XashXdawnX - Here's another chapter and I advise that this might have some triggering parts, so proceed with caution. The build up is happening. Enjoy!

Leaf couldn't believe how things had been for the past few months.

She had been so happy and carefree. For once she wasn't thinking of all the bad in her life or worrying about being at home. She spent her days with Ash, Dawn, and Gary everything was falling back into place. It was like she had never left. Her days consisted of staying out until it was late in the night and returning home when the lights were off. The mornings she woke early enough that no one else was awake and was gone by time anyone would be awake at her house. Or she would catch a ride with Gary, who always brought her her favorite drink when he picked her up. Even her grades were improving for the better. Now instead of C's and B's, she was back to B's and A's.

Yes, she and Gary kept up their fake relationship, though she had to admit, at times it felt so real and not like it was just a show. But, overall, she was extremely happy for the first time in a long time. Mostly because she had her true friends back. Everything was different, but in a good way.

Sadly, everything comes to an end. The reality of life slaps you in the face. Cold and cruel. That is what happened when Leaf woke up one Friday morning, only about three and a half months since being at total ease.

Leaf turned off her alarm and look at the notifications for today. As her eyes focused on her screen, she felt her body grow cold and numb.

How could this be? How was the one year anniversary here already? How had she let it slip by?

"No. No. No." she muttered as she hastily pulled up the calendar.

It couldn't be here...

But the little box around the date signaled that the one year anniversary that changed her life forever, was in fact here.

Just staring at the date, caused all of her happiness to come crashing down instantly around her. Her chest felt tight. Her eyes welled up with tears. She bit her lip to keep the sobs quiet. The sobs that were threatening to break through a wreck her body.

A year had passed by and she hadn't even realized how fast it had been approaching, because she was finally back to being happy for once. Her pain had been pushed to the back of her mind and had been replaced with happiness.

She needed to get ready for today, but how could she face school? How could she face her friends? Let alone face the harsh reality of today?

Blinking her eyes and taking a shuddering breath she swung her legs off of her bed. She sent a quick text to Gary, letting him know she wouldn't be at school. She needed to just be alone for today.

... ...

Leaf took her time showering. She allowed herself to cry in the privacy of her shower, after she had showered. She sat on the floor of the shower, her knees pulled up to her chest as she cried. As the water began to run cold, she turned it off and got out. She wrapped her towel around herself and walked into her room.

She wiped her eyes and looked at her reflection. Her face was splotchy and her eyes puffy and red. Sighing, she began to pick out her outfit for today, opting for comfy clothes.

She had a feeling today was going to be bad and she was right. The shattering of glass, told her that.

Leaf awoke, cold and her body aching. She heard shuffling and the shattering of glass downstairs.

She had to get out of here.

She hurried over to her balcony door and without thinking twice, she did what Gary had done so many times when they were younger. She climbed down the tree that was outside her room, nearly slipping and falling due to the rain.

Once her feet hit the grass, she ran. She didn't know where she was running to. She just knew she needed to get away from her home.

Home. She scoffed at the thought. Home wasn't that.

She ran until she came to a door. Of course she would run here. He was the only one who made her feel safe.

She rang the doorbell a few times.

... ...

Gary had just finished a paper for English that was due the following Monday, when the door bell rang multiple times. He glanced at the clock. He knew it couldn't be his grandpa since he had a conference in another region this weekend. He believed it was in the Hoenn region.

The ringing continued.

He hurried downstairs and pulled open the door, clearly annoyed with whoever was constantly ringing the bell, but anything he was going to say died on his lips as he took in who was outside. It was Leaf, but she looked like a wreck. She was drenched from the rain. Her hair stringy and clinging to her face and neck. Her eyes red and puffy. But what instantly caught his attention was the fact that her lip was cut, her cheek had a bruise forming, and her eye looked swollen.

He silently stepped aside and she entered the house. Her arms hugging her middle. She was closed off, that much he could tell.

He shifted his weight. He wasn't sure what to do. He knew he needed to find out what had happened, but he also knew she wasn't going to speak yet.

"How about we get you warm and out of those wet clothes?" he asked, softly as he broke the silence.

She nodded her head.

"You know where the bathroom is. I'll lay some clothes out for you and get some coffee made for you to help warm you up." he added.

She nodded her head and silently headed up the stairs.

... ...

Gary tried to keep his mind occupied as he mindlessly made the coffee. But he could feel his anger flaring. Someone had hit Leaf. She was hurt.

Seeing her standing on his doorstep, drenched from the rain, crying, and just silent...she had looked officially broken. She wasn't the old Leaf or the new Leaf. She was a broken Leaf and he didn't like this. He hurt for her and was angry at whoever had caused her to be like this.

He intended to find out and help her. He would just need her to open up and talk to him. He didn't need her to shut him out. So he was going to have to play his cards carefully.

A stair creaking, alerted him that Leaf was coming back downstairs. He looked up and saw her at the doorway of the kitchen. Now with her standing in the light, Gary could clearly see that a bruise was in fact on her cheek and her eye was swollen, likely turning to a black eye. She still hugged her middle.

Gary silently held out her cup of coffee, which she looked at. She walked into the kitchen and took the cup, letting the warmth of the mug warm her fingers.

"Thank you," she said, so softly Gary barely caught it.

Gary wasn't sure how to break the tense silence that filled the kitchen. He didn't want to scare Leaf or cause her to withdraw anymore. So he waited. He would follow her lead.

... ...

After some time in the silence, Leaf had finished her cup of coffee. She now stood by the sink, looking out the window at the storm that was going on.

"Leaf?" Gary asked, figuring he was going to have to push her. She wasn't going to speak on her own.

She turned and looked at him.

"What happened?"

Her eyes darted to the doorway. Gary acted quickly and blocked the doorway and caught her in her attempt to run.

"Leaf, please." he pleaded, his voice cracked.

"Let me go, you ass! Let go, Gary! I don't have to tell you anything!" she screamed, struggling to get free.

She hit his chest as tears fell from her eyes. Gary held her, taking the hits.

"Please, Leaf..."

"I can't..."

Her struggling had ceased. She now had her head down. She was sniffling.

Gary carefully moved one of his hands and lifted her head.

"Leaf, look at me."

She raised her eyes. He gently wiped the tears from her eyes, being careful of the wounds that were on her face.

"I want to help you. I don't want you to live with this burden and pain anymore." he said, speaking softly.

She opened her mouth and closed it.

"It's okay to feel, Leaf."

Hearing those words, Gary saw that her walls broke. She had finally broke and she was about to reveal everything...

Please R&R