"What are you doing?" I confront him, ignoring the way my heart screams out with delight due to his delicious scent enveloping me. His face is inches away from mine, and I can feel his warm breaths hitting my lips. The sensation of his mouth so close to mine causes goosebumps to scatter down my arms. "I can't let you leave knowing you're angry at me." Jake tells me. I open my mouth to respond, but he quickly cuts me off.

"I defended you because I care about you. I can't stand back and allow an asshole like Jared to treat you like that. I don't usually get involved with high school drama, but I can't ignore it when it's you." Jake tells me passionately. His blue eyes burn with intensity, and I find myself weakening with every explanation he gives me.

"Why not?" I whisper, wanting to hear more. Jake's eyes fill with an internal battle, and he winces, almost as if the question is painful for him. "I don't know. I've tried to ignore it, but you're creeping your way into my thoughts the more I try to fight against it." Jake says to me. His words cause my heart to somersault. "I feel the same way," I whisper. Most of my free time is spent thinking about Jake. His eyes flash with a hint of relief when he hears I feel the same way. He drops one hand from the wall before placing it over my waist. I shiver against his touch before looking up into his eyes. Jake inches closer until his lips are dangerously close to mine.

"I watched him dance with you, Wentworth. I wanted to tear him away from you the moment I laid eyes on you together," Jake tells me. Was Jake Melvin jealous at the sight of me dancing with another boy? I stare up into his eyes before dropping my gaze to his inviting lips. I've wondered what it would be like to kiss him from the first time he annoyed me.

"Are you jealous?" I whisper. Jake's jaw twitches, almost as if he's struggling to admit his feelings for me. His hand shifts against my waist and the action causes the material of my blouse to lift. His fingers gently stroke against the warmth on my hips and I feel a whimper of delight build in the back of my throat.

"What if I am? Does that change things between us?" Jake asks me, his blue eyes darkening with desire. His fingers barely touch me, yet I feel the effect of his touch burning on my skin. The moisture strips from my throat, but I muster the courage to respond to him.

"Maybe it does," I tell him. Jake's hand circles around my waist, and he dips his head low to finally kiss me.

His lips are soft and his touch is as light as a feather. I don't dare breathe as he gently glides his lips across mine. He pulls me toward him in one swift motion to deepen the kiss, but the small amount of force used causes me to pull away from him in discomfort. A yelp slips through my lips and my body immediately reacts to push him away from me. I lift my knee up before hitting him between the legs. My latest self defence move seems to be aiming for a male's crown jewels. The moment is well and truly ruined between us. Jake immediately groans before grabbing hold of his body and dropping to the floor. His eyes squeeze shut with discomfort.

"Goddammit. There goes my chance of ever being able to have kids," Jake cries out. He places one hand on the floor before taking several deep breaths to subside the pain he's experiencing. My eyes grow wide at the sight of him and I rush forward to aid him. "I am so sorry. I don't know why I –" The sudden movement causes pain to explode through my side. I release another yelp of pain before clutching at my waist. Jake immediately falls silent and his eyes focus on my body.

"Are you hurt?" He asks me with suspicion in his voice. He pushes aside his own pain to place all of his focus on me. He stands up before walking toward me. I shake my head in protest while backing away from him. "No, I'm fine." I lie to him while trying to hide the discomfort on my face. Jake grabs hold of my hand before pulling it away from my body. His expression fills with determination and he reaches for my blouse with his other hand.

"Stop it, Jake!" I yell, trying to fight his hold on me. If he lifts my blouse, he's going to be met with Trevor's latest artwork. I can't risk him finding out my secret. Jake pauses and his eyes brew with emotion. "You have to trust me, Wentworth. I'm not the bad guy here," he says quietly. His hand hovers over my blouse, and I feel like I'm losing the ability to breathe all over again. "You want me to trust you?" I whisper while fighting tears. Jake's expression softens when he hears the broken tone to my voice. His gaze travels down to my blouse, and he intakes a sharp breath. Is he preparing himself for what lurks underneath?

"Can I?" Jake asks me for permission, his blue eyes searching mine for an answer. I open my mouth to protest when I realise how tired I am. I'm exhausted from hiding and creating excuses for Trevor. I've never considered a life where I tell someone about Trevor's abuse until now. Maybe I was waiting for someone to make the first move. Maybe I didn't believe anybody would care if Trevor hurt me. Maybe I thought I'd be left to rot in the shadows. I look up into Jake's eyes that are filled with nothing but concern... Jake looks like he cares.

He notices my shoulders deflate with defeat. His hand reaches for mine, and he intertwines them together until he's holding onto me tightly. The first tear falls from my eyes before it's followed by numerous others. When he speaks, his words send a shiver rippling down my spine. "Let me help you," Jake whispers in a pleading tone. He inches closer until my head is resting on his chest. I bury my face in his shirt while fighting the urge to scream, cry and sob. Nobody has ever spoken those four words to me.

I've always felt alone in my darkness, but Jake makes me feel less alone. I've had my own suspicions of Jake knowing about the abuse. I don't know the extent of his discovery, but he treats me with more care than I've seen him treat anyone else. He touches me like he's handling valuable china, scared I'm going to break at the smallest amount of pressure. I release a trembling breath before finding the strength inside of me to break the cycle... I'm not going to lie for Trevor this time.

I silently pry myself out of Jake's hold. His eyes fill with deep curiosity when I walk toward the bedroom door before locking it. I slowly turn around while keeping my gaze trained on the floor. I don't know if I can watch his reaction when I divulge my secret. Will he be disgusted? Embarrassed for me? Will his eyes fill with sympathy? Will he believe me?

The unknown questions make me doubt my decision. I almost change my mind at the last second when Jake speaks words I didn't realise I needed to hear. "There's no judgement in this room, Wentworth." Jake whispers the words and I feel his eyes lingering on my face. I can't find it within myself to lift my head. I feel consumed by embarrassment, shame and disgust. I slowly nod my head in agreement before reaching for the hem of my blouse.

"It's easier if I show you," I whisper, the tears free falling from my eyes. I blink them away to clear my vision, but they return within seconds. My hands begin to lift my blouse and I feel the air hit my warm skin. It feels alien against my body, almost as if I'm committing a crime to undress anywhere but the safety of my own bedroom. I squeeze my eyes shut before pulling my blouse over my head. I'm left standing in front of Jake in nothing but a skimpy crop top. All of my bruises are on show. There's no going back...my secret is out.

"My step-father does this to me," I whisper, feeling the need to explain myself. I glance down at my body to find ugly bruises running up and down my arms. Bruises from having items thrown at me, bruises from punches and kicks or Trevor's deathly grip on me. The shadows run down my stomach, staining my golden skin with a darkness I find repulsing. Everywhere I go, pieces of Trevor follow me around. I can never truly get rid of him. He's inked into my skin, his trauma finding its way through to my bones.

"How long?" Jake asks me. His voice is emotionless, and I'm too terrified to lift my head to look at him. My head continues to hang low and I allow the tears to fall to the floor. "Years," I whisper. A silence falls in the room. I remain frozen in place. Jake silently walks toward me before wrapping his fingers around my chin. He tilts my head back until I'm forced to look at him. My vision blurs due to the tears, but I can sense the anger and sadness exuding from him. He takes one look into my broken eyes before pulling me tightly into his embrace. His strong arms wrap around me, and he holds me like he's holding his most prized possession in his arms.

He buries his hand in my hair before pulling me closer. I grab a fistful of his shirt in my hands, and within seconds, the sobs begin to invade my chest. I cling onto him tightly before shrinking myself as small as possible. His arms tighten around me and he gives me exactly what I need. Safety. Comfort. Validation. It feels like he's protecting me from the dangers that lurk all around me. "Do you think I'm ugly?" I ask him while breaking down in his arms. Jake shakes his head before inhaling a deep breath. I feel him press a soft kiss into the side of my head.

"No, Emily. You're beautiful. Don't you dare think anything less of yourself." His words ease the pain invading my heart. I hold onto him tighter before wailing into his chest. "What am I going to do, Jake?" I cry, feeling like I'm on the verge of losing all hope. Jake keeps me wrapped up inside the safety of his embrace. His lips align with my ear and he responds with words that fill me with real hope. "You're not on your own, Wentworth. I promise he won't lay his hands on you ever again."