An Ocean Between Us (L.H.)

Chapter 7

I hop out of the shower and dry off. Then I wrap a towel around myself and go to my bedroom. Luke hops off the bed and goes to the ensuite to shower.

I go to the closet and pick out a navy blue dress with purple flowers to wear to dinner. I put it on and go to my jewelry kit to grab my gold bracelet. I also grab my brown sandals and put them by the front door. Then I go to the bedroom and see Luke changing into a blue button down shirt and black jeans. Then I go to the bathroom and start doing hair and makeup. I curl my hair in beach waves and pin my bangs back. Beside me Luke is starting to work on his quiff. Then I dust a little bit of light brown eye shadow over my eye lids, put a little mascara on my lashes, and put on a minimal amount of lip gloss. Then I go to my bedroom and put my lip gloss, breath mints, and phone into my black clutch. 

When I get to the front door everyone is there but Luke, who is behind me. We all put on our shoes and go down to my car. Everyone hops in and soon we make it to The Rock. We go in and get seated by the bar, in a nice corner booth. We all order our drinks and they soon arrive. We all take a sip and start chatting. My eyes wander around the place and soon I spot the one person I've never wanted to see again.

It's Brandon, my abusive ex-boyfriend.

If I came home late, or put a toe out of place, he'd beat me up. I had bruises all the time and I still have scars on my arm from when he cut me with his pocket knife. I had come home late from hanging out with my girlfriends. I was only an hour late but he was not happy. I wouldn't apologize because I had such a great time so he got really aggressive. He cut me ten times. That's when I left. I had enough of his bull garbage. I went to the hospital and got my arm stitched up and then went and applied to become a captain in the military. I wanted to stand up for myself and that's how I did it.

I'm about to look away when his eyes connect with mine. My stomach starts doing flips and I can't tear my eyes away. He smirks and that's when I look away. I start freaking out and can't calm down. I quickly squeeze Luke's hand and say, "I'm going to step out back for a minute." 

Luke nods and I get up. I quickly rush to the backdoor and go outside. I start taking deep breaths but I halt to a stop when I hear that voice say, "Hey Reg. It's about time we saw each other again."

I turn my hands into fists and am about to punch him when I realize that would be wrong. I'd be misusing my military training. So I unclench my fists, turn around, and say, "Brandon."

"Reagan it's good to see you. I've missed waking up to your beautiful face."

"Sure you have. That's why you were always so drunk that you crashed on the couch and couldn't even make it to bed to see my face."

"Now that's not true."

"Yes it is Brandon. You and I both know it."

"So you're lippy now."

"Sure, call it what you want."

He takes two swift steps towards me and wraps his hand around my upper arm. I try to pull away and he tightens his grip. Then he brings his face close to mine and says, "You're going to be very sorry that you left me. Very, very sorry."

I cringe at his words and try pulling away again. Instead of tightening his grip he punches me on the cheek. It tingles right away. He keeps punching me and doesn't stop. All of the memories of this happening every night for eight months come flooding back and I start to cry. When he sees that he punches harder. I try anything to get away but it doesn't work, he's too big, too strong, and I'm too scared of what he'll do to me. Soon a cut above my eyebrow starts to bleed, and my vision blurs. Right when I think I'm about to pass out a force pulls Brandon off of me. I sit up and scramble to the wall so my back is pressed to it. Mikey steps in front of me and Luke grabs Brandon's collar. Then he yells, "What was that for?"

"She left me so she needed to be taught why not to leave me!"

"Good on her for leaving! No girl deserves to be treated the way you just treated her!"

"Oh she deserves it alright."

"Just get the hell away from her, from here, or I call the cops."

"Cops can't scare me!"

"Sure tough guy! I see the fear in your eyes. Now get the hell away you bastard!"

He lets go of Brandon's collar and Brandon quickly runs away. Once he's out of sight Luke scrambles to my side and pulls me into his tight embrace. I start sobbing and Luke strokes my hair. Then he says, "Reagan, baby, I'm so sorry this happened. I shouldn't have let you come out here alone, this is all my fault."

"No Luke it's mine. I should've used my military training while I had the chance."

"Don't say that. It would've made it worse."

I nod and pull away to look in his eyes. When he sees my cut he says, "Reagan that's bad. How'd he do that with his hand?"

"He's powerful."

"Let's just go to the hospital. Michael get the guys, we'll meet you at the car."

He nods and goes inside. Luke picks me up bridal style and carries me to the car. We hop in the back and I lean my head on his shoulder. Then I take it off realizing that he probably has my blood all over him. Luke puts his hand on my head and puts my head back on his shoulder. Then he whispers, "It's fine. I don't mind if you get blood on me." 

I smile and close my eyes. It's not hard to see why I have a pounding headache.

Soon the guys come in. Mikey hands Luke my clutch and everyone hops in. Calum starts the car and soon we make it to the hospital. Luke carries me in and all the guys follow. A nurse immediately starts leading us to a room. On the way there we pass a mirror and I see that I have tons of bruises and the blood from my cut has run all the way down the side of my head to my chest.

Soon a doctor comes and examines me. He immediately puts freezing in my head. While we wait for it to kick in he says, "Well that guy must have walked away way worse."

I immediately start crying. The doctor bows his head in apology and Luke squeezes my hand. Soon my forehead is all stitched and I have a bandage over it. We soon make it to my apartment. I go clean off the dried blood and change into pajamas. I put my dress and Luke's shirt in the wash then climb into bed beside him. I start staring off into space and after a bit Luke says, "Reagan?"

"Yeah?"

"What's going on with him"

I sigh and tell him everything. How he abused me, how he cut me, how I left, and how it all pushed me to join the military. In the end I'm staring at the ceiling and he's stroking the scars on my arm. Then he kisses them all and says, "Thanks for telling me. Now I think we should go to bed and forget about today."

I nod and snuggle into his chest. Before I know it I'm sound asleep.

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Wow...umm...didn't mean to make it that long sorry guys. I'll keep the note short.

Anyway thanks for 73 reads! 27 more and we're at 100! Yay!

Really just thanks for everything you guys do for me. Sorry it's taken me so long to update but I've had a lot going on lately. Thanks for being patient with me. Hope you all enjoy! -Becca