I don't like myself. 

That's what was going through my mind as the bruises on her body haunted every waking hour. Not only did I ruin prom, but I turned into a bully at work, not listening to anything she told me. I couldn't undo all of that. It took someone beating her to the point she was covered in bruises and cuts for me to even realize what I was doing.

Charlie had always been the guy that didn't care about other people. I was trying to catch up to him, but I always knew that was impossible for me. We were too different. I was nice; he wasn't. Or maybe I should say he just didn't care. That was probably more accurate. 

Jenny won everything. Every argument, every conversation. My heart. I was more and more in love with her every day. She hated me, though. I thought she was coming around when we went to prom, but now? Now she hated me. I thought she may call me and request to leave, but I knew that would probably never happen. 

I slid a hand under my head and reached for the ceiling with my other hand - the one that held hers earlier that evening. She only held my hand because it was her graduation, I knew, but I'd take whatever I could get. 

A sigh escaped me as I rolled over in my bed. Things had been ruined, but she did give me a small glimmer of hope: the promise that we were leaving in a week. If I did that, she said she'd forgive me. I couldn't think of a single thing I wanted more than that other than for her to be mine, but I didn't think that was a possibility. Not now.

I tried to close my eyes and get some sleep, but it didn't want to come. Granted, it was only nine, but I had barely slept every night that week, so I was worn out. 

Right about then my phone began to ring. I didn't recognize the number, but there was only one person I could think of that could possibly be calling this late. The only problem was that I thought I had Charlie's number in my phone. I answered, but before "hello" could even come out of my mouth, they were speaking. "I need you to do something for me," said a familiar girl's voice. 

I let out a relieved sigh and asked, "What do you need, Jenny?"

"I need you to buy a suitcase for me. The biggest one you can find. Then I need you to come to my apartment."

I pushed the covers off of me and sat up. "Why do you need it now? Why didn't you ask for a suitcase before? Can't I bring it in the morning?" I knew full well that I'd do anything she told me, whether she needed something right this minute or the next day. 

"No, I need it now. I'll pay you back for it in cash. I promise. I'm not asking you to donate that money. Oh, also, I need to leave tonight. I can't wait a week."

"But-"

"I have my reasons." Something loud in the background seemed to be getting louder. "You may want to hurry. The police are almost here."

"The police? Are you okay? What happened?"

"I'll explain when we're outside of Rapid Falls. You can tell your parents we're leaving so they don't worry, but don't tell them where we're going. Otherwise, they'll just tell Marvin."

"Okay, fine. I'll be there as soon as I can." She hung up before I could move the phone away from my ear. 

What happened?

I threw on some clothes and threw my suitcase on the bed. Clothes flew into it, nothing folded like I normally liked it. I wasn't even sure half of what I tossed in was clean. Probably half of what I was going to need if I was away for more than two days was probably all in the bathroom. I'd just have to make do with hotel stuff for now.

Freshly packed, I hurried to the living room where my parents were. I put my suitcase by the door and walked into the room. Charlie, not so surprisingly, was there with them. "Where are you going?" Dad asked. 

"Jenny called me," I said, watching the surprise appear on their faces. "She wants me to drive her somewhere."

"At this time of night?" Dad looked at his watch. "Where in the world is she wanting to go?"

I hesitated, unsure about saying anything in front of Charlie. "Somewhere else." Charlie was acting uninterested, but I could tell he was listening. "She wants to leave Rapid Falls, and she wants me to take her."

"Take her where?" Mom asked, turning to look at me.

I shrugged. "She wanted to go to Lincoln, but I'm not going to drop her off and leave her." I was in no kind of way that person.

"Why not?" Charlie asked, looking up from his phone. "She was going anyway, right? I saw the ticket. Why not drive her down there, do whatever you want with her, and come back?" He gave me a smirk.

I caught his meaning almost immediately. My parents did too, judging by the looks they gave him. I couldn't help myself. That comment was the last straw for me. "You do that with your next girl," I told him. "Jenny's mine. You don't know what she's been through, and you're not going to ever understand." 

He dropped his phone into his lap. "Like I'd ever want to understand someone like her. Why are you even doing anything for Jenny? She's not sweet and have you seen what she wears? She's poor."

Anger bubbled up and for a moment I saw red. The next thing I knew, he was holding his bleeding nose and my hand hurt. I shook my aching appendage while my parents just watched. Neither of them made a move to either reprimand me or check on Charlie. I knew Jenny was like a daughter to them, so they didn't appreciate the comments either. 

Before he could recover from the shock, I ran out the front door, barely remembering to grab the suitcase I'd hurriedly packed. I tossed it in the trunk of my car and hopped into the driver's seat. The drive over to the only place with suitcases that was still open was just long enough for me to cool off. My actions weren't completely warranted, but I knew that I couldn't just stand there and do nothing with him talking about her like that. 

The selection they carried wasn't very attractive, but I had a feeling she wouldn't care what one I bought her. I found the largest one they had, found it in black, and walked up to the checkout. The clerk eyed me suspiciously. She obviously had several questions, but I was glad she didn't ask them. I was able to get back out to my car within a few minutes and drive to my next destination.

I parked in front of the complex Jenny lived in. One of the apartments had tape across the door. A lone police car still sat outside the building with a single cop inside. I just parked in front, right behind the cruiser, and rested my forehead on the steering wheel. The adrenaline was wearing off and I was beginning to shake. What had I done? I was going to be lucky if Charlie didn't try to press charges. 

Time passed as I sat there. The officer kept watching me in his mirror, but eventually he drove away. The area was eerily silent for the side of town I was on. Things in this area was pretty active after dark. It was the time of night I expected to witness a break-in or murder. Yet things were pretty calm. 

My phone began ringing, making me jump. I checked the time as I answered. Nearly two hours had passed since I'd parked. Enough time for me to think about what had happened back home. "Hello?"

"Come get me," Jenny said. "I'm at the police station."

"Sure. Why are you there?"

"It's a long story. Just come get me." Pause. "Please." She hung up without another word.

With a sigh, I drove over to the station and waited for her, leaning on my hood. Nearly fifteen minutes later, she walked out and began looking around. I waved her over. "You asked me to meet you at the apartment, then you ask me to pick you up at the police station. You could have asked me to just come here if you knew you'd be here. I wouldn't have sat outside your place for nearly two hours if you'd done that."

I could almost hear the eyeroll. "Sorry. I didn't know that they'd keep me here for so long. Can we just go back to my place? They gave me the okay to go anywhere, do anything. I want to take them up on this chance."

My eyes widened as she got in my car. "Wait. You mean now? You want to leave right now?" I'd expected it, but it was still a surprise.

"That's what I said." She closed her door as if she were ending the conversation.

I ran to the driver's door and hopped in. "Let me get this straight. Your dad is in jail and you're not the least bit concerned about him? You've got the apartment to yourself! You can relax for once. Why are you so afraid of staying there?"

"Can we just drive back there? Please? I'm getting a headache."

I looked at her for a moment before starting the car. "Fine. But you owe me an explanation."

"I don't owe you anything," she muttered. She seemed to melt into the seat when I didn't respond. We drove in silence for a few minutes before she spoke again. "He tried to attack me. I got his phone and locked myself in my room. He tried to break down my door to get to me. I called the police and am pressing charges for attempted assault. There's nothing in that apartment I want other than my few belongings. There's nothing for me here in Rapid Falls except for the people I work with. Lila and Jas are going to college, and not even somewhere close by. Lila is going to California and Jas is going to Louisiana. They've both found something they want to do."

"What about you? What do you want to do?" I parked in the same spot I was in before I went to the station. I started to turn to look at her, but she got out. 

"I never thought about it." I jumped out and followed her into the complex. We reached the stairs before she continued. "It's never mattered what I want to do, but I guess it does now, huh? Eighteen years of being used by other people, two years of being beaten down and berated and told I'm trash, and a lifetime of being beaten, talked down to, and pushed around doesn't exactly make a person confident in their own choices. If anything, it sets them up for failure."

"Then you need to learn how to make choices you're proud of." We reached her door. She turned to me just as she opened it. I pulled up short, surprised. 

"Oh? And how do you suppose I start doing that? I don't think I have the right to make any to begin with." She walked inside. 

I took some large steps until I was in front of her, making her stop in surprise. I took her hand, looking deep into her eyes. For once, I let my heart speak before my mind could filter it. "I think you're already making the choices that are best for you. If getting away from here is what will make your life better, then do it. If you think you need something else, reach out for it. Every time you make a choice for yourself, especially life altering ones like leaving this place, is just one more time you're proving yourself wrong. Keep it up."

Her nose wrinkled slightly, though there was no disgust with it. She pulled her hand away and averted her gaze. With a shake of her head, she said, "I think you're wrong, but we're entitled to our own opinions. Can you let me just pack in peace, please?"

I stepped aside and let her pass me, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride for her. I wasn't sure how things would work out, but something about the air of mystery around her pulled me in. The gravity that belonged to Jenny made me forget all about my own family problems. I was focused on her to the point that I couldn't see anything but Jenny.

Especially right in this moment. She's asleep in my passenger seat. Night scenes are sliding past the windows of my car. Light snores are coming out of her luscious lips. Her face is relaxed, making her look like the 18-year-old she actually is. I can see myself falling further for her. Come what may, I know I won't let Charlie get into my head again. 

I gently reach over and touch her soft hair. It feels silky as I lift the end of it to my mouth and give it a kiss. "I won't let you get hurt ever again," I say quietly, not wanting to wake her up. "I won't give you up to anyone else. No matter what."