Life With Naomi
Naomi's mother, Veronica Flugel, saw no reason why Leena couldn't stay with them. She was a youth counselor in her free time, and had gone to some of the shelters to talk to teens who'd suffered from abuse. For most of them, it was at the hand of a parent or other relative. But she'd met several like Leena who'd escaped an abusive boyfriend. And several of those girls were also Harry's victims.
"As a boy, he was given everything he ever wanted," stated Veronica, "If a servant refused him, he was given permission to beat the servant to make him or her understand, as well as to set an example. It's sadly carried over to relationships with other people as well."
Leena was relieved to hear it wasn't just her. "But if he's done it before, why hasn't anyone stopped him," she asked.
Veronica replied, "Because he uses the money as a shield to protect him from the corrupt officials in the law enforcement. There's few else who oppose him, and no one has the courage to step up since it's their word against all that money."
So Leena moved in with Naomi and her mother. She did call her dad, telling him she was ok, and her phone silence was just because she kept forgetting. Not that he noticed very much, since he was so intent on playing with his models.
But Leon had noticed her absence. He wished she'd given him her number at Harry's in order to call her if she "forgot"—not knowing Harry had dozens of excuses for any worried family members of his girlfriends. When he heard her on the phone, he asked, "How could you have forgotten your own brother. Did Harry do something to you? I've heard my share of rumors about that boy, from my classmates, and none of them are good. Where are you anyway?"
Leena wanted to say she was still at Harry's, but then Leon'd go running over there looking for her, and figure something was wrong. So she said, "I'm spending the week with Naomi and her mom. We're going to a mountain retreat."
Leon took her story word for word, and hung up. With that great relief, Leena went to bed. She now had no fear that her brother would find out.
But what Leena didn't know, was that Leon went to his roommate, and asked, "What does go on with the Champ boy anyway?"
"He's pretty rough on people. My cousin went out with Harry last year, and she didn't call for a long time. Finally, she showed up at our front door all battered and bruised. Turns out, he physically abused her for not sleeping with him. Why'd you want to know?" replied the other boy.
"No reason," answered Leon, "Just curious." Now he knew what had happened to his sister, and why she wasn't herself.
* * *
Of course Leena wasn't really going up to a mountain retreat. She just didn't want Leon to show up at Naomi's and question her, or worse, see her battered body. Veronica had several types of ointments, like the ones she used when going to a shelter, for Leena's bruises, but only time would wipe them away totally.
While living there, Leena became worried about Naomi. Her friend was in a relationship with a young man named Brad Hunter. Even though Brad seemed like a nice guy, Leena's memories of Harry were still getting to her. So she continued to beg Naomi against going on a date.
"Calm down Leena. You're overreacting to this whole thing. Harry was only one guy, there's many more out there who wouldn't hurt a fly. Why don't you come with me and Brad, and I'll show you," Naomi had stated time and again.
Although Brad didn't mind Naomi bringing a friend—especially since he had seen her bruises and figured she needed help—Leena refused. She didn't want to meet a guy who'd take her and use her as a punching bag to satisfy him. So Naomi and Brad were understanding.
Like a true friend, Naomi didn't mention anything to Brad about Leena's past. But he asked her, "Who beat up her friend for her to get like that. If she sword you to secrecy, I understand, but I can see that the poor girl's suffered both physically and mentally at the hand of another."
Naomi smiled. She then inquired, "How can you tell?"
"My brother looked like that," he replied, "After one of my aunts died, my uncle got abusive. He moved in with us, and turned to liqueur. Then, he beat my brother repeatedly. Because he was so young, my kid brother died of the abuse. My uncle is still serving time in the prison."
Later on, Naomi told that story to Leena, hoping to get her to allow Brad to help. But even that didn't convince her that Brad was ok. It just caused her to sing deeper into her pain. Naomi and Veronica began to worry.
"You should get out more," said Veronica after about a week, "There's a party at the rock club on Saturday. I think you'll have a great time."
For the rest of the week, Leena continued to hem and haw about why she shouldn't go. Finally, on Saturday morning, she ran out of excuses. "Ok, but only if Naomi goes with me," she stated.
Naomi was overjoyed. She instantly went to find a suitable outfit for Leena to wear. After complaining over every choice, Leena decided to go with her normal clothing. She really didn't want to show off her scars to everyone, nor her black eyes.
At about six PM, the two girls took to Naomi's car. They sped downtown, to where the club was. 'Finally,' thought Naomi, 'Leena will be able to get over her fear.'
- - - -
Next chapter will be when Bit is introduced. Then, the romance starts. Oh, and some more Br/N as well. Don't worry, the excessive Harry bashing is coming.
Naomi's mother, Veronica Flugel, saw no reason why Leena couldn't stay with them. She was a youth counselor in her free time, and had gone to some of the shelters to talk to teens who'd suffered from abuse. For most of them, it was at the hand of a parent or other relative. But she'd met several like Leena who'd escaped an abusive boyfriend. And several of those girls were also Harry's victims.
"As a boy, he was given everything he ever wanted," stated Veronica, "If a servant refused him, he was given permission to beat the servant to make him or her understand, as well as to set an example. It's sadly carried over to relationships with other people as well."
Leena was relieved to hear it wasn't just her. "But if he's done it before, why hasn't anyone stopped him," she asked.
Veronica replied, "Because he uses the money as a shield to protect him from the corrupt officials in the law enforcement. There's few else who oppose him, and no one has the courage to step up since it's their word against all that money."
So Leena moved in with Naomi and her mother. She did call her dad, telling him she was ok, and her phone silence was just because she kept forgetting. Not that he noticed very much, since he was so intent on playing with his models.
But Leon had noticed her absence. He wished she'd given him her number at Harry's in order to call her if she "forgot"—not knowing Harry had dozens of excuses for any worried family members of his girlfriends. When he heard her on the phone, he asked, "How could you have forgotten your own brother. Did Harry do something to you? I've heard my share of rumors about that boy, from my classmates, and none of them are good. Where are you anyway?"
Leena wanted to say she was still at Harry's, but then Leon'd go running over there looking for her, and figure something was wrong. So she said, "I'm spending the week with Naomi and her mom. We're going to a mountain retreat."
Leon took her story word for word, and hung up. With that great relief, Leena went to bed. She now had no fear that her brother would find out.
But what Leena didn't know, was that Leon went to his roommate, and asked, "What does go on with the Champ boy anyway?"
"He's pretty rough on people. My cousin went out with Harry last year, and she didn't call for a long time. Finally, she showed up at our front door all battered and bruised. Turns out, he physically abused her for not sleeping with him. Why'd you want to know?" replied the other boy.
"No reason," answered Leon, "Just curious." Now he knew what had happened to his sister, and why she wasn't herself.
* * *
Of course Leena wasn't really going up to a mountain retreat. She just didn't want Leon to show up at Naomi's and question her, or worse, see her battered body. Veronica had several types of ointments, like the ones she used when going to a shelter, for Leena's bruises, but only time would wipe them away totally.
While living there, Leena became worried about Naomi. Her friend was in a relationship with a young man named Brad Hunter. Even though Brad seemed like a nice guy, Leena's memories of Harry were still getting to her. So she continued to beg Naomi against going on a date.
"Calm down Leena. You're overreacting to this whole thing. Harry was only one guy, there's many more out there who wouldn't hurt a fly. Why don't you come with me and Brad, and I'll show you," Naomi had stated time and again.
Although Brad didn't mind Naomi bringing a friend—especially since he had seen her bruises and figured she needed help—Leena refused. She didn't want to meet a guy who'd take her and use her as a punching bag to satisfy him. So Naomi and Brad were understanding.
Like a true friend, Naomi didn't mention anything to Brad about Leena's past. But he asked her, "Who beat up her friend for her to get like that. If she sword you to secrecy, I understand, but I can see that the poor girl's suffered both physically and mentally at the hand of another."
Naomi smiled. She then inquired, "How can you tell?"
"My brother looked like that," he replied, "After one of my aunts died, my uncle got abusive. He moved in with us, and turned to liqueur. Then, he beat my brother repeatedly. Because he was so young, my kid brother died of the abuse. My uncle is still serving time in the prison."
Later on, Naomi told that story to Leena, hoping to get her to allow Brad to help. But even that didn't convince her that Brad was ok. It just caused her to sing deeper into her pain. Naomi and Veronica began to worry.
"You should get out more," said Veronica after about a week, "There's a party at the rock club on Saturday. I think you'll have a great time."
For the rest of the week, Leena continued to hem and haw about why she shouldn't go. Finally, on Saturday morning, she ran out of excuses. "Ok, but only if Naomi goes with me," she stated.
Naomi was overjoyed. She instantly went to find a suitable outfit for Leena to wear. After complaining over every choice, Leena decided to go with her normal clothing. She really didn't want to show off her scars to everyone, nor her black eyes.
At about six PM, the two girls took to Naomi's car. They sped downtown, to where the club was. 'Finally,' thought Naomi, 'Leena will be able to get over her fear.'
- - - -
Next chapter will be when Bit is introduced. Then, the romance starts. Oh, and some more Br/N as well. Don't worry, the excessive Harry bashing is coming.