Here's the next chapter. I am on a roll so the next couple of chapters will be coming soon. This chapter does mention abuse but it is more implied and not described in detail. Or at least that's what I was aiming for.
Chapter Eight
Addison's POV
Leaving Logan's house, I could already feel the pain beginning to intensify in my wrists where he had grabbed them. The numbness that had started soon after he let go, had slowly turned into aches and then sharp pins and needles and now was like a slow burning fire. I would definitely have bruises.
"What did I tell you? It was so simple. What did you not understand?" "You're always saying sorry, always apologising. Do you ever get anything right? Why don't you just listen and do what I tell you to?" "You're a selfish girl, only thinking of yourself. You're stupid if you think otherwise. You're lucky I'm willing to be with you. Nobody else is."
What he had said rang through my head. He was right. I was useless. Why could I never do anything right? I didn't deserve the attention I got. I wasn't anything special. I should be happy with everything I managed to get. I was lucky he was willing to be with me, deal with me. I was a big stoop down for him.
I was stupid. He had warned me. Told me what not to do and what would happen if I disobeyed. And yet I had answered back to Demetri. Done the one thing I was not supposed to do. Even now I don't know why I did. It had just slipped out. Maybe it had something to do with my southern Etiquette upbringing. He was speaking to me, it would have been rude not to answer him. I was lucky Logan hadn't hurt me that much- he had threatened to do so.
I could feel tears gathering in my eyes. I pressed down harder on the accelerator, to try and get home quicker. I turned the corner onto Market Street fast, the wheels shrieking. The tears began to overflow and drip down my cheeks. I dashed some away with one hand. I could feel myself going out of control, but I needed to stay in control. If my facade slipped I would be in trouble.
As I arrived home, pulling up beside dad's car and turned off the engine, I wiped away the tears that remained. I didn't want anyone, especially my parents and Kate to see me crying and think there was anything wrong between Logan and me. We supported each other. We were a team, a couple. Whatever happened. It was hard at the top, and you needed people around you, people you trusted.
As I got out of the car, I made sure my cardigan covered my wrists. I didn't think they showed bruises yet but better safe than sorry.
Demetri POV
Both of us were in the hotel room, doing our homework when we heard a car turn sharply down the road, the tyres squealing against the tarmac. Looking out we saw it was her car. She sat there for a second, wiping tears away.
As she got out of the car, she looked at the sleeves of her cardigan, making sure they covered her wrists. As she walked up the path to the house she held her wrists delicately at her side, wincing when they touched anything. Putting the key into the lock, made her grimace but she quickly reigned it in, replacing it with a neutral expression.
She was in pain. I could see she was in pain. I admit she was hiding it well, and other humans wouldn't be able to tell but she could not fool a vampire. I held my anger in check. He had hurt her but he would get what he deserved.
She changed into her dressing gown, while a bath ran. I watched as she winced again, as it touched her body, gingerly tying it at the front. I saw the bruises. Old ones and new ones, some overlapping each other, with differing shades of purple, yellow and brown. They were on her upper thighs, her stomach and her shoulders. The areas that were most likely not to be seen. I could make out knuckle marks and the outline of fingers on many of them. He knew what he was doing and being careful. Her wrists were already showing red marks, the outline of a hand visible, but only to me. It was too early for human eyesight. When she slid into the bath of cool water, she hissed gasped with pain as her painful body met it.
In her room she smoothed creams on the bruises, applying a thick layer and took painkillers. Why did she put up with it? With the pain? With him? I just didn't get it, get her. She appeared normal, happy, with many friends, a nice family, a good upbringing. And yet she dated someone who scared her, hurt her. Stayed with him regardless.
I spoke some of my thoughts aloud. Jasper told me that she was not as strong as she appeared. You had to be strong to pull away, change things. You didn't need to be physically strong but mentally, that was the important thing. She probably felt peer pressure. Addison and Logan were one of the power couples at William Lamb. Looked up, followed. By changing something, she'd loose her coveted place in the school hierarchy, be cast aside by the school body, become a no body. High school kids, and kids in general could be cruel. That's what I'd heard. She could also be in denial. Some abusers could make their 'victim' believe it was their fault, that they were useless and didn't deserve anyone. That they were lucky they had a willing friend, boyfriend who was willing to be with them.
She fell asleep soon after, whimpering in her sleep. Jasper informed me that it was the first night she had not written in her diary. My sister had kept a diary, always writing in it, getting desperate when she ran out of pens. It was definitely a girl thing. They wrote their feelings, thoughts, their life in those books. Feelings guys did not let themselves feel, let alone write down. I hoped it helped Addison. She must write about him in there.
AN: I do not have a clue about psychology- I have not read any books so the way she feels, Logan's actions and what he says and Jasper's advice is entirely from my head and from reading other fanfics. I hope it is what someone in this situation would feel. I like authenticity and do try to make my story as close to it as possible.
