words weren't empty. I couldn't speak for crying.

'Lily.' His tone changed in an instant. Just like it always did when he was manipulating me. 'I know I'm hard to deal with sometimes, but you know I can't help it. I need you back home.' I knew what he was doing. Threatening didn't work so he was trying to act nice. I saw through it.

'Steven I don't know if I-'

'I'll come get you. Where are you?' He said in a sickly sweet voice.

'At a friends house.'

'Who? Beth? Louise? They said they haven't seen you.'

'My friend in London.'

'Right, well give me the address and I'll come get you.' I'd already said too much. I didn't want him to come and get me. I didn't want to leave my new life.

'No.'

'No what?' He scorned.

'I said no. I'm not coming back. Leave me alone.'

'I'm coming to find you right now so you better fucking tell me where you are. You're nothing but a little fucking whore-' I ended the call. I was still shaking. Why had I answered it? What if he traced the call? What if he already knew where I was? I turned it off, took out the battery and put them both in the bin. But the damage was done. He'd got back inside my mind and was in there, poisoning it.