Rowan's POV
I was frozen in fear of my secrets coming out. I wasn't ready at all. I never wanted to get back with Kendall. I wanted him not to do something stupid. I had every intention on getting as far as possible from him. Jamie was over reacting by punching him for just holding my hand. I shouldn't have even opened up to Sabrina. Now she's catching on and I'm so scared. I know Jamie suspected Kendall hurt me but I lied to him. I played it off so well. There was no playing this off. Sabrina, Josh and Jamie stood there no one said anything for a few seconds but it felt like a century. Jamie looked at Sabrina and saw the serious expression on her face. My brother looked back to me.
"Take off your sweater." Jamie said with zero emotion after he caught on to what was going on.
I took a deep breath. "No." I said terrified, looking at my uncle and my best friend.
Jamie followed my stare. "Josh, Sabrina can you give us a minute?" He asked them to leave.
"Yeah of course." Josh said taking Sabrina's hand guiding her out of the room, it was clear she didn't want to leave but she did anyway.
I watched Jamie turn back to me. He looked into my eyes for a good twenty seconds. I felt so scared of the truth coming out. My brother didn't say a word, he walked behind me and slowly pulled off my sweater. I calmed up there was no time to react and there was no way I was leaving without him knowing. I stood there in my black tank top. I could see the refection of his face in my mirror. His heart was breaking, he was in shock. Jamie pulled my tank top up a little more revealing bigger bruises. His eyes were teary and his face was covered in shock.
He gasped. "I can't believe this." Jamie's voice broke, I could tell he was hurting over this. "You lied to me about this, about him." He was both angry and distraught.
I pulled down my shirt and turned to face him. "I'm sorry." I apologized for lying and for hiding all of this. "I was so terrified."
"It's okay." He let me off the hook. "You were scared, I understand." Jamie's turned from supportive to angry fast. "I'm going to kick his fucking ass."
"No please don't!" I protested. "I don't want you to stoop to his level. You're better than that." I convinced him, I didn't want anymore drama.
Jamie fell onto my bed and sighed. "How could you not tell any of us he was doing this to you?" He wanted answers.
I sat next to him. "I thought he would change. I hoped he would and I was in love." I explained in the best way I could. I was surprised with his reaction being sad instead of screaming at me and going to find Kendall.
"How can you be in love with someone who beats you?" Jamie teared up again thinking about all of my bruises.
"It wasn't always like this, bad or painful. It once was so good." I thought about the first few weeks.
Jamie took my hand. "Please don't see him again." He pleaded.
"I broke up with him. We aren't going to see each other anymore." I saw the relief on my brother's face. "I promise not to see him but he's hurting from the break up and I need this all to be quiet." I looked at my Jamie for his promise to stay silent.
"He's hurting?!" Jamie raised his voice. "You're covered in bruises Row!"
"I know that but I deserve things to end my way. After everything I've been through. Please give me that." I begged him to not involve himself.
Jamie ran his fingers through his hair. "One week. You have one week and then we tell mom and dad."
I nodded. "Thank you."
Jamie's POV
Staring at my baby sister's bruised color back broke my heart in a million pieces. Rowan informed me that she saw a doctor about the injuries, she told the doctor she was in a car accident. There was so many things I overlooked. The times he's stranded her, the isolation, the mood swings. He controlled her and I let it happen. I've never felt more guilty for giving her such a hard time. I feel guilty for not stopping this relationship when it started. She looked so weak and sad. I owed it to her to let her have the time. Rowan's been through more than I can imagine if she wanted things to go her way, on her terms I was going to let her. At least I knew now she didn't want to be with him. I knew once things were settled down, we were telling mom and dad. I know they would convince her to press charges. That I won't let go. The only thing aside keeping me from going to punch him out is she deserves justice and she deserves things to go the way she wants. All I want is for her to be safe and happy.
"Jamie?" Rowan said while resting her head on my shoulder.
"Yeah?" I asked her.
"Thank you for not giving up on me." She held back tears. "You're the best brother a girl could have." Rowan smiled sweetly.
I rubbed her arm. "I'd do anything for you Rowboat I know you know that."
"I do." She said softly.
"You'll be okay." I looked at my little sister knowing how much of a warrior she is. "This is only going to make you stronger." I tried my best to make her feel better.
I kissed my sister's head and went to my room to talk to Josh and Sabrina. Rowan knew it was time to talk to her best friend.
"Hey guys. Sorry about that, I thought Rowan would want some privacy instead of all of us confronting her." I said after I entered the room and saw Sabrina stand up quickly.
"What happened?" She was concerned.
"Rowan's in her room. She's willing to talk if you are." I gave Sabrina the message Rowan sent.
"Thanks Jamie." Sabrina left the room.
Josh looked at me. "So are you going to tell me what happened?" My uncle said worrying, seeing the look I had.
I lost it. "H-he beat the fuck out of her." As much as I tried to hold it in the tears fell from my face.
Josh was speechless. "Is she okay?" He asked, patting my back.
I wiped my face with my shirt taking a deep breath. "She's alive and she knows she can't be with him anymore. As for if shes okay, I don't know if she'll ever be okay." I admitted.
Josh's face soften. "I could fucking kill this guy." His expression changed.
"You and me both." I sighed.
Sabrina's POV
I almost ran to Rowan's room after I got the okay from Jamie. I had to be sure of what I pretty much knew. I walked in and she sat on her bed crying. It hurts seeing her like this. She looked so small. I sat in front of her, we didn't say a word at first. We both knew what we knew.
"He hits you doesn't he?" I asked her as my eyes filled up with water.
She nods, sobbing. "Yeah, he does." Rowan felt ashamed.
I felt really bad, she was in so much pain. "I'm so sorry I didn't see this coming." I apologized pulling her into a hug.
"I hid it well." She said trying to let me off the hook. It wouldn't be that easy, I was too absent and I will make it up to her.
She pulled away and took a deep breath, this was all weighing heavy on her. "Can I see it?" I asked her wanting to know how bad it was.
"Yeah." She turned around and pulled up her shirt.
My eyes widened. "Row." I couldn't even speak.
Author's Note:
Currently listening to some Taylor Swift, drinking a beer while editing this because reliving this sad chapter is a lot after today. I was hit on by a guy that was way older than me for like a half hour the guy truly wasn't understanding I wasn't interested, he kept asking me to come to his house or get in his car! The guy was hired to paint my apartments so he had my address and keys to the front door super creepy but I reported him to my office! I refuse to let silence win after I've done so many times growing up! Today got better.
