Chapter 25

Chloe's POV

I keep driving until I find the spot I needed. I knew I was in the right place when I saw Jesse's car parked in the distance. I stop the car and get out not wanting to spook the brunette. I walk up to the car and see that it's empty so I decide to look around because she can't be far. Eventually I find her sitting by the water. I take a few steps closer but not too close to freak her out. "Beca?" The girl turns around in shock. "How did you…" She doesn't finish her sentence and runs up to me. "It's going to be ok, we'll always protect you." I feel her sobbing onto my shoulder. "I can't do this, I can't stay here." She pushes herself of off me but before she can run away I grab her hands and pull her back to me. "Don't do this, I need you to stay… please." She shakes her head. "If I stay all of you will be in danger, you don't know what he's capable off." I feel her hands trembling in mine. "He won't hurt you or anyone else, he might not even be here. Let's give the police a chance to find him, you won't go through this alone. Not now not ever, I'll always be there." I push a strand of hair out of Beca's eyes. "I can't stay with my aunt and uncle, if I do stay I have to leave their comfort." I see determination in her eyes. "Where will you go?" Her eyes shift to the ground. "I'll find a small apartment, I have some money saved up that I can use." I pull her chin up so I can look her in the eyes. "What about school?" She thinks about it. "I'll finish this year and I'll accept the offer I got so I can make some extra money for later." The look in her eyes proves me that she won't back down from this crazy idea. "What… what about us?" This time it's me that can't look at her. "What about us?" I stay quiet because I'm too scared of what might happen if I do say something. "Wait, hold it, you think I'm going to break up with you?" I hear her laughing. "Chloe, you're the most important thing in my life. I could never live without you. I'm terrified something might happen to you but I promise you one thing, I'll protect you until the day I die." She pulls me into a hug and wrap my hands around her. "I'll figure things out and make sure you're taken care of, I'm never going to leave you." She presses a soft kiss on my forehead.

Beca's POV

I keep holding Chloe in my arms, I feel her shiver and notice that she's only wearing a shirt. "You're freezing, let's get you home. But first…" I take off my hoodie and drape it around her. "What abou…" I cut her off. "I can handle myself." I take a look at Jesse's car and think of how I can just flee once again, give everyone a better chance without me. "Please don't." She must have noticed my look and I see tears running down her cheeks and I quickly banish the idea from my mind. "I wouldn't dream of it." I keep one arm around her and we walk back to the cars, I see that Chloe must have taken Aubrey's car which means that everyone is at home waiting for her to come back. She was really going to get it tonight. "They're not mad, they're just worried."Chloe says reassuring. She presses a small kiss on my cheek. "I'll be driving behind you." She tells me while she walks away to get into Aubrey's car.

Chloe and I are standing in front of the door, Chloe has a hand on my lower back and whispers some encouraging words to me. When I finally do open the door I get attacked by Jesse and pulled into a very strong hug. "Dude, no hugs…" But he doesn't let go. "Don't even think about me ever letting you go ever again." I try to push him off again and this time I'm successful. "Look, I appreciate you being worried but this is something I have to deal with by myself." I can see my aunt and uncle staring at me. "I'm thankful for everything you have done for me but it's time for me to get out on my own. I'm going to look for an apartment in the city, it won't be far away from you and I'll come visit." The idea sounds crazy even to me now that I've calmed down. "We thought this might happen so Dave and I talked about it with Jesse and we have a suggestion." I look at my aunt in confusion. "We bought an apartment a while back and we wanted to give it to Jesse for his 18th birthday because he wants to be an 'adult'." It makes me chuckle to imagine Jesse living alone. "Wait, what do you mean you knew this would happen?" My chuckle turns into an angry stare. "Don't get us wrong, we didn't think your dad would get out but we knew that if things would get rough you'd either run or push us away. We don't want either so that's why we want to give you space but keep you close just in case." They point at a set of keys on the table. "You don't have to do this." My mouth feels dry and my voice is shaky. "Just think about what you really want, and if you have decided come talk to us. We want to be there for you, all of us." My uncle points to everyone in the room. "We're here because we care about you and want you to be safe." I shake y head. "What about your safety? You have no idea what he can do, he's dangerous." My aunt walks up to me and hugs me. "I know my brother has made bad choices but I won't let him hurt you or anyone else, I have talked to the police and they will keep some agents in the neighborhood to keep him out of our lives. Maybe he won't come back, maybe he'll run." She caresses my back and it seems to calm me down. Maybe just maybe everything will be fine after all?

*Next Day Around Noon*

After Aubrey left Beca stayed up and talked to her family about the record label. Since both her aunt and uncle are lawyers they decided to go with Beca when she sorted everything out. Chloe hasn't said a word since they came back and it terrified Beca. She was scared to lose her.

"How are you holding up?" The brunette asks the red head sitting next to her. "Fine." Her tone was harsh and distant. "No, it's not. You're mad at me." The red head shakes her head. "I'm not, I'm scared. Scared that you will push me away when things get tough. Why do you need to leave Jesse's house?" Concern was written all over her face. "I… I'm trying not to do that but it's not easy. I try to be a better person, I try to be better for you." My eyes fall back to my hands in my lap. "I don't want to end up like my parents, I want this relationship to work. I want to be with you… but please be patient with me." Still avoiding her blue eyes I sit and wait until she says something. "I will but promise me one thing… don't run away ever again." I hear her voice break and that makes me look at her. "I promise, I promise I'll try." She smiles at me and gives me a light kiss.

"Miss Mitchell, mister Black is ready for you." Chloe nods at me and I get up and enter the room with my aunt and uncle but quickly return. "Hey Chlo?" She puts her head up. "Will you come in with me?" I wanted her there because this is an important step for me, and I want her there with me. She gets up and follows me inside where I intertwine our fingers.

I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE STORY!

REVIEWS = ME HAPPY

HAPPY ME = QUICKER UPDATES