An ordinary girl, an extraordinary boy.

Chapter 9: Who is James?

Anna's POV

(**Warning** I feel like I should warn you if you aren't comfortable with scenes of domestic abuse don't read this chapter. That might be a major spoiler but it had to be said, sorry carry on.)

Flashback to 1 year earlier

'I was making his favourite meal, spaghetti bolognaise, for dinner tonight. I'd already baked him some apple pie for desert after, I just hoped that it would be enough to make him happy. I'd just finished setting the table with plates and napkins when I heard the front door open and slam shut again then heavy footsteps banging through the hall towards me and the kitchen. My boyfriend of three years, James, came through the kitchen door and thumped his tool box down on the work surface. I jerked my lips into a smile like I was pleased to see him when nothing could be further from the truth. "Hi honey, I made your favourite meal for dinner and some pie ready for afterwards." I greeted him meekly, not making eye contact as I backed away towards the counter with the food on so I could begin serving. "Why are you backing away Anna? I'm not finished with you, don't you dare walk away from me. What's up with the special dinner? Huh? And dessert too.You trying to butter me up cos you think I'll go easier on you if you anger me? Don't you love me anymore, is that it?" James walked towards me yelling with every step. I started to cower back but stopped myself, I didn't want to show him how terrified I was it'd only make him worse. "What are you talking about baby? Of course I'm not doing any of that, what gave you that idea? I just thought I'd make you your favourite meal because you've been having such a hard time at work lately I thought maybe we could have a nice night in" He stopped mere inches from me so I was pressed up against the sink, he turned quickly and I flinched closing my eyes waiting for the slap that never came. Opening my eyes cautiously I saw that he had taken his tool kit through to the living room to put away, which I decided to take as my cue to continue with getting dinner ready. After we had finished eating I got up to start clearing the dishes but when I went to take his glass he grabbed my wrist and twisted it, I whimpered and tried to pull back but that just ended up hurting me worse. "I'm not done with that Anna, put it down." He snarled at me so I did. "Good girl, don't ever take my glass before I'm done understood?" He twisted my wrist further, I felt something crunch, I frantically nodded my head in agreement. He twisted it once more and I felt something crack this time, and I fought to keep from screaming out in pain . "Answer me, bitch." He growled at me. I answered. "Yes yes understood, I don't know what I was thinking babe I'm sorry it won't happen again I'm sorry please just let go of my wrist." He looked at me for a long moment before finally releasing me and standing up to go through to the living room to watch T.V. After grabbing an ice pack from the freezer to place over the deep purple bruises I could see forming rapidly on my wrist, I decided I'd had enough and grabbed my sleeping pills from the medicine cabinet, after grinding them up into a fine powder I sprinkled it into his glass, mixed it in with a spoon and carried it through to him with my uninjured hand. I gently put it down on the table beside him and quietly told him "Here you go James, I made you another glass to make up for my earlier mistake." He grunted at me, picked it up and took a long gulp before motioning for me to sit down beside him. I sat down slowly on the end farthest from my boyfriend. It didn't take long for the drugs to kick in and he started to slowly drift into a deep sleep. I waited another ten minutes to be sure he was properly unconscious before leaping up off the sofa to run through the flat to our bedroom to throw all of my meagre belongings into a suitcase. As I ran out of the door I was dialling my best friend, Esk, on my phone. 'Come on come on pick up girl.' I thought to myself glancing around every couple of seconds as I headed for the other end of town. Just as I was about to give up and try something else I heard my phone click as Esk answers finally. "Hiya babe what's going on?" Came her cheery voice down the phone, I broke down straight away and her tone of voice instantly got more concerned "Anna? Anna are you okay? What's going on? Why are you crying? Anna answer me, babe I'm scared tell me what's wrong please" she started begging me for an explanation. I just told her I needed her to come and pick me up right now from the train station. She agreed and told me she'd be there as quick as possible so after we hung up, I curled up on one of the benches outside the station. An hour later my body had gone stiff from sitting in the same position for so long in the cold. I heard a car horn honk from behind me and turned to see Esk poking her head out of the window of her cute little black Ford Fiesta, I grabbed my suitcase and handbag before running over to throw them in the boot and climb in the passenger side of the car. She looked at me but didn't say a word as she put the car into gear and drove me away to start my life again in London'

(A/N I feel horrible about this one but please don't hate me it'll get better eventually I promise. For some reason I was watching Safe Haven as I wrote these last two chapters so that could explain why I went with the domestic abuse thing. Normally I wouldn't write something like this because I really don't like to even think about it but it fit with my ending of chapter 3 so I think there might be something wrong with my subconscious aha. Enjoy (I hope) <3 Thanks so much for sticking with me Anna xox )