--Chapter 11--I'm On My Way--

"What do you mean he did it again?" the worried voice on the receiver said.

"He...he..." her voice choked.

"Who's he?" Bryan asked.

Nicole didn't answer.

"Nicole. Tell me."

"Robbie." She whispered.

"Not again. Are you serious?" he asked.

"Bryan, why would I lie about something like that?" she cried.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"Okay. I'm on my way." he said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'll be there as soon as I can. I promise." he said, hanging up the phone.

Nicole put down the phone and hugged her pillow, crying sheepishly. For some reason, she always thought it was her fault. Deep down, she knew it wasn't, but he made her feel like it was. Bryan was the only one that gave her that 'deep down' feeling. Robbie was guilty for everything else. Bryan had always been like a brother to her. He always stood up for her and tried to understand her side of the story, even if she was wrong. She knew she could always count on him. Now, she wondered, could he even help her this time? Or would Robbie put up a never-ending fight? She didn't know.

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The next day

Nicole woke up feeling sore and worse than ever. The whole left side of her face was completely bruised, along with her ribs and her back. She got her make up bag out and tried to cover up the bruises the best she could. Her eye was swollen, and there was nothing she could do about that. She tried to put a dark lip gloss on, but it only drew more attention to her face, plus it stung her busted lip. She brushed her hair straight and starred at herself in the mirror. She looked like something out of a horror movie, she thought.

"How am I supposed to go to school like this?" she thought. "What do I say when they ask what happened?"

She shook her head, trying to clear her mind the best she could. All that kept playing was the events that occurred the previous night.

She grabbed her book bag, carefully placing it on her bruised back. She cringed as it slightly tempted her bruise. She silently walked out the door, careful not to let her mom see her. Jeff was probably on his way, but the last thing she wanted was to see him, looking and feeling like she did.

She walked down the dirt road until a familiar car pulled up next to her.

"Bryan!" she exclaimed. He jumped out of the car and pulled her into a hug, picking her up off the ground. She yelped in pain. He put her down and apologized.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

She laughed a little then said, "Do I look like it?"

He smiled and helped her in the car.

"I'm not leaving your side today, at all." Bryan said, as he started driving.

"Okay." she said, keeping her eyes in front of her.

"How's life treating you? Well, before dickhead showed up." he asked.

"Good, actually. I met a lot of awesome people. Small town life isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It's actually a lot better. I think I like quiet now, instead of noisy." she laughed.

"Well, did little miss "I'm too good to move to a small town", find a guy yet?" he laughed.

"Actually..." she smiled.

"Jeeze! You don't wait for anything, do you?"

"Me? Of course not!" she said as they both laughed, pulling up to Union Pines.

"Moment of truth, you ready?" he asked.

"Now or never." she said.