{emma pov}

I pull away, as much as I don't want to. "Let's just take it slow," I smile softly.

"Okay," he smirks, "it's getting kind of dark, do you want to head back to see the Eiffel Tower one last time?"

"I'd love to," I smile, as we hold hands and make our way back.

✦

It's 10pm, and we've finally arrived back at the hotel. Fingers still intertwined, we take the elevator up to our suites. The door opens and I hear conversation in the halls. Just then, standing and talking to Kate, I see Dylan standing with this other girl I don't know. My grip on Shawn's hand becomes tighter and I start to panic. I stay calm and composed on the outside, though.

"Hey Emma, Shawn," Kate nods towards us. "did you have a nice day out?"

"Yes, we did, thank you," Shawn answers. I think he knows that there is something wrong.

"Good, I'm glad. I'd like you to meet Lily Burke, and her roadie, Dylan Connor. Lily will be the new 2nd opening act of the tour, while Emma, you will be taking Fifth Harmony's spot as 1st."

I almost choke. So I'm not just seeing things. It's actually him. And he has this evil, devilish grin on his face. "Nice to meet you," I nod my head.

"You too!" squeaks Lily. Her voice really bothers me. It's all high pitched and squeaky. Very annoying.

Shawn nods. "Well, it's nice meeting you, but I think I can speak for both Emma and I when I say that we had a very long day and would like to go settle down," I nod my head in agreement.

"Okay, goodnight," Dylan smirks.

I hate him. I hate him, I hate him, I hate him. As soon as Shawn and I turn around, the tears start to sting my eyes. We walk into the room and once the door is closed, that's when I break.

"Why does he always have to ruin my life?" I cry, pacing. Pacing what I do when I'm nervous or upset, to gather my thoughts.

"Emma, please calm down you're freaking me out." says Shawn, grabbing my shoulders. "Why don't you get into some comfortable clothes, and then we can talk?"

It's time I need to tell him everything. It's time. So I nod, disappearing into my room and putting on some sweats and a tank top. I brush my teeth, then sit on my bed and turn on the tv to wait for Shawn. Say Yes To The Dress is on, one of my favourite shows at the moment. I watch for a mere 30 seconds before he arrives. He's also wearing sweats, but he's shirtless.

"Damn, you're loaded," I stare in awe.

"Yeah, I've been working really hard for the past while," he says like its no big deal.

"So..." I start anxiously.

"So..." he repeats, "What's going on? I promise I can help you with whatever it is,"

"I know." I smile, patting the spot next to me, indicating for him to sit on my bed too. "Dylan is my ex-boyfriend,"

"I figured something like that, is that what all of the anxiety is about?" he asks.

I nod. "But that's not even close to the whole story," I start to explain.

"Take your time, I have nowhere else to be," he smiles.

✦
 
 
 
"Babe, please," he begs, "just give it to me,"

"I told you no! I am not having sex with you, Dylan!" I snap.

"You will,"

"I won't!" I won't tell him this, but I have morals, and I'm not going to do something like that. Not this early in our relationship.

And then he slaps me across the cheek. Hard. I am taken aback by this, doubling over in pain and clutching my cheek, where I was hit. He looks furious. He scoffs. "Now. You will do it right now, or I will do something worse. Am I clear?"

"I'm not going to listen to you," I purse my lips together, trying not to cry. Then he takes a belt from his floor and lashes me across the arm. I double over again, falling onto the floor. It was my fault, but I stuck up for myself. I quickly take my bag, and run downstairs and out the door of his house. I don't bother calling my mom, I just run straight home.

When I got home, my mom greets me. "Hey sweetie! What's that mark on your arm?" I look down. It's bruising already.

"Oh, I, um, fell on the way home," I lie. She was already telling me Dylan isn't right for me, and if I tell her this it'll set her off.

"Do you want some ice or something?" She asks.

"No thanks, I'm okay," I smile.

I go up to my room and once I close the door, I cry.

He did something that bad to me, yet I still, being the stupid girl that I am, decided to stay with him. And that is not the last time something like that happened.
 
 
 
✦

"Emma? Are you okay?" Shawn asks. I've been crying again.

"Yes, I'm fine. I just had another flashback," I wipe the tears off of my cheek with my hand.

"Another?" He sounds worried.

"I-I get them a lot. Especially when I try to talk or think about it," I sob. I quickly try to compose myself enough to tell him everything. "Okay, I'm ready to tell you." I smile.

"I'm listening." he smiles, running his fingers through my hair calmingly. This seems to calm me. He is leaning on the backboard of the bed, my head on his bare chest, his warm skin touching mine.

I tell him everything, how I just really wanted to be noticed, and he was the most popular guy in school. Then about how he pressured me to go all the way with him that one night, and how he beat me when I refused. Then the whole breakup and how he was cheating almost the whole time. I'm crying a lot, and through it all, Shawn just kept telling me how it's okay, and stroking my hair, holding me tight.

"The part that I'm most upset about is that I was too naive to see it. And that I stayed with him through all of it. I was so stupid, but I guess I was scared to leave, because of what he might do to me. I also don't think that I wanted to let go of dating he most popular guy in school."

"That douchebag! How could he lay a hand on you and cheat on you and not get punished for it?" Shawn says, angry.

"I just can't believe I was that stupid to let him cause me so much pain," I scrunch up my face in confusion.

"You aren't stupid. Just young. You made a mistake, and you have learned from that now," he smiles. "Everyone makes mistakes, Emma. I know you're broken, and I know you're a mess, but I will try to fix you,"

"Thank you," I smile at his inspiring message. "And I'm sorry for being so hesitant earlier. I'm just scared that it's going to happen again,"

"You can trust me, baby girl. I would never, ever, EVER do anything like that to you. You need to know that." I see his fists clenched now.

I turn to look at him, a puzzled look on my face. "Did you just call me baby girl?"

"Yeah, you don't like it? I can stop." he laughs.

"No, I like it," I smile and lay back down. I actually love it. Every little thing he does is making me fall a bit more. But I refuse to fall. Not yet. "Can you sing to me?" I ask.

"Of course, what do you want me to sing?"

"Anything you want," I smile.

{shawn pov}

I think I know exactly what to sing her. It goes perfectly with what she's dealing with right now.

"She would not show that she was afraid,
but being and feeling alone was too much to face,
and everyone said that she was so strong,
what they didn't know was that she could barely carry on,
but she knew that she would be okay,
so she didn't let it get in her way,

Sometimes it all gets a little too much,
but you've gotta realize that soon the fog will clear up,
and you don't have to be afraid,
because we're all the same,
and we know that sometimes it all gets a little too much.

She would always tell herself she can't do this,
she would use no help, it would be just fine,
but when it got hard she would lose her focus,
so take my hand, it will be alright,

But she knew that she would be okay,
so she didn't let it get in her way

sometimes it all gets a little too much,
but you've gotta realize that soon the fog will clear up,
and you don't have to be afraid, because we're all the same,
and we know that sometimes it all gets a little too much,"

It looks like she's asleep now, so I slowly get up, turn off the light, and start to walk out of the room.

"Shawn?"

"Yeah, baby girl?" I turn around, smiling.

"Could you, um, please stay here? I feel better when you're here beside me," though it's dark, I can see a faint blush on her cheeks.

"Of course I will," I smile, "I mean, I'd like to sleep with you any chance I get," I smirk.

"Shut up!" she yells, laughing.

"I'm just kidding, I'm just kidding," I smile, crawling next to her and wrapping my arms around her.

I am going to try to do everything I can to help her. What he did was very wrong, and I'm going to find a way to make him pay for-

She interrupts my thoughts, "And I know I just told you all of this, but could you please pretend like you don't know? I'm scared that if you try to get him back, he'll hurt me again,"

"Sure thing," I smile and kiss her forehead, "I'll never let him hurt you again, I promise."

I feel like she's my responsibility now, even though I know she can take care of herself. And I'm going to do everything I can to make her feel safe and keep her away from this Dylan guy.

This makes me wonder why he's even here. Like why on this tour that Emma is on? And Emma didn't mention anything about him ever liking music. So why on earth is he here?

That's when it hits me. He came here on purpose. He's planning on hurting her again.

a/n

ooh dramaaaaaaaa

I've literally been listening to treat you better on repeat AHHH it's absolutely amazing 😍

OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 300 READS ALREADY!!! it means a lot 😘💕

~em 💗