So yeah so this is probably going to go dark so don't read if abuse is a trigger or read any ways and imagine that Luke was there to save you! Enjoy :D

Luke's PoV

I walked down to the basement and grabbed a beer before sitting down and drinking. Something seemed off with Julie but I wasn't sure. I didn't really know her well and she always was doing her own thing. She was amazing at cooking and always was kind to us but tonight I saw her flinch, people don't flinch like that from the ones they were in love with. It could have just been from the fright Bobby had given her but then he had spoken for her rather than allowing her to answer. It had been in the back of my head for the past few weeks, whenever we asked her to join, Bobby would answer for her or sometimes she stayed for a few minutes then left. We all knew she was a little down, that her mother passed away shortly after she came here with us and that her father had sold the house so even if she wanted to go home, her room would be different. We had learnt that little nugget of information one day when she was looking a little upset and Bobby was out. Come to think of it the only times we really spoke to her was when Bobby wasn't in the room to take charge and speak over her. But they were happy right? They had been together since high school and I remembered how she used to blush when they first started dating and Bobby would hold her hand in front of us.

I finished my beer by the time Bobby had come to join us and decided to try something to see what would happen.
"Hey Bobby, I'm just going to use the washroom then grab Julie to come hang with us, she might like the game once she sees it been played"
"Leave her be Luke, she isn't feeling well" he replied while opening his beer.
"I'm going to ask her any ways and see if she wants to, maybe it will help" I said as I got up to make my way upstairs.

As I suspected Bobby tried to follow after I got up the stairs assuming I would use the washroom first, I didn't need to go and went straight to her before he could get to her. She was finishing off the dishes.
"Hey come join us Julie please, eat with us, have some fun, if you don't want to play you can just watch but come sit next to me and I can show you how to play!" I said with my famous puppy eye look.
I could see her caving as she nodded her head just before Bobby walked in.
"Here Bobby, help carry the bowls of soup, i'll grab the others and Julie can you grab the bread plate please?" I instructed before he could open his mouth. I followed Julie downstairs and after we put everything down I moved over so that she could sit next to me on the couch. That left me and Alex between her and Bobby and I made a point of watching what went on. Normally she would sit on the arm of Bobby's chair for five minutes before leaving.

I passed her a bowl of soup and some bread while grabbing my own as Reggie started up the game. It was only a four player game, so I would take turns with Julie if she wanted.
"Oh man Julie this is amazing! Thank you for doing this, I've missed soup so much and this is just like my mothers with all the vegetables, they're so good" Reggie complemented Julie.
"Thank you, I'm glad you are enjoying it!" Julie said quietly.

After we had finished eating I took my first turn and showed her roughly what buttons I pressed and where we wanted to head on the map. When I had passed her the controller though I had noticed her hand was trembling slightly which was rather concerning. She had scored a six and had landed on a lucky square which was a really good start and I could see her smiling slightly with enjoyment. I noticed that Bobby was texting someone and when he put his phone down I could hear Julie's phone vibrate in the pocket of her hoodie. I then felt her immediately stiffen next to me which answered my suspicions. Bobby was controlling what she was doing and she was scared of him, but why and how did they go from the cute couple they were in high school to this?

It was Reggie's turn and she went to pull it out and I tried to glance over her shoulder to see what was written. All I could see was a simple message from Bobby saying 'five minutes'. She quickly put it away and sat back but her hands were trembling in her pockets. I never would have noticed before because none of us had ever looked but I had a suspicion for some time that was quickly been proven more right than I wanted to know.
"Are you cold Julie? here have a blanket" I said as I pulled one from behind us and over her legs and mine. In the movement I had made sure I sat closer to her to feel for any signs but she had seemed to relax more which was good. It was time for the mini game and she passed me the controller while pulling the blanket up to her chin and tucking her feet up to sit cross legged which left her right leg touching mine since I wasn't giving her a lot of room. I showed her how the pre game teaches us what to do and that the next one she could try if she wanted to.

It was our turn again and I let her go again. She scored a three which at first she apologized about but then landed on an ally spot which I explained to her was a really strong beginning as allies roll for us an extra dice. I knew it was getting close to the five minute mark so I made a plan and implemented it as soon as Alex had finished his turn.
"Hey, why don't we get brownies while Reggie and Bobby go do their turns, Alex come help us carry plates downstairs?" I asked Julie and gave Alex a gentle nudge on his arm that no one would notice.
"Sure!" said Alex as he bounded up the stairs with Julie following, I followed behind her and saw a flash of Bobby's glare when I turned around to look. He quickly covered it up as a concentrating look on the game but I knew what I had seen.

I left Alex with Julie thinking Bobby wouldn't try anything in front of Alex and quickly used the washroom then came to help carry plates down stairs. The brownies looked amazing as always and I went first, giving Bobby his plate and noticing he had barely touched the vegetables and mostly just ate the broth and bread. He was always a bit spoiled and a fussy eater. I stood in his way as Julie made her way back to our spot after Alex passed a plate to Reggie that way making sure he couldn't indicate to her, to come sit with him. She seemed happy and had resumed her original sitting position and I sat back next to her and pulled the blanket back up.

The next mini game was ready so I let Julie have a go as this one was easy, it was just a simple movement of making the biggest shaving pile, she came in last but still looked like she was having fun. She then scored an eleven on our turn which got us the closest to the star. I then passed her a beer to drink although I was pretty sure she had taken another edible when we were upstairs.

The brownies were to die for and she giggled softly when Alex and Reggie started moaning in contentment of her baking. I tried it and it was really good, especially the sprinkled icing sugar on top. She had devoured hers and I suspected when her other edible kicked in that she would want another. She had gotten another text message and I saw Bobby trying to put his phone back in his pocket discreetly. This time the message just read 'now'. I had just about enough of this so decided to call him out on it. I knew Alex and Reggie would have my back without knowing the details that I had picked up on.
"What's 'now' Bobby? What was with the 'five minutes' before, are you ordering pizza?" I asked, giving him a challenging look and turning my body around to face him.
Bobby fumbled for an explanation while I continued staring him down and felt Julie shrink behind my intimidating body. I knew I was the biggest in our group and Bobby was the smallest. Eventually he came up with an excuse of they were from before when he ordered pizza and he was out and the messages must have been delivered late but they were for Julie to know when to answer the door.

I dropped the subject and sat back but could feel Julie trembling under the blanket. While Bobby did his turn I discreetly moved my hand under the blanket to find hers and grab one of her hands to squeeze it. I could feel her staring at me probably in shock or surprise but I kept my eyes on the screen. Something was very wrong, Julie shouldn't be trembling and her hands were warm, she wasn't cold, she was scared.

After half an hour had passed, I guessed her second edible had begun to kick in as she had stopped trembling and began to relax more. I let go of her hand and passed her another beer and grabbed one for myself too.
The game had finished shortly afterwards and Bobby wasn't feeling well so he said he was going to head to bed.
"Well I dunno about you guys but it's Friday and I'm not ready for sleep. Do you want to come over Julie and we can keep playing? I can show you Mario kart which is a racing game and when you're ready to go home I'll walk you home myself" I asked. Julie's face had begun to light up with excitement till Bobby spoke and I saw her physically melt into herself and look at her hands.
"Julie has work in the morning, she needs to get to bed," said Bobby.
"What do you want to do Julie?" I asked, ignoring Bobby's remark. He had begun to get up to take plates to the kitchen and once he had left she replied in a small whisper barely audible.
"I would love to come over if that's okay, I don't have work in the morning, tomorrow is my day off"

I helped her get up after giving her a small smile and found her jacket for her and passed it to her while I pulled my own on and some boots.
"Where are you going Julie?" asked Bobby.
"Julie wants to come over, she doesn't have work in the morning and you're not feeling well. I'll walk her home tonight, feel better Bobby" I said in a rush as I pulled open the door and let Julie leave first with Alex and Reggie following behind her. I moved close to Bobby so that only he could hear me while the others had started walking.
"Hope you feel better" I said with a challenging look daring him to object as I grabbed the tray of brownies.
He backed down and said goodnight, closing the door softly behind me. I stood there for an extra minute and heard him smash something against the counter.