Barely Breathing//Ethis

55||

Chris' point of view:

The door opens and Ethan enters the room dragging his feet along the floor
"I'm so bored!" Ethan groans stomping into the study properly and standing behind the desk chair I'm sitting on

"So why don't you do something then?" I suggest laughing

"I wouldn't still be bored if I was," he sighs beginning to play with my hair now "anyway what are you doing?"

"I'm just clearing space off my laptop seeing as though we're probably going to be going on tour eventually and, besides its nice because I get to see all the videos that didn't make it into the Voice Kids Tour Diary." I explain looking up at him before turning my attention back to the computer

"Oh, that's cool. I guess I'll just go see what Jakob's up to then" he replies quickly moving his hands away, I watch his reflection in the laptop screen until he's out of sight, only then do I go back to watching more footage.

I find myself unable to stop smiling at all of the amazing memories I've already made in my life, going on tour was one of the best ones.

Something catches my eye and I feel my stomach churn as if it's doing backflips; in the background of one of the videos there's Jeremy, with Ethan. I had forgotten he'd even come on the tour with us but now my mind is racing with things that could have happened. I replay the video and really pay attention this time. Jeremy is talking to Ethan and Ethan doesn't appear to be liking it at all. Jeremy grabs Ethan's arm forcefully and pulls him out the room, Ethan barely even trying to get away. I pause the video and rewind it as well as zooming in.

I stand up from the chair and pick up my laptop to take it with me, I walk down the hall and into Ethan's room. He's sitting on his bed tuning his guitar

"Ethan can you tell me what this is?" I ask turning the laptop to face him, he stands up and presses play on the video. Once the video finishes he doesn't say anything, instead he puts his guitar back on its stand and walks past me.

"Ethan," I follow him "what happened?"

He stops in the middle of the hallway and turns to face me

"Nothing happened" he sighs leaning against the wall

"That's not what it looks like." I argue walking up to him and standing in front of him

"Nothing happened okay? Can you stop pressuring me to tell you? You don't need to know everything. I already feel bad enough, just leave me alone!" He raises his voice running down the hall and slamming his bedroom door shut in a way to express his anger.

I stand there in shock for a few seconds. Ethan never yells, hardly ever when he's angry, he took my laptop with him too.

Ethan's point of view:

I lean against my bed head and open Chris' laptop. I play the video and immediately a lump forms in my throat, I roll up my sleeve and look at the tiny permanently marks left on my bicep because of how forceful he was being when he grabbed my arm. I play the video again remembering the conversation we had:

"I don't want to" I mumble looking down at my shoes, praying that anyone will walk over and save me from this. I try to run away but suddenly he grabs my arm pulling me back to him and I flinch as he starts digging his nails in

"Either you do it or I make you" he replies slightly angry now, I let out a small whimper and he starts pulling me out the door, stumbling after him.

I wipe the tears as they silently fall down my cheeks and I pick up my phone as a message flashes on the screen.

Unknown: I know what your secret is and soon everyone else will too.

I open my phone to see a link attached to it, I quickly open a new tab on the laptop and type in the link. It takes me to a website I haven't seen before and there's a full video from the sing offs. I choke back a sob already knowing exactly what it is; it's a full video of me being raped. I don't dare click on it, it appears to be on private, not letting me view it until it's on public anyway. Instead I pick my phone back up and frantically message the unknown number back

To unknown number: Please don't upload it, I'm begging you.

Unknown number: You have five minutes.

In a panic I erase all the messages and I pick up Chris' laptop. I move off my bed and run out my room

"Chris," I cry standing outside his closed door, he opens the door straight away and I rush inside "they're going to tell everyone and I don't know what to d-o" I sob

"Woah, Eth what's going on?" He asks walking over to me concern laced in his voice

"I got a messages saying that they knew my secret and they're going to tell everyone about it. Th-there's a full length video. They're going to upload it and then the fans will find out as well." I cry handing him the laptop and falling to the ground in a heap

"Ethan it's alright just breathe" he calms kneeling beside me

"Maybe we should go to the police." I tell him honestly drawing in a shaky breath

"Okay" he replies putting an arm around me securely

"But Chris, I haven't got any proof. I deleted all the photos and messages." I start to cry all over again

"I have the photos Bub, you have proof. Everything is going to be okay, I'm going to be with you every step of the way" he tells me, softly kissing my forehead.