I Understand. An AU/punk story.

Two weeks.

Two weeks later and I am safe thus far.

It has been hell avoiding everyone. They all text me, asking me to check in so they know Jake doesn't have me. And I do, I call the girls and tell them where I'm going all of the time.

Most of the time I o jogging with the dogs. I got a gym membership and have been working out like crazy. I want and need to get strong. If they attack myself I want to be able to protect myself.... By the end of the two weeks I feel real fit. Still a little scrawny but I'm working on it...

When I'm not working out I'm at the beach, reading a book or just sun bathing. If not there at Martin's. He doesn't know about whats going on but he knows somethings wrong. He's worried and he lets me know he is frequently but I just keep reassuring I'll be OK...

Even though I know it's a lie.

Sooner or later they will find out I'm not with Lou and then they'll come for me... To do what, I'm not sure I want to even find out.

I'm at Martin's right now. I spent the night here in another one of our makeshift forts in his room. Harry called me night but I didn't have the stomach to answer him...

It's morning and we're sprawled out in his couch, eating chips and watching baggage.

"Why the fuck would he chose number three, number one was hot as hell!" Martin scoffs, throwing a chip at his television. I laugh and shake my head.

"Yeah but number one collects cat whiskers... So.. " I trail off, he laughs and hits me with a pillow. I shrug and eat another chip.

"You wanna go out tonight? There's this band playing at this bar downtown, they're supposed to be good."

"Umm, sure. Why not?" He smiles and nods.

"OK, it's four now. They play at seven."

"OK, well I'll stay for a little longer and then I'll go home and get ready." He nods and we turn our attention back to the crazy people on the tv.

-

A while later at home I quickly get ready, brushing the girls off as they bombard me with questions.

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=112127712

Once pleased I text Martin I'm ready to go and stroll out to the living room.

"Where in the hell are you going now?" Perri exclaims.

"Out to see a band with Martin." I mumble and head to the door.

"We're worried about, you know.." Her voice is soft as I turn to meet her worried face.

"Why?" I scoff.

"Because we know you and love you. And we all can blatantly see you're avoiding us. Just talk to me, Lily. I just want to help if somethings wrong." Guilt hits me hard as I watch her spill her heart.

"Nothings wrong Pez. I've been stressed with everything but I'm good." I nod and give her my most convincing smile as I open the door. "I'll see you in a few hours. Then I make my way out before she can object.

-

"Wow, this place is packed." I muse as him and I take a seat in the crowded and smoky bar. The band on the platform announces themselves and start playing. Their pretty good and I'm about to ask him his opinion when I turn to him and find him undressing a busty blonde with his eyes.

Oh, Martin.

"Go talk to her." I suggest. He looks at me like I'm crazy. "Look shes coming over here!" I smile when his face flushes as the girl comes over. Shes scantily dressed and sits down right next to him, completely ignoring me. There's my cue. As they start flirting I get up and make my way outside for some air.

It was stuffy in there and I needed to cool down.

Once down on the bench out front I cross my legs and take my phone out, checking my phone until a text buzzes.

From: Unknown.

Very disappointed you failed to see reason with me. I'll see you soon. Very soon.

You have one minute before I come after you. Run.

Holy shit.

My stomach plummets and nervous sweat instantly seeps through my pores with a swoosh of adrenaline. This is not happening.

What the fuck do I do? Call the boys? Get martin? Oh god, he's going to hurt me. What do I do?

Before I know it, I'm up and running in my four inch heels. My phone buzzes. Please be Harry. Please be Harry. Please be Harry. I should have told someone. I am so stupid.

From: Unknown

Thirty seconds.

Hysterics break out, I start running down the side walk, I whip my head around to check to see if I'm being followed and find a figure standing across the street. The darkness of the night covering his face but not his huge build. A sob escapes my lips and I keep going until I crash in to a chest.

I scream, knowing very well it's one of Jake's men with out having to look, turning, I bolt to my left. I hear people chuckling behind me.

Shit shit shit shit shit.

I scream for help and run down what of course, knowing me luck, was an alley.

One with a dead end that I ran in to whence I turned the brick buildings corner.

My palms slam in to the slab of brick and I scream again. Someone please hear me. Please for the love of god.

Footsteps get closer. I take my cell and and dial 91 before it's slapped out of my hands. A hand is brought to my face, slamming in to the side of my face, making me topple to the ground.

I gasp and clutch my throbbing cheek, looking up I find the man I met in the elevator and one more I have never seen before.

"Well, hello, princess." The elevator man coos.(Lets call him man number one, shall we?)

"Get away from me!" I shriek, knowing damn well I'm fucked. He clucks his tongue and his friend who's watching me with bedroom eyes chuckles.

"I wish I could, sweetie. But you see, you didn't listen to me." he sighs, reaching out to take a piece for my hair and smooth it back with the rest.

"W-what are you going to do to me?" I whisper, my eyes pleading with his emotionless ones. He laughs and looks up at his friend who laughs too.

Suddenly his face twists from humor to anger in a flat second and another hand smacks my head, knocking me from sitting position to on my side.

"Put you in your place." He snaps.

The hes standing placing kick after kick, punch after punch to my crumpled body. I can't even scream for help as the wind gets knocked out of me repeatedly. A fire burns as my lungs beg for air. But what I notice is that they don't hit my face. They keep hitting my body....

I try to crawl away put guy number two comes around, grabs a chunk of my hair and pulls me to my feet. Guy number one punches me straight in the gut and my knees give out form the force. Guy number two holds my weight a second before tossing me on to my face.

Hot tears bubble out as I crouch in to a ball, awaiting the blows. A hand grabs my hair and rips my head from the pavement. I cry out but it comes out like a strange gargle.

"You better fucking listen this time! You got it?" He hisses in my ear. I sob, trying to push myself off of the ground. "ANSWER ME!" He bellows in my ear. I nod my head desperately. "Good girl. And if you don't next time will be worse. Much worse." His threat chills me to the bone and I shudder. He lets go of my hair and then him and his friend are gone.

I crawl up in to a ball as my phone starts vibrating again. I let it ring until it stops. It rings again. I let it go. The process repeats three more times until I finally think I can get up now.

Sniffling and hiccuping I move my arms. They are sore as hell and I know for a fact covered in bruises under my cardigan. I look down at my legs and find a few bruises beginning to form but they move just fine. The real pain doesn't come until I try to move my abdomen.

It stings and burns in my chest and stomach as I barely get myself to my feet, supporting myself on the brick wall.

My hands and legs shake as I begin my journey out of this grim alley.

How could I have let this happen to myself??!

I wipe my tears and find myself to the front of the bar. My body hurts with each step as I slip int the door and hurry to the bathroom.

Once in I lock the door and check my reflection. It hurts to stand so I lean up against the sink and look at my face. My skin is read and puffy. My mascara running. The only evidence on my face is a thin but by my hair line I must have gotten form one of the times being shoved on to the ground.

Taking deep breaths, I swallow my tears and wipe away the smudged makeup. I don't want to worry Martin so I wipe the dirt from my clothes and face and attempt to make myself look somewhat decent and not like the absolute shit was just beaten out of me.

I hobble out of the bathroom after one last crying session. My cell hasn't ringing. I didn't bother to check who it was. No doubt Martin panicked and called my friends.

I enter the main room and find Martin on his phone, pulling at his hair. When his ees reach mine he rushes over to me.

"Oh my god! Lily where the hell have you been?!" He whisper yells, putting his hands on my shoulders.

"S - sorry. I went outside and met some old friends. We got to talking." I shrug, lying smoothly. My voice faltering only a little. His eyes search mine frantically.

"I called Perri. Shes freaking out. I need to get you home."

Great.

I nod and follow him to his car.

-

The minute I arrive at my apartment Perri and Rae are on me.

"I FUCKING KNOW SOMETHING IS GOING ON! TELL ME RIGHT NOW!" She shrieks, reaching to grab my wrists. My body aches with every fucking step. But i hide my grimace and swallow the pain.

"Honestly, stop. Nothing is wrong. Martin is a baby." I lie. Rae shakes her head and crosses her arms.

"We aren't going to stop until tell us. Neither of us are blind or stupid."

"NO just incredibly annoying!" I bite. Instantly regretting the words. I'm so mad and upset and confused that my emotions completely take over my senses. I hate them just for making me stand there and argue while my body is screaming in pain.

"Wow." Perri breathes, shaking her head she turns and goes to her room, slamming the door. I slowly make my way to my room, slamming my door too. My dogs are already on my bed.

I pull my shirt and shorts off and my limbs ache from the stretch.

I sniffle back sobs as I crawl in to my bed in my underwear.

Crying comes too easy that night. Unlike sleep that doesn't find me.

Notes