Hey guys! It's Love here with another multichapter (I just keep cranking stories out lately, huh?) Anyways this story is going to be really hard for me to write because it's about experiences I've had and are very real and hard to deal with. They are not the same experiences as the ones in Her Journey (it will share a few) but worse if not equally as bad. If anyone you know is dealing with an issue similar to this, I urge you to get them help. Abusive relationships can be deadly.

Rated T for: Abuse (physical, emotional and might include sexual), Swearing, Depression, Suicidal thoughts, and Cutting.

Disclaimer: I do not own House Of Anubis

Clipped Wings

Mara sat in the common room, reading her favorite book and eating an apple.

It was a pretty normal Saturday in September. The weather was still considerably warm,so most of Mara's housemates had gone for a picnic outside. Mara had decided not to join them. She had had a fight with Mick the night before and she still wasn't speaking to him.

What made it worse was that the whole house had heard the argument. It started in the middle of supper (in front of everyone) and continued until lights out.

It wasn't even about an important thing. Mara snapped at Mick when he asked her some question, which led to the argument about practically everything they had been keeping from each other. This included Mick's insecurities about Mara liking Jerome, which was brought up when they were still at the table, so everyone heard it.

After Victor announced lights out, Mara had gone to her room and cried silently to herself.

No one had brought up the argument that morning. But you could feel it in the air, the tension between everyone.

Mara went to take a bite out of her apple but it was swept out of her hands. Mara dropped her book and looked up at Jerome with a small smile on her face.

"Jerome!" She exclaimed, raising her eyebrows at him.

He took a big bite out of the apple and then threw it back at her with a smirk on his face.

"Why aren't you at the picnic?" Jerome asked, sitting down next to her on the couch.

"I could ask you the same." Mara countered, nudging his shoulder with hers.

"I'm not at the picnic because you seemed pretty upset last night and then when you didn't show at the picnic, I figured you still were upset." He replied, taking her apple for the second time and taking one bite before returning it.

"You didn't have to do that. I'm fine." Mara said while taking out a hunk of the apple.

"Mara, I know you better than that. If you were fine you wouldn't be here alone, reading-" He picked up the book and raised his eyebrows at her. "Twilight?"

"I am fine! And don't hate the book until you read it." Mara said, taking it out of his grasp.

"Mara, this is the series that Amber loves. She's made me and Alfie watch the movies before and they are terrible."

"Okay, you're right. It seriously sucks. But I needed some new reading material because Nina borrowed my Harry Potter books." Mara said, putting the book on the table.

Jerome nodded and took the apple a third time, causing Mara to roll her eyes at him.

"Ugh, Mara! You got lip gloss all over this perfectly good apple!" Jerome exclaimed, showing her the pink ring on the side of the fruit.

"Sorry." Mara said through laughter.

Jerome shrugged and bit the apple right on top of the pink. He chewed and thought for a second before speaking. "It tastes like an apple mixed with a cherry."

"That's because it's cherry lip gloss!" Mara giggled.

"Can I see that lip gloss?" Jerome asked, looking serious.

Mara pulled it out of her pocket and gave it to him. Jerome opened it, sniffed it and then put it all over Mara's lips.

"Jerome, you are terrible at applying lip gloss on people." Mara burst out as she wiped off the excess gloss and then laughed.

"I know but it's the effort that counts, right?" Jerome asked.

"Something like that." Mara replied, smiling.

Jerome smiled back at her and then looked at his feet. He took a deep breath and looked back up at Mara.

"Mara, there's something I need to talk about with you. It's really important and I'm not sure how you're going to react."

"What is it?" Mara asked, moving closer to Jerome out of concern.

"Mara! I need to speak with you!" Mick shouted as he stormed into the room, causing Mara and Jerome to jump away from each other.

"I don't want to talk to you, Mick." Mara said coolly, folding her arms over her chest.

"Mara, come on!" Mick said, his temper getting worse.

Mara flinched but stayed where she was on the couch, moving closer to Jerome.

"Look, I'm sorry! Just let me talk to you!" Mick yelled, his face inches from Mara's.

"F-fine." Mara stuttered out and got up from the couch. She shot Jerome a look saying: I'll be fine and followed Mick into his room.

Mick paced around the room, running his hands through his hair. He kicked Fabian's nightstand, causing the lamp to fall off and break.

Mara distanced herself from Mick and attempted to steady her breathing. She had to stop panicking. She knew Mick could get violent when he was really angry. So she made sure there was a good ten feet in between them.

"What were you doing with Clarke?" Mick growled, looking at Mara. His blue eyes had a crazy light to them.

"N-nothing. I was alone, reading my b-book and he came to see if I-I was…okay." Mara said, quietly.

"You're lying! You guys were on a secret date, weren't you?" Mick stepped closer to Mara and threw a textbook off his desk.

"I'm not lying. I-I promise. I would never cheat on you." Mara's lower lip quivered as she said this.

"Why should I believe you? I know you fancy him!" Mick began yelling and his face became red with anger.

"I don't. He's just my friend." Mara backed up against the wall, frightened.

"I can tell your lying, bitch! Why are you doing this to me? Do you want to hurt me? Is it fun to play with my emotions?" Mick spat, standing only a few inches away from her now.

"N-no. Why would I want to hurt you?" Mara whispered, stumbling over her words. "I wouldn't want to cause-"

Mick slapped Mara with all his strength, causing her head to smack against the wall.

Mara slipped down to the floor and started sobbing, her body shaking. She never thought Mick would go that far, to physically hurt her.

"Oh my god, Mara. I-I don't know what came over me. I'm so sorry." Mick crouched down beside Mara and pulled her into a bear hug.

Mara didn't want to him to touch her, didn't even want him to look at her but she was afraid he might become violent again. So instead of pushing him away, she stopped crying and whispered to him "It's okay."