This time it was different. It felt different. For ten years she had done as he had demanded, lying down on her back each time he wanted sex, but he had never forced her like this before. Although she knew it was still rape no matter what, it just felt so much different this time when he had been violent at the same time. She was used to his violent side as well but it was the first time he had mixed violence and sex. He had taken the abuse to a whole new level.
She stayed at home for hours after he went to work. She was running everything through her mind. Even though she had told Dean the day before that it was the end of them, he was the only one she wanted to see at that moment. She kept fighting it as long as she could but around noon she finally gave up and walked to the supermarket.
He looked at her the moment she entered and saw her blue eye.
"I'm taking my lunch break," he called out to his boss.
"Okay," the boss called back.
He hurried to her, gently grabbed her arm and led her out in the back. He put his hand on her cheek and looked at her.
"What happened?" He asked concerned.
"What does it looks like?" She snapped at him.
"It looks like Randy needs his ass kicked," he answered.
He pulled her in to hug her. She rested her head on his shoulder. It was easier to say it like this when she couldn't see his face.
"He... ehm... he did other things too," she said low in his ear.
"Like what?" He asked and pulled her out to look at her.
She looked down, feeling ashamed.
"Like what?" He asked again, more firm this time.
"Like... like other things," was all she could say.
He looked at her for a couple of seconds before reality finally hit him.
"Did he rape you?" He asked straight up.
Her tears started running. That was the only answer he needed.
"I am gonna kill him!" He yelled before pulling her back into his arms.
"No, you're not," she cried.
"You either leave him or I'm gonna do things that will have me end up in jail," he said.
She pulled away from him.
"It was a mistake coming here. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you," she said.
He grabbed her hands.
"Yes, you should. You should tell me everything that goes on in your life, good or bad. I'm angry. Hell, I'm pissed off and I really wanna hurt him but I won't, alright? I won't do it because you ask me not to," he said.
"Thanks," she whispered.
"But this can't keep on happening or I'll snap at some point. I love you, Veronica. Always have, always will. It breaks my heart seeing you like this," he said.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Don't be. You have nothing to be sorry about. You've been under his abuse for ten years and that's enough to break almost everybody. If you let me, I'll help build you up again," he said.
She gave him a little smile.
"Break's over!" His boss called.
Dean sighed.
"I gotta go back to work. Will you be alright?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Don't worry," she answered.
He went back to work and she left the supermarket. She crossed the street to the mall. She hadn't been in there since she had gotten back to town. She walked in and looked around at the stores. As she reached the beauty store, she saw a sign in the window saying they needed a part time employee. She stopped and read it a couple of times. Then she took a deep breath and walked inside.
"I'm here to apply for the job," she said to the woman behind the counter.
The woman looked at her face.
"I'm not sure I can hire you," she said as she looked at the blue eyes.
"Hear me out for a second. I could have covered this up at home but instead I chose to walk in here to show you just how good I am. May I?" Veronica asked and pointed towards the makeup.
"Go ahead," the woman answered.
Veronica started covering up her eye while explaining everything she was doing. She was working fast and shortly after the eye looked normal.
"I promise you I won't show up bruised to work. I had an accident yesterday leaving me with this eye," she said.
The woman looked closely at her face.
"You did a good job. We need someone like you who knows what she's doing and will be able to help out customers out. It's only three hours everyday from 10 AM to 1 PM," she said.
"That's perfect," Veronica said.
"Can you start Wednesday?" The woman asked.
"Yes," Veronica said and smiled.
"I'm Lita, by the way," the woman said and smiled back.
"Veronica," Veronica answered.
She hurried back to the supermarket and waited till no customers were at the counter before running towards him with a smile on her face. He looked at her confused. She had just been there 30 minutes ago crying in the back and now she was smiling.
"What are you so happy about?" He asked.
"I got a job." She answered.
"Wow, that's great. Where?" He asked.
"In the beauty store at the mall. Starting this Wednesday," she answered.
"Congratulation," he said.
"Thanks. It's just a part time job though. Only three hours each day. But it's a job, a real job," she said.
"I'm really happy for you," he said.
He just wanted to run around the counter, scoop her up in his arms and kiss her but he stayed put and just smiled at her instead.
"I couldn't have done it without you pushing me," she said.
"Always here for you," he said.
"I gotta keep it a secret though. Randy will never allow me to work. Luckily he won't find out since he's always at work those hours as well," she said.
"Leave him. Come live with me. We'll be a regular couple with regular jobs doing regular things," he said and chuckled.
"I can't have this conversation again. I'm sorry," she said.
She slowly backed away from the counter and then walked out of the supermarket. He watched her leave until she was out of sight. He sighed. He was so full of emotions right now and he had a hard time controlling them. So much anger towards Randy, so much love and frustration towards her.