"Chloe, sweetheart, you need to tell us more. Talk to me." Mr. Bea was giving me a pleading look. He wanted answers but I couldn't give him any. I just couldn't.

After Derek had thrown Liam out, I laid on the floor shivering. Tori had moved into my line of vision and I felt her button my jeans. After which, she helped me to the couch where Derek and Simon were sitting. Sometime in all this, Mr. Bea had come back from somewhere and demanded to know what happened to his house. So Simon gave him a run down of what happened while I shook and whimpered and tried not to listen.

So now, here we were with the interrogating questions I was trying so hard to avoid.

"Chloe, just tell us something, anything. We want to help you but you need to let us in a little more. How could Liam have known where to look for you?" Simon was practically begging me to tell him something and I hate that I didn't have the courage to tell them.

This seemed like the only question they were interested in. Everyone was asking me this. Mr. Bea, Simon, Tori. Everyone but Derek. He just sat there, staring at me. It made me uncomfortable and I looked down hoping I didn't do something wrong.

"Please, Chloe. Please?" Tori sounded desperate and I couldn't blame her. She paused when I glanced up at her briefly, but there's just no way.

"I-I d-don't. I c-can't. Can't talk about it."

"But—"

"Simon lay off her. If she doesn't want to talk about it, we have no right to force her." Derek sounded irritated and I looked up to see him running his hand through his hair. "Besides, it's obvious the most likely possibility would be Ramon. Think about it. He knows where Dad's house is because Tori brought him here and then Liam shows up here right after we arrive? What are the odds?"

"Yeah, but, how could he know where we were going? I checked to make sure he wasn't anywhere near the house before I packed my things." Tori sounded confused but there was still anger simmering under the surface.

"I don't know how but it's the only explanation that makes sense." Derek was frustrated; it was obvious in his voice and his posture.

"We don't have to talk about this now. My guess is: he's not going to come back for a while, so we need to get out of here. Chloe, are you okay with that?" Mr. Bea turned to me, a questioning look on his face.

"Um, y-yes. Yeah, that's fine."

"Okay, let's go pack some necessities and then we'll go." Simon, Tori and Mr. Bea got up and headed to the kitchen, leaving me alone with Derek.

"Hey, I'm sorry for all those questions they were asking you. They're just trying to help, but it's okay if you can't talk about it. I understand."

"No, i-it's fine. I know they just want to help. It's just, I…"What? What was really going on with me? I didn't understand at all. Why did I feel so comfortable with Derek and why did I feel sad that Liam got to me first?

"It's okay. You know, it would change a lot of things if you went to the police."The police? NO! That'd just make it easier for him to find me! I'm not sure what expression was on my face but Derek raised his hands in alarm and his eyes widened.

"I'll understand if you don't. You're not ready—I get it. But the police would protect you and he'd be put in jail where he belongs. Just something to think about."

He'd be in jail, where he wouldn't be able to reach me.

"Just so you know, everyone here would protect you, too. Whatever it takes. Simon and Tori already think of you as their sister and Dad's already acting as if you're family. He may not know your whole story, but he knows enough and I'm sure he's filled in the gaps by now." An uncomfortable expression crossed his face and he looked down. "I would protect you, too. Against anything and anyone. No matter the consequences."

With that, he got up and walked into the kitchen to join his family after giving me a small smile. What was that about? Did he really care about me, or was he just saying that?

Before I could ponder more about what that meant, Simon came back with a backpack, followed by Tori, Derek and Mr. Bea each carrying bags. Derek also had the small, worn out bag with all my things in it.

"Chloe, are you sure you don't want to go to the police about this? He's a dangerous person, we can all see that and it'll only get worse from here. The police could help you; they'd keep you safe." Mr. Bea sounded completely sure o what he was saying, even though I didn't.

Shaking my head, I gave him an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. I-I just can't. I'm s-sorry."

"It's okay, Chloe. No one here judges you for that. It's fine. Now, we better get going."

I must've had looked a little confused because Simon told me we were going to stay at his Dad's friend's house. Just for a while until we find somewhere else to stay.

Now I was uprooting Mr. Bea from his home, too. I didn't understand why they even bother to go to all this trouble for me.

As we were all loading into the car, I noticed a black car go past on the street. Liam had a black car that looked exactly like that. It's not him; it can't be him. No. It can't be him…he's gone. It's just my imagination getting to me. That's all.

I guess I was trembling slightly because Tori leaned over and asked if I was okay.

"Y-yeah. I-I'm fine." Tori gave me a weird look but decided to let it drop. The drive to Mr. Bea's friend's house was quiet except for Simon filling me in on the details. Apparently, Mr. Bea's friend, Andrew, lived by himself but the house was supposed to be pretty big and located in the suburbs so we'd get some more privacy than in the city.

"So here we are. Andrew said he wouldn't be home until four so we could just go in." We climbed out and Mr. Bea retrieved the key from under the eave and swung the door open. I was immediately hit with a strong sense of déjà vu. Something about this place seemed so familiar but I just couldn't place it.

"All the bedrooms that aren't occupied are ours. Pick whichever ones you want. Then I need everyone in the kitchen; we need to figure out what to do with this guy." His voice and expression were dead serious at this last part and I shivered, hoping nothing really bad was going to happen.

After picking my room at the end of the hall, I sat down on the bed for a while. There was something about this house. I didn't understand why I felt like I have been here before. A knock at the door pulled me out of my thoughts and I looked up to see Tori standing in the doorway, a small smile on her face.

"Hey, is it okay if I come in?" I nodded and she came and plopped down on the bed beside me after closing the door.

"So I know so far, life has been a bitch to you but I just want you to know that we're here for you. Everyone in this house thinks of you as family already and you know, family honor and everything. You're family, so we'll protect you." She paused and looked over at me slyly. "Besides, I think Derek would be more than willing to swoop in and save you."

I blushed, but I had no idea why. "What do you mean?" Tori gave me an incredulous look.

"You're honestly telling me you don't notice the way he looks at you? Chloe, Derek's more open and happy with you than I've ever seen before. He told you he had trust issues and yeah, he's gotten over it mostly. But honestly? I've never seen him accept someone the way he did with you."

I just stared at her, dumbfounded. No way someone like Derek liked me. How could he? I was plain, weak and pathetic. Tori must be getting the wrong idea, there was just no way Derek could like me

Tori smiled knowingly, "You might not realize it, but you're an amazing person. You're not just a pathetic, defenseless piece of trash. That's not you, Chloe. Derek really likes you." I blushed at this last part and she laughed.

"So, now that that's out of the way, we better get down to the kitchen, before Dad comes up to see what we're doing." She got up so I followed her and we walked to the kitchen to find Derek, Simon and Mr. Bea all sitting at the table.

"Girls, come sit down. There are a few things I want to talk about." I gulped nervously and took a seat between Tori and Derek. Blushing when I remembered what Tori told me about him. That he likes me. He raised an eyebrow but didn't comment when he noticed my blush. Our moment was interrupted when Mr. Bea cleared his throat.

"Chloe, I know this is hard for you but you need to do something about Liam. He's not going to stop until you make him stop. I can't stay here, I have to go back for work but I want you to consider something." He paused and looked at me closely. "Since you refuse to talk to the police, why don't you divorce him, Chloe? He won't have as much of a hold on you if you're not his wife."

Divorce. That word that I have avoided like a wraith since the day he started beating me. What would it mean if I decided to get a divorce? All I wanted was a loving relationship like Mom and Dad had. Someone to hold me and understand me and be there for me. No matter what. I didn't understand why I couldn't have that.

"Divorcing him will give you another chance at love, Chloe. Don't tell me you don't want a healthy, loving relationship. Practically everyone does."Tori was right I did want that, but I wasn't ever going to get that. Not like everyone else.

"Chloe, you deserve better than him. No one deserved to be treated the way he treated you. No one." Derek sounded angry. I never noticed before but he always sounded angry whenever we talked about Liam.

"Don't worry about making the decision now, Chloe. If you need some time to think things over, we'll understand. It's a big thing and divorce does mean you're going to have to talk to him again. It's just something we want you top think about." Simon sounded reassuring. They were all just trying to help me.

If I weren't married to him anymore, he wouldn't be able to claim me as his. Not really. He wouldn't be able to hold marriage over my head like an axe. But to divorce him, I'd have to talk to him and possibly meet with him somewhere. What if he does something? I didn't want to see him anymore. I didn't. But I wanted to get better. I wanted to get my life back. Maybe this was a good thing. Divorce.

Maybe I should get a divorce. It was really the only thing that bonded me to him. If I divorced him, I might not have to deal with him anymore. Like cutting the chains that bound us together. I could be free.

Taking a deep breath, I looked at every one, "I want to divorce Liam."

Talk to me. Was it good?