I could remember when I was younger easily. How everything seemed to be less complicated and I was actually happy. I would spend most days not caring about anything and just hanging out with my best friend – Mitchie Torres who lived just down the street from me. We hardly ever spent a day apart from each other we were inseparable but as we got older, everything became much more complicated and at times our lives seemed as they were crumbling down. We both were drifting apart and that had consequences on us both. I had just turned 16 and had been dating Nate for nearly a year now, everything started great until I eventually saw what he was really like. My parents... well I'm not even going to go there and the only thing keeping me strong now was Mitchie, I had to be there for her no matter what. She needed me lately more than ever.

Alex's POV:

I was trying to creep down the hallway to get out of school early, the halls were empty and the only noise was my own footsteps as I crept towards the door, someone cleared their throat behind me.

''Alex Russo. Where do you think you're going?'' Mr Laritates voice echoed through the halls as I froze in my tracks. ''My Office – Now;' I sighed before turning around and heading to his office. I didn't mind getting caught; the whole idea of getting out early was to avoid Nate so I guess this would work just as well. That's what I thought anyway... I started dating him a few months ago, back then I was the girl that was always able to express her feelings, but things happened, he changed me, I hid everything these days, even from my best friend Mitchie who knew something was up but she had just given up on asking me. I could see the questioning look in her eyes every time but she had learned to refrain from asking. Nate was fine for a few weeks, he seemed to be the generally kind and loving boy which everyone saw in him but he was far from it. He had a temper, anything would set him off as I found out a month or so after we started dating when he first hit me when I was with Mitchie rather than him.

I was brought away from my thoughts by a shadow leaning over me, I looked up to see Mr Laritate staring right at me. ''Well welcome back to present day Alex, detention finished 5 minutes ago so get out'' he said as I quickly shot up from my seat peering out the door before walking out into the once again deserted hallways. I was just about to go through the double doors in the parking lot when his voice sent shivers down my spine and not in the good way. ''Where have you been?'' his voice was low as always. I quickly turned around as he slammed my back into one of the lockers pinning me there with his arms either side of me as a pain shot through my back.

''I was in Detention'' I bluntly stated. Things had changed a lot.

Before when Nate would confront me things would be so much different. I hardly managed to get my own words out and it would most likely end with me in tears as he walked away from me leaving me alone to drown in my tears until Mitchie would always somehow magically show up to comfort me. She always asked what happened but I could never tell her so eventually she just stopped asking and then eventually I didn't care anymore either. I didn't cry when he hit me, I just lived with it, it's all I could do when my parents and everyone else thought he was a complete hero. Mitchie was still concerned, she always knew something was up but I tried not to show it and I never told a soul.

''Look at me when I'm fucking talking to you'' Nate gripped my chin bringing me back from my thoughts once again as I stared into his eyes, they were dark, any sign of the Nate I once knew gone, replaced by his dark angry glares.

''What'' I spat out which was a bad move; he clenched his hands into fists against the locker until there were footsteps behind him. It was Mitchie, she was eyeing Nate and his position in front of me before he stepped back grabbing my arm harshly and dragging me out the door leaving Mitchie stood there alone in the hallway, lost and confused.

Mitchie's POV:

I knew something had been up with Alex ever since she started dating Nate. The first few months she would just sit there crying most nights for a reason which she never told me but I had my suspicions, but as time went on the crying stopped and so did any other emotions Alex used to show. I would be lying if I said I knew what to do, but she was my best friend so I couldn't just leave her, she was always there for me when I needed her I just wish I could do the same.

I was collecting some work of my teacher when there was a loud crash out in the hallway. I took the worksheets and quickly walked out to see Nate pinning Alex against a locker, she was looking down until he grabbed her chin. I walked closer as Alex's eyes looked over to me. Her face was blank as usual, expressionless but I knew she was scared. She always was. Nate sensed me behind him as he took a step back before grabbing Alex's arm and pulling her into the car lot. I quickly ran to the doors after them shouting. ''ALEX!'' I screamed as Nate just shoved her into the passenger side of his car slamming the door. Not once did Alex look to me, I knew she heard me most of the street probably heard me.

Alex's POV:

We were upstairs in my bedroom, the door locked. My parents didn't give a shit. All they cared about was Nate and how perfect he was. You're not going to get anyone better than him. They had told me, they knew nothing. Once in my room Nate pushed me against the wall, bringing his lips to mine kissing me harshly. He wouldn't stop until I either tried to push him back, which was never a good idea or I kissed him back. His eyes we're different, they were darker than usual, I wasn't able to suppress the fear that was running through me. He turned us around starting to walk me backwards until my legs buckled as I hit the end of the bed and fell down onto it. It was then that he started to un-do the buttons on my shirt. No No No. My head screamed. I knew what he was trying to do, every time before I had barely managed to stop him but this time was going to be different, I could see it in his eyes, something had finally snapped inside him as he finally pulled my top off.

''No. Get off me'' I said between gritted teeth as his eyes diverted up to me as he slapped me across the face. The pain jolted through my face as I tried to use my hands to push him off. He simply just took both my hands in one of his holding them above me as I continued to squirm in his grip.

''Stop it Alex. Now'' the anger in his voice was present but I didn't want to do this, this is the one thing I would never let happen. So I continued to move in his grip trying to break free until he punched me now, his fist connecting with my bare stomach as I took a sharp intake of breath. He still had a firm grip on my arms as he now was straddling me to stop my legs from moving as he un did my pants before sliding them off along with my underwear. This wasn't happening, it couldn't be.

'No. Stop' I continued to shout at him but he stopped any sound from escaping my lips as he met them with his own forcing his weight on me. I bit down on his lip which caused him to shoot up slapping me again as I whimpered. There was no point trying, he had me exactly where he wanted. He knew I wasn't strong enough to fight him off so I just closed my eyes waiting for it to be over. I wouldn't cry there was no point in showing him that he had succeeded. That was what he wanted.

I awoke the next day alone in my room as the sun streamed through the curtains. I instantly went to sit up as a pain coursed through my stomach. There was a purpleish bruise left from where Nate had punched me, I didn't even want to see what my face looked like. I grabbed my phone noticing missed calls and text from Mitchie. I sighed walking to the bathroom and taking in the damage.

''Well this is gonna need a lot of cover up'' I muttered to myself. A knock came to my door shortly after I had just about managed to hide the mark and get dressed.

''Why the hell aren't you at school yet?'' My dad was towering over me looking down. As he quickly grabbed my arm pulling me down the stairs. He handed me my bag as he shoved me out the front door, not caring that I had to walk at least 3 blocks to get there. He didn't always use to be like this, it wasn't until the business had started going downhill that he turned to alcohol. That was 6 months ago and I still wasn't used to the smell of alcohol on his breath, I don't think I ever would be.

Mitchie' POV:

I had called Alex several times last night before giving up and going to sleep. I was having one of those night and I needed to talk to her, I also had questions. Questions I knew she wouldn't want me to ask but there was no arm in trying. She was busy, that much was obvious, I knew I wouldn't get a response until the morning but yet when I awoke there was still nothing. She wasn't in first period or half of second, that much was usual for her, she was only ever late to first, managing to slip in just after the bell had rung but not today. She walked in with her head low ignoring the teacher and walking straight to her seat behind me. She looked tired not to mention the fact the side of her face was slightly red and swollen compared to the other side. Nate. I cursed to myself before turning around in my chair to look at her not caring what the teacher was saying. Even when bruised she was still the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

''Alex? Are you alright? What happened?''


How the time passed away? All the trouble that we gave
And all those days we spent out by the lake
Has it all gone to waste? All the promises we made
One by one they vanish just the same