The Space Between Us

Stick and Stones Will Break your Bones (24)

That night Tre calls me. "You wanna go on a date."

"Sure." If you don't tell him you kissed Luke then he won't know. (A/n: I do not promote cheating at all. It has ruined my family more than once. On that note I have never cheated and I never will! Period.) "I'd love too. And that was the truth. Ever since Tre came back into my life I've been happy and he's been nothing but a gentleman. I got ready for the date

"Hi baby." He says looking me up and down.
"Hi Tre."
"So I made us a dinner at my place if you don't mind."

And I didn't. Tre could always cook. He made amazing steak, something he learned from his dad.

"How are you?" He asked in the car.

"I'm okay."
"Well we need to talk, but let's finish dinner first."

He made pasta one of my favorites and for some reason it was awkwardly quiet. He didn't talk to me the whole time we ate. He just kind of stared at me.
"I'll grab the dishes."
"You do that. I'll be right back."

(A/n: this part talks about abuse. I know that it can be triggering for some people. Viewer discretion is advised. Remember abuse is never okay. And you all will see why I would write like this in later chapters. This is not to offend anyone at all. If you want you may skip...)

I was washing the dishes when I felt something against my rib cage. I look down and he's holding a knife. "You better put that thing up baby before you hurt me."

But it was no joke. He grabbed me by my hair and slung me into a wall. "You think you can just let me break up with you and you go run to that- that asshole?"

I was shaking. "You broke up with me."

"That doesn't matter. You don't date anyone but me. Do you understand?"

A leg connects with my ribs. He grabs my face and punches it. Kick kick kick. I'm starting to loose my breath. "TRE PLEASE STOP." But the kicking continues.

"And if for one second you think you can go and tell someone, i promise you I will kill you, your dog, your cat, and Emma."

"I -I won't. You have my word."

"Good baby. I love you. He kisses me forcefully, kicks me one more time "for good measures" and then helps me out the floor.

"Alright you can go home now. I'll see you tomorrow."

I rush home and past everyone and cry there is no way that I would tell my friends. I couldn't risk Emma's life. I hear a knock at my door. "Come in." Its Alex

"Are you okay. You couldn't breathe when you walked in the..." He rushes to my side. "NOAH! Get in here now."
Not a second later everyone is in my room. "Isabella I'm going to ask you this once. What happened."

"These girls they-they jumped me."

"Do you know who they are?"

"No it was just, it was random."

"Did they steal anything."

"No."

Not a second later Luke is in the doorway. "EVERYONE OUT NOW."

The way he yelled brought memories back.
"What happened"
"I-i-i got jumped."
"Why would you get jumped?"
"They said something and I called them on their bluff."
"Lie again."

There was no way I could risk Emma's safety. "I'm fine."
"Isabella..."
"Luke I'm fine. Now get out."

Instead he hops on the bed. And wraps his arms around me. I wince at his touch or maybe the kicks to my ribs. "Go to sleep babygirl." But I couldn't. I watched Luke's eyes close, his arms wrapping tighter around me.

How could I save myself but protect Emma?

The next day I wake up I almost scream in pain. Luke is still beside me his arms are wrapped around me. For one second I feel like this could be something. I want to do this for the rest of my life, but then a new wave of pain hits me. I remove Luke's arm. He mumbles something but then rolls back around.

Silent tears rush down my face as I look at the bruised welps on my ribs. I stare at myself for a little while. What did I do to deserve this? How did I go to good grades to not even wanting to go to classes in the morning? How could I loose Peyton, for goodness sakes she doesn't even text me anymore. How did it go from everything being okay to it just plummeting. Why?