froggy2045: Ah! Thank you so much!!! I'm really glad I was able to keep you GLUED to the screen! lol!! No problem, I understand! Just so long as you're still reading:) Anyway, so here's the next chapter!! Hope you like it.

JustTheGirl07: I'm glad you thought it was interesting... why'd you think it was interesting? lol!! I mean, I'd like to hear what speific things you like/dislike about my story if you don't mind. It helps me improve:) lol!! ok, ok!! You don't have to wait any longer!! Here it is!!

Ok, so this chapter is probably the longest I've ever written! lol!! (for this story) but here it is. The rest of the chapters won't be this long so don't worry! Unless you like them long. Let me know:) Thank you and now... READ!!! (the super long chapter... lol!)

Chapter XIX

Love and Pain

Teresa held him up as they trudged along towards her house. Thunder cracked twice in a row right over their heads. Teresa realized they were really in a dangerous situation being on the beach with such a bad storm so close. Thunder cracked again as lightning lit up the sky like it was broad daylight. Teresa's house came into view just as a blinding rain began to fall. They reached the door and she quickly unlocked it, never letting go of Bradin, shut it, locked it back and helped Bradin upstairs to her bathroom.

Bradin felt like passing out again the pain was so bad, but then it started raining which sort of "woke him up." They got to Teresa's and she unlocked the door without letting go of him, for which he was grateful, he felt certain her would have fallen down, then took him upstairs to her bathroom and said, "Wait here, Baby, I'll be right back." With that she let go of him and hurried out the door. Bradin leaned his back against the wall in front of the mirror and looked at the reflection that stared back at him. He was soaking wet and a mixture of blood and water covered his face. He could only see out of his right eye as the other one was swollen shut. His side was bleeding badly, there was a, what appeared to be, at first glance, deep, but wasn't really that deep, gash to his forehead above his right eye and blood ran down into it. He groaned as a wave of pain shot through him. Teresa walked in at that moment with a first aid kit. He looked at her and could see through her shirt, which was soaking wet, to her bra. He looked up to her face and was surprised to see tears streaming down her cheeks. Before he could say anything she said, "It was that fucking-" her voice cracked stopping her from continuing and fresh tears fell from her eyes. Bradin mutely nodded. "Baby, please don't cry, please," Bradin winced as he spoke, "Please, it just makes it worse."

Teresa nodded and pulled her emotions together, "Here," she said and gently started wiping the blood from her boyfriend's face. After she had taken care of his face she got a new rag. It had been almost an hour since she'd found him and the storm was still raging. "Take off your shirt, Babe," Teresa said and gently helped him take it off so she could clean his side wound...

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Two hours later she had taken as much care of Bradin's wounds as she could and was now going downstairs with all of his clothes to put them in the washer and see if she could at least get some of the blood out. After all, if he went home wearing clothes that were covered in blood, well, he'd never get past his aunt! He had sat on the edge of her bathtub, resting, while she cleaned him up then she left with his clothes while he got a shower. It had quit lightning but the rain still came pouring down, Teresa loaded the washer and pressed start. She was heading back upstairs when the phone rang, she picked it up, "Hello? Oh, hey Mom! Uh huh, oh... okay. Yeah, sure, okay. Yes, ma'am... Love you too, bye." She hung up the phone, went up to her room, got some new clothes and hurried into her mother's bathroom to take a shower.

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Bradin had somehow gained enough strength to take a shower. He stood in the stall letting the water wash through his hair and over his back, it hurt as it fell down onto bruises and cuts but it also felt cleansing and comforting. His left eye wasn't nearly as bad as he'd first thought and he could open it half way, he had a bad bruise on his left side right under his ribcage and a ragged, deep, cut on his right leg right above the knee where Jerry had, apparently, "stabbed" him with something. As bad as the water hurt, seeping into his cuts, it refreshed him. He closed his eyes and exhaled a sigh of, well... just a sigh. Everything hurt so bad... physically and emotionally. Why did Jerry have to show up and rip his life apart just as he was starting to put it back together? Distant thunder broke into his thoughts warning him to get out of the shower before it got any closer. He turned off the water, got out and dried off, wrapped the towel around his waist, as all his clothes were washing, and stepped out into Teresa's room.

He had quit bleeding, except for a little bit here and there, so he sat down on her bed. The walls were a light, hunter green, there was a cream colored dresser against the wall opposite from the bed, a nightstand the same color as the dresser next to the bed, white "shutter" doors to a closet, and double, sliding glass doors to the balcony. She had a huge picture of a bald eagle in flight in front of a mountain covered in evergreens with a river at the bottom. It was majestic. It looked so... free. Bradin wished he were free like that, he wished he could fly away from all his troubles... Thunder cracked loudly indicating another storm was near. Bradin quit thinking, fell onto his back, groaning in pain and lay staring at the ceiling until his eyelids slowly fell shut and he floated off into a blessedly, painless, blackness.

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Teresa heard thunder in the distance and hurried to finish her shower. She got out, dried off and blow dried her hair. She slipped on a robe and went to put Bradin's clothes in the dryer then returned to her mother's room to get dressed. She looked into her mother's full length mirror as she pulled on a pair of "ripped" blue jeans and a faded pink halter top that tied behind the neck. She turned around to examine herself; she'd do.

Thunder cracked loudly, "Another storm..." she thought as lightning flashed outside the window. She got all her clothes and took them to the laundry room, got a snack, brushed her teeth, put on mascara and lip gloss and headed up to her room.

It was storming now and just as she pushed her ajar door fully open the power went off leaving the house in pale blue light coming through the clouds and rain and into the house through the windows. Teresa was able to see Bradin lying on her bed as lightning flashed, casting eerie shadows onto the walls. Teresa shivered, mostly because she was cold, and stepped into her room. She blushed as she realized Bradin was wearing nothing but a towel and quickly went down to see if his clothes had gotten dry before the power went out. They had. She hurried back up to her room, shut the door and gently sat down on the bed next to the sleeping form of Bradin, careful not to wake him, and laid his clothes on her lap. He looked so peaceful sleeping there... Crash! Lightning flashed and thunder cracked simultaneously making Teresa jump and Bradin jerk awake.

Bradin jerked awake jumping into a sitting position. His heart was racing and it took all of two seconds for pain to course through every limb of his body. "Ohh..." he groaned and fell back onto the bed. It was then when he noticed Teresa was sitting by him. He shut his eyes and clenched his jaw against the pain. "Hey," he heard Teresa's gentle voice say, "how do you feel?"

"Ohh... I'm..." he winced in pain, "..okay..." he finished.

"You don't exactly sound okay," Teresa said softly.

Bradin could feel how concerned she was. "Well, you know..." He rolled onto his side and couldn't help but groan in pain.

"Brae, I should get you to a doctor!"

"No! I- I'm fine... I'll be fine."

"Well, okay... I guess you know what you're doing..." Teresa set his clothes on her nightstand, "Here," she gestured towards them then went into the bathroom shutting the door behind her.

Bradin ignored the pain long enough to get dressed. He was starting to feel better, for which he was very grateful. He tapped on the bathroom door, "You can come out," he said loud enough for her to hear him over the raging storm.

Teresa entered her bathroom, shutting the door behind her, looked around for a second then stared into the mirror not even seeing her own reflection for being so preoccupied with Bradin. A knock on the door startled her. "You can come out," she heard Bradin say. She opened the door to find him standing directly in front of her. He was wearing the clothes he'd come there in and Teresa realized she hadn't gotten much of the blood out after all. Though it was dark she could see his face and the mixed look of hurt, physical and emotional, and gratefulness on it. She suddenly felt awkward, "I- I tried to get the blood out, I- I mean... I got as much out as I could but- but I-"

"Shh... They're fine," he said softly, taking her hands in his. "They're fine," he repeated.

She looked up into his eyes and felt herself getting lost in them as she often did with Bradin. He slowly moved closer to her and she let her eyes fall shut as their lips met. He kissed her deeply and moved one hand to the back of her head pulling her closer. The other hand he ran down her side to her hip.

She moved her right hand into his hair and the other she ran down his back till it rested in the middle.

Their lips did not part until the need for oxygen took over, but the passion was resumed almost instantly, neither of them opening their eyes.

Bradin took a breath of air but didn't open his eyes as their lips met again and each one's tongue fought to overpower the other's. Bradin ran his hand under her shirt and up her back, she made no move to stop him and he pulled her to her bed.

Gently pushing her onto it he climbed up next to her, kissing her on the neck.

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Teresa lay on her bed and felt Bradin, who was right beside her, kiss her on the neck. She didn't open her eyes as a memory replayed in her mind. Despite the fact that it made her want to push Bradin away, she couldn't resist his kiss. His lips pressed against hers and she felt him untying the strings of her halter top. She kissed him back passionately and rolled on top of him, he moaned slightly, from pain Teresa suspected, and she leaned on one if her arms so as to ease some of her weight off of him.

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Teresa lay on top of Bradin, kissing him, and he felt he was losing all control of his body... Not something he exactly wanted to do but he was definitely not stopping it... He pulled off her shirt, rolled her onto her back, so that he was now on top of her, and started kissing her left breast. What are you doing!?? His mind screamed so loudly he was sure that, not only he, but Teresa too, could hear it. Stop it! Don't do this, Bradin! Bradin!? Bradin Westerly!!?? It was clear he was not in control of himself anymore and that all attention to the voice of reason had been diverted to what his emotions wanted.

He peered up at Teresa's face after a second; she seemed to be in a "trance." Her eyes were slightly open and her mouth was the same way. He resumed kissing her breasts, softly and tenderly as if they were precious gems.

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Teresa could tell this was his first time by the hesitance of his touch and how gentle he was with her... Of course she knew he'd been molested but she could tell this was the first time he'd actually chosen to do something sexual... she wished it were hers as well... Bradin continued to kiss her, she kissed him back and ran her hands over his chest. She wanted this, she could tell he did too, but what if it happened again? Of course they could use protection, but what if it still happened!? Bradin stopped kissing her long enough to take off his shirt but no longer. She ran her hands over his shoulders and down his back, digging her fingers into his skin, and kissed his bare chest. Even during this, a memory replayed itself so vividly she was sure it were real...

"Teresa, just get it done." Teresa kept crying. "Baby, you need to just get it done!" Carl softly spoke into her ear. "It'll be okay and I'll be there for you, trust me."

"But- but I- I'm scared! What if my parents find out?" Teresa chewed on her thumb nail and tears fell down her face.

"They won't, Baby, just do it!" Carl spoke more firmly this time, "Do it now, today! Just get it done." He seemed to almost be commanding her...

Teresa didn't argue anymore.. she knew he was right but still... Out of fear of what would happen if she didn't, she did what he said. The doctor said it wouldn't hurt, that she wouldn't feel it at all, but she did. She felt it in her heart as she realized she was taking another person's life in cold blood. She was taking someone out of this world before they'd even had a chance to see it. Frankly: she was now a murderer.

She had been 14 and a half years old at the time... It had been a cold night and she and her boyfriend, Carl, were alone in his tree house, he was 16, one thing led to another and without using protection they made love. Bam! Instant pregnancy...

After she found out, she had been so scared that she only told Carl for fear of what people would think and say. He said she should have an abortion, which she did, and the night after she had it she sat with Carl in his tree house where it had first happened and assured him that it was dead and they wouldn't have to worry about it. She promised she would never tell anyone and he made the same promise.

After that night... she never saw him again. He moved with his aunt and never got in touch with her. He didn't even tell her he was leaving! She found out from his parents that he'd known he was leaving for over a week! She didn't understand why he didn't tell her... He said he'd be there for her... He said to trust him! How could he be so cold!?

Neither of her parents ever found out... but she had broken down one day and told Bethany, who promised never to tell a soul, and she kept her promise to this day

Teresa hadn't been able to trust a guy since then and she hadn't had a boyfriend up until the day Bradin asked her to be his...

Bradin was unzipping her pants and she was kissing his lips when the loudest crack of thunder Teresa had ever heard erupted directly over their heads shaking the whole house and causing the windows to rattle violently.

Bradin jumped and Teresa screamed. Teresa was certain that that one had hit the house, she was breathing fast and her heart was racing. She looked up at Bradin and they both lightly laughed, he looked just as startled as she was and he was breathing just as fast.

They lay without moving for a second, Bradin on top of Teresa, both half naked, and stared into each other's eyes. Teresa suddenly looked away, muttering, "Bra- Bradin, I... please I- I don't wanna do this..."

"I- I don't wanna do this..." Bradin heard Teresa say. He rolled off of her and lay staring at the ceiling. What had he just been doing? Was he actually about to have sex with somebody? Was he insane!?

"I- I'm sorry, Brae... I- I just can't do it... not yet anyway... I'm sorry-"

"It's okay... I understand..." Bradin said cutting off her apology. He felt her get off the bed and heard her bathroom door shut. He lay still, listening to the storm for a few minutes than put his shirt back on. He didn't quite understand why Teresa suddenly didn't want to do it but he figured it must be something from her past... Not yet anyway... What had she meant by that... He'd have to figure that out later.

He got up, walked to the bathroom door and knocked lightly, "Teresa? Resa, baby..." he opened the door to find her sitting on the floor crying. He walked over to her and, wordlessly, picked her up by the shoulders and wiped the tears from her cheeks and eyes. "Shh... It's okay" He took her in his arms and guided her back to her bed.

Bradin rolled off of her and she held in the tears that were begging to fall as she said, ""I- I'm sorry, Brae... I- I just can't do it... not yet anyway... I'm sorry-" Bradin cut her off saying it was okay... and that he understood. She got up, grabbed her shirt and went into the bathroom, letting the tears fall freely. How could she do that to him? She had let him go that far, why did she have to tease him like that? How could she!? Teresa fell to the floor and sobbed into her hands, covering her face. She heard Bradin knock on the door and softly talk to her, which only made her cry harder. Bradin opened the door, walked over to her, put his hands on her shoulders and stood her up. He wiped the tears from her cheeks and eyes saying gently, "Shh... It's okay..." His arms enfolded her and he took her out of her bathroom and over to her bed. "Brae, no... I-" she started but he cut her off.

"I'm not... just lay down" Bradin lifted her face and looked into her eyes, "I'm not gonna hurt you... trust me."

She looked into his eyes; trust him? How could she? After what happened with Carl... He had said the same thing, to trust him. She again looked into Bradin's eyes. All she could see was truth, she could see no reason not to trust him. She let herself fall into his strong and comforting arms. He pulled the covers down, picked her up and placed her on the bed on her back. He covered her up, bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek saying, "Shh... It's alright... go to sleep now." Teresa was still sobbing, "Brae... you can't go out in this..." as if on cue, thunder cracked loudly overhead making them both jump. "Stay here... please."

Bradin knew she was right and that he should stay there, but, even as bad as he wanted to, his common sense was telling to go home. "Baby, I, I really shouldn't... I-"

"Please!" She interrupted him in a shout.

Bradin looked at her face and saw tears streaming from her eyes and her body shaking with sobs. He knew he had to stay.

"Please," she repeated, quieter this time.

"Okay," he sighed, giving in to her, "but where'll I sleep-"

"Here!" Teresa interrupted, patting the, conveniently, empty spot on the bed next to her.

"Are you sure I should... I- I mean, you know, won't your mom be mad?" Bradin stuttered.

"She won't be back till the morning... please, Brae, please?" Teresa looked up at him with such a pleading look that he just couldn't say no to her.

"Alright.. but if I get in trouble with your mom..."

"You won't, now come on," Teresa pulled the sheets down and turned on her side so that she would be facing him when he laid down.

Bradin walked to the other side of the bed and climbed up next to Teresa, she pulled the covers over him and snuggled up next to him, resting her head on his chest. He tensed at her touch and the fact that he was about to put his guard way down by sleeping in the same bed with someone. Teresa must have sensed his nervousness because she said, "It's okay, Brae... I'm not gonna hurt you and nobody else is here... Just relax, Babe!" She moved closer to him and put her hand on his chest and the other under his head and played with his hair.

Bradin knew she was right but it was still hard for him to be at ease with somebody in a bed. He took a deep breath, "Okay.." He did relax a little bit and put his left arm around Teresa, snuggling his face into the top of her head.

Teresa sighed, she had quit crying for the most part and having Bradin there was making her feel so much better. She ran her hand over his chest making him smile. "Brae?" she asked.

"Uh huh?"

"Do you really... care about me? I mean... not just well, you know... like, my body or whatever..." Teresa pursed her lips to keep from crying. Bradin didn't answer for a full minute then, with the deepest sincerity, he said, "Yes, Teresa, I really do care about you."

She smiled as widely as she possibly could and snuggled even closer to him, closing her eyes as he tightened his grip on her.

Bradin told her he did and he truly meant it. He almost said more afterward but stopped himself realizing he was entirely sure of that yet

Eventually Teresa's breathing became methodic, signifying she was asleep. Bradin sighed; his fears of somebody doing something to him while he slept were keeping him from getting to sleep. But he wanted to sleep! He wanted to sleep desperately... He lay still for so long that when he finally did move his whole body erupted in screaming pain. "Oh!" Bradin screwed his eyes shut and clenched his jaw, groaning, "Oh God... please... oh..." Tears escaped his eyes before he could even think about stopping them. He couldn't take it, and it hopes of it letting up even a little, he turned until he was facing Teresa. Bad move. It only got worse. "Damn it!" Hot tears streamed down his cheeks... Not realizing he was still holding it, he squeezed Teresa's hand tightly, "Oh... God..." His whole body ached unbearably. He tried turning a different way; that didn't work so he turned back. He sat up but the wave of pain that hit him made him, slowly, fall back on the bed. Nothing he did worked! It was unbearable! Nothing wold make it stop, nothing! Nothing would even ease it up a little!!

Tears fell freely from his eyes, he didn't even try to stop them. Oh God, he hurt... If Teresa had been awake and asked him to describe it he wouldn't have been able to. He couldn't even compare it to anything he'd been through... and he'd been through a lot! Why had it taken so long to set in!? Jerry had beaten him nearly 6 hours ago! "Ohh..." he groaned and bit his lip. He wished he would just die right then so he wouldn't have to feel it! Or couldn't he at least pass out!? "Ooh..." he couldn't deal with this, it was too damn much! He buried his head in Teresa's chest, rather roughly, and cried, hard. Somehow the physical pain was making him want his mother which caused emotional pain cause he knew he couldn't have her and then, remembering his parents back home made the nightmarish memories of what Jerry had done come back to him. Mixed all together he just couldn't hold up and broke down and cried; tears of sadness and, mostly, tears of excruciating pain.

Teresa could tell Bradin meant what he said and she fell asleep in complete confidence that he wasn't going to hurt her.

She woke up what seemed like 3 minutes, but was in fact 3 hours, later to find Bradin's body close to hers and his head buried deeply in her chest. It took her a second to wake up enough to realize he was crying but suddenly she did, she realized he was crying almost hysterically. "Baby," she exclaimed, alarm and concern clearly visible on her face and in her voice. "Baby," she repeated, this time pulling away from him a little. He screamed in pain, "Oh my God, Brae, what's wrong!?"

Ok, so if you could be easy on me about the emotions felt in that chapter I'd appreciate it. Considering I've never written any sort of sex scene before... Anyway, hope it was all believible but I'll understand if it wasn't and I need you to tell me so I can improve!! So review, please!! Thank you so much:D

Anna Christie AKA SecondStarToTheRight15