Link had dropped off Penny and Seaweed at Maybelle's about ten minutes earlier. Seaweed had got out of the car and gave him a sympathetic pat; he knew exactly what Link was going through. Penny had given Tracy a big hug and had smiled at Link. Once they had driven off they had waved for several minutes but then walked inside. Since then Tracy and Link had sat in silence and all Link had been aching to do was break it. Then he heard a couple of sniffles coming from Tracy.

"Trace darlin' are you okay?

"Yip." She said trying to sound cheery but she was fooling no one. Her voice was shaky and Link knew she could burst into tears any minute now. Link pulled his car up along the side path outside Tracy's house and climbed into the back seat beside her.

"Come here babe." He said and held her tightly in his arms trying to comfort her. He half expected her to start crying again but she just sat there in silence.

"Link?" she whimpered.

"Yeah babe?"

"You know that guy at the party."

"Yeah…" Link did not like were this conversation was leading to.

"Well maybe what he said. I don't know really. But maybe what he said might have been the tiniest bit true. I mean he's right, I really am not your type." She said wearily.

"Trace how could you think that? You know I love you more than anything and with all that we have been through together I thought you would have known me better." He said shocked that she would even consider what that jerk had said would even be half true.

"I don't know except you aren't being honest with me anymore." She mumbled quietly staring directly at the ground.

"What?" he said and pulled his arms away from her so he could look at her face and he really did not like that sad expression that had taken over her face.

"Link, what am I supposed to think? I don't know what's going on with you but I do know that you aren't clumsy enough to give yourself bruises everyday."

Link pulled at his sleeves self consciously tugging them further down his arm. He hadn't shown off his bare arms in weeks so how did she know?

"Look Trace I just hurt myself, everyone does once in a while. Just drop it." He said trying to think of any cover up so he could change the subject fast.

"There you go again Link! First you lie to me then you completely shut me out. What am I supposed to think then?"

Link sat still and he felt her eyes scanning his face for any reaction but he gave her none. He couldn't speak, how could he reply to that when he knew it was all true?

"Link please." She pleaded him and she held onto his arm. The silence and tension was killing him but he didn't know what to say and he knew if he did it would all come out wrong like the last time.

"Do you not care enough about me to speak to me?" she whimpered.

He'd managed to do it again. Talking always got him into a mess and when he didn't speak then that would get him into an even bigger one. He knew that he had to end this silence.

"Tracy you know that's not true. If anything I care too much to tell you." he admitted he knew he couldn't continue to lie to her. He always felt guilty when he did. He slid his hand through his jet black hair nervously waiting for her to reply.

"Link, I can't sleep at night knowing something is going on with you, knowing that you aren't safe and someone is hurting you. All I do these days is worry so please just tell me."

Link couldn't look at her, she was right as always and he knew if he looked into her beautiful brown eyes he would melt.

"Trace, I can't" he said sorrowfully.

"What do you mean you can't? Do you not trust me or something?" she said

"No, no it's not that it's just I really can't."

"Link I love you with all my heart, I love you more that anything in this world but how is a relationship supposed to work if there is no honesty?" and at those words she broke down, tears spilled out her eyes and it made Link feel so bad. Though what were those last words supposed to mean? He still didn't talk because if he did then he'd mess everything up further but if he didn't talk then he'd mess it up as well. It was really a no win situation.

"Fine then Link I'll take the hint." And she got up to leave but Link grabbed onto her arm and pulled her back towards him.

"No, no Trace don't go." He begged her. He couldn't loose her not now, not ever.

"Wait for what Link? I thought I knew you but I don't know you at all. I don't know your family; you might not even have a family for all I know. I never noticed till now that you always just leave details out." She said angrily but still sounded very upset.

He stared at her; all he wanted to do was kiss her and forget everything.

"I love you with my whole heart but sometimes love isn't enough. Until you are ready to tell the truth, I…I think you should have this back." She said tearfully and slipped his promise ring off her finger and handed it back to him. Link felt his heart shatter into a million pieces.

"No I want you to have it, please put it back on. Don't do this to me, I need you so much." And he pulled her in and kissed her passionately. He felt her melt at his touch and he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"No Link, no," she said pulling away from his hold and fresh new tears fell down her cheeks, "don't make it harder for me please." She opened the car door and he grabbed onto her hand desperately.

"Trace." He said and stared deeply into her eyes. He felt her soften at the touch of his hand but she slipped her hand delicately out of his as she found some strength. She ran away sobbing frantically. He felt like his heart had been ripped out of his chest and stomped all over. He watched her run up to her door, she took one last glance down at him and looked so sorrowful. He saw as her mother came to the door and hugged her tightly. He knew Tracy and him were meant to be together but it looked hopeless now and all because of what he said, or what he hadn't said.

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Seaweed really didn't like that look on Penny's face. She was pacing up and down his living room constantly staring at the phone or glancing out the window.

"Look Penny babe, don't worry your pretty little head they can sort themselves out. They are too loved up to break up over such a silly thing.

"No Seaweed, it's much, much more than that." She said. Seaweed was starting to become very curious.

"What else happened?" he asked.

"It's Link. Tracy said he's not being honest anymore to her. He keeps coming in with new bruises the past week and he keeps coming up with feeble excuses."

"Oh crap! How did she notice?"

"What do you mean how did she notice? Did you know anything about this before?" she asked him.

Then suddenly there was a roll of thunder, a flash of lightening and the rain started to pour down heavily. Penny jumped back in fright and Seaweed wrapped his arms around her.

"Link is having trouble at home." He whispered.

"What! Oh my gosh, Tracy will completely freak! I need to ring her quickly or talk to Link." Then just at the moment there was a huge bang on the door. Penny screamed loudly.

"Penny babe calm down and breathe." And he walked to the door and opened. The rain was pouring down heavily and there standing outside his door was Link. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked pretty shaken up.

"Dude get in!" Seaweed said and dragged his friend inside.

"What happened?" asked Penny.

"She, she left me." Link said and held up the promise ring.

Seaweed felt a sickly feeling in his stomach; this was going to be one rough night.

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How could such an insignificant and small thing torture her so much? Tracy had been staring at Link's sliver comb sitting on her dressing table for the last couple of minutes. She finally went up and grabbed it. It wasn't the comb that got to her so much it was who it belonged to. She knew it was the only thing that connected her to Link right now and she didn't want to let go of it. It had a strong smell of ultra clutch coming off it, distinctively Link. The lights flickered and there was a huge flash of lightening. Why did she do it? She loved him but she'd thought he would tell her what was going on but instead he sat in silence. It finally made her realise he didn't love her as much as she loved him. Then when he kissed her, she didn't want to leave his arms but she knew she had to. She looked at the comb again; this was going to be one rough night.

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Penny stared out her window and watched the flashes of lightening light up the sky. She pulled her soft blanket close to her and wrapped it around her. Prudy had finally seen sense after the Miss Hairspray Pageant and had given Penny a bit more freedom so for once she wasn't tied down to the bed. She felt so sorry for Link. He'd been such a mess and she didn't even want to imagine what Tracy was like at that moment. She wanted to be back with Seaweed but she didn't want to push her luck, her mother was still getting used to the whole "Freedom" thing. There was another huge flash of lightening; it lit up the whole sky. All Penny could think about what Tracy was like at that moment. She was hoping Tracy would call her soon and she'd been staring at the phone in her bedroom for about half an hour now. Suddenly the phone rang and Penny picked it up. She heard Tracy's voice on the other end and Tracy started to sob; this was going to be one rough night.

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Link sat in his car and listened to the rain hitting against the windows. He was completely heart broken but it had felt good to get it off his chest to Seaweed. He hadn't expected Penny to be there but he didn't care he needed to talk to someone. They both sympathised with him deeply but it wasn't enough to mend his broken heart. He sensed that Penny knew about what was going on but he didn't bother asking. He got out of the car, the cold rain felt cool on his face and he stared up at his house. There was a huge flash of lightening so he sprinted up to his door. This was the last place he wanted to go tonight. He opened the door and timidly headed for his room until he heard his father shout out his name from the living room. All he wanted to do was be in Tracy's arms and kiss her and for her to say everything was going to be alright. His father yelled out his name again and he heard something smash on the ground; this was going to one rough night.