warrior

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Song for this chapter: Warrior

- Demi Lovato

I felt bad for the cliffhanger, so double update it is. Sorry it's a few hours behind - I wanted to make you wait at least a little while.

⚠️W A R N I N G⚠️
This is a tough chapter, so please read with caution. Minor mentions of violence and sexual assault. Depression and suicide mentioned.

If you need anything, please talk to someone. There are so many helplines that will talk with you anonymously and would be more than willing to help.
You are so loved, please don't ever think that you're not.

If you need to talk, I'm always here too.

;

I burst out of the door, terrified tears falling down my face.

"Do you know that guy?" Grayson asks and I spin around to face him. Once he sees my tears he looks at me quizzically. "Why are you crying? Did he do something to you?"

"No."

"You're lying. You looked dead frightened of him."

"I don't know him."

"Well he knows you. And he clearly knows Rob too."

"Grayson-"

"Tell me, please. I can help you."

"He was my drug dealer." I say in aims to shut him up, to get him to stop asking me questions that I feel like I can't answer because that would mean I would have to reveal to him the worst moment of my life.

"It can't be just that... did he hurt you?" He asks and I remain silent. He takes that as my answer. "I'm gonna fucking kill him! What did he do to you?" I take his hand in mine and begin to walk, preparing myself to tell the story that no one in this world knows.

"You have to promise me that you won't see me any differently because I couldn't stand that, Gray. You're important to me so please please please don't leave me after I tell you this." I cry, tears pouring down my cheeks. He wipes away the tears and then holds out his pinky. I look up at him with teary eyes.

"Hey," he says and cups my face in his hands, "nothing, I'm telling you nothing will make me leave you. I pinky promise." He says and raises his pinky to mine, I lift my hand and link my pinky with his, and shake them. He lifts our linked hands up to his mouth and kisses my pinky.

"Okay..." I mumble, my heart starts racing as I think of all of the possible outcomes of me telling this horrible story. Of revealing to Gray the worst moment of my life. I didn't even know where to start. My fingers start to tremble and as Gray notices, he wraps his hand around mine, pulling me closer to him and our hands rest in his lap. He goes completely silent as he just waits for me to start talking. I take a shaky breath before the words start to escape from my mouth.

"I lost my virginity to him when he forced himself on me the first time I bought drugs off him... And after that, when I couldn't afford the drugs, I'd sleep with him as payment. I was stupid and desperate and god, so scared of him. He forced me to be his girlfriend but he only used me for sex and he cheated every single night. He became abusive very quickly and I was too weak and too depressed to get away... so I just took it, I let him hit me because I thought for some sick reason that I deserved it. And one night, after my mom just left and I was helping my dad and I was almost clean, I tried to end it with him. I wanted to be done with the drugs and cut off my contact with him. I hated him. But he wasn't finished with me. I told him 'no' over and over but he wouldn't listen, he wouldn't stop. He slapped me so hard I blacked out and when I woke up, I was in a pool of my own blood, by myself. I don't know what he had done, or if-if his friends had done something, I think Rob maybe did, but I-I have no idea.

I couldn't tell my dad because I knew how much that would break him. So I snuck into my house, got rid of my clothes and took a shower, I scrubbed and scrubbed but I couldn't take away the feeling of disgust I felt whenever I thought about who's hands could've been on me. Not even bleach would get rid of them. I flew off the handle then, I would help my dad during the week and almost kill myself at the weekends. I was completely broken."

"I didn't stop until one night I just couldn't take it any more, I didn't want to be alive. I hated myself, so I overdosed. I wanted to die. My brother found me and then called my dad, they took me to the hospital, where they thought I accidentally overdosed so I was made to go to therapy and I saw a councillor, but I didn't tell her about this, I haven't told anyone, not about him and certainly not about my suicide attempt. I don't want to be seen as weak. But I am... I'm so weak." I sob, while I thought that I would regret telling him - one look at his face makes me breathe out in relief. It's not a look of pity, he looks at me like I'm the strongest person he's ever met and at this moment, I feel strong. I feel empty and free, like the truth being out has somehow made my life better, brighter.

"You are the strongest person I've ever met in my life, you didn't deserve that. You deserve the world. Everything you went through has made you into the fucking amazing human I have the pleasure to meet now. And fuck if that doesn't make me the luckiest guy in the world to know you." He says and hugs me closer to him so he can kiss my temple. I feel safe when I'm with him, I'm not even sure how to explain the overwhelming feeling of comfort when he's just near me. "Why didn't you go to the police?" He asks, his eyebrows knitted in concentration.

"He had friends in high places and I wasn't strong enough. You have to promise me you won't touch him, because he'll hurt you. My brother tried a few times to get me away from him, he saw him drop me home after the parties and threatened him to stay away from me. He threatened to kill him in response. That can't happen to you. You can't get hurt because of me Gray, please." I beg.

"I won't touch him." He promises and links his pinky through mine for the second time, then kisses it again too.

Broken. A word that describes my heart right now. My heart breaks as I look at the girl who I'm completely and utterly infatuated with. The girl that I'm dangerously obsessed with.

And all I can do is press her against me as tightly as humanly possible. Nothing could make this right for her. Her life completely derailed this time last year and dread fills my whole being at the thought of her not being here and me never meeting her. Her short time of living here has changed my life. She's gorgeous inside and outside, easily the most gorgeous girl I've ever met. She deserved none of what happened to her and I hate how she thought that she did. I would do anything to prove to her that she didn't, that in actual fact, she deserved the world.

When she told me about her bestfriend and ex boyfriend, my heart broke then too. So much has happened to her and she's still here. Living and breathing. I'm one lucky son of a bitch, I tell you.

I could feel the strong burning feeling of hate boiling inside of me for those guys in there, but there was no way that I was gonna break her promise. Her trust meant everything to me. Not even my overwhelming rage to beat them to a pulp would make me break that.

"Can I take you somewhere?" I ask her, my eyes settling over her smeared makeup. She still looks as gorgeous as ever. She lightly nods her head and I grab her hand before leading her back inside. We weave our way through the crowd of people plastered up against each other and I guide her to where our friends are all dancing.

I tap Reece on the shoulder, still keeping a tight grip on Layla's hand.

"We're gonna go now, Layla isn't feeling too good." I tell him near his ear, so that he can hear me over the thumping music.

"What's wrong with you, love?" I hear a voice shout from behind. I turn around slowly to see Brody pressed up against Layla's rigid body, her frightened eyes wide and scared. Lydia steps forward, ready to go all mama bear on her but I grab Layla and pull her behind me before Lyds can do anything.

I cock my head staring at him. I look him up and down. He's about five inches shorter than me. One right hook and he'd be on floor, easily accessible to my feet and I could kick the shit out of him.

I feel Layla's hand pull a little on my polo and my heart melts as I look down to see her small hand clutching my top.

"Rob mentioned how you had another boyfriend, darling. I couldn't believe you'd do something like that to me but here you are, grinding up against him and now clinging to him like a monkey. Mission accomplished love, I'm officially jealous." Brody continues and I feel Layla shrivel inside herself further. She's scared, no terrified. And I can't do anything about it because I promised her that I wouldn't touch him.

"Who the fuck are you?" Lydia pipes up.

I'm surprised we can even hear each other over the music.

"Man of her dreams, sweetheart. Who are you?" He retorts, looking her up and down. My nose wrinkles in distaste.

"Lydia, her best friend." She crosses her arms defiantly.

"Really? I thought that was the dead bitch's role. Was Cleo her name?" Layla, Lydia and I all tense.

"What did you just say?" The voice that speaks is deadly. I don't recognise her speaking, but she takes a step forward. I hold my arm out to stop her from moving in front of me.

"Mate if you don't stop touching what is mine I'm gonna get very angry." He warns me.

"She's not an object." I tell him.

"And even if I was, I'd definitely not be yours." Layla replies and then puts her hand in mine to show him just who she wants to be with. I smile smugly and he for sure catches it.

He laughs darkly, his eyes flashing in danger. Of course he's dangerous, he hurt Layla.

"Fuck off." Lydia says and is probably about to say more, but I hear someone shush her so I'm guessing Reece put a hand over her mouth.

"I don't like your new friends Layla. They're disobedient and clearly they've rubbed off on you. I much preferred it when all you'd do is cry about that dead whore and the asshole that picked her over you." He says, "maybe he had a good idea; I wish I could've met her. I would've picked her over a good-for-nothing slut like yourself." He spits at Layla. He's as vicious as a snake. "Maybe she wouldn't sleep with my friends."

Not a second later, a fist is swinging from behind him and knocking him onto the floor. Myles stands above him shaking his fist out while wincing.

"Fucker has such a hard head." He whines.

"What the fuck." Asshole groans from the floor and Myles quickly makes his way over to us. Rob starts to make his way over here and Layla immediately comes closer to my side. I lift my arm, placing it around her shoulders to try and bring her comfort.

"Can we go now?" She asks, turning her pleading eyes to look at me. I nod my head and take her hand. We move around the dick on the floor and walk to the exit.

Reece, Myles and Lydia follow closely behind us as we notice the bouncers eyeing us up and then looking to the piece of shit on the floor. Don't worry, we're leaving.

"I'm taking her somewhere, will you be okay getting back?" I ask the other three, while Layla is so silent in my arms, it's scary. Ever since I've met her, she hasn't really had a problem speaking to me. I've never heard her be silent before, she's always either singing or talking whenever she's around me.

I quickly order an Uber and the app tells me that they'll be here in 15 minutes as Lydia steps forward and brings Layla into a hug. She whispers an 'I love you' in her ear before she steps back and joins the boys.

"Just text us, yeah?" Myles asks and I nod my head. He presses a kiss against Layla's forehead then they all leave, leaving me alone with a shell-shocked Layla.

"Layla?" I reach out but she backs away.

"No, no, no." She whispers, her hands going to her mouth.

"H-hey, whats wrong?" I question but she doesn't answer, "lil' one?" I call out to her but she remains impassive.

"No, no, no." She keeps repeating and when her eyes start to well up I bring her into my embrace and stroke through her curls. "It's all my fault." She cries.

"What is?" I question, "Layla, speak to me."

"Myles. He punched him, h-he's gonna get hurt. Y-you're all gonna get hurt." She sobs, stuttering through her words as she isn't able to release them without her cries interrupting them.

"Shhh, baby." I try to soothe, kissing her hair but she continues to shake in my arms.

"I knew it was a bad idea to make friends, I just thought that he wouldn't come and find me. I thought he didn't care." She pulls away and then looks up at me through teary eyes. "Grayson, I'm so sorry." I cup her face within my palms and make sure our eyes are locked.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." I tell her, licking my lips, "him - in there, hurt you badly. He's the one who should be sorry because he's the only one that's done anything wrong. You can't hold yourself responsible for everything that goes wrong in the world. Cleo's death, Brody coming here, neither are your fault. You can't keep carrying the weight of the blame you hold over yourself." I tell her, kissing her forehead. "You, Layla Greene are the kindest, happiest, most thoughtful person I know. You've helped us all so much since you've moved here. You never realise the good you do and it frustrates the hell out of me." I plant a kiss on her cheek. "You're perfect." I whisper.

She looks up at me with wide eyes, still glistening with tears and as another trails down her cheek I wipe it away with the pad of my thumb. She watches my hand collect her tear, then grabs my neck and pulls me down to her level, planting a kiss on my lips.

"Thank you." She whispers, her voice hoarse and broken from the tears. I kiss her again with a smile on my face.

"Can I take you home?" I ask, Layla vehemently shakes her head.

"I don't wanna go home." She says stubbornly.

"Myles and Lydia's?" I ask but she shakes her head again. My heart quickens at what this means and where it means she'll be staying tonight.

"Mine?" I finally question.

"Is that okay?" She asks me, unsure but the wide smile on my face stops her worried expression and I happily grab her hand, and lead her to where the Uber is meant to be meeting us. "Will your parents be okay with it though Grayson?" She questions and I pull her towards me by the waist, kissing her lips once again.

"Yes, they already think you're my girlfriend."

"What?" She screeches, her mouth wide open.

"Yep. And they approve." I say smugly. "Guess you're stuck with me, huh lil' one?" I tease.

The Uber pulls up in front of us and after making sure it's the right one, I open the door for Layla and then follow her in.

I send a brief text to Reece, letting him know we're okay and what's happening and then shut my phone off. She lays her head on my shoulder, cuddling closer to me as she complains about being cold.

I'm so lucky she made it out of North Dakota and came here,

my lil' warrior.

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"𝑀𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒶𝓁 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓁𝓉𝒽 𝒾𝓈 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒶 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝒶 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝒸𝑒𝓈𝓈.
𝐼𝓉'𝓈 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒹𝓇𝒾𝓋𝑒, 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊'𝓇𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔."

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LOVE YOU

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