By Chance

Chapter Two : By Chance

Trigger Warning: This chapter contains graphic verbal, physical, and sexual abuse.

Summer's POV

I run home as fast as my post-four mile legs can carry me. Shit. I cannot believe I was so stupid and forgetful to not remember to tell Lance where I was going before I left to run this morning. I know how enraged and impatient he gets when he is left wondering where I could possibly be.

Because I am cheating on him all day, everyday and spend every waking hour thinking about other men, obviously. At least, that's what he thinks.

He is so paranoid about me cheating on him and falling for another guy that he feels compelled to control every aspect of my life. Sometimes I just wish I could find the courage to tell him to stop being so controlling. That I get to hang out with the girls on weekends, and I get to go places without having to check in every ten minutes, and I can, God forbid, have a guy friend. But I love him, and I can't change that, even though my friends and family all told me how stupid I am to stay in this relationship. He has flaws, but he has somehow managed to control his way into my heart, even if that scares me.

I don't want to go home. I am so afraid of what is about to happen. Lance is going to be so upset that he was left wondering where I was. I should have left a note or woken up his hungover ass to let him know I was just going to go on a run. How could I have been so foolish.

There it is. This beautiful house I call home in the most beautiful city I know. On the outside it's gorgeous, but one knows that what is about to happen inside is going to be anything but that.

I'm just going to have to take it because I love Lance and he's only trying to protect us and our relationship. I slowly make my way up the steps to the porch as I catch my breath from all the running I just did. Just as I am about to reach for the doorknob, the door swings open and Lance stands there with a scowl, showing just how angry and disappointed he is.

"Where the hell were you? You know you aren't allowed to go off without me knowing. You didn't even ask my permission," Lance tries to say normally, but I hear all the aggression and impatience in his voice. Before I have the chance to explain why I was gone and how sorry I was, he stops me short. "Get inside. Now," he snaps at me.

He opens the door a little wider, nodding his head to tell me get in there. I take a deep breath and force myself into our home, brushing past Lance. I stop once I'm a few feet in from the doorway and I hear Lance close the door and lock it. I start to tremble as I hear footsteps approach me, slowly.

"Turn around, dumb whore," Lance says in a threatening tone. I take a deep swallow as I do what I am told and brace myself for what I know is going to happen. I close my eyes, and I clench my fists. Just as I was expecting, a rough stinging sensation spreads over the left side of my face as I topple over from the impact of the slap I just received.

I fight back the tears that are about to spill out any second. Just as I was beginning to regain my balance and stand up right, Lance walks over to me and grabs me by the hair, forcing me to look at him right in his eyes. "You are a worthless piece of shit. I hope you know I'm only with you because of your ass. You would be nothing without me. You would do nothing without me. Show me a little respect, slut," he spits at me with his beer-stained breath.

Just as I close my eyes again, I am thrown to the ground with a force impossible to stop. I land on my back and all the wind is knocked out of me. As I sit up, holding my cheek with my hand and trying to regain the ability to breath, Lance walks away from me and into our room. Seconds later, he comes back out holding my suitcase. He chucks it at me, the suitcase hitting me in my legs.