Escape

Chapter 23

Songs for this chapter:

Right Now- One Direction

Through the Dark- One Direction

Beside You- 5 Seconds of Summer

Wake Up With Me- Gabrielle Aplin

"And I was so scared I just-" I breathed in deeply, trying to catch my breath. Over the last hour, I had explained what had happened last night to Luke, crying the entire time. He hadn't said much, just a comforting "I'm here" or "shh, it's okay, it's over now" when I get to worked up. "I just let him do that to me. I don't know why, I'm so stupid."

"Hey, you are not stupid Bentley." Luke told me. "You were terrified, paralyzed with fear. Anyone would've reacted the same way."

"I'm so sorry I didn't call you sooner." I whispered.

"Why didn't you?" His voice sounded tired.

"I don't know." I teared up again. "I just didn't want to burden you with my problems when you're halfway across the country with enough to worry about."

"Bentley, I want to know if anything happens to you. I care about you, and I would do anything for you, you know that right?"

My heart quickened at his words, and I smiled. "I guess." I answered him. I heard some shouting in the background, to which Luke replied quickly.

"Bent, I have to go, I have to do soundcheck."

"Okay."

"I'll call you right after, alright?"

"Okay." I repeated.

"Bye Bent."

"Bye Luke." I said, hanging up. I laid back on Heidi's pillows, curling up into a ball. I had told her I was going to take a shower, but I had lost my motivation to do anything. I felt tired and my whole body hurt. My eyes slowly shut, lulling me into a peaceful sleep, when a soft knock sounded at the door.

"Come in." I mumbled, not opening my eyes.

"Hey." Hazel's voice said.

I sat up and smiled. "Hey."

"Heidi said you were taking a shower?"

"Oh yeah, um I just got off the phone." I wiped any stray tears away from my face, smiling yet again.

"Have you been crying?" Hazel questioned.

"I-" I started, my chin quivering. Hazel walked to me, sitting beside me on the bed, wrapping her arms around me. She ran her fingers over the top of my head in a comforting gesture.

"Shh. It's okay." She rubbed my back in small circles while I cried into her neck.

"I'm so sorry." I apologized, pulling away from her.

"No, don't ever apologize to me." Hazel's brown eyes were a lighter shade than Heidi's, but intense all the same. "If you ever need anything, I'm here to listen." She informed me.

"Thanks."

"You must've been so scared last night."

"Yeah." I sighed.

"I told Heidi, when she told me she met you, I told her that I hoped I never saw you." Hazel bit her lower lip.

"Why?"

"Because I didn't want to face the person that my boyfriend hurt. I didn't want to face myself."

"Face yourself?" I was genuinely lost now.