To my dismay I woke up the next day, feeling just a bit sore. My arms were wrapped up, the covers were over me and I was alone. Although I don't remember getting drunk last night, I also didn't have any recollection on ever getting back to the hotel. I sat myself up, slowly because I was aching all over. “Vic? Mike?” I croaked, probably not even loud enough for anyone to hear me. I pushed the covers off me and made my way to the en suite bathroom. Turning the shower on, I took of the bandages from my arms, sighing as I saw the damage. After stripping down completely, I climbed into the shower, taking in a sharp breath as the hot water hit my arms. I sat myself down in it, letting the warm water coat my body, as I began sobbing. After maybe half an hour sat there, crying I washed myself down, did my hair and climbed out. “Don't lie to me Mike, what's going on?” I stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. Both of them turned to look at me, Vic shook his head and walked out. I grabbed some clean clothes, changed and left. I wanted find Jaime, he'd know what to do. He always knew what to do. I soon found him, in the car park talking on the phone. As soon as he spotted me, he hung up, coming up to me and pulling me into a comforting hug. A few tears slipped as I buried my head in his neck, trying to make them stop. I managed to make the tears stop, I pulled away from Jaime. “Can we talk?” He nodded and took me onto the bus. I sat myself on the floor, with him sat across from me. “I don't know what to do....” He cut me off. “About what?” “Let me finish ok, don't say a thing till I've finished.” I took a deep breath, I was about to tell my best friend everything. I began explaining, from the day the abuse started with Tony right up until now. My voice breaking, the tears pooling in my eyes. Once I finished, I look right at Jaime, a flash of anger shot through him. He leant over, wrapping his arms round me, cradling me. “I'm so sorry baby, I'm so sorry. I promise I'll never let him hurt you again...” He was upset, his voice broke, his voice squeaked, he was fighting back the tears. “I'm going to fucking kill him.” “I don't want to live anymore Hime.” I sniffed as I controlled myself once again. “Don't you ever say that beautiful; you are a strong, beautiful young woman who deserves nothing but best. Claire, I love you so much. Please don't ever say that again.” he looked me dead straight in the eye as he spoke. “Promise me you won't tell anyone?” He held out his pinky, I wrapped mine around his. “Pinky promise.” he smiled at me. We sat there talking about high school, talking about all our memories we have together. I really did have the best, best friend anyone could ever ask for. We heard the bus door open and on walked my oldest brother. He told Jaime to leave, with a kiss on the cheek and a hug he left me alone with Vic. He wanted to know what was going on but I just couldn't tell my brother. “What's going on Claire?” his tone harsh as he spoke. “Nothing” I replied, bluntly. “Nothing? It didn't look like nothing last night, you disappeared Claire. You had me going crazy with worry!” his voice raised a little. “Me and Tony had an argument, I got over emotional. Now leave it.” I said in a calm voice, I didn't want an argument with him. Hell I didn't even want to talk to him about it. He'd get mad, when he got mad like really mad, he began hitting things and Tony would be on top of his list. He stepped outside, making a phone call. A few minutes later he walked back on, looking anxious to say the least. Before long I could hear Tony shouting 'get off me' and Jaime's voice telling him to shut up. “Get on the bus, you piece of shit.” Maybe getting Jaime to do this wasn't the best idea. But if he would of called Mike, he wouldn't of been able to do it because that would mean getting close to Tony again or touching Tony. I glanced over at Tony, he was glaring at me. I was in so much trouble with him, god why can't I just break up with him for good? “Take a good look at her, look at her. You're killing her.” I didn't even look up from the floor, but I could feel his gaze on me. Dancing from head to toe. “She did it to herself.” I lifted my head up. Vic gave Jaime a small nod of the head. Jaime restrained Tony while Vic walked off, soon returning with a chair. They sat him on it and tied his hands behind it. I was a little scared, I've never seen my brother like this. This shouldn't be happening, not here, not right now. I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out as my eyes locked with Tony's. I looked back down at the floor, Mike suddenly burst through the door lock it behind him. All the blinds, all the curtains were shut. Before I knew it, Vic's fist collided with Tony's jaw. Making his head turn to the side. Making Tony spit out a pool of mouth that erupted. “You hit like a girl Vic.” He planted another punch, the same happened. He was testing him. He was making him mad. He gripped Tony's face. “I'd rather hit like a girl, then hit a girl.” *** It's been exactly an hour we've been in the bus; Jaime had now taken me to the bunk area. He sat with me, never said a word. The last I saw of Tony he wasn't looking to clever as my brothers rained down punches onto him. “Jaime, I need Mikey.” I whispered. He nodded, getting up and bringing me Mike. Jaime left, leaving me sat in the arms of my brother. I didn't know what to say or do. I looked down at his hands, they were slightly cut and bleeding, they were also beginning to bruise. A scream raced through the bus. Mike covered the ear that wasn't pressed against him, rocking me back and forth, softly saying 'shhh'. I was beginning to shake, I was beyond scared. Vic soon came through, he bent down in front of me. “You'll be okay sweetheart.” he whispered placing a kiss on my head. “Get her back inside Mike.” I felt him nod. I didn't want to move. “Claire, come on honey. Let's go.” He helped me stand, my legs felt like jelly. I couldn't walk by myself right now. “Do you wanna go home? I'll take you back” “No, you can't. I'll stay.” I didn't want him to break away from the tour just because of everything that's happened. “I'm booking us flights back home, we can tour another time.” “Mikey, no. You can't.” I protested. He was having non of it. “Did you tell Vic?” “It just sort of all rushed out. He knows everything.” We walked back, he nudged me slightly before giving me that all too famous Mike grin. I couldn't help but smile at him. When we arrived back we began packing up our things. Vic and Jaime arrived, they went into their rooms packing up everyone's stuff. Well expect Tony's. At the airport, we had managed to get some last minute cancellation tickets for a flight back. We all stood up at the big tall, glass windows, looking out across the runaway. Mike and Vic were stood either side of me, both with an arm wrapped round me. Jaime was sat on the chairs, with his face covered. “Ready to go home honey and start a new?” asked Vic as I leant my head on him. “More than anything.”

Notes

And that my beautiful readers, is the end. I shall post the sequel sometime today. thanks for reading

stay beautiful;
- vickyptv
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