Casey

"I think she's asleep right now" I sigh as I glance at Emily. Her eyes remain on the ground in disbelief. We knew something was wrong, but we didn't want to believe it was because Mr. Rossen was back in Houston. Though she had predicted the man was back, she didn't know he was abusing the brunette.

I sit on the hood of my car, my eyes watching her carefully. She's speechless, to say the least. She still hadn't seen Kathryn since yesterday. She was unaware of the bruises and scars on her body since the woman had been avoiding her every chance she got.

She was distraught. She didn't know how to take the news. Her emotions were everywhere. I wasn't sure I should showcase Kathryn's state to all of our friends, but I knew Emily was a must. I swallow my spit, trying to moisten my throat. Houston's heat added on to the fire brewing in my stomach wasn't exactly a swell mix.

It was taking everything in my body not to jump into my car and give Rai a piece of my mind. But after arriving home yesterday night, my parents informed me that if I did anything reckless, I could possibly kiss college goodbye. No college wanted a fighter at their school. But not just that, I could risk being able to graduate on time with my class.

So I had to keep my temper in check. Calm and collected. Not just for me but for Kathryn as well. She needs me right now. This is going to be very hard on her for the next few days until we figure out how to get that man in jail.

"Is she staying here with you?" Emily questions.

I nod my head. She glances at me, "I think it would be better if she comes to stay with Sophia and I. I'm sure your parents are uncomfortable letting her stay here since she's your..." she trails. She looks away awkwardly "And you have a twin bed, will that be big enough for the two of you? Or are you sleeping on the couch in the living room to respect her privacy?"

I roll my eyes. I knew she was slightly being petty. Now that I was no longer with Kathryn, she felt as though she was solely responsible for the womans' wellbeing. "I know you feel indifferent about her being here and you not being able to protect her but Emily if Rai finds out where you live how are you going to protect Sophia and Kathryn? I know you feel like it's your responsibility to be there for her but she has me too. My dad's a veteran. She's safe here."

The blonde sighs, her eyes searching mine as she tried to reason with me but she knew I was right. "You're right. I just. I feel like I failed her Case. I'm her best-fucking-friend there are things I should immediately pinpoint that no one else can. And I ignored it. I let her push me away because I thought that was what she needed."

I nod my head, knowing exactly that feeling she was explaining to me. "She's always going to look at me differently now. The one person she relied on the most to help her out and I did nothing but let it happen."

I get up from my car and approach the woman. "She won't."

She sighs, shaking her head. "You two are talking about me behind my back now, that's dirty" we hear. I immediately smile as my eyes land on Kathryn. She was dressed in my clothing, looking as beautiful as ever. It still pained me knowing that under her clothes were bruises and scars. And she was showing a smile, hiding her sorrow.

Emily quickly pulls the woman in for a hug. Kathryn stops for a few seconds before her arms wrap around the blonde. They remain like that for a few seconds longer until Kathryn feels awkward. She chuckles and rubs the back of her neck as her eyes find me. "You need to tell us everything, now" Emily hisses.

The brunette frowned, not wanting to think about him. I narrow my eyes and hop off of my car. I make my way towards the women, my eyes landing on Kathryn's exposed neck. She notices and subconsciously tries to cover the bruise marks but I stop her. I bite my cheek as I glance at the purple handprints on her skin.

"Are you ready to tell us?" I question causing Emily to glare at me. She thought that since Kathryn was with us she was obligated to tell us what Rai had done to her. Albeit, I wanted to know as well but I knew Kathryn would break down if she had to relive that all over again.

She looks down at my hand taking a few seconds before nodding her head. "But not here, I don't want your parents to know anything yet. I don't want them to worry about us."

I nod my head and glance at Emily. She understands immediately, unlocking her car so we could get in. Kathryn sat in the passenger seat and I took the backseat. This reminded me of the first time we found out about the mans' aggressive traits.

"Where am I going?" the blonde questions glancing between the two of us. Just then Kathryn's stomach growled as if answering for her. Anywhere with food. I chuckle, noticing she was blushing. "Have you been eating?" I question as Emily backs out of the driveway.

Kathryn shakes her head. "When you're being abused food is the last thing on your mind."

My heart breaks just hearing her admit it. The rest of the car ride is quiet until we get to Burger King. My lips curl upwards as Kathryn orders practically the entire menu. But I knew this would probably be the first time she's eaten in a few days.

I was happy she'd gotten some of her energy back. "Can I sit with you?" I hear. I glance up from my legs, glancing at Kathryn. Her brown eyes on me hopeful. I chuckle and nod my head. "What? You don't want to sit with your best friend?" Emily questions acting hurt.

Kathryn eyes her, "No offense Em but I didn't break up with you, I avoided you."

"Well, you didn't exactly break up with me either. I broke up with you" I remind. The brunette frowns, stopping in her tracks, "Nevermind, you can sit by yourself." I laugh at her as she continues making her way next to me. I rest my hand on her leg as she leans her head on my shoulder.

"I do not understand you two" Emily groaned glancing back at us. "We're a complicated couple. Only the best of the best" I joke.

She rolls her eyes, "So now that everything has calmed down you two are officially together again? Just like that? Wow, you two make up quicker than Sophia and I do. I'm slightly jealous."

"What do you mean officially together again? I have to sleep with at least one person before I jump back into the relationship" I joke. I laugh loudly as I feel Kathryn pinching my side. I move away from the woman, seeing the dark look in her eyes from my statement. We pull up to the window, grabbing Kathryn's hungry gaze.

Once we get our food, Emily parks in the parking lot of Burger King so we could eat and talk. I smile as I watch Kathryn consume majority of her food in one bite. I enjoy the silence, feeling as if things were semi-normal. Having Kathryn this close to me again made me feel whole.

"I love you" I find myself muttering to the woman. Her eyes land on me before she glances at my fries. I quickly snatch them from her reach, "Not that much."

She pouts, finishing her food. I shake my head and allow her to have some of my fries. Keyword: Some. So why do I have none left?

We all eventually finish eating and it's time for Kathryn to explain to us everything that was going on between her and Rai. I realized I didn't want to hear it, for I would grow angry at the simple thought of him putting his disgusting hands on him. I growl lowly. I let the woman begin her traumatic experience, ready to give her comfort when she needed it.

She sat criss-cross on the seat and places her hands in her lap, fiddling with her jeans. "As you both know I started acting differently after the pep rally," she began.

I inhaled, my mind remembering everything for the past month and a half vividly. "Uh, he was in the school. He saw Casey and I in the hallway after Desire practically proposed. He was in my classroom and he threatened me like he usually does. But this time you guys' safety was on the line and I couldn't allow anything to happen because you guys mean a lot to me."

I frown in distaste. Asshole. Someone needs to kill him.

"I wasn't safe anywhere, really. It was like he had eyes everywhere. He knew what I was doing and he knew if I did what he told me to. The first thing he demanded from me was to drop the restraining order."

I open my mouth to protest but Emily beats me to it. "You didn't seriously give in to that asshole's wishes right?"

Kathryn glances at the blonde in annoyance for interrupting her. "I did. Because he had pictures of us, what was I supposed to do? Let him ruin everything I worked so hard for? I thought if I went along to his whims, he'd grow bored and leave me alone but it didn't work that way."

I bite on my lip. "The next thing he demanded was for me to break up with Casey."

I find myself laughing at her statement. I knew it was bad timing, but it made sense. It made so much sense now. That explained her pushing me away and not telling me anything. It explained why she didn't try and stop me from breaking up with her. Because she was forced.

"But I couldn't do that" she mutters her eyes meeting mine before slowly glancing away. "I didn't really know how I was going to do it. We didn't have any problems between us that I could make a big thing about to start a fight and end up being dumped. But who knew that not conversing with your girlfriend about certain made her overthink the entire relationship?"

I avert my gaze from the beauty sitting in front of me. I felt bad. I wanted to apologize a million times until she knew how much she meant to me and how much I didn't mean those words. "I guess the first time he actually put his hands on me abusively was after the breakup. I was supposed to report to him that I was single since he wanted to be called my boyfriend. But the news was too hard for me to even comprehend."

"Okay, we get it Ryn, I fucked up royally. Please stop making me regret my mistakes" I groan jokingly. She and Emily break a smile.

"Before we did, you know break up. He was threatening me to call him and sneak out to see him. And if I didn't he'd send pictures of us to me, saying he'd tell Principal Espinoza. The first time I broke down was in my kitchen. Casey was there and I was so scared about the possibilities."

Kathryn starts crying. Emily reaches over to her best friend, wiping her tears away with a frown, not liking the view as much as me. "When you moved out I really wanted you to move in with me because I was so scared but you were mad at me and I couldn't will myself to say something, to stop you from leaving me. That's why I told you to keep the key. I wanted you to come back."

I frown, placing my hand on her leg, comfortingly, letting her know if it was too much to tell she didn't have to continue. There were so many emotions clouding my heart right now hurt, sadness, pity, and anger. I was angry with myself for letting my temper get the best of me. Maybe if I had slowed down and paced myself I would have noticed that Kathryn needed me.

The brunette wipes her tears. "It got worse from there. Rai felt every reason to lay his hands on me and he'd try to apologize by buying me things I didn't even want from him. Within a week my arms were covered in bruises and obviously that wasn't enough for the man, seeing as he continued abusing me. As if the bruises signified our relationship, like they told others that I was in his. He treated them as if they were hickeys."

"I stopped eating by the time April 2nd came. At first I was barely managing with protein bars and salads but after a while I lost my appetite. We went out for dinner one night and Cane showed up. Cane was one of the people he had no idea about. I figured she would remain safe if I never brought her up and of course I avoided her."

I didn't want to hear anymore of this. "That night he continued hitting me. I guess one thing I'm grateful he didn't do was rape me. He was close to doing so one day but he got a call and had to leave. And we never touched base on that sore subject ever again. I'm going to wrap this up because thinking about it is..."

Kathryn clears her throat. "I called Josh. And Rai showed up and he got angry because he thought I was cheating on him. He wrapped his hands around my neck" her voice cracked at the thought of it.

"I thought I was going to die, I couldn't breath everything was turning black and I had so much remorse in my heart, so much regret. All I could think about was would anyone care if I was dead? Or would they act normal because I already managed to push everyone away?"

I couldn't hold it back anymore. I wrap my arms around the fragile woman, not wanting her to cry. I wanted to take the pain away. I wanted to take this harsh memory away. She cried in my arms for an hour, no words muttered between the three of us as we let her cry. She need to. I could tell she was hurt, who wouldn't be?

"We're here baby. We care so much. We love you so much" I rock the woman in my arms as I whisper into her ear.