Brielle Cavanaugh's POV
"Great job at practice today!" Mr McClain my field hockey coach called as I finished up my field-hockey training.
I jogged over to the change rooms. Tugging my field-hockey gear off, I quickly changed into my spare clothes. I pulled my long light brown hair out of its bun so it hung loose. Swinging my bag over my shoulder I walked out of the change room. I left through the school gates and started to walk home. James was supposed to pick me up but he had already agreed to have a date night with Grace, so I was left walking home.
I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. Picking it up I sighed when I realised it was from Dean. It was the third time he had called me today. Dean and I had been dating for a few months. At first it was great but recently things had changed. We had been fighting a lot and whenever I was with him I never felt completely safe. He was always so angry. In all honestly I was a little afraid of what his reaction might be when I tell him I want to break up. But I've been meaning to tell him for a while. I guess it's now or never.
"Hello?" I answered the phone.
"Brielle!" Dean's gruff voice yelled through the phone. "I've been trying to get a hold of you all day."
"My phones been on silent." I quickly lied. "Look we need to talk."
"About what?" he sounded angry.
"Maybe we should do this in person." I said nervously.
"I'll come find you now. You're walking home from field-hockey practice right?"
"Yeah, but." he hung up. Damn.
I sighed and continued to walk down the street. The sky was cloudy and a strong breeze whipped my hair around my face.
The sound of footsteps on the pavement made me whirl around. A figure walked towards me. Dirty blonde hair and dark brown almost black eyes. Dean.
He stopped about half a metre in front of me. Neither of us attempted to move.
"What did you need to talk about?" he asked coolly. He sounded calm but I could see him clenching his fists.
"Look Dean." I started. "We've been dating for a while, and at first it was fun but things changed. You changed. Suddenly it wasn't as fun anymore. I think we should stop seeing each other." I finished softly.
Dean glared at the ground and when he spoke his voice came out cold. "You're making a huge mistake."
I took a step back. "No, I don't think I am."
Dean stepped closer toward me, he then started to laugh. "You don't mean that. You're just confused" he took another step. "I can change that." He yanked me closer towards him and started to forcefully kiss my neck.
I tried to pull myself away and frantically shoved Dean backwards. "Dean stop!"
He didn't stop. Pulling me towards him again he started to tug at the band of my skirt. I started to panic. I lifted my hand and without thinking slapped Dean across the face with all my strength. He quickly let go of me.
When he looked up again his eyes were dark with rage and I felt my blood turn cold. I started to back away.
"You bitch!" he exclaimed with rage. Before I had a chance to run he had stalked towards me and punched me in the stomach.
I doubled over with pain and my vision clouded. Still Dean wasn't satisfied. Stalking over to me he shoved me onto the ground. My head hit the ground and I felt myself start to lose consciousness.
"You better not tell anyone about this." Dean growled then jumped onto me so I couldn't move and continued to punch me in the stomach.
I wanted to cry but I didn't have enough energy. The pain was too much. Black tendrils started to cloud my vision. I lay there for what felt like hours but was probably only five minutes.
Suddenly Dean's weight was pulled off me. I heard a cracking sound and Dean screeched in pain. Footsteps echoed and then quickly faded into the distance; he had left. My eyes fluttered shut.
My weight was lifted from the ground as someone scooped me into their arms. My head leant against his chest. He smelled like fireplaces. Then I lost consciousness.
When I woke up it was warm. I pulled the blanket closer to my body. For those first few minutes everything was fine. Then I remembered.
Jerking myself up, I glanced widely around the room. I was at home, lying on the couch.
"Hey sleepyhead." James said from the opposite couch.
I stared at my brother in shock. "How did I get here?" I demanded.
He looked confused. "Um, you were lying there asleep when I came home."
"When did you come home?"
"Like two hours ago." He looked at me weirdly. "Are you ok?"
"Fine." I mumbled, walking out of the room. I passed a clock. That couldn't be right, it couldn't be nine o'clock. Field hockey had finished at four thirty. James had said I was here when he had come home. Maybe it was just a dream, maybe I'd imagined the entire thing. There was only one way to find out.
I closed the door to my room and stood in front of the large mirror. Wincing I pulled up my top. I gasped as I saw the bruises. They covered around half of my stomach and the side of my waist. 'You better not tell anyone about this.' I couldn't tell, he would just hurt me more. Yanking my shirt down, I walked over to my nightstand and took some painkillers. I would just stay away from Dean, everything would be ok. I could easily cover the bruises on my stomach and waist, there was only one I was worried about. Across my left arm was a large gash I hadn't noticed before. I'm surprised James didn't notice it.
I quickly cleaned the wound, washing the blood away. Wrapping my arm in a bandage I considered what I would tell my parents. I'll tell them I fell, no one can know the truth. I shuddered as I thought about what Dean would have done to me if that person hadn't pulled him off. They must have carried me home. Whoever it was I was grateful.
"Brielle?" my mother's voice called. Shit. My parents must have come home from picking up Tessa from the Fitz's.
"In here." I answered. I sat on my bed and quickly picked up a school book.
My mom opened the door. She smiled when she saw me. "Hey honey, how was your day?"
"It was good." I said not looking my mom in the eye.
The felt the end of the bed sag as she sat down. "Are you…" she trailed off as she saw the bandage around my arm. "What happened?!"
"I fell at practice." I lied. "It's ok now." Another lie.
She looked at me in concern. "If you're sure." I nodded "I guess I should leave you to do your homework." She then hugged me tightly. I almost cried out in pain because of the bruises on my stomach.
She got up and walked toward the door. I wanted to tell her so bad.
"Mom?"
She turned and looked at me. "Yes?"
I couldn't tell her. It would only make things worse. "Never mind."
As soon as the door closed I fell back on my bed. Tears trickled down my cheeks. My phone vibrated and I almost screamed. What if it was Dean?
Picking up the phone I sighed in relief when I realised it was a blocked number. I curiously opened the message.
Shocker! Perfect Brielle lying to her parents. Remember, dating's all fun and games until someone gets hurt.
-A
What. The. Hell.
Who could have possibly seen? I looked over at the open window and quickly slammed it shut.
My heart beat quickly in my chest. Someone saw what happened tonight.
