The bruising on both my arms had started to heal but they were very saw when someone touched them but I didn't let the emotion and pain show on my face just in case someone had asked what was wrong with them, I wore a lot of long sleeve dresses and t-shirts to college to prevent anyone from seeing the bruises and so far no had noticed anything at the moment…

I walked into college this morning with my friends and made our way down the corridor for double general studies, seating down at a desk and just chatting away till Callum walked through the door and sat down opposite at the other desk, the tutor had walked through the door and the class settled down and awaiting for him to start the lesson, he told us about a project that we had to do for the course and started pairing people up together, he paired me and Callum up together to work on a project as I sat down next to him at his desk

"Hey you" he greeted me, smiling gently

"Hey you" I mirrored

"It looks like we just can't keep apart nowadays can we?" he stated

"Looks like we just can't Callum" I proclaimed, smiling warmly

"We need to go the library to use the computers for some research" he suggested

"Well lead the way then Callum" I exclaimed

He smiled gently as we got up from the desk and grabbed hold of our things, walking out of the class as most people did and headed off to the library to get some research done for the project….

After a few hours in the library doing some research on the computers we got some books from the shelf and sat a desk, seating in a quite spot to work alone together, looking through the books for any help and reference for the project

"So how was your date with Rosie the other day?" I enquired, scribbling on some spare paper

"It was ok Maddie but" he informed me

"But what" I enquired, rising an eyebrow

"She isn't the type of girl you can just have a conversation with if you know what I mean" he sighed "I don't know now how she managed it but we got another date together next weekend"

"Are you into her Callum?" I asked cautiously

"She's lovely and that but I don't see myself having a future with her Mads" he exclaimed

"Well if she isn't the one she isn't the one then for you" I sighed heavily

"I don't know how to feel about her right now, my emotions are all over the place" he explained "Anyway how are things between you and Alex"

"I don't want to talk about it Cal" I proclaimed, looking down at the paper

"Has he done something to you Maddie?" Callum enquired, rising an eyebrow

"Can we just drop it please" I suggested

"If he has done something then I want to know about it Maddie, you can trust me" Callum assured, placing his hand on top of mine

"I can't tell you Callum so can we please drop it" I exclaimed

"If you're afraid of him then don't be, I'm right by your side Maddie" he replied, softly placing his hand on my covered bruises

I groaned loudly when Callum's hand touch my arms as the slightest touch sent me in agony, tears filled my eyes as I slowly raised the sleeves of my dress to show him the bruises that was left from the other night by Alex

"Did Alex do this to you Maddie?" Callum questioned

"Yes Callum he did, after the fresher's party when we went outside to talk" I informed him

"He just can't get away with this Maddie he just can't" he exclaimed angrily

"You don't think I don't know that Callum" I stated

"We have to tell someone anyone about what's going on, this is domestic violence Maddie" he explained

"It can't be domestic violence" I proclaimed

"Think about it. He doesn't appreciate anything that you do and puts you down to a low self-esteem; I bet he only sees you as property or a sex object; he's out of control and blames you for his own abusive behaviour by beating you up. This isn't a relationship it's domestic violence relationship you have" he explained "You have to say something to someone or I will Maddie I'm not just going to sit here and watch this happen to you"

"You don't understand what he's like Callum, in your mind breaking up with him seems so simple and easy but it isn't it really isn't" I admitted "Alex already has threatened me to never to speak or see you and if I do he'll hurt me again"

"It will be soon enough that he starts to cut you off from your family and friends and never to speak to them again without his permission" he proclaimed

"Is that offer still on the table that you'll protect me from him Callum" I questioned, rising an eyebrow

"It still is Maddie, come here" he stated

He opened out his arms as I slip myself into his warm embrace and clutched onto him for safety, tears spilling down from my eyes and he wiped them away softly, comforting me in my time of need as Callum softly placed a kiss on the top of my hair...

After a few minutes of holding each other the phone in my pocket buzzed, pulling out my phone and seeing I had a text from Alex, I unlocked the keypad and clicked open the message

"Meet me outside right now"

I moved out of Callum's embrace and slid my phone back into my pocket, picking up my books from the desk and slid my handbag over my shoulder

"I'll see you later Callum, meet you here after are break" I suggested

"Sure I'll see you after break" he replied

I softly kissed his cheek before walking towards the door and I looked over my shoulder to see him still watching me as I smiled gently to which he smiled back and I left the library, making my way out of the college and my eyes met Alex's as he motioned for us to go to one side, pulling me out of sight out of everyone that could see us

"You wanted to see me Alex" I stated

"I thought I told you to never to speak or see Callum again" he scolded

"I couldn't help it we got paired up together to work on a project" I informed him

"I saw how close you got to him in the library and sobbing to him about me" Alex stated angrily

"It wasn't like that Alex I swear on my life it wasn't believe me" I exclaimed

"You were all over him in there, kissing and hugging Callum as he held you in his loving arms" he sighed heavily "My girlfriend in the arms of another man in front of everyone in the college"

"Nothing is happening between us Callum's just being a friend and a partner on our project to me why can't you understand that" I explained

"You little bitch don't you dare lie to me about your feelings" he scolded loudly

"What's wrong? You jealous of him Alex, at least he treats me with respect and actually cares about me and my feelings unlike you" I admitted

"You're gonna regret the day you messed me around" Alex sighed heavily, throwing his bag down on the ground

Alex pinned me up against the wall and started slapping forcefully as my cheeks went bright right after each smack, throwing me to the ground and he kneeled down and punching my arms aggressively and in the stomach for one final hit, I got up from the ground as he moved away from me and slapped me backhanded which sent me flying towards the ground again, pulling out a penknife from his pocket and flicking the knife out towards me

"Please Alex I'm begging you please don't hurt me, please" I begged tearfully

"I'll give you one final chance to get your act together and to stay away from Callum or I will kill you" he informed me

"I'll stay away from him" I sighed heavily

CALLUM'S P.O.V

I was shocked and stunned by what I saw and heard from Alex and Maddie, him threating to kill her if she ever spoke or saw me again, he flicked his penknife away and placed it back into his pocket before walking away from Maddie, I hurried around the corner and sat down at a bench and pulled the hood of my coat over my head, watching Alex walk past and heading over to his gang in the distance without seeing me, Maddie walking past a couple of minutes later and hurrying inside the college building…