Cosette looked down at her arms. Blotched green, yellow, and purple, they somehow managed to look hauntingly beautiful. She wasn't some self-destructive person. You know the type, cutting themselves, seeing how many pills they could take before it got to be late. At the last moment they'd throw up everything and hope for the best. No, she didn't do that, but it was close.
Marius had been perfect, and almost still was. He was caring, hot, knew how to make her smile, and knew how to make her feel wanted. It had been cute, him calling sometimes up to 5 times a day, just to see what she was up to, how she was doing, where she was. Marius would whisk her away for dinner, claiming that "he didn't care if it wasn't her break. She needed one, and damn it, he'd make sure that his girlfriend got what she needed and deserved."
She'd lean in comfortably and he'd spend hours just stroking her hair. He always said that he loved it. Loved her. He promised he did. He really did.
When Marius visited her dorm for the first time, he said that it wasn't nearly big enough, or good enough for her. He wanted her to move in with him. His apartment was certainly big, central to the college and her work, beautifully decorated. It even reminded her of a childhood friend's gorgeous house. A month after the first dorm visit, Marius came to help her pack up all her belongings and move them to his home.
For the first few weeks, she really missed her roommate and their midnight chats, and 2 a.m. coffee runs. He claimed that she didn't love him. That was the first time her arm became blue. Marius had held on for so long, and so hard. She knew it was only out of love though…
Cosette had dance practice 3 nights a week, and had started taking salsa lessons. Marius didn't like it. He swore her partner spent the entire time looking at her ass, and had a thing for her. She told him he was wrong. Her eye became purple, and not because of makeup. She still continued to attend the class; it was the one time where she knew she was free to do, say, and move the way she wanted. Marius couldn't watch her there…He showed up one day…Just sat down right inside the door, and spent the next hour switching between glaring at Matt, her partner, and staring at her.
On the way home, he didn't talk, not once. She told him that he hadn't needed to come. His look promised more abuse if she didn't shut up. She didn't talk the rest of the walk. He slung his arm around her shoulder, bringing her dangerously close to him. She didn't dare try to escape his grasps…plus, it felt good to be so wanted and so cared for.