I woke up by the gentle touch of Louis’ fingers gently trembling over my bare skin on my neck.

-         Morning gorgeous.

-         Morning babe.

I turned around and faced him. He was sitting up and I did the same. I leaned over and gently kissed him but he took a strong grip around my body and pulled me over him which made me giggle my ass off.

-         Stop it Tommo. Ahahaha.

-         Maybe if you catch me and give me kiss.

-         What about my grandma?

-         She went out.

He jumped out of bed and ran out of the room.

-         Babe I can crawl faster than you run, come on where are you?

-         Well that’s a big fat lie.

I sneaked out of the bedroom as quietly as I could and as he just was about to look around I jumped right at him.

-         AAAHHHHHH!

-         Gotcha Tommo!

And it ended up with both of us on the floor laughing like two 6 year old.

-         What on earths name are you two dong on the floor?

-         Playing a game…?

Louis said trying not to laugh. I burst out laughing any way.

-         Come on now, I’ve both new beaked bread for breakfast.

We got up from the floor and sat down by the table.

-         Where is Lucy?

-         She is up in her room playing with her dolls that I gave her.

-         She hasn’t had a doll since mum died. I bet she is over the moon right now.

-         She is, sweetheart. So now I think you should think about yourself too not just your sister Nathalie.

-         But she is-

-         I’m not saying you should stop caring totally just care but start to take some care of yourself too, you deserve it.

-         Thank you grandma.

I felt Louis grabbing my hand under the table.

-         Nathalie, could I just talk to you for a sec?

-         Yeah sure, what’s up?

-         Private?

-         Okay.

I stood up and put my plate into the dishwasher and so did Louis he then grabbed my hand once again and we walked outside and sat down in the garden.

-         So I, uhm, yeah, I just…

I’m made some dinner for Lucy of the last stuff we had in the kitchen.

This had to end. We needed to get out of here. Me and Lucy. Only me and Lucy. We had to go somewhere no onewould ever find us, where no one would ever think of going to look for us.

-         Come on Lucy we are going for a little trip.

-         Okay.

I packed all our clothes and looked through the house for money and I actually found some. I went into dad’sbedroom and went into the closet where only mom’s clothes were these days. I looked through them and found herold wallet. I took out her driver license. Everyone said we looked so much alike you could think we were twins sowhat did I have to loose.

I put all our bags in the car and then I took Lucy and had one last look back at the house.

Even though I wasn’t old enough to drive mom had thought me some before she died.

I put in the keys and put my foot down on the gas and drove away from the house. I drove past the school andshortly after that I past a group of guys and there in the middle of them stood Louis and he looked me right in theeyes as I drove past them. Shortly after that I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket but I didn’t dare to pick it up. Iknew it was Lou.

-         I’m sorry. It’s all for the best.

A tear streamed down my cheek and I looked at Lucy who looked out of the window. It was raining like crazy.

-         Where are we going Nathalie?

-         Grandma.

-         Is that far?

-         Yes, very far.

-         Sleep now honey, it goes faster then.

She leaned her head on the window and her breathing got heavier and heavier and I knew she was sleeping.

After 5 hours of driving we were finally there. Way out in the country side. But I didn’t even know if she would letus in. Dad forbid us to see or talk to her after mum died. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket once again and thistime I took it up.

“Where are you?!?!? Nathalie please tell me!”

“Out on the country side. Way out on the country side. I’m sorry Louis.”

I typed in and sent. I looked back at Lucy that was still sleeping. It was 1 am.

I walked out of the car and knocked on the door. It took a while but soon I heard someone walk around in thehouse and someone locked up the door.

There stood granny with big eyes and looked at me.

-         Granny!

-         Nathalie, but what on earth are you doing here now at this time?

-         Me and Lucy can’t really stay at home anymore.

She looked at me with disappointing and angry eyes.

-         He did it didn’t he? He hit you.

-         How did you know?

-         Come in sweetheart and I’ll tell you everything.

Granny took Lucy and I took the bags and we went inside.

It was years since I was here last time and just the look of it made my tear eyed.

-         I’ve missed you so much.

-         I’ve missed you too granny.

We stood there and just hugged for ages. Then we went into the kitchen and sat down by the table.

-         Lost weight I see.

-         Yeah don’t really have the money for food for both me and Lucy.

-         Oh dear god. I don’t even know how to tell you all of this, sweetheart but it all started a few years ago whenhe started to hit your mother. I told her to leave him and take you with her but she was to in love with him.

She poor me a cup of tea and then continued.

-         And then when she died I thought he would change and realize that he had to become the father he neverwas and take care of you both, but instead-

-         Instead he started drinking and well do this.

I turned around and pulled up Louis shirt that I still had on.

-         He is a bad man.

We sat and spoke about just about everything for hours and when the clock almost hit 3 and I had changed into aknitted shirt and was on my 4^th cup of tea, it knocked on the door.

-         Stay here sweetie, I’ll go get it.

She put down her cup, got up and walked out to the hall I heard some voices speaking.

-         Nathalie, could you come for a sec sweetheart.

I got another hit right across the face and all I could do was to stand right there and take it. But it was at least better that he hit me than Lucy. For a second he stopped. It was over. Well that’s at least what I thought.

-         You aint going nowhere!

I wanted nothing more than to run away and take Lucy with me and never return. But I knew that he would catch me before I even got up the stairs.

-         Turn around.

I did what he me to, because he would just hurt me more if I didn’t. I turned around and I looked right into the wall. I heard some kind whip that hit something and a shot of pain struck through my body. I heard the exact same sound again and the pain got worse. After the third hit I felt the smell of blood mixing with the smell of alcohol and I couldn’t feel my back anymore. The pain took over. After the fourth hit I couldn’t stand the ground anymore and I fell to the floor. Fifth hit, everything became a blur, a black and gray blur.

I heard another hit but much stronger and louder this time and my whole body tightened up. But I didn’t feel anything, the pain never came.

It was either the door or he was walking around the house breaking things. Lucy!

I tried to open my eyes, didn’t see much better though. But after a while I could at least see that it was no one in the room. I got up on my knees but fell back down on the floor again. I took a deep breath and took all the strength I had left and crawled up the stairs.

-         Lucy? Lucy?

-         Mhm...

-         Lucy, are you okay? Did he hurt you?

-         I’m okay.

-         Good. You can come out from under the bed now.

I gently sat myself up on the floor in my room and Lucy crawled into my arms. My tears rolled down in her hair.

-         I love you Lucy.

-         I love you too.

I kissed her gently on her forehead.

-         Do you want me to braid your hair like mum always used to, sweetheart.

She nod her head and I went into the bathroom to get some hair scrunchies. I looked myself in the mirror and turned around quickly to look at my back. the blood had gone all the way through Lou’s shirt and it ran all the way down to my jeans. It hurt as hell. I walked slowly back and sat down on the floor with Lucy again. I just had to bite the bullet.

I braided her hair all different kinds of ways but after an hour we both got tired and we sat down in my bed I wrapped my arms around Lucy.

-         Nathalie can you sing.

-         Of course. Close your eyes, love.

I started to gently sing Soldier by Gavin Degraw. I felt how she go heavier and heavier as she fell asleep.

I wanted to sleep as well but I just couldn’t. 4 hours later when I actually had manage to almost fall asleep I heard steps in the stairs. I wrapped my arms harder round Lucy and I heard how he pulled down the door handle.

I sat up and looked down on Louis.

-         I’m in love with you, and I have been since like 2 years back now but you’ve always had a boyfriend or something in the way and so I never told you.

It was so quiet you could hear cars that were miles away from here, a cold small wind come across me and I got goose bumps. A smile spread across my face.

-          I love you too Lou.

-         What?

-         I love you.

He sat up next to me and I hadn’t seen him this happy in years.

He put his hands on my cheeks and leaned forward and he crashed his lips on mine and I felt him smiling all the way through the kiss. He backed away and just looked at me and his eyes had never been so beautiful.

-         Would you like to be my girlfriend?

-         No, I’d love to be your girlfriend.

-         Come on let’s get home.

He stood up and reached out for my hand and pulled me up from the street and without saying a word he put his hoodie on me and he had my hand in a strong grip. No one said a word all the way home. It was so silent but a nice silence.

When we got home it was 3 am and we both went straight to Louis’ room.

I stripped down to only my undies and then pulled on one of Lou’s t-shirts, I took of my bra and cuddled down in his bed. And before I could blink I was asleep but I soon woke up again. I felt 2 cold hands wrap themselves around me.

-         Good night beautiful.

He whispered gently in my ear.

-         Good night babe.

I cuddled into the quilt even more and once again fell asleep.

I woke up the next day by the sunlight shining on my face. I put out my hand next to me but there was no Louis. I didn’t care about putting on any pants, I stepped down and met Jay making breakfast in the kitchen.

-         Morning sweetheart.

-         Morning. Where is Lou?

-         Oh he went to Zayn’s to get his car, he’ll probably be back soon.

-         Okay.

I sat down and took a steady breakfast, was a long time ago I had a real breakfast. Me and Jay ended up talking for a real long time. I looked up at the clock on the wall.

-         Oh shit! I’m sorry Jay, but I have to go I’ll talk to you soon. Tell Louis to call me when he gets back.

-         Okay bye sweetheart.

I ran up quickly and just pulled on a pair of jeansand i didnt bother changing the shirt. I ran downstairs again with my bag. I shouted bye to Jay, Daisy and Pheobe that also was seated i nthe kitchen now. I walked with quick steps to my aunt's house.had a little chatand then me and Lucy went home.

-          Did you have a good time honey?

-          Yes.

-         Good.

I took a step into the house and the smell came like a hit in the face. Alcohol, cigarettes and it just smelled like something had died in here. But sadly it hasn’t, soon I heard him walking upstairs.

-         Hello!?

I just shook my head. He was drunk at 3 pm on a Sunday afternoon, again. His steps in the stairs got louder and louder.

-         Where the hell have you been?

He walked closer to us.

-         Lucy I want you to do something for me. Go upstairs and run into my room and hide under my bed, I’ll come and find you soon, okay?

I whispered gently in her ear.

-         Okay.

I saw her running up the stairs but soon a big hand was covering up my sight.

-         Answer me!

My cheek got warm and I bet it was more red than a tomato.

I really wanted to go to that pool party this weekend so I asked our not so close auntie and she was going to take of Lucy over the weekend, no way in hell that I was leaving her home alone with dad. I was gonna sleep at Louis’ house all weekend so I had paked a big bag and I even had it with me too school on Friday morning and then we went home straight to his after school.

-         Hi Nathalie!

-         Hi Jay!

I got a big tight hug from Lou’s mum, she had kind of become like my second mum through the years, and I kind of became a part of the Tommo family.

-         I miss having you around Nathalie, you're not here as much anymore.

-         I know.. It’s a shame. Should try to come by more often, I really should.

-         That’s good!

I got another hug before me and Louis went up to his room. We both lay down on his bed and just laid there for hours.

-         Maybe we should get ready boo bear.

I sat myself up and he was still just laying there.

-         No.

-         Come on!

I took a strong grip around his both hands and dragged him up. I then went in o his bathroom and took a shower and tried as quickly as I could to cover up all the bruises and scars. I braided my hair quickly and since it was early summer it was pretty warm outside and I put on a pair of shorts and a green shirt. I put on some extra cover up on my legs and arms.

-         You ready?

-         Yes.

Lou was all done. I took one last look in the mirror then I stepped out of the house and into Louis’ car.

-         I think someone’s got a bit of a crush on Zayn over here. You're far to excited to go to this party, it's only a party Nathalie.

-         What? Me? no..

-         You do, don’t you!?

I felt how my cheeks got a bit red and hotter than they were seconds ago. And yes I might have had a small crush on him…

-         Admit it Nathalie.

He was enjoying himself moping me like this.

-         Fine, he is hot okay? But I’ve only met him once anyway.

He chuckled and I saw that he was really pleased with himself that he was right.

-         Oh stop it, Tommo.

But at the same time I saw something in his eyes that kind of looked like a tear or pain.

About 20 min later we were at Zayn’s house and it was a lot of people everywhere and loud music. We walked in and it was even worse inside, we walked through the house and we came to the backyard and there it was the worst. It was like 100 people in the pool that looked like it was made for max 20. Red plastic cups everywhere and the smell of alcohol and cigarettes. I stood next to Louis all the time. After a while he took my arm and we walked inside again. Someone gave me a beer and the crowd moved us around the house and soon we were in the livingroom dancing with bunch of other people. A curly haired boy came and talked to Lou and Lou introduced me. His name was Harry and he and Louis was apparently really good buds. We soon meet up with Zayn, who looked really great. Then we meet 2 other guys which I had seen before at Lou’s house, their names was Liam and Niall. And then we talked to a bunch of other people but after a while I ended up talking to Zayn.

-         Wanna go out? I need a smoke.

-         Sure.

We stood by the pool and just talked and out of nowhere.

-         Come on lets jump in the pool!

-         Ha no, no, no.

-         Why not? come on Nathalie!

-         No Zayn.

Before I knew it, before I could even think I felt my body hitting the water and my head came underwater. I seeked myself up to the surface and catched for air. I hurried up out of the pool and felt the covering make up running of my arms and legs. I stood there freezing and i felt that pretty much everyone got quiet and started staring at me. I felt the tears burning behind my eyelids and I seeked for a familiar face and I catched Lou’s frightened eye. I looked down at the Ground and ran through the house and into the street. I had no idea how to get home but I ran as quick as I could down the street that me and Louis drove on earlier.