He watched from behind a bunch of bushes as she went up to her little brother and gave him a hug. She looked worried as she looked around. Then a car pulled up, she checked on who the person was, and put her little brother in the car. He was confused, why didn't she go too. What had her father done to her? He now knew why he had those dreams, he truly did have to rescue her.

XOXOXOXO

She walked up to Johnny and smiled her biggest smile. Sonny wasn't with her, because she didn't want her little brother to get the wrong idea, which he often did on his own. He ran to her and hugged her waist, making her wince in pain. She had way to many bruises there for him to be hugging her this tightly.

"Hi, little brother. How was your day?" She asked him kissing the top of his head. He looked up at her and smiled brightly. Every time he smiled she couldn't help but think of Maria, he had her smile.

"Lulu kissed me." He stated shyly. Claudia's mouth opened wide and that's when he knew he better give a better explanation. "We're doing long division now, and she was confused, so I helped her. Then as a thank you she kissed me right here." He pointed to his cheek, making Claudia smile.

"Well, I'm proud of you for helping her out. Look there's our car. I'll see you at home. 'Kay?" She asked giving him one last hug before forcing him into the car. She knew he wanted to stay, but he couldn't. It was too dangerous for her and for him. She started to walk in the direction Sonny had parked. He was just standing there watching her, she wondered why her looked so dang familiar. It was like he was from a dream or something.

"Let me take you to go get something to eat." He told her as she sat down in the passenger seat of his car.

"Sonny, you knocked my books onto the ground, you don't have to act so nice." She told him, not trusting a single action.

"What if I'm not acting? What if I just like you and want to get to know you better? Is that okay with you?" He backfired.

"No guy has ever wanted to do that. Why would you? I mean you have every girl lined up for you to pick. Even the ones who are taken are in that line and then there's me, the type of girl that no one pays attention to. So why me?"

"Ever think that the moment I laid eyes on you my heart just melted and I'd been looking to introduce myself all day. 'Cause that is what happened, I saw you and there was just something that hit me. Is that weird?"

"No, it isn't. I've felt like I've known you since the moment I met you. I feel comfortable with you. So I guess we can go grab a bite to eat." She tells him with a smile as he puts the car into drive and floors it. They arrived at the restaurant moments later, and sat at a table in the back. "I love this place." She whispers as the waitress leaves the area, not once taking her eyes off of Sonny.

"I do too. The food is excellent. So tell me about yourself." He knew exactly what he wanted her to tell him. That her father abused her, but something in him told him it was going to be harder than that.

"Nothing really interesting to tell. Mom left when I was little, then my dad remarried and my stepmother had my brother, Johnny. Then Maria, my stepmother, died of cancer about three years ago. Dad has had a really hard time since then. That's pretty much it, nothing exactly has gone picture perfect in my life." She stated sarcastically. He noticed that every time she said 'dad' her eyes flashed fear.

"I'd say that was the understatement of the year. Mine's a little bit more violent, sadly. My dad, like your mom, left us when I was little. He tried to come back a few times, but only for money. Than my mom met Deke, who she decided she loved so she married him. Happens that he was an abuser. He would lock me in a closet at night and beat my mom, then when she was out he would come for me. He ended up killing my mom a year ago." Sonny told her with a frown. She noticed the tears welling up in the back of his eyes. She immediately grabbed his hand that was placed on the table.

"I'm so sorry, that had to be horrible for you, I'm so sorry. I've never had a person be that open with me before." She said in a surprised tone that made him want to smile.

"Well when people don't know my back-story they judge me without knowing why I am the way I am. It makes more sense just to say it, to take it off my chest. Let the person truly know who I am." He explained. In a haste Claudia got up and pulled at his hand.

"I need to show you something and tell you something." He knew immediately about what, he threw a big wad of cash on the table and walked out with her. He opened her car door and started driving to his apartment.

"Are you sure you wanna do whatever you're going to do, 'cause once you do tell me you can't take it back." She looked at the profile of his face. He was amazing for a person she just met and for some reason or another she trusted him.

"I'm positive, I need you to know." How long I have left, she thought to herself. They pulled up to his apartment building and he led her to his home of a whole three days. She sat him on the couch. "I'll be right back." She told him before running to the bathroom. She started to scrub her makeup off, cursing halfway through at the pain she was experiencing. Finally it was done and her face was now its actual color: blue. She cringed at how she looked before walking out of the bathroom and sitting on the coffee table in front of his chair. He gasped placing a hand over his mouth, before trying to touch her cheek. Her hand grabbed his before he got there, though.

"Please don't it hurts enough as is." He heard her voice crack, knowing the pain she was in, he just wanted to hold her.

"Who did this to you? I'll kill them I swear." He already had a plan of disposing of her father, but it had to be timed just right.

"My dad, he's beaten me most of my life and no one knows except my little brother. He says my time is going to be done soon. I know we just met but you have to take care of Johnny when he kills me." Sonny cringed and felt his own tears come, but he didn't let his fall just like she didn't let hers fall.

"There will not be a need for that, 'cause I'm gonna save you Claudia. I'll get you and Johnny out of there. There's no way he's going to take you away from me. I will kill him before he gets the chance." She shook her head.

"You can't stop him Sonny. He's too powerful. The whole house is guarded and no one gets in or out without a guard seeing you. That's how it works in my life. I'm going to die a slow, painful death just like he wants."

"No, Claudia you don't understand. I feel connected to you in a way that I never have before. You're more than just some girl to me. I'm going to save you, please just trust me."

"I can't, because anyone I have ever trusted or loved has left me. I can't trust you just to get burned in the end." She looked away from his face. He grabbed her shoulders gently and turned her to face him.

"You still don't get it. It's like I've known you forever and there's something about you I just have to save." She looked into his dark orbs and for a little bit felt some hope.

There's something about you

I wanna rescue

I don't even know you

So what does that mean

"Sonny I'm too cynical to believe you and your motives. Why would you want to risk you life for me? Because that's what you're doing by wanting to save me."

Maybe I'm cynical, painfully logical

"I don't care, because you're here. When I first saw you on the bus, I swear my heart stopped and my jaw dropped. None of those girls mattered, because there was you. You've gotta believe me Claudia, I want to rescue you. Please." His eyes begged her.

You're tragic and beautiful

And that's good enough for me

"Fine, I do believe you. But if me and you both don't want to get killed tonight you have to get me home before curfew." She was trying to make a joke, but it didn't work. His gaze was hard and he looked angry. She grabbed his upper arm and squeezed lightly. "Are you okay Sonny?"

"I just don't want to take you back there, where he can hurt you." She laughed loudly at this statement.

"I've dealt with it my whole life. I'll be fine but you gotta get me home." They rushed down the steps of the building and into his car. They stopped before any of the guards could see them. Her face got inches from his. "Thank you." She kissed his lips lightly.

"You're welcome." He said completely taken back by her actions as she jumped out of the car and ran out of Sonny's sight.

XOXOXOXO

She was hoping just to avoid her father tonight and go straight to her room. Sonny had given her hope and she did for some reason believe every word he said. She just couldn't leave Johnny, it wasn't an option for her. She made it to the steps without interference, but then heard footsteps behind her.

"Where do you think you're going my darling daughter. We still have business to attend to." Anthony's voice called out to her.

"I was going to check on-" She was stopped by an instant pain in her head. He had smacked it with a bat and she immediately crumbled to the floor. He took one of her arms and dragged her down to the worst place in the world to her: the basement.

Who's going to take you when the stars fall from your sky

And who's going to pull you in when the tide gets too high

Who's going to hold you when you turn out the lights

XOXOXOXO

He laid his head back on the recliner and thought about Claudia in an instant he was fast asleep.

She didn't move as he hit her with the baseball bat, there was no movement except for the occasional flinch and moan. "Daddy please stop!" She begged.

He sat up straight when he awoke. He knew it was a bad idea to take her back there, but what choice did he have it didn't matter though, he was gonna rescue her.

I won't lie I wish that I Could be your superman tonight

Okay guys, I am so sorry for this long awaited update! Things have been so hectic I've had no time. But that;s gonna change and soon. PLEASE R&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!