"Go ahead and tell me you'll leave again. You'll just come back running" All the Same – Sick Puppies (I seriously recommend this song!)

Teach Me Tonight

Chapter 21

"Are you kidding me right now?" you yell, angry hysterical tears streaming down your face. You don't even wonder how horrible you must look, but you can feel your mascara running along your red cheeks. You frustratedly kick the rental car's dashboard, wanting so badly to just open the door, but knowing that you are going too fast through the highway to just jump out. After all, you're not suicidal.

At least, you're not anymore.

"Michelle Torres! You better stop moving around before I…" your father trails off menacingly. It's at that moment you are reminded of how much you actually hate him. Why the fuck is he here? How did he find you? Opening your mouth to scream again, you freeze when you realize he probably saw the pictures on line. "Just who the hell do you think you are? Running off with a boy you haven't known for even six months!" he screams as he grips the steering wheel harshly.

You hiccup and wipe your eyes angrily. You can feel the fury rise within you with every passing second. "I love him." You say darkly, but in the end, it sounds cliché even to you. Something inside of you can see the logic behind your father words, but you are too angry, too scared, and too hysterical to care.

Your father scoffs sardonically. "Love? You have no idea what love is. You are just a stupid naïve girl who was taken advantage of by a clever son of a bitch. You should be ashamed of yourself for acting like such a goddamn whore!" he continues, making you breathe in sharply.

That's that fucking word again. You are so tired of people calling you that.

He keeps yelling and scolding you as he weaves through the highway, but the fury inside of you blocks him out. Instead, you start to almost hyperventilate. "Don't you realize what you have done?" you say softly, looking at him through fiery eyes filled with tears. Your dad laughs humorlessly again, shaking his head. "Shane is gonna freak!" you say much louder.

Your father scoffs again sarcastically. "Well then let me just turn around and take you back to him because Shane is going to freak." He says icily, his hands still gripping the steering wheel harshly. "Do you know the hell you put your mother and me through! Do you understand the pain you caused your mother at all, you little bitch!" he screams again as he turns onto a different road. You open your mouth shocked at his cursing, and dig your hands through your once-perfect hair.

You were supposed to go on a date. It was supposed to be wonderful. And he was going to maybe – hopefully – make love to you. And you would move forward a couple more steps. But instead, you are right back at the very beginning. Back to square one.

You breathe shakily. "I left all my stuff there. My iPod. My phone. Shane's gonna think I was kidnapped or something." You try to say but your voice is breaking. In all honestly, you sincerely hope that is what Shane believes, because the alternative would be that you left him.

Again.

"He can call the cops." You tell your father pointedly. "He's going to be worried. Don't you understand?" you continue screaming, kicking the dashboard again violently. Your dad laughs angrily, biting the inside of his lip roughly.

"I hope he does." Your father says darkly. "Because then I will have the police arrest that son of a bitch." He snarls. You scoff, rolling your eyes. People forget that you are not a little girl anymore. You can actually think for yourself.

"Yeah, for what? I ran away. I got on the plane. I did it; not him! And by the way, just in case you don't know, in Hawaii, the age of consent is sixteen." You say pointedly, gnashing your teeth. "And guess how old I am?" you finish sarcastically. You freeze when you see your father's eyes darken with anger and he grips the wheel harder. "And in New Jersey, the age is sixteen also, dad. Why can't you just accept us together?" your voice cracks in the end.

He doesn't answer.

Instead, he stops at a hotel by the side of the road, and with every second you feel even farther apart from Shane. "Please, let me at least call him?" you ask vulnerably, looking at your dad with tearful eyes. He gives you an empty look and shakes his head disdainfully.

"No, I will not. Nor will you call him from the hotel room. I want all communication with him to completely stop, Michelle!" he says, turning off the car and exiting dismissively. You stay in the car for a couple seconds, looking as the bright red light that proudly portrays 7:29 fades into the background.

You feel numb and so hurt. You just want to be back in his arms, safe and alive. You climb out the car when your father gives you an angry glare from outside, and wince when he grabs your upper arm harshly. He halfway pulls you into the hotel and into the room, as you can hardly walk in the heels you are currently wearing. The moment your father opens the door, a woman comes flying to you.

You almost fall from the force of the woman's arms, realizing it's your mother quickly. You almost break down in her arms, wanting so badly to hear Shane's voice again. "Oh, Mitchie. How could you do this to us?" she keeps repeating as she holds you, but you can hardly think of that.

He's going to freak. He's going to go crazy. "Mom, he tried to commit suicide." You confess in her ear. "I had to help him." You feel her freeze as she pulls you away to look you in the eyes. You wince as you notice her distressed and tired face. You can feel a new batch of tears come on as you look at her with pleading eyes. "Please, let me at least call him. He might try something again." you beg.

A flash of fear goes through her eyes, her mother's empathy coming through. She looks like she is going to nod, but your father cuts her off. "No. Absolutely not! I do not want my daughter anywhere near that bastard." He yells furiously. Your mother looks at him, biting her lip with tears still in her eyes.

"He is not a bastard! You are!" you scream back at him, and suddenly, you feel a sharp slap across your face. You gasp as you feel the stinging in your cheek, and you feel yourself falling. You throw out your hand to stop your fall, and feel it twist harshly. You scream at the pain in your arm, the tears in your eyes blocking your vision. Your mother gasps loudly, immediately going to you. She puts her arms around you again, looking at your father outrageously.

"What the hell are you doing Steve?" your mother yells at him. You blink back furious tears, wishing Shane was here to protect you. You wrap your arms around your body, biting back the pain in your arm. Your father scoffs, looking at you with disgusted eyes. "No, Steven! I don't care what she has done! She is my daughter and you will not lay a hand on her!" she screams, as you bury your head in her chest.

Your father had never hit your before. He had never cursed at you either. He had always treated you with respect. He had always given you things and gave you sweet smiles. He had always been good to you, even when he was obviously cheating on your mother and you started to hate him. You were his little girl.

But apparently, not anymore.

Your father steps forward menacingly. "Don't tell me what I can and cannot do Connie!" he says darkly to your mother. She shakes her head, looking at him incredulously. Suddenly, she is pulling you up gingerly, before giving him a glare.

"Mitchie and I are going to a different hotel. Call me when you have calmed down." She says, before taking the keys your father had thrown carelessly on the counter. You give him one last look filled with hate and anger, before shutting the door behind you.

Your heart is racing as the two of you wordlessly make it down the stairs. You can feel the anger radiating off your mother, and you gulp, guilt going through you instantly. "Mom, thank you for –" you try to say, but she cuts you off with a tearful glare.

"What the hell is wrong with you Mitchie? Leaving without even a note! I thought something happened to you! Don't you realize what you put me through!" she said, crying wildly as you make your way to the rental car. You don't answer, but rather look away ashamed.

You think about giving the same answer you gave your father, but this time, refrain from doing so. "I'm sorry." You say instead, because in the end, you are sorry for hurting her. She looks at you heartbrokenly, before reaching out and hugging you again.

"Mitchie, I love you, honey. I can see how hurt and angry you have been in the last few months without him, but you are too young for this. You are too young for your life to be control by a man." She tells you. You tense, hardly thinking Shane is controlling your life, but realizing he is.

Her words attack you too much for you to let them go. "Just like dad is to you." you snap back as you make your way to the car. She gives you a sharp look, and you throw your hands up, ignoring the rising pain in your arm. You touch your cheek delicately before continuing. "Mom. He is cheating on you. Please, leave him." You beg her again, but she looks away hurtfully. She starts to cry against the car door. You don't know what to do. After all, you are only a child. What do you do in this situation? "Mom?" you say softly, reaching for her.

She snaps away from your touch, and instead, unlocks the door. "I don't know any other hotel in the area." She confesses emptily, as the both of you numbly climb into the car. You sigh, before realizing this is your chance. You heart flutters as you look at the clock again.

8:13.

A full hour and then some from when you told Shane you were going to meet him. You start jittering when you think of how upset and worried he must be right now. "Mom, there's the Hilton back on exit 40." You say lightly, and she gives you a faraway confused look.

"We cannot afford that, Michelle." She tells you, dismissing you. You stare at her pointedly, until it clicks in her mind. Her eyes widen with disbelief. "That's where you and that boy have been staying, isn't it? Good God, Mitchie!" she says, hitting the steering wheel. She runs a hand through her messy hair, before looking at you again. She looks you up and down, taking in your bright red dress and high heels. "Why are you dressed like that?" she asks in the same tone.

You rub your arm, noticing how quickly it is turning black and blue. You wish Shane would see it and kill him. You need your guy back. "Mom." You choke out, ignoring her question. "Please, at least let me call him." You plead emotionally. She sighs, but ignores you, finally starting the car fully and leaving the parking lot. "He's probably so worried." You say continue lamely.

Your mother swallows harshly, before reaching in her purse and taking out her phone. You sit up straight as you grab it, your heart beating a million miles an hour. You quickly dial his number, shaking as you do. You breathe out sharply as you put the phone to your ear, hearing the rings nervously.

"Hello?" you suck in deeply as you hear the desperation in his voice.

"Shane." You squeak out, tears getting caught in your throat. "Help please." You cry out, shaking roughly as you hear his voice. You don't even notice your mother looking at you. You do, however, notice him gasping.

"Mitchie? Where are you? Are you okay? Do you want me to call the cops? I'll pick you up, honey! No matter where you are." He says so quickly, and you close your eyes. His voice sounds like home. He sounds so worried, just like you have been predicting.

"My dad – I fucking hate him Shane." You finally let out, looking at your mother pointedly. She sighs, but looks away, distress obvious in her eyes. "I don't know how he found me, but all of a sudden, he's at my door before dragging me to his stupid car. And then, the fucking asshole had the nerve to hit me." You tell him hysterically, trying to get a rise out of him. You want him with you. You want him to protect you, no matter what.

"Mitchie, don't cause more problems than necessary, please." Your mother orders sharply. You ignore her and instead focus back onto Shane. You hear him freeze, and you know he's going to do something.

"Excuse me?" he asks, his voice low and dangerous. You shiver, suddenly regretting telling him. You gulp and don't say anything, which Shane takes as an admission. "Where the hell are you, Mitchie?" he questions in the same dark tone.

You sigh, wiping your eyes. "On the road with my mom. I have no idea where exactly." You say before looking at your mother for help. She looks like she's ready to break down, so you turn to look outside. "We just passed exit 29." You tell Shane, gulping. You rub your arm again.

He growls. "Tell your mom to take you to exit 40, back to the hotel." He tells you, and you scoff. He sighs angrily when he understands you have already tried. "Fine, then wherever you guys stop, call me and I'll pick you up, okay Mitch?" he says, trying to keep his voice calm.

You murmur your agreement before breathing out tearfully. "God, Shane." You moan, digging yourself deeper into the seat.

"Oh, honey. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" he asks, his voice turning gentle. You know he is doing everything in his power not to lash out right now. You gulp again, noticing the exits are getting bigger. You look to your mom, but she is not paying attention to you.

"He just slapped my cheek, but when I fell, I hurt my arm." You explain, wiping your eyes again, barely realizing what you are saying anymore. You look back to your mother who is falling apart at the wheel. "Hold on a second, Shane. I'll call you back, baby. I need to do something." You cut him off, turning to your mother again. Now that he knows you are okay, you're not as hyped up.

"Mom, please. It's exit 40, okay? Please. You know how bad I was, and now you know how bad he was. You cannot do that to us. I really do love him, and I know he loves me. Please don't separate us." You beg again, looking at her fiercely. You feel bad attacking her with your past actions, but you know it is the only way.

She closes her eyes briefly. "Mitchie." She says sadly, but doesn't continue. You know what she means though. It's the 'you are way too young' spiel again, of which you are fucking tired of. You shake your head at her.

"No, mom. Think about it. We can get away from him. Let's move to California. We can get a small apartment there. Shane said he can get me the tutor that works with Nate. And-and maybe I can get a record deal or something or go to auditions to help with money." You tell her, pleading with her. She scoffs and looks at you sorrowfully.

"Mitchie, get off this dream." You open your mouth to argue, but she cuts you off. "What happens when the two of you break up, huh?" she asks pointedly. You shake your head immediately.

"We're not going to break up." you say to her, and she gives you a look. "We're not going to break up!" you say fiercely to her, your eyes bright. "I love him, mom." You choke out again for the millionth time. "I need him." You whisper, looking at her desperately.

She looks at you, swallowing, before shaking her head. "No, Michelle." She says sharply, pulling the mom card. "I will not allow you to go with him. Our plane leaves tomorrow afternoon at one back to Newark, and that's final." She tells you sternly. You close your eyes, feeling the warm tears fall on your cheeks.

"Mom." You whisper. You can literally feel your heart breaking. You can hardly breathe at all. What the hell can you do?

Heavy silence fills the car as you drive down the highway. Your mother clears her throat, but you are too numb to care. Instead, you look at the most recent exit. Number 39 – only one more to go. You hold your breath as she moves to the right lanes and starts tapping her fingers on the wheel. "I'll let you have a couple hours with him as a goodbye, okay? I'll go hang out in the lobby or something." She says gently.

You listen to your heartbeat before turning to her. "Mom, please don't make me say goodbye." You whisper, but she shakes her head.

"Now or never, Michelle, but you are getting on that plane tomorrow. I'm allowing you one last time. Just promise you will not do anything stupid, like run away again or…" she says trailing off. "I know you're not a child per say anymore, but you are way too young for what the two of you are doing. Don't sleep with him Mitchie. It will only make it harder for you to let him go." She advices, going towards the big sign that said 'Hilton'.

Suddenly, you are back in front of the hotel you were dragged out of two hours ago, and you automatically call Shane again. "Mitchie?" he asks right away, still worried.

"Yeah. It's me." You stifle cry. It's hurt so much to talk now. "Can you come down? I'm at the entrance." You whisper, holding back a sob. You're going to have to leave him. You're going to have to say goodbye. You're going to have to end it.

You hear his sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God. I'll be right down." He says, and you can hear him scuffle quickly through the phone. You snap the phone shut, before turning to your mother again. She is looking at you strangely.

"How can two people fall for each other so quickly?" she mumbles, but you look away. You hesitantly climb out of the car, bunching up the red dress in your hands. You almost run into the lobby, stopping at the entrance. Some people look at you oddly; you must look like a mess. You embarrassedly shuffle as you wait for him, before looking to where the elevator is.

When you finally see Shane your heart breaks again. You hardly notice the blue button up shirt or the nice black skinny jeans. Instead, you only see his eyes and the doleful look in them. Your feet do not feel like yours as you walk to him, before throwing your arms around his body. It might have only been a couple of hours, but you missed his smell and his touch so much. It was as if it has been years since you have last seen him.

And your mother and father want you to stop seeing him?

His light stubble tickles the top of your head as he tucks your head under his chin, holding you protectively. "Shh, honey. I'm here now. Where did he hurt you?" he says gently, and you realize you are crying in his shoulder. He rubs your back softly, pushing your body to his, before kissing your temple. "It's okay. It's okay." He repeats over and over again, suddenly looking away from you. Keeping your head on his chest, you look to your left and notice people just staring openly at you.

And just like an episode of Gossip Girl, there was three teenage girls snapping pictures of the two of you on their cell phones.

You moan tearfully and bury your face in his chest again. He hugs you tightly, tucking you back under his chin. "Ms. Torres, I'm sorry about all this." He says while looking passed you. Freezing, you realize that he saw your mother, and even better, your mother saw you. "I never meant for those pictures of Mitchie to hit the internet. I wanted to protect her, not put her in danger." He tells her, and you pull away from him.

Not even looking at your mother, you move passed him, already heading to your room. He grabs your wrist, but you don't turn to him. You don't want to face him. "Go." You hear your mother's voice whisper behind you. "I'll be back at ten tomorrow. She better be here, Shane. Or I swear to God, I will call the cops, and I know that's the last thing you want." It surprises you she doesn't say it threateningly, but rather just numbly.

Shane nods anyways, turning around and suddenly guiding you back upstairs. The two of you do not talk as you cry, but rather, he just holds you again. It feels so nice to be in his arms, and you really cannot picture being without him. When you get back to your room, you smile sadly at the roses perched on top of the table. Picking at the bright red petals as he closes the door, you randomly feel your legs give out.

You fall to the ground, the red dress around you, but he still does not say a word. Instead, he comes and puts his arms under your legs and against your back. He picks you up, and for a second it feels like you're flying. He puts you gently on the bed, and you look up at him with sad, tear-filled eyes. He wipes the wetness away tenderly, looking like he wants to cry as well. "Are you okay?" he asks, his voice cracking. You know he means about what your dad did to you, but you can hardly feel that pain anymore.

"No." you groan, shaking your head on the pillow. Your hair goes everywhere as your heart keeps breaking. He puts a hand on your cheek – the one your father hit you – and cradles it, before leaning down and kissing you softly.

"We'll be okay." He whispers, but his voice sounds too far away to be real. You nod, even though you don't believe his words, and bring him back to your lips. You don't know when you will see him again. You don't know how anything will work. All you know is that you love him and you don't want to leave him. Briefly remembering your mother's advice, you put your hands on his chest and push up his shirt. He bites his lip, pulling away slightly to look you in the eyes. "You sure?" he whispers, his sweet breath tickling your nose.

You run your fingers through his thick hair and nod, barely looking at him. He sighs but pulls you up. He reaches behind you, and unzips the dress he bought you. His fingers dance along the soft bare skin, before kissing your shoulder gently. He moves away from you to peal the dress off your body, making you shiver as the cold air hits your chest. You look at his face for the first time, and notice him staring straight at you.

Never breaking eye contact, his fingers lightly graze your breasts, before pulling the dress off you. He puts it on the chair next to the bed, before returning to you. He puts a hand on your shoulder lightly to push you back on the bed, and finally notices the bruising on your arm. He gasps, his eyes darkening as he gives you a look. You close your eyes, burying your head further in the pillow.

You snap open your eyes when you feel his lips softly press against the tender skin of your arm. His hands softly go to your stomach, rubbing it soothingly, before going to the edge of your underwear. He pulls it down carefully, keeping his eyes on your face the entire time. You gasp again as the cold air hits your now naked body, but he quickly goes back on top of you. You moan at the warmth he provides, crying as you realize this won't last forever.

He kisses you softly again. "Shh. It's going to be okay, honey." He promises again, as his hands run up and down your sides. You close your eyes again, fighting back the pain, before reaching up and undoing the buttons on his shirt. He helps you after you realize your hands are too shaky to do it, so you go down to his pants. You kiss him again, except this time a little deeper. He breathes in sharply as your fingers press on his abs.

He throws his shirt numbly before helping you take off his pants. Suddenly, the both of you are naked, and it makes you want to cry again. He sighs sadly, ready to pull back and stop, but you push him back to you. Kissing his lips again, you forcibly move your legs so they can wrap around his hips. You are shaking like crazy as he buries his head in your neck, and runs his hand down your body again.

His hand is so warm as he guides himself inside of you. You almost scream as he thrusts in. The feeling is so odd but so familiar. He keeps kissing you as you accommodate his size, feeling your body react to him in seconds. The moment he starts to move again, you close your eyes once more."I love you." he whispers again and again, as he thrusts in and out of you. it feels so crazy and amazing and horrible that you feel like you are going to explode.

He puts his face to yours, so that your lips are moving against each other but you're not really kissing. "Shane." You moan, moving your hips against his. You feel full and, cliché as it might sound, complete. You two were made for this. Sure, you can hold a conversation. But it's the way that your bodies react to each other that sets you apart from all the other in-love couples.

You grab hold of his biceps as he thrusts in you a little harder. You feel him push against that fucking spot that always makes you scream. Your vision is blurry, but you don't know if it's because of an impending orgasm or if you are crying once again.

All you know is that you are saying goodbye without really saying it.

XXX

Wow that was sad! I don't think I have ever really been on the brink of crying before…

Anyways, sorry for the long wait but it has been a busy week. I've had prom, prom weekend, honors convocation, and studying for APs!! So that's harsh. And then I found out my boy Joe Jonas is just changing into a man way too fast. I guess everyone has to admit the kid is not a kid anymore – just like Mitchie wants. Lol.

Okay, thanks for all the support. Hopefully this chapter will get as much reviews as the last. Maybe get it up to 620?

Love ya,

Sandra

PS – I love love love long reviews…. And I love you guys for all the kind words you have said. I hardly believe any of you when you guys say this is the best mature CR story, but thanks for lying. Lol XD