Louis' POV

I walk back into my bedroom where Bella and Harry are sat talking, I know she's a little frightened but I honestly think Emily would never intentionally try to hurt her. Maybe she's been rude, maybe she's been close to wanting to hurt Bella, but in my opinion, I don't think Emily has that bad streak in her.

I text her once more asking where she is as I know she's not in a good place. I've not heard her in that state before and I have to admit I'm a little worried.

"How are you doing?" I ask Bella as I sit down next to her, she looks at me and smiles.

"Sorry I was just scared I don't know what came over me." Bella sighs and she rests her head on my shoulder. "Thanks for letting me come here." She adds and I put my arm around her.

"Don't be silly, you can always come here." I answer and I can't stop myself from kissing the top of her head. I ignore Harry's smile as I know exactly what he's thinking.

"I really should get back. Mum needs all of this for her cake." Bella says as she sits up away from me and takes her bag. "If you two are free tomorrow evening, come over as it's Cassie's birthday." She adds as she stands up.

"If there's cake, I'll be there." Harry smirks as he too stands up. "I'll walk you home." He says and Bella looks at him and shakes her head.

"No, I'll drive you back. " I say as I grab my keys and I walk out of the room knowing they can't argue with me.

"Are you sure that's a good idea with your leg being still bad?" Harry asks and I tell him that I'm fine even though I'm not really supposed to drive, I just want to be able to do normal things again.

"Louis it's fine, I only live down the road" Bella says as we all reach the front door. I turn to her and I sigh.

"I don't care if you lived next door, you're not walking alone. So just get in the car." I smirk as I open the door and Bella smiles as she walks outside.

"Such a gentleman." Harry jokes as he nudges me. I playfully push him out of the door and I close it behind me. As I unlock the car and they jump in, my phone vibrates. I quickly check it before I get in the car.

I'm at Cleverly Bridge. X

I'm slightly surprised that she's told me where she is. I thought I'd have to keep pushing her, but at least now I can find her and try to sort all of this out once and for all.

"Everything alright?" Harry asks as I get in and close the door. I nod as I start the car, I'll be glad once I can clear this up with Emily and we can both go our own ways once and for all.

"I forgot to answer, I'll come round tomorrow." I say as I glance back at Bella. She looks up at me smiling pleased. It's hard everytime I look at her, I just want to be the one to hold her, kiss her and just spend most of my time with her. I know patience is the key, but with Bella it feels like I'm waiting a lifetime.

"Thanks for the lift Louis." Bella says as we turn down her street. Once I park up outside, I climb out as Bella says goodbye to Harry. I quickly text Emily telling her I'll be there in a minute. "So I'll see you tomorrow." Bella says and I put my phone in my pocket as I look up at her.

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow." I smile and I walk to her to the door, I hug her as I whisper goodbye, wishing that I could stay with her.

"Bye Lou." She smiles as we part and I smile back. I slowly head back towards the car, glancing back at Bella making sure she's gone inside.

"Did you kiss her goodnight?" Harry teases as I get in the car. I look at him and frown, he doesn't realise how much I wish I had just kissed Bella.

"Right I need to go to Cleverly Bridge." I sigh as I pull away. I feel Harry's eyes on me as he begins to question why. I explain to him about Emily's texts and phone call.

"And how do you know this isn't a set up? It's not like you can trust the girl." Harry says frustratedly and I know he's right but I have a feeling this isn't a set up, I genuinely think she's at her breaking point.

"I just know Harry, she needs me." I answer and he sighs.

"How are you ever going to prove how you feel about Bella if you keep running to Emily." Harry asks and I glance over at him.

"I'm not running to her, I'm actually concerned about her Harry. Once I hear her out and possibly try to help her, she can go her own way for good. Bella doesn't need to know I'm seeing her." I snap and Harry doesn't look impressed.

"Keeping this from Bella isn't a smart move Louis, just think about what you're doing. Emily knows how to keep you interested, she's used to it." Harry says and I look away back towards the road.

"I'll drop you home and then I'll see her." I say as I know Harry isn't happy about me doing this, but I really do believe it will help.

"No way, I'm coming with you. If this is a set up, you can't be alone." Harry sighs and I look back over at him.

"I'll be fine Harry." I answer as I still don't like the thought of him being involved with all of this drama.

"Well I'm not getting out of the car so I'm coming with you." Harry says and I know I'm not going to win this with him. So instead I stay quiet and I continue to make my way to Emily.






Once we arrive I try to find Emily as I drive slowly. But it's hard to spot her in the dark as this place isn't exactly lit up well.

"There's a car over there." Harry points over to the left and I glance over seeing the car he spotted. It's so close to the edge it makes me feel nervous at the thought of Emily inside.

"Wait here" I say to Harry as I park up. He looks at me as I step out of the car and I head towards what we think could be Emily's car. Suddenly the car door opens making me jump and Emily steps out. She looks at me with her eyes stained black from crying and I don't know what to say.

"You came." She says slightly confused to why I am here. I nod and she looks away closing the car door. "I didn't think.." She stops and turns away from me.

"What's going on?" I ask as I look at her, I hear her sniff as she sits down on the grass that over looks the town. I have to admit as I sit down next to her, the view looks beautiful lit up at night. "Emily.." I say quietly as I look at her.

She doesn't look like Emily at all, she looks tired, drained and broken. I don't like seeing anyone like this, especially someone I once cared about so deeply. She wipes her nose and looks away as a couple more tears fall loosely down her cheeks.

"I had to leave" She starts but her voice cracks causing her to stop. I wait patiently as I look at her. "I couldn't do it anymore." She adds and heavily sighs.

"Do what?" I ask and she clears her throat. The cold air hits me harder as I become uncomfortable, I wish I brought my coat with me. Emily doesn't seem bothered, she's not shivering or complaining, she's basically in her own little world.

"I couldn't be with him. I can't take anymore." She answers, I go to speak but quickly stop as she continues. "There is only so much that I can take, I've had enough." She adds and I look away as I try to think into her words.

"You've had a row with Max?" I ask, it feels really odd having to talk about someone I really hate.

"Everyday consisted of having an argument, it just depended on the outcome each time." Emily sniffs and suddenly I'm listening closely as I look down hoping this isn't going to go where I think it is.

"What do you mean the outcome?" I ask even though I'm pretty much aware of the answer, I just need her to confirm it.

"Oh Louis, I never thought he'd be like that with me. He was such a gentleman when I first met him, I don't know what happened to him." Emily cries and I can't seem to stop myself as I answer,

"Max Farley doesn't know the meaning of the word gentleman. " I mumble but she looks at me. "How did he change?" I ask and she looks away.

"He started to get angry and wound up really easily. His temper just developed out of nowhere. " She says as she runs a hand through her hair and then wipes underneath her eyes. "He seemed to be uncontrollable." She adds and I grit my teeth.

"Did he hurt you?" I ask and she let's her head fall into her hands. I bite my lip preventing myself from saying anything else. She sighs as she sits up and looks at me.

"I wanted you to be the one to make me happy. I know what Holly told you wasn't nice, but she doesnt know anything that's happened to me. She just thinks that I was trying to steal you from her." Emily says and I'm suddenly confused with her wave of words.

"Wait, you've jumped too far, you never answered my question." I ask and she tries to stop herself from crying, she slowly nods and I start to feel sick. I'm immediately firing up inside as any guy who hurts a girl is a coward. It makes me so angry.

"I never knew what to do, the first time I just froze. " She says as she looks away from me.

"The first time of what?" I ask even though I really wish I hadn't.

"He pushed me into the wall, it wasn't forcefully on purpose." She mumbles and I keep quiet even though it's so hard as alI I want to do is find Max. "We were arguing and things just got out of hand." She adds and I shake my head.

"That doesn't make it right, no excuse can justify what he did." I answer and she looks at me and shrugs.

"I didn't mean for anything bad to happen to you, it was never intended to get so out of hand. But you just made me feel safe and I thought I could be with you, I'd be safe and loved properly." She cries and I swallow as her words do hit me hard.

"I was an escape route?" I ask and she slowly nods.

"But only because I actually fell for you. You made me have hope and I believed you were what I needed. Holly didn't know this, I couldn't tell her the truth, even I couldn't expect someone especially you could treat me right." She clears her throat again and I feel so uncomfortable right now.

Shit, this is really hard to hear, guys like Max should take on people like me. I have no fear in taking him on, I'd happily give back what he dishes out. It makes me so mad.

"You should have told someone." I snap and she nods.

"I did, I told Luke who you know about, he was sweet but Max found out about him before he could help. Luke knew it was best to stay away because it wasn't just him Max took it out on. I tried to leave him several times but he somehow manipulated me into staying." She answers and I can't believe all of this was happening to her.

"You Should have told me." I sigh and she shakes her head.

"No because you actually liked me, the last thing I wanted was you feeling sorry for me. I may have wanted saving but I wouldn't have wanted you to feel like that was your goal. I loved the way you talked to me and how you complimented me. You wanted me." She answers and smiles at me.

Just by hearing this and seeing how broken she is, it's all kicking in. Okay what she did was wrong and her behaviour was unacceptable but it all makes a little more sense. I hate the thought of her being stuck in an abusive relationship feeling like she can't break free, it really bothers me.

"You could have left him, I would have helped you." I say and she looks at me and frowns.

"Louis he stabbed you when he found out, there was no way you could have helped me." She wipes another tear and I take her hand in mine. She looks at me slightly shocked.

"Did he hurt you when he found out?" I ask and she looks away. "Emily?" I ask and I can feel tears starting to prick my eyes. I rarely cry so I try to fight them back.

"Yes." She answers and I gently squeeze her hand as I try to be supportive. "He hit Gary too." Her words shock me and I look at her with my eyebrows raised. "They were arguing because Gary saw Max flip out at me." She adds and I don't know what to think of all of this.

"I'm sorry this has happened to you." I mumble as my voice cracks. This time she squeezes my hand but I look away from her.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm the one who's sorry, I'm the one that caused all of this. I should have left him sooner but it's weird and scary how after a while of being treated like shit, it can strangely become normal." Emily answers and I can't believe anyone would find a relationship that includes violence as normal.

"Nothing about that relationship is normal." I snap and Emily shakes her head.

"It's easier for an outsider to see that." She answers and I look away as maybe she's right. I've never been involved in an abusive relationship before so I don't know how much it affects you mentally.

"I'm not going to go back to him, I can't live like this anymore." Emily sighs and I hate how drained Max has made her.

"Stay away from him and move on, he doesn't deserve you Emily." I answer and she looks at me and bites her lip.

"I'm not a good person either, I treated Bella like shit. " Emily Snaps and looks away. "I pushed her up against the hospital wall and threatened her." Emily says and my heart literally drops down to my stomach.

"What?" I ask and Emily looks away. "Why would you do that? After knowning what it like to be treated like that you go and do it to Bella?" I snap and Emily doesn't say anything. "Look at me!" I raise my voice and she stands up, I do the same and I spin her around to face me.

"Because that is the world I'm used to Louis! Max got hit by his Father, Max gets violent with me and then I disgustingly turn into him towards Bella." She shouts as she looks at me. I become speechless, I have no idea about Max's past but that doesn't excuse any of this. What the fuck do I say about this?

"Tell me that's the only time you did that to Bella? were you intending on hurting her tonight?" I ask as I grit my teeth again. She frowns as she looks at me. I can't stand the thought of anyone intending to hurt Bella, I will make sure I protect her.

"I would never have hurt her again. Tonight I tried to warn her that you're all in danger, Max wants you dead Louis. He's completely insane." Emily panics and her words don't even bother me.

Max can want me dead but that doesn't mean it will happen. If anything all of this has geared me up for my next meeting with Max. This time, I don't know how I'm going to stop myself when I get my hands on him. Right now, I'm planning everything I'm going to do with him.



"Louis.." Harry says making me jump and I turn to face him. He looks at me with a worried look as he glances towards Emily. "We need to go, it's getting late." He adds. I nod and turn to Emily.

"Are you coming?" I ask and she looks at me confused. I turn to Harry who looks furious with my suggestion and I Hand him my keys. "Can you drive my car back?" I ask without letting him answer.

"Where you going?" Harry asks and I open the driver's door on Emily's car.

"I'll meet you at mine." I say to him and I tell Emily to get in the car. She does as she's told and I start the car. I need to sort all of this with Emily and make sure she doesn't get back with Max, if she's on the verge of acting out like him, I need to save her before it's too late.

Notes

Hello everyone!
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So what do you all make out of this chapter?
Can Louis seriously help her? Should he have left it?

Let me know!

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