Authors Note: Here's the next chapter guys! It took me two days to write this chapter and then type it up. Then I had to save it on a usb drive, and then visit my high school just so I could upload it. Even then I couldn't upload it because is blocked on the school servers. So is Tumblr. It's bullshit. The things I do for you guys and gals 3 I love you guys :) And thank you for putting me on your favorite stories, favorite authors and updates list, and for reviewing with your feedback :)

Ugh today could not get any worse.

First, I find out that my parents have been fighting again.

Second, my oh-so-loving *insert sarcasm* boyfriend, Seth, is being an asshole again.

Third, I forgot to do my Biology and French homework last night because I was too busy fighting with Seth over the phone.

And finally, I think the guys are starting to figure out my secret,

Everybody has a secret. That obnoxiously preppy girl on the cheerleading squad who acts like she's better than everyone else? She is forced to go to therapy three times a week because her alcoholic father used to abuse her. That boy who spends every lunch period in the library reading and doing his homework? He gets bullied by his classmates for being a "nerd", and that is the only way he can escape the lunchroom taunting. That girl who is talking all AP classes, yet still finds the time to juggle 3 jobs? She just found out she's pregnant, the father and her parents want nothing to do with her, and she has to have three jobs just so can provide a stable future for herself and her baby. That girl who used to talk to everyone, who was always so friendly and helpful to her classmates, that is now painfully shy and doesn't talk to anyone? Yeah, she has to deal with an abusive boyfriend everyday, and she has turned down the unfortunate path of eating disorders and self-harming.

My secret? For the past two months, I have been dating a guy named Seth, and every other day he finds a new, stupid reason to inflict physical pain on me. I've tried defending himself, but that just makes him hit me harder.

You want to know the worst thing? Seth told me that I have to stay away from my friends or else. He gave me a black eye just to prove he wasn't kidding.

*Fast Forward to end of day*

I am so happy that school is over with. The gang tried to stop and talk to me as I was walking out the front doors, but I just ran away. As I ran away, I could hear them shouting my name. I wanted to turn back then and there, but I couldn't.

I'm not sure if any of them saw my bruises. I made sure to cover them up really well before I left for school this morning.

Seth: I saw your friends trying to talk to you. You better have not said anything.

*Fast Forward to next day*

Another day in hell. Seth was so mad last night. He didn't understand that I never actually talked to my friends. He spent an hour screaming insults and profanities down at me through the phone.

Right now I have the unfortunate pleasure of listening to Ms. Stolfi go on and on about the start of the revolutionary war.

I felt my phone vibrate in my back pocket and I discreetly took it out so I could see who texted me. It was the oh-so-adoring boyfriend Seth.

Seth: Meet me in the hallway by the music room in 5 minutes. And you better come.

I quickly raised my hand.

"Yes, Kim?" Ms. Stolfi asked.

"Can I please go to the bathroom?" I asked.

"Sure, don't be long though." Ms. Stolfi responded.

I slowly walked out of the classroom, and then speedily dashed through the hallways towards the music room.

Once I entered it, the hallway was devoid of all students, except for Seth. He was standing at the end of the hallway, staring at me with his shoulders squared and his arms crossed over his chest.

"What did I tell you, Kim?" Seth gritted through his teeth.

"God, what did I do wrong this time?" I thought to myself. Seth always found the smallest reasons to start an argument.

I was brought out of my thoughts by a hard slap across my cheek.

"Did you hear me!? I asked you a question!?" Seth asked.

"To not be late for meeting you?" I meekly questioned.

"Not that, you idiot! I told you to stay away from your friends!" Seth yelled.

"I have been staying away from them, though!" I said.

"Oh yeah? Then how come I see them constantly hanging out by your locker then huh?" Seth questioned, whilst backing me up against a wall.

"Probably because they're my friends and they're wondering why I haven't been talking to them and ignoring them for the past two months?" I sassily replied.

Next thing I know, Seth launches at me and starts raining down punches and kicks at any part of my body he can reach. Normally I would be able to defend myself and would, but Seth had at least 40 pounds on me and was just too strong.

I slowly glanced over to the end of the hallway and what I saw made my blood run cold.

Julie.

I manage to catch a glimpse of her standing at the end of the hallway, whilst looking on in horror, and with tears in her eyes, at me being abused by my boyfriend.

Everyone thought Seth treated me like an angel, when he really treated me like a monster, like I was nothing to him. I think she must have heard Seth screaming at me and that was why she came to investigate.

It was another 10 minutes before Seth finally stopped his torture, and by then Julie was gone. This was so bad. What if she told the others? I'm so screwed.

I picked myself up off the floor and started coming up with excuses in my mind for my teacher as to why I took so long in the bathroom. I slowly limped my way to the nearest girls bathroom, took my concealer out of my pocket, yet again, and started covering my bruises on my face and my arms. After I was done, I went back to class. The bell rang, signalling the end of class, just as I was walking through the door.

"Sorry, I took so long Ms. Stolfi. I wasn't feeling very well so I went to the nurse." I lied.

"That's okay, Kim. Just make sure you get the homework and notes from someone and feel better." Ms. Stolfi said.

"Thank you, Ms. Stolfi." I replied, whilst gathering my books and putting them in my backpack. Then I walked into the hallway, turned the corner and walked over to the area near my locker, preparing myself for the inevitable.

Eddie, Jack, Jerry, Julie, Mika and Milton were all standing in front of my locker, with looks of anger, sadness and worry flittering across their faces.

I tried to go the other way, but they already saw me. I knew that they knew about Seth, I could see it written clearly on their faces.

I hesitantly approached my locker and spun in my combination.

"Kim? We need to talk to you. It's important." Jack said.

"I can't talk. I have to go home. My mom needs me to babysit my brother Cade." I said, whilst keeping my head down.

I tried to walk past them, but they blocked my path.

"Kim, please tell us it isn't true?" Milton queried, pain showing in his eyes.

"What isn't true?" I asked, pretending to be clueless as to what they were talking about.

"You know what we're talking about." Jack said.

"No, sorry. But I really do have to go. I'm supposed to be home in 10 minutes." I said, whilst attempting to walk past them.

I only managed to get a couple steps before I felt Jack grab my wrist. I winced, seeing as Seth gave me a bruise there yesterday.

Jack softly pulled me towards him. He gently cradled my arm and tenderly pulled up my sleeve, revealing the deep purple and blue bruise that was marring my wrist.

Everyone gasped in shock. Jack's breathing started getting heavier and he started clenching his fists.

" . . ?" Jack gritted through his teeth, whilst barely managing to control his anger.

"Yes." I whispered, looking down as a single tear slipped down my cheek.

"Excuse me, but may I ask what you're doing with my girlfriend?" I heard behind me.

Next thing I know, Jack charged at Seth and had him pinned against a locker. Mika and Julie were attempting to hold back the others as well.

"What did you do to her?" Jack seethed.

"What? Oh, you mean that! She fell the other day, didn't you Kimmy?" Seth questioned in a threatening, faux innocent tone.

"NO. YOU KNOW WHAT!? I'M NOT TAKING ANYMORE OF YOUR ABUSE! YOU ARE CRUEL, YOU ARE A MONSTER AND YOU THINK YOU CAN CONTROL ME BY BEATING IT OUT OF ME! I'M DONE! WE'RE FINISHED!" I shouted.

"OH YEAH!?" Seth yelled back, whilst struggling to escape Jack's fierce grip.

"Yeah." Jack answered for me.

"You'll regret saying that, Kimmy." Seth threatened.

Jack slammed the back of Seth's head against the lockers again.

"You listen to me VERY carefully. If you ever come near Kim again, I will beat you so hard that you're going to wish you never hurt her. Kim is an amazing, sweet, beautiful girl and she does not deserve the pain you put her through. She deserves to be treated like a princess, not like a possession and a punching bag. You stay the hell away from her or you'll have me to answer to. Got it?" Jack muttered dangerously, holding Seth by the front of the shirt.

"Fine. But you're going to regret ever crossing me." Seth said to Jack.

"I think I'll be fine." Jack said, whilst roughly shoving him away from us. Seth quickly ran away.

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you guys that Seth was abusing me. And I'm sorry that I let him control me and that I ignored you guys." I said, whilst avoiding their looks.

"Aww. GROUP HUG!" Mika yelled.

We all embraced each other in a tight hug and just stood there in the middle of the hallway in a huge huddle.

"We're just glad you're okay, Kim. How about we all go to Falafel Phil's to celebrate your breakup with Seth and you not ignoring us anymore?" Julie said, after we broke up the hug.

"Sure." I replied.

The group started walking ahead, but I grabbed Jack's arm to stop him.

"Jack, what you said back there to Seth. Did you mean all that?" I asked, whilst cocking my head in confusion.

"Kim, I meant every word." Jack said, whilst gathering me up in a gentle bear hug.

"Jack, thanks for protecting me." I whispered.

"Always." Jack said to me, whilst looking into my eyes.

We just stood in the hallway for the next 5 minutes. I barely even noticed, but Jack was slowly moving his face towards and glancing at my lips. Before I could even register it, Jack placed a feather light kiss on my lips, putting his emotions into it.

"I just had to do that. I've loved you for the past 5 months. If you would give me the chance, I would really love to be your prince?" Jack asked me, love and passion dancing in his eyes.

I softly bit my lip and blushed, whilst burying my face in his neck. I then slightly leaned up on my tip toes and kissed him tenderly on the lips.

"I love you too, Jack. And I would like nothing more than to be your princess." I responded, whilst interlocking our hands and smiling broadly.

"Come on princess, we should probably go to Phil's. The others will be wondering where we are." Jack said, whilst taking two of my textbooks from me.

It took us 15 minutes to get to Phil's from the school. We walked in, fingers interlocked, and over to our friends. When they saw us and then the sight of the our fingers interwoven, they started cheering obnoxiously loud and clapping.

"It's about time you guys realized how you felt about each other." Eddie said.

"This is so going on Facebook, yo! Say cheese!" Jerry said, whilst holding up his phone.

I wrapped my arm around Jack's waist, whilst he wrapped his around my shoulder. He slowly tilted his head towards mine and kissed me softly on the lips. I couldn't help but smile. From behind my eyelids, I could see multiple flashes going off from all our friends phones.

"Happy?" I asked Jerry, whilst laughing and blushing.

"Yep. I just posted it, and the picture already has 42 likes and over 30 comments! Jeez, apparently we weren't the only ones who saw the chemistry between you two." Jerry replied.

Authors Note: If there is one thing I want you to take away from this chapter, it's that you should never have to settle for an abusive relationship. I implore you, please tell someone. Tell a parent, teacher, friend, guidance counselor or sibling if you are in an unhealthy relationship. They can help you get through it. Just know you are gorgeous/handsome, amazing, strong, kind, wonderful and caring. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. If you are in an abusive relationship, and you are thinking about self-harming, please don't. Get a journal, and vent your thoughts and feelings to that. You wouldn't believe how many of my best friends cut themselves. Every time I see a new cut on their arm or a new post talking about how they have just relapsed, it hurts me so bad and so deep in my heart. One time, my best friend confided in me that she cuts and that she had a piece of glass in her backpack. You know what I did? I physically wrestled her for it, took it from her, and made her watch me throw it out. I sent reassuring messages to another one of my best friends on Tumblr EVERY DAY, telling her to stay strong and that I loved her. Just please don't do it. Don't ever self-harm or put yourself through that type of emotional and physical pain just because of one failed relationship. Don't ever starve or purge yourself, self-harm yourself or attempt to kill yourself. You are wanted and loved by many, you just don't see it because you will always think of that one person who broke your heart and spirit. You WILL overcome the odds and adversity. You will survive. You will NOT become just another statistic. You WILL survive. You just have to show strength and courage and stand up for yourself. If any of you are feeling any urges whatsoever to purge, starve yourself, self-harm or take your own life, I want you to message me. I have no wifi at my house, but that won't stop me from saving the life of a stranger. Message me, and, I promise, I will message you back as soon as humanly possible. I don't care if you're a guy or a girl, or what fandom you're a part of, message me. I love you and please stay strong 3