Mitchie's POV:

I wasn't sure how long I had just laid there staring at the ceiling, making patterns with the small bumps whilst I thought to myself. There was no way I was letting Nate do this to her anymore. It had gone on too long and he had finally crossed the line. I know it wasn't going to be easy to stop Alex from seeing him but I had to do it somehow. She didn't deserve any of this, not at all. Just as I felt my eyes starting to close as I started to drift off to sleep Alex start to stir besides me as once again small whimpers filled the room.

''Lex, wake up'' I said instantly, shaking her arm slightly but she just continued to stir as her whimpers became louder now as her body was tossing about. I needed to wake her up and quick. ''Alex'' I said louder this time shaking her more but she still didn't wake until she screamed and suddenly sat up, her eyes snapping open as her breathing was heavy and her whole body began to shake. I looked into her eyes, seeing the fear behind them and the tears threatening to spill but as usual she forced them back whilst she still shook. I had no idea what she had seen but to get her this worked up I knew it was bad.

''Shhh Alex... It's alright it was just a dream'' I said trying to calm her as I pulled her into me as she hid her face in my neck and continued to shake as I rubbed circles on her back trying to calm her down. ''I'm here, you're safe'' I said whispering into her ear as she wrapped her arms around my waist as if her life depended on it. Seeing her like this just reminded me of the first time I found out Nate had hit her.

~~~ Flashback ~~~

My phone was buzzing from across the room so I quickly ran over to it, not looking who was calling and picking up the phone. ''Hello?'' I asked.

''M..Mitch it's me Alex'' she said, I could hear her frantic tone in her voice.

''Alex? What's wrong?'' I shot out as quickly as I could.

''Nothing, Can I come over?'' she asked me, her voice had changed but I could still hear the pain behind it.

''Erm, Sure'' I said glancing over at the clock, it was only 6pm meaning my mum wouldn't be home for a while.

''I'm outside'' she said quietly before I was just left with the dial tone as I sprinted downstairs and opened the front door to reveal Alex, her face was slightly red on one side and her whole body was shaking.

''Alex?'' I asked as I pulled her in the house towards the sofa in my front room. ''What happened? What did he do?'' I asked her, she just shook her head as she leaned into me putting her arms around me and just held onto me until she had finally calmed down. She wouldn't look me in the eye each time I asked her something and eventually she got up and said she had to go leaving me dazed and confused sat on my the couch.

~~~End Of Flashback~~~

Alex had finally stopped shaking as she pulled back from me looking down to the now ever so interesting floor. ''You're not going to tell me what you saw are you?'' I stated rather bluntly the words coming out harsher then I meant. She just shook her head before looking up to meet my eyes. Hers were dark, but past that I could see all the pain she was hiding. It was something I was used to seeing, no matter how much she tried to keep me from knowing how she felt. Her eyes always gave her away.

''I'm Sorry for everything Mitchie'' she said.

''Wait what? Why are you sorry!? It's not your fault it's that fucking bastards fault!'' I said louder than expected causing Alex to jump slightly. ''I'm sorry but its true'' I said before getting up and walking down the stairs, I knew Alex was following by the footsteps behind me. She sat on the sofa whilst I went to get us a drink. I threw the can at Alex and she quickly caught it opening it with ease as she took a sip. Just as I was walking over there was a knock at the door.

''ALEX I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE.'' The all too familiar voice shouted from the other side. Luckily Alex had placed her can down on the table by then because I was sure by the look on her face she would have dropped it. ''OPEN THE DOOR MITCHIE NOW'' He shouted again as his fists pounded against the wood. Alex was still frozen in her position as was I, until she slowly and shakily stood to her feet.

''No Alex'' I whispered as she turned to face me an apologetic look on her face before she opened the door cutting off another shout from Nate. ''ALEX'' I shouted as I quickly ran to the door. Nate had literally thrown her down the steps to the pavement as she tumbled to the floor not having time to catch her balance giving Nate the time he needed to walk over to me.

''Listen closely Mitchie. I've warned you. Stay away from Alex. Don't TALK to her and don't even LOOK at her. Or she'll suffer and it will be YOUR entire fault. Do you hear me?'' he spat. I didn't know how to respond I just looked at Alex staring hopelessly at me from behind Nate. ''DO YOU HEAR ME?'' he screamed grabbing my wrist harshly as my eyes snapped up to his face

''Nate! Leave her alone'' Alex said, the situation finally clicking in her head as she finally got to her feet and walked up behind him grabbing his free hand. He quickly span around glaring at Alex, his grip on my wrist not even faltering for a second, only getting tighter if it was even possible.

''Listen to me slut.'' He said to her pushing her into the banister of my front steps. ''I have things over you, that I'm sure the whole school would love to hear about, how about your parents?'' It was impossible not to hear the venom in his voice as he spoke. ''So I suggest you be a good little girl and tell Mitchie to leave you alone'' he said pointing directly at me. She just stared at me, not wanting to speak as Nate slapped her across, suddenly letting go of my wrist. ''NOW''' he shouted as Alex turned to face me.

''Mit- Mitchie. Please j.. just leave u..us a..alone'' she managed to get out as Nate smirked before dragging her down the steps towards his car.

''Alex No'' I whispered mainly to myself, there was no chance of anyone hearing me.

Alex's POV:

It killed me having to say that Mitchie, I saw the look that washed over her face as Nate dragged me towards but I also knew she wouldn't listen to me but what Nate had over me, I just couldn't risk it getting out. The next few days I completely ignored Mitchie around school and every one of the constant texts she sent me. I would see her concerned face every day I walked past her in the hall with a new bruise practically every other day. There was also something different about her, she seemed drained but I brushed it off, she probably just had a bad nights sleep and seeing me walking around like this all day probably wasn't helping. It was amazing how no one ever seemed to notice apart from her.

It had been a week since I started ignoring Mitchie and it killed me not being able to just crawl into her lap and hug her. It was that night when Nate came around to mine, anger already written across his face and I knew who he was going to take it out on. My whole family was out so there was no one to stop him no matter how loud I screamed. His grip was fierce as I tried to shut out the feelings of what he was doing to me.

I awoke an hour or so later curled into a ball on the floor barely clothed as my whole body ached. I struggled to my feet as I managed to walk over to my closet pulling on a lose pair of trackies and a hoodie before I made it downstairs. I didn't want to feel this pain anymore so I turned to the one thing I knew would make me forget for a while. I pulled up a chair climbing on it to reach the top shelf where I knew my parents kept any alcohol in the house. I pulled down a pretty much new bottle of vodka and made my way back up to my room locking the door as I slowly undid the cap. I took a sip as the liquid easily went down my throat as it burned slightly. I didn't care.

It was shortly after that my parents had came home and I walked out into the hallway. Max and Justin walked straight past me into their rooms as my mum came up the stairs. ''What the fuck happened to you?'' she spat out obviously drunk from her night out.

''I Erm...Slipped on the stairs'' I quickly lied knowing she wouldn't believe me if I said it was Nate. Don't get me wrong, when she wasn't drunk she really did care but she would never even think of Nate as that type of person. No one would.

''Dumb bitch'' Was all she slurred out before walking down to her room. That was it. I walked back into my room slamming the door behind me and locking it once against. The bottle of vodka still on my bed as I walked over to it unscrewing the cap, drinking more and more with every sip until after a while half the bottle had gone and my head was spinning. My eyes were starting to shut and the next thing I knew I was waking up to the hated sound of my alarm.

''Fuck off'' I grumbled to myself before hitting the off button not planning on getting up no matter how many times my parents shouted at me. When I finally awoke again it was now 11;12 and I knew I had missed my first 2 and a half periods. My head was aching still as I rolled over to look at my phone. I had 3 messages... All from Mitchie once again.

Message 1: Alex? Why weren't you in form? You running late?

Message 2: Alex, I'm worried. Nate isn't in either please just text me.

Message 3: Alex seriously, If you don't reply within the next 20 minutes I'm coming over there. Screw what Nate said.

I sighed realising that message has only just came in as I pulled on some clothes before grabbing my bag and sneaking down the stairs and out the front door before my parents noticed. By the time I got to school it was the middle of 4th period, Maths. I knew Mitchie was in that class so I just walked in, my eyes low.

''OH MRS RUSSO. Nice of you to finally join us'' the teachers words rung in my head. Argh this was killing me.

''Be quiet will you'' I said quietly causing the teacher to gasp before saying something to me, I'm guessing I had just earned a detention but who gives a shit right? I moved to my desk at the back behind Mitchies as I laid my head on the table in my arms trying to fall asleep.

''Alex...'' Mitchie poked me and I just groaned. ''Alex look at me, you can't ignore me forever'' I didn't move so she grabbed my hand causing me to look up as I let out a sigh, I'm guessing my breath still smelt by the way Mitchie's nose scrunched up in disgust. ''Alex? You've been drinking!'' she whisper shouted at me luckily not catching anyone else's unwanted attention.

''So what!?'' I snapped at her before getting up and storming out of the class slamming the door behind me leaving a shocked Mitchie behind.

I'm all out of faith
This is how I feel
I'm cold and I am shamed
Lying naked on the floor

Illusion never changed
Into something real
I'm wide awake and I can see
The perfect sky is torn
You're a little late, I'm already torn