It Was Always You

Contact Name

Y/N'S POV:

It's been almost a week since I lied to Lauren about going to the city. It's been weighing on my mind this whole time, I feel awful about it.

All I want to do is ask her to hang out again, but I remember what happened. I still have a big bruise covering my face. It's somewhat healed now, but you can definitely notice it's there when you look at me. I tried to tell my mom what happened, but of course she didn't believe me.

Brian made up some lie that I fell off my bike and I was lying for attention. Typical. My mom believes anything that man says.

I decide that I'm going to waste the day scrolling through tiktok, because what else would you do during summer? About 20 minutes in, a notification shows on my phone. It's from Lauren.

Lauren: hey wanna come over?

My stomach immediately does backflips as I send her something without thinking.

Y/N: yesss definitely. I've missed you☺️

I press send and immediately realize how dumb it was. There's still an obvious mark on my face and there's no way Lauren can find out.

Lauren: yayyy!! See you in an hour?

I feel too bad to cancel, so I go along with it.

Y/N: yeah, totally

I can figure out a way to cover this up, right?

A plan forms in my head as I wonder how I'm going to cover up a bruise this size. The bruise has changed to a yellowish color, instead of the purple it was a couple days ago. I rush to the bathroom, needing all the time I can get. I pull out all of my makeup tools and get to work.

I pick out a foundation that matches my skin tone and I really focus on where the bruise is. Soon enough, you can barely tell anything is there at all. A giant weight is lifted off my shoulders when the makeup ends up covering any remains of the bruise.

I finish doing the rest of my makeup and look at myself in the mirror. I'm filled with happiness when I realize you can't even tell there's a bruise there. I'm happy with my work, so I move to my closet.

I pick out some ripped jeans and a hoodie, and quickly shoved them on. I wave goodbye to my mom, ignore Brian, and get in my car.

As I'm driving, I begin to doubt my cover up. There's so many ways that Lauren could find out. The thought of her finding out fills me with shame and horror. I think more about this and I uncover a very small part of me that wants Lauren to find out.

What if Lauren didn't think any less of me? What if she got me help and got me away from Brian? No that wouldn't happen. She would think I'm weak and worthless. She can't know.

I finally make it to her house and pull in the driveway. I'm greeted with Amy taking out the trash who waves at me.

"Hi Y/N! Lauren's inside!" Amy gives me a big smile and goes behind the house to the trash.

I thank her and walk inside. I look to my left and see Lauren sitting on the couch talking to Dani. Dani turns to look at me and taps Lauren's shoulder.

Lauren and I make eye contact and my breath hitches. It feels like I'm looking at her for the first time. For a split second I think that she feels it too, but then I realize I'm just being crazy.

Lauren walks up to me and gives me the biggest hug, and her body presses against my stomach. It takes everything I have not to scream out in pain from the bruise Brian left me. I wince a little when she hugs me, hoping that she didn't notice.