Melanie POV

After I told Nate i didn't want to go on a date, he just walked away. He didn't say another word, but I could see the rejection in his face.
I didn't mean to hurt his feelings.
I wish I could of told him the truth.
If only he knew how much I would of loved to go on a date with him, but I can't.
Because of Kevin.

On my walk back to my apartment, my phone rings.
It's Mrs. Ariana.
"Hello?" I say.
"Hey Melanie, it's Ariana." She says.
"Hey Mrs. Ariana, is everything ok?" I ask nervously.
She giggles. "Yes, everything is fine. I'm actually calling you because I wanted to see if you'd like to go out this Saturday?"
"Like a work thing?" I ask confused.

"Well no, more like a friend thing." She says. "I wanted to spend time with you outside of work as friends. I was thinking about going to a club in Nashville?"
"A club? I love to dance." I say excitedly. "I'd love too."
"Great!" Ariana says. "You can invite your boyfriend too."
Crap! Kevin.
"Oh ok, sure." I say.
"Ok, I'll send you the address really quick and we can meet Saturday at six. Is that cool?" She asked.
"Sure! See you Saturday." I say as we hang up.

As soon as I walk into my apartment, I'm greeted with a punch to the face.
"Shit!" I yell as I feel Kevin's fist connect to my eye.
He grabs me by the hair and slams me against the wall. "Who the fuck was that guy you were talking to outside your job today?" He asked angrily. "You better not be cheating on me."
"He is nobody." I cry. "He was just talking to me."
"No guy just talks to you." He says sarcastically. "What did he want?"
"He asked me on a date. I told him no." I say quickly.

Kevin punches me hard in the ribs and I lean over in pain.
"You must of showed him you were interested in order for him to ask you out." He spits.
"I didn't." I pant, trying to breathe.
"Who was you talking to on the phone just now?" He asked.
"My boss." I say.
"What did she want?" Kevin asked annoyed.
"She wanted to know if I wanted to go out with her Saturday." I say quietly. "She invited you too."
Kevin rolls his eyes. "You know I hate going out so call her and cancel."

"No." I say. "You don't have to go, but I am."
Kevin looks at me, surprised by my sudden burst of confidence.
"What did you just say?" He asked getting in my face.
I look up at him. "I said you don't have to go, but I am. I already told her yes so I'm not going to cancel." 
Just as I expected, his palm slaps across my face.
"I don't know who you're talking to like that bitch, but I'll be damn if you talk to me that way!" He shouts.
I place my hand against my cheek from the stinging.

I walk away and head for my bedroom.
I walk inside my closet so I can take a shower.
As I grab my pajamas, Kevin walks in.
He turns me around and touches my face.
"Look I'm sorry for putting my hands on you, but you just know how to provoke me." He says. "I promise I won't do it again."
I nod.

I know this trick.
He use to say the same thing back when we were actually together. All apologizing and never changing.
Empty promises.
Promises that he will break as soon as he gets mad at me again.
He thinks sorry will solve everything.
Sorry means nothing to me unless it's backed up with actions.

"You know how much I love you Melanie." He says kissing me. "I will do anything to keep you. Anything." He repeats. 
There's so many things I want to say to him, but I know it will just end up with me being hit.
"I know." I say, just to end this conversation.

After my shower, I look at myself in the mirror.
My cheek has a red handprint against it, along with my black eye.
Shit! Now I'm going to have to cover this up for work.
My ribs feel like they're on fire, but I know they're just bruised. I've had plenty of experiences with bruised ribs from Kevin.

When I met Kevin, I honestly didn't like him.
I mean he was nice, but I didn't find him attractive.
We never had that spark.
Nothing like I felt when I saw Nate.
Kevin was always so possessive and would stay around me all the time so I guess he just grew on me.
It's pretty much a blur of how we even began dating.
I guess because of how long it's been.
I'm twenty-five now, and I've known Kevin since I was fifteen.
Ten years is a long time to remember.

I crawl into bed and look at the time on my phone. Midnight.
I cover my head with the blanket.
I don't want Kevin to get any ideas.
As soon as the thought leaves my mind, here comes Kevin.
He crawls in beside me and wraps his arm around my waist.
He slides his hand down my stomach and tries to slide his hands into my waistband.
"Kevin, I'm tired." I say. "I have to be up in six hours."
"Shh." Kevin says. "Let me love you."

I roll my eyes in the dark as he pulls me onto my back.
He pulls my shorts and panties down and climbs on top of me.
Sex has never been a pleasurable experience for me.
When Penelope talks to me about her and her boyfriend, she makes it seem so exciting.
Maybe it's because I don't want Kevin so it's not enjoyable for me.

As Kevin runs his hands over my body, Nate's words come to my mind.
I'm just trying to imagine how perfect my hands will feel against your body.
If only this was Nate on top of me, then I would actually enjoy it.

Maybe one day, I will be saved.

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