An involuntary groan escaped my lips as my phone vibrated loudly on my bedside table. My mind had finally settled down enough for me to try and sleep, but it seemed as though whoever was calling had no intentions of stopping until I answered the phone. As I laid there, letting the call go to voicemail, I wondered who would actually be calling me. I don't talk to anyone except-

Once again my phone started to vibrate and I rolled over in bed to pick it up. Just as I had thought, Skyler's name flashed across the screen.

"Hello-"

The sound of her sobs cut me off and I immediately sat up straight in bed. "Sky? Skyler, what happened? What's wrong?"

My heart raced as she continued to cry into the receiver. "I didn't want to call."

I shook my head, though she couldn't see me and got up out of bed. I rushed around my room in search of clothes as she cried harder.

"Skyler, where are you?" I spoke clearly.

"I didn't want to bother you," She choked out.

"I know, but you need to tell me where you are." I slipped into my vans and headed out of my room.

"Peach Street."

Peach Street? My eyebrows knitted together in confusion as I grabbed my keys off the kitchen counter and slammed the front door behind me, not caring if it woke my parents. That street was almost three blocks away from her house.

"Why aren't you at home?" I questioned as I started the engine of my car and pulled out of the driveway.

"I ran."

With those words I stepped on the gas peddle, not wanting her to be out alone at night. "I'm driving there now, don't move."

We had stayed on the line with each other the whole time I drove. We were both silent, just the sound of Skyler's quiet sniffles indicated that she was still there. I slowed my car down to a crawl as I hit Peach Street and even though it was pitch black out it was easy to spot the hooded figure that sat out by the curb.

I put the car into park, ready to get out, but before I could she had opened the opposite door and climbed into the passenger seat. The light on the ceiling of the car shown down on both of us and I held back a gasp as I stared over at her bloody face.

Her lip was once again busted open, much like it had been the first time I saw her. She held the sleeve of her sweatshirt over her nose it hopes of stopping it from bleeding. My eyes trailed down her body to see she was trembling and as much as I wanted to reach out and console her, I knew it would only make it worse.

The drive back to my house was completely silent. I glanced at her every so often, but that was it. What could I say? I knew exactly who had done this and the longer we drove in silence the angrier I got. If anyone deserved to go to prison it was that bastard Skyler called her boyfriend.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath as we finally pulled up to my house. The porch light was on and my mother was standing there with arms folded.

"W-who's that?" Skyler stuttered out and looked as though she had no intention of moving.

"My mom," I said as I opened my door and got out.

I didn't even look in my mother's direction as I walked around the car and opened the passenger side door. Skyler stared up at me helplessly, but I didn't say anything as I held my hand out for her to take.

Skyler's grip on my hand tightened as we made our way up the front steps of my house. An audible gasp escaped my mother's lips as she looked over the girl next to me. And for a second I wondered if she thought I might have done it to her.

"Hey," I spoke quietly as we stepped by her.

I led Skyler up to my room and shut the door behind us. She stood there like a lost puppy, but the second I came up and put my hand on her lower back she flinched away. I cringed as she stared at me with wide eyes. I took a cautionary step away from her before I decided to speak.

"You can take a shower if you'd like." I gestured toward the bathroom connected to my room. She nodded but didn't say a word.

"There are fresh towels in the cabinet you can use," I spoke again, but she just turned away from me and disappeared into the bathroom.

I sighed loudly once I heard the shower turn on. I knew my mother was downstairs right now expecting an explanation as to why I brought home a bruised and bloodied girl at three o'clock in the morning. I headed back downstairs and find my mother in the exact place I expected her to be, the kitchen.

"W-what happened to her?" My mom stuttered and it was obvious she was completely freaked out. "How do you know her?"

"Her name is Skyler. We both go to the same therapist," I paused briefly before I spoke again. "And her boyfriend did that to her."

"Oh my god, Calum." My mother covered her mouth in shock and I could see tears welling up in her eyes.

"She's going to spend the night." I didn't even bother to ask.

My mother just nodded along. "Yes, of course."

With that I turned on my heels and headed for the door. "Calum?" I looked back toward my mother.

"I know you would never do that to someone unless there was a just cause," She held back tears as she spoke. "And you know I love you."

I smiled as best I could in light of the current situation. "I love you too, mom."

The shower was still on when I got back to my room. I flopped down onto my bed as I stared up at the ceiling, my mind devoid of any thought. I knew that if I started to think about what had happened to Skyler tonight, I would end up at her house ready to take a swing at her boyfriend.

"Calum?" Skyler's voice had me up and off my bed in seconds.

"Yeah? I'm here."

It was quiet for a second. "Could I borrow some clothes?"

I nodded to myself as I moved across my room to where my dresser was. "Sure."

All my clothes were going to drown her no matter what so I just grabbed a sweatshirt and the smallest pair of athletic shorts I could find. I cleared my throat and knocked on the bathroom door to signify that I was there. Unexpectedly, the door opened fully and I stood there stunned by the sight of Skyler in just her bra and underwear.

It wasn't the fact that she was standing there half naked. It was all the faded bruises and old scars that adorned her stomach and thighs that had tears forming in my eyes. But even with all the cuts and bruises I still thought she was the prettiest girl I had ever seen.

"You're beautiful," I spoke my mind.

In seconds Skyler's arms wrapped tightly around my waist as she cried into my chest. I wrapped the zip-up hoodie I had gotten out for her around her bare shoulders before my arms encased her tiny frame.

"You were right," She sobbed. "You were right and I defended him!"

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," She repeated over and over again.

My arms tightened around her as she continued to break down. I rocked us back and forth in a soothing manner as we stood in the middle of my room.

"Come on," I spoke quietly. "Let's get you dressed and I'll bandage those cuts."

She nodded her head and whipped under her eyes to clear the wet stains on her cheeks. I handed the shorts I still held and watched as she pulled them up to her hips and then zipped up the front of the sweatshirt, that hung off her shoulders, to cover her bare skin. Skyler then followed me into the still slightly steamy bathroom, so I could inspect the large gash on her forehead.

Skyler sat up on the counter as I dabbed disinfectant on the cut near her hairline. It was obvious that she was uncomfortable, but I didn't know if it was because I had called her beautiful just a few minutes ago or the fact that she had broken down in front of me. Her hands gripped the edges of the counter tightly as she winced in pain.

"Sorry," I mumbled, glancing down at her eyes for only a second.

I then placed a bandage over the cut and stepped away from her. Skyler watched me as I put everything back into the first aid kit and once I had stowed it back under the sink, I turned to look at her.

"Would you like to go lie down?" I questioned and she only nodded in response.

I watched as she crawled onto my bed and pulled back the covers to get underneath them. I followed suit, but hesitated as I tried to keep my distance from her. Skyler laid on her back as she stared up at the ceiling, while I stared at her.

She let out a shaky breath as she finally spoke. "I'm scared."

I turned onto my side to face her. "You don't need to be. I'm right here."

Skyler mirrored my actions, but stayed quiet for a long time. Her eyes drooped as the minutes passed, but before she closed her eyes fully she reached out and took my hand in hers.

"I just don't want to bother you," She whispered, her voice tired and hoarse.

I bit at my lip as tears stung the backs of my eyes. She tucked our interlocked hands under her chin as she curled into her self already half asleep. I covered my face with my other hand, trying to settle my racing heart. I couldn't do this. She deserved to be with someone who would treat her right, not a man who beats her or a man who is going to trail for beating someone else.

I pulled myself together as best I could before I leaned over Skyler and turned the light off. I shut my eyes tightly, hoping that tomorrow would bring a new beginning for Skyler. Maybe this time she might actually choose to stand up for herself and leave Jacob.

Sun poured into my room through the window opposite my bed and as I blinked away the sleep from my eyes I heard a quiet groan from under the covers next to me. I pulled the blanket back to see Skyler had pushed her face further into the pillows in hopes of escaping the sun's rays.

"Too bright," She spoke.

"Sorry," I murmured back.

It was like my voice had sent a shock through her and her head quickly snapped up in my direction. Skyler stared at me in awe as I hovered over her slightly. Before she could say anything I rolled out of bed and headed over to the window and quickly closed the curtains.

When I turned back Skyler had already sat up in bed. I winced at just the sight of her face. Her forehead and bottom lip were slightly swollen and the nasty bruise under her left eye was more prominent than the night before.

"I'm not going to therapy today," She stated.

"What?" I was confused. "Why not?"

"Look at me," She whispered, her eyes refusing to look in my direction.

I shut my eyes for a second and thought back to the confident girl who had told Mitchell to fuck off and then opened them again to see a much different girl. She was shattered and I wanted nothing more than to help pick up all her pieces, but I wasn't sure if she'd let me.

"I'm not taking you back to that house." I glared down at the floor, already irritated.

"I don't want you to either." She shook her head. "I want you to take me to my friends house."

I sighed but agreed anyway. As long as she wasn't near Jacob, I was fine.

Somehow we had managed to dodge my mother and quickly left my house without a word. The drive to her friend's house was silent, much like it had been the night before. I bit nervously at my lip as I drove. I really didn't want to let her out of my sight, but she had reassured me before we left my house that she would be safe at her friend's place.

I pulled the car up to the curb and got out along with Skyler. I walked around the car and stood by her as she closed the passenger side door. I used to know someone from school who lived in these apartment buildings and even though they were in a shitty part of town, I knew they were safe.

"Am I beautiful now?" Her question caught me off guard and I stared down at her with wide eyes.

I gulped back my fears and nodded my head, not sure if I could actually speak in that moment. She scoffed and looked away from me, though I could see a ghost of a smile grace her lips.

"I'm not going to be a bother to you anymore."

But I shook my head repeatedly finally regaining some confidence. "You can bother me anytime. I've told you that."

Skyler sighed heavily and reached out to give my hand a light squeeze. "Bye, Calum."

I didn't understand her words as she turned and headed toward the apartment complex. Did she think I was lying when I told her to call me? Or that when I said she was beautiful it was only to make her feel better about the bruises on her face. I wasn't that shallow, it was her personality that really drew me to her. I had no idea what she could possibly be thinking, but it seemed as though she wasn't even fazed by what had happened last night. But that might have been because this same thing had happened so many times before.

I left the complex and drove toward the psychiatric hospital. The idea of what was to come of my session today finally dawned on me. I had been so wrapped up in Skyler that I had forgotten all about the hypnotherapy. My nerves continued to build as I got closer and closer to my destination. I was scared to say the least.

"Good afternoon, Calum," A nurse greeted me from behind the check in desk as I made my way into the hospital waiting room.

"Hey." I breathed out and before I could even take a seat another nurse called my name and signaled for me to follow her back to Doctor Gram's office.