The instant the final bell rang, Beck was getting in his car. He didn't want to stay at school for one more minute. It was a close call today. Thankfully though, Cat was on his side. The only one who could be a threat now was Robbie, but with no one to back him up, his word was worthless. Right now, the most important thing was making sure no one knew. Not just for his sake, but for Jade's as well. What would she do without him? Sure, he hit her, but it only hurt her for a few minutes.

The seventeen year old opened the RV door to find Jade missing. "So, you can't go to school but you feel could enough to leave without telling me?" He muttered under his breath while jabbing the buttons on his phone. Jade answered just before it went to voice mail. "Where are you?" He asked. He could almost see her getting tense.

"Beck...I...I know you told me I didn't need to go to the doctor but it was hurting really bad."

"Jade!"

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Beck. I was going to wait til you got home but I couldn't stand it any longer!"

"Well, what did you tell them?" He was starting to get nervous.

"I told them I fell off a horse! Of course I wouldn't tell them the truth, Beck."

"Good. You'd better come home. Right now."

"Okay. I will. I'm picking up some pain medication."

"Don't. Just come home now. Hurry up."

"I will. Beck? I love you."

He just hung up. She was going to get it. Disobeying him. Leaving without telling him. Making him worry about her. Beck punched the wall. How long did he have to keep doing this for? How long did he have to hit her before she learned? If she would only be the good girlfriend he wanted, she wouldn't have to get hurt so often.

He sat down on the couch with a sigh, and waited for Jade to come home.

/-/-/-/

Jade walked into the door prepared to be yelled at, slapped, and scolded. But she knew she deserved it. She was in pain, yes, but Beck had told her dozens of times not to leave the house without letting him know. It made him worry.

When Beck saw her he stood up. She immediately took a step back. "I'm s-sorry."

"Don't stutter."

"S-sor...I mean, sorry."

"What time did you go to the doctor?"

"An hour ago."

"So, you couldn't have waited one hour for me to come home?"

"Well...I...it hurt so bad."

"You should have called me."

"I'm sorry."

He moved forward to slap her and she grabbed his hand. "Wait! Beck. Please, please don't do this right now. Please! The doctor said I have some bruised ribs and I'm already in so much pain. Beck, please. I know you're mad but if you're going to hit me, can't you wait til tomorrow? Please?"

Her voice was soft and there were tears rolling down her cheeks. He put his hand down.

"You have bruised ribs? From last night?"

"Yes. But I'll be okay."

Beck ran his hand through his hair. Bruised ribs? How? He would never hit her so hard he actually injured her. It was only meant to sting for a minute. Then she learned her lesson and it was over with. He really hurt her that bad last night? So bad she couldn't wait any longer to go to the doctor?

"Do you still need to pick up that pain medication?"

She nodded slowly.

"Go ahead."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Go ahead." He wrapped his arms around her and left a soft kiss on her forehead. She left with a smile and promised to come back soon.

Beck watched her leave and his heart sank. He hurt her. Really badly that time. She had to go to the doctor. Her ribs were bruised. She had to pick up special pain medication.

I did this. I did this. I did this. The words kept ringing through his head. He thought of the way she begged and cried helplessly. "If you're going to hit me, can't you wait til tomorrow?"

Beck felt sick. His stomach was tightening and he sweating. He was a monster. A complete monster. There was a lump in his throat he was practically choking on. When he was positive Jade's car had left, he lost it. There were hot tears streaming down his cheeks. He was struggling to breath. He grabbed onto a pillow and held on. He was crying, really crying, for the first time in over a year. Memories flashed through his brain.

His mother, taking him in her arms and telling him she had to go away for a little while.

Him as a little boy, begging his drunk father to stop hitting him.

Jade, cowering under him, scared to death.

Cat trying to talk some sense into him. Manipulating her til she was powerless.

His life was awful and messed up. And he didn't know how to fix it.

/-/-/-/

Beck was able to pull himself together enough that Jade didn't notice he'd been crying. But as soon as she came home, he left, telling her he was going out with Andre. He really wasn't sure where he was going. He just wanted to be alone.

Jade busied herself watching The Scissoring for the fifteen millionth time and drinking a diet coke. Truthfully, she was lost without Beck. It seemed like lately they were always together. He rarely allowed her to go home anymore. And she didn't really have a problem with that.

Her only time to herself was interrupted by a knock at the door. She groaned and told whoever it was to come in.

Robbie Shapiro.

She bit her lip. This was just great.

"Jade, before you tell me to go away, just let me explain."

She sighed. "Fine. Sit."

He did as he was told and she sat down next to him. "Cat and I came over here this morning and we saw Beck hit you." Jade's eyes widened and she shifted nervously. "I tried to tell someone about it but Cat won't back me up. Beck sucked her into his evil little game. He made her believe you're fine, but I know you aren't. And when you weren't at school today, I..."

"Robbie, that's ridiculous. Why would I stay with Beck if he hit me?"

"I don't know! That's what I'm trying to figure out, Jade! All I know is, you need help."

"No, I don't. I'm fine."

"You're not! I know you're not! Do you think I'm stupid?''

"Well. Kind of."

"Jade, I'm serious. I've seen how you've been acting. I've seen the bruises. I've even seen Beck hit you with my own eyes. You can't deny it anymore! Please. Jade, it makes me feel awful every time I think about it. I don't know what happened. You're such a strong girl. Most people are terrified of you. And you let him do this to you. Why?"

"He...he doesn't."

Robbie stood up and took his glasses off in frustration. "Jade, come on!" Then his voice got softer and he sat back down.

"The truth is, I've kind of had a...a little crush on you for a while. And I...just...I can't stand this. I can't stand seeing Beck hurt you like this."

Jade looked at Robbie for a minute, trying to take what he had just said in. It was sweet, actually. Of all people, she never expected Robbie would be the one to care. She noticed him moving closer to her, and she was sure what possessed her to do it, but she started leaning it. It felt natural. More natural than leaning in to kiss Beck. She closed her eyes. She could feel his breath.

Then she pulled back sharply and came to her senses. "No. No. Robbie, I don't like you. You're just a weird little nerd with a puppet."

His face fell. "But Jade..."

"No! I don't like you, and I want you to stay out of my life. I can handle my own problems. And I swear, if you tell the police, or anyone about what you've seen, I'll make the rest of your life miserable."

Robbie sighed. "I guess that's a risk I'll just have to take." He stood up and made his way to the door. She jumped in surprise and followed him.

"Robbie, no! I'm serious! Your life will be a living hell if you do this."

"I don't...I don't care anymore. That's better than watching you suffer."

"Robbie." She looked at him with big eyes. This couldn't happen. Her life would be over. "Please," She said.

"Look, Jade..."

"Please listen. I love Beck more than anything in the world. He's been there for me since I was fourteen years old. We're having a lot of problems now, I know that, but I also know we'll get through it."

Robbie reached for her hand but she pulled away and kept going. "Beck had a really rough childhood that not a lot of people know about. He got beat by his dad for years. I know he doesn't like hurting me, but it's what he grew up with. He doesn't know how to change."

"Then he needs to get help."

"Robbie, if you call the police, Beck will get arrested. He won't get help! He'll just go to jail! I won't be able to see him again and that'll be worse for me then getting slapped every once in a while."

"Jade, it's not just once in a while! It happens almost every day!"

"I'm begging you. Please don't tell anyone. Beck's already doing better. Today I left without telling him and he didn't even get upset. Please just give us a little time. Robbie, if you really do like me, or care about me at all, you'll do this for me."

Robbie sighed and looked at the pale, blue eyed girl standing in front of him. He desperately wanted to help her. But he knew it would break her heart if he did. He let out a long sigh and nodded. "Okay, Jade. I'll give it some time, but if Beck doesn't' stop soon, I'm going to tell someone. Deal?"

She replied by kissing his cheek. "Deal."

Sorry this was a longer one. Review! :)