I hate that I'm slowly becoming one of those people who're taking ages to update. I'M TRYING SO HARD NOT TO BE THAT.

This book is surprisingly nearing the end. Well sorta there's still a few more things that need to happen but I think it's gonna take like 20 more chapters until it's done. Is that close to the end? Idk I'd say we're 65-70% done with the book.

Also I find it so cool that the actor who plays Dean has met Harry irl (as shown below).

≫≫≫

I wanna hide the truth, I wanna shelter you

But with the beast inside, there's nowhere we can hide

≫≫≫

"Hey you look familiar."

  Harry froze at Dean's words, gulping and turning to look at him. He wondered if Dean recognized him from that day he answered the door. Harry didn't know what to do so he played dumb.

   "Excuse me?" he pulled a fake frown, making Dean shake his head.

   "I think we went to the same high school," Dean suddenly said, making Harry's eyes widen significantly. "Oh shit wait, you're Harry. Harry Styles."

   "I-I'm sorry, I'm having trouble placing you," Harry mumbled in utter confusion, trying to remember where on earth did he see this man in school. He's also confused as to why Dean didn't recognize him as the man who knocked on his door that one terrible morning.

   "Dean Walker," Dean introduced himself, drying his hands before reaching out to shake Harry's. Harry did the same before forcing himself to shake Dean's hand. "I tutored you for a few months, in I think Chemistry and Maths? You were a junior and I was a senior."

   "Oh my god," Harry gaped in shock when it dawned upon him.

  He remembered Dean Walker. The jock that everyone loved. Charming and handsome, a fantastic athlete and an intelligent student. He was even the valedictorian of his graduating year. Harry couldn't believe he didn't recognize Dean. He remembered even having a tiny crush on him. Dean was more cute and preppy when they were 18, but now he looked rugged and hot. Harry was slowly beginning to remember how Adriana and Dean were a really cute couple in school. He was in shock. Unfortunately, Harry didn't know that even in high school Dean seemed great on the outside, but it was all a façade. A façade that fooled everyone, especially Adriana.

   "It's been so long, how are you doing?" Dean questioned with a smile.

   "I'm-I'm doing great," Harry let out a shaky laugh. He still couldn't comprehend what was happening.

   "Yeah? What do you do now?" Dean questioned with interest, folding his arms over his chest.

   "I'm a musician, and I've just opened up my own record label," Harry said with a shrug, making Dean's eyes widen in awe.

   "That's great, man," Dean praised him with a grin, before Harry asked him what he does.  "I uh run a business."

   "Oh that's...great," Harry nodded in response with a tight-lipped smile, wondering why he wasn't elaborating as much but he didn't bother to ask.

   "I'd love to stay and catch up, well maybe not in a bathroom. But I'm having dinner with my girl and some other people so I gotta go," Dean began saying, and Harry couldn't help but twitch when he said my girl. Dean didn't noticed thankfully.

   "Right I gotta go too, I'm with some friends," Harry nodded in understanding, hoping and praying that Dean doesn't suggest meeting up another time. Fortunately, he didn't.

   "Anyways, it was great meeting you," Dean reached out to shake his hand again, making Harry respond with outstretching his own hand. "Take care, Harry."

   "You too, Dean," he forced out the words to be polite, before Dean shot him one last smile and exited the bathroom.

  Harry let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in, unable to believe that that just happened. He couldn't believe he had met Dean before in high school. He didn't think that Dean was the ex that got her pregnant; he always thought it was some random guy. But he was slightly confused when he remembered how Adriana told him he was a dick around the time she got pregnant, even though he has changed according to Adriana. He just couldn't see Dean Walker as being a dick, as far as Harry can remember Dean was one of the nicest guys in school. He eventually pushed his thoughts away, and exited the bathroom, only to run into the one person he had been thinking off for the past two weeks.

   "Adriana," Harry blurted with wide eyes, having run into her as soon as he flung the bathroom door open. Their gazes locked for a moment, before Adriana broke it and mumbled.

   "Hey, Harry," she mumbled awkwardly. She had to pretend like she was doing well without him, otherwise her broken eyes full of pain would cause suspicions to arise.

   "H-Hey," he stuttered, before he swallowed thickly and reminded himself of Niall's words. No matter how much he missed Adriana and wanted to be with her, he couldn't because what she did was unforgivable. Nonetheless, he still wanted to make sure she was doing fine, physically with the addiction, and so was Mateo.

   "How are you?" Adriana forced herself to question, looking him straight in the eye because she didn't want him to be suspicious.

  She was glad she did a full glammed make up look so it covered her heavy eye bags and made her look more lively. She covered up her bruises skillfully with color corrector and foundation so in Harry's eyes she looked normal, healthy even. She actually had been doing a little better than usual since Dean had his friend Kenny come in every day to help her battle the addiction step by step. While Adriana was occupied with that, Dean had successfully manipulated Mateo into forgiving him and believing that what he did to his mother was a terrible mistake that he regretted immensely. Dean was now bonding with him better than ever and taking care of him like a real father. It made Adriana sick to her stomach, and motivated her more in finding a way to escape his clutches.

   "I'm doing alright," Harry shrugged casually, but Adriana could see he wasn't doing that well at all. "How are you doing?"

  His skin was paler than usual, cheekbones sharper which was a sign that he had lost some weight. His usually smooth face had stubble, especially a shadow on his upper lip. It pained her immensely to see him like this. It reminded her of how inevitable this all was, Harry's suffering. She always knew she was going to hurt him. Ruin him. Corrupt him. She felt like she was successful. The man she fell in love with, the always happy and optimistic, sweet, charming Harry Styles wasn't standing before her. Instead there was this hollow shell of a man with broken green eyes. She just hoped that one day she would be able to make it up to him for all the pain she had caused him.

   "I'm good too," Adriana answered with a tight-lipped smile and nod.

   "Yeah I can see," Harry couldn't help but mutter in response, tucking his hands into his pockets while averting his gaze. "How's the addiction going? And Mateo?"

   "Surprisingly well actually," she spoke truthfully, swallowing thickly at his tone when he said his first sentence. "Dean...he's got a guy helping me out. The guy's been sober for years so he knows what he's doing. Mateo is doing well too, he's happy his father is back."

  She left out the part that Mateo asks about his sun every now and then, and gets sad often times remembering how he used to make crêpes and went on fun grocery trips with him. Despite how much Mateo enjoyed that his father was back, and now softening up and being much more kind and loving to him, he still missed his sun.

   "I'm glad to hear that," Harry forced out the words.

  He wanted to be happy for her, but it was hard. It was mostly because Harry did more than Dean was doing; in his eyes, yet she was doing well with Dean, better than she ever was with Harry. Everything was working out for her and she was moving on, but he was stuck. He was still crying every now and then in his shower, or writing sad songs. It made him slightly angry that things were working well for her because she's with Dean, but when she was with Harry everything was so difficult and complicated. He wondered why. He wondered if they were truly never meant to be together and this was all fate's doing. Fate smiled at Harry's thoughts, leering from above as Harry struggled internally. He looked at her again, pale green eyes.

   "Do you love him?" he suddenly asked, the question catching Adriana completely off-guard. Adriana sighed lightly before she parted her lips to speak.

   "Harry," she started to say before he gave her a look. "He was my first love. My first at everything-"

   "It's a yes or no question, Adriana."

   "Jesus Harry," Adriana widened her eyes at his tone, the way he hissed at her. She had to keep reminding herself that she 'cheated' on him and it hurt and infuriated him. "I know you're upset but I can't help it if I've moved on and you haven't."

   "It's only been two weeks, and you got over us that fast?" Harry questioned in disbelief, making her swallow thickly and look away. "You never really loved me, did you?"

   "I did, Harry," Adriana responded, trying her hardest to keep her face straight while she was falling apart on the inside. Having this conversation with him hurt her more than anything and the fact that he was beginning to believe that their whole relationship was just a lie was killing her. "Trust me I did."

   "Trust you?" Harry let out a laugh, the sound of it so hollow and bitter it worried her immensely. "After what you did?"

    "Believe it or not, I did love you at some point," Adriana said firmly, wishing secretly that she could say that she still loved him. Oh so much. But she couldn't.

   "I just don't know what I did wrong. I honestly don't. Was it all because I was pressuring you to go to rehab? I-If I knew someone who got sober like Dean does then of course I would've gotten help that way first. But I didn't know anyone, rehab was the only option-"

   "Look Harry, I don't have time for this," Adriana interrupted him, making his brows lower. She was afraid Dean was going to pop up, wondering why she was talking so long and will end up seeing Harry. She didn't know that Harry had already encountered Dean. "Please, I want you to know that you did your best trying to help me, you really did. But either way, I think it was for the best, us breaking up."

   "You really believe that?" Harry whispered with sad eyes, making Adriana bite her lip and nod. "I-I don't get it."

   "It was inevitable in my eyes," she sighed heavily. "Maybe it just wasn't meant to be."

   "So-so you were gonna give up on us just like that? You didn't love me," Harry kept repeating the last few words, making her swallow thickly. "If you loved me, you would've rushed to explain to me and beg for my forgiveness the minute I saw you with that fucking guy. You would've cried just like I did when we broke up, and apologized and again, begged for a second chance-"

   "How can I beg for a second chance when I know that I don't deserve one, Harry?" Adriana cut him off suddenly. "I don't want your forgiveness for what I did. I can't forgive myself for what I did. I hurt you, Harry, like I said I would and I will never forgive myself for that." Her last sentence was spoken with complete honesty.

   "But-" Harry began to say before she interrupted him again.

   "You were the love of my life, Harry, my sun." Her lips spread into a sad smile. "I'm so sorry for what I did, I just didn't see the point in even trying to fight for a second chance. I don't deserve it even if you gave it to me."

   "I understand," Harry muttered after a few moments of silence. "I just don't think I'll ever understand the fact that our deteriorating relationship pushed you to cheat on me."

  She couldn't help but flinch at his words 'cheat on me', mostly because it hurt her that he didn't know. He didn't know that she was raped. Her helpless, dark eyes gazed at his still very broken ones. She wanted so desperately to communicate with him silently, to tell him that she was in trouble and that she needed help. But she knew things would spiral out of control if Harry knew what was really happening. Dean would not hesitate to kill Harry. She needed to protect him. She had to convince herself that pushing him away this way was helping her protect him.

   "I'm sorry, Harry," she murmured with a light sigh, before averting her gaze and walking around him to return to Dean.

  Harry pulled his lips into his mouth, pale eyes blinking away the tears. After a few minutes, he turned around and walked to the head of the hallway that lead to the bathroom, gaze landing upon Dean and Adriana. Dean had an annoyed look on his face as he immediately demanded Adriana the details as to why she took so long. She knew Harry was watching so she leaned in and whispered into Dean's ear, saying she'd make it up to him tonight for taking so long in the bathroom. Harry watched as her lips touched his ear, moving silently before they both pulled away to smirk at each other. Harry felt this unfamiliar anger boil the blood in his veins when Dean leaned forwards to share a kiss with Adriana, one that was surprisingly gentle.

  Watching them kiss hurt Harry more than he could imagine. The pain stung his heart wildly as if it were a poisonous jellyfish. It was a deep, searing pain. He wanted to go home and cry, but he was so tired of crying. He looked towards the table he was sitting at with his friends, watching them all laugh at a joke Niall just told. He didn't want to drag Niall away for comfort, feeling that Niall was now getting tired of Harry's problems with getting over Adriana. He just wasn't in the mood for what Niall would say if Harry told him he talked to Adriana. Harry looked back at Adriana and Dean, who had now pulled away and were enjoying the food that they ordered. His feet carried him over to Niall and the boys, whom all looked up at him.

   "Hey, what's wrong?" Niall questioned with an arch of his brow, wondering why Harry had a look of despair on his face.

   "Nothing, I'm just tired," Harry muttered, not making any move to sit down. "I think I'm gonna head home."

   "You sure, mate? We were about to head to The Neon Demons once we pay the bill," Liam spoke up, making Harry shake his head.

   "I'm really not feeling it. I just want some sleep," Harry told them, before sighing heavily and waving them off. He dropped down a few hundred-dollar bills onto the table before sliding his wallet back into his back pocket. "I'll see you guys another time."

  They bid Harry goodbye, Louis and Liam knowing that it was best to just let Harry be. But Niall on the other hand was worried for his friend, so he stood up from his seat and headed after Harry who was nearing the door. When he reached him, he pulled Harry back by the shoulder.

   "Are you sure you're okay, Harry? Because I don't think you are," Niall spoke firmly, adamant on taking care of Harry. Harry was now getting slightly annoyed with Niall's consistent need to check up on him. "Look we can ditch Louis and Liam and go-"

   "No, Niall, I'm alright. You go hang out with the guys," Harry insisted with a shake of his head. Niall still wasn't convinced. "Fine I'm not okay, but the only thing I'm gonna do is just go home and get over it. I just want to be alone tonight."

   "Alright," Niall mumbled after a few seconds. He knew that he needed to give Harry some space every now and then. "Please don't hesitate to call me if you need me, okay?

   "I will, don't worry," Harry nodded, squeezing Niall's shoulder.

   "Don't do anything stupid," Niall warned him, before pulling him into a short embrace. "Goodnight Peach, text me when you get home."

  Harry mumbled a yes, goodnight and love you in response before they pulled away and Harry turned to leave. Adriana watched him leave out of the corner of her eyes, relaxing a bit now because she didn't have to fully focus on her façade. Nonetheless, she made sure not to provoke Dean, or fight him because she knew Harry's friends were still around, especially Niall. He was intelligent, if Harry couldn't spot something out, Niall would. Thus Adriana kept her façade on for a little bit before Niall and his friends left. She couldn't ignore the stony, death glares she was getting from them as they walked by, specifically from Louis and Liam. She was just glad Dean didn't notice them otherwise he would've caused chaos.

   "I can't wait for tonight, babe." Dean's voice brought her out of her thoughts.

  His words made her internally grimace because she had just gotten herself into something she can't get out of. She was already tired and sore from their activities in the bathroom, thus she was not ready for tonight. She wasn't ready to fight. She wasn't ready to experience the dissociation from her body again. She just wanted it all to end. Dean and Adriana eventually headed home. The rest of the night consisted of throaty moans, endless tears, and muffled cries. Adriana truly fought this time because she really didn't want to have sex, just for once. Even her body didn't find pleasure in his actions like it sometimes does, she was dry for most of it. Dean Just wasn't listening; he was too greedy, too hungry for her body.

  Adriana could barely feel her lower body when it was done. She felt like she was already dead. She wanted to be dead. Her body was limp on the bed, empty eyes staring up at the ceiling, remembering the times they'd be gazing into a pair of beautiful, jade eyes with the brightest light she had ever seen in them. She reminisced to how she saw those eyes today, pale and broken with the sunset fading behind them, the diminishing light. Her heart was caving in. Her mind was reeling. She just couldn't handle it anymore.

  Her body shifted off the bed as she forced herself to go to the bathroom and pee. She also want to take a shower to scrub off the filth of Dean's sweat and release on her skin. Once she made it to the bathroom with small steps because her core was aching terribly, her shaky hands pulled the toilet lid up and sat down. Her face held a tight grimace, finding it hard even to pee. But she felt some liquid dripping out of her, which made her frown lightly because she knew Dean didn't release inside of her this time. Her hand cautiously dipped between her legs, fingers delicately touching the area she felt where the liquid was spilling from. When she pulled her hand back, her lips parted in slight horror.

  Her fingers were coated with bright, crimson blood.

∙❧∙

   "Another one."

   "Coming up." The bartender said with a nod, moving to prepare Harry's fourth gin and tonic.

  Harry had decided to get a drink instead of going home. He wanted to let loose for once instead of curling up under his blanket and crying. He was tired of crying, he wanted to just be numb. He was drunk as soon as he downed his third gin and tonic, feeling that he could handle another. The alcohol made him forget that he was in pain for a moment; he felt light and his head was spinning lightly. But he liked it. He was never fond of drinking alcohol but he enjoyed the feeling of getting a little tipsy every now and then. But he wasn't tipsy now, he was proper drunk, and soon to be wasted. He just wanted to drown his sorrows away for one night.

   "Right mate, we're gonna be closing soon," the bartender told Harry, cutting the drunk man's rambling off. "Are you walking home?"

  It had been about half an hour since Harry had his fourth gin and tonic, and had spent the whole time trying to flirt with the handsome bartender. But was unsuccessful half of the time because he wanted to bawl and ramble about how his ex cheated on him. Luckily he didn't because the bartender, Nick, was pretty busy half of the time. Now the bar was closing and Harry was still rambling like a drunk idiot. Nick wanted to go home, but was slightly concerned for Harry. He was pretty nice and generous with the tips and wanted to make sure Harry got home safely.

   "No I'll probably get hit by a car or something," Harry slurred with a lazy grin.

   "True, should I call you a cab then?"

   "No no no no I've got a friend to pick me up, I think I texted him a bit too much so now he's concerned," Harry told Nick, pushing his phone into his face and showing Nick the texts before the door of the bar swung open.

   "Oh there he is! Hi Zayn!"

   "I came only because I was concerned," Zayn spoke gruffly, brown eyes searching for Harry's while he ran his fingers through his unruly raven locks. He was sleeping when Harry started spamming him text messages that Zayn was clearly able to decipher as drunk texts. "Jesus, you're wasted."

   "Am not," Harry protested with a pout before Zayn shot Nick an apologetic look while grabbing Harry's arm and hoisting him up. "Can we go dancing Zayn? Pretty please!"

   "No I'm taking you home," Zayn told him, gently tugging him along to the exit.

   "Bye Nick! It was nice meeting ya!" Harry yelled out, waving his hand with a big grin. "Buh-bye now!"

  Zayn helped Harry walk to his car, holding his waist while swinging his arm around his neck. Harry was all smiles with dazed eyes, still rambling on drunkenly about how nice Zayn smelt. Zayn silently wondered to himself why Harry didn't call Niall or any of his other friends. Harry and Zayn hadn't called or messaged each other ever since they broke up which was a year or two ago. Nonetheless, Zayn ignored the strangeness of Harry randomly choosing him to be the one to call, and made sure to take care of Harry because he knew it was rare for Harry to get wasted like this.

   "So," Zayn said as soon as he was seated in the driver's seat, swinging the belt over his chest and buckling it. "What pushed you to get this drunk?"

   "I ran into Adriana," Harry muttered as Zayn grabbed the water bottle he brought along with him that was in the backseat, and gave it to Harry.

    "Your ex?"

   "Yeah," Harry pouted, becoming sad all of a sudden before he chugged some water. "It was horrible."

   "You can tell me all about it if you want to," Zayn offered as he started the car and pulled out of the parking spot he was currently in.

  That was enough to set Harry off ranting about everything that has been happening to him lately. He somehow had some self-control and didn't reveal certain details like the fact that Adriana had a kid. But he did explain to Zayn how she had a cocaine addiction, knowing that Zayn wouldn't tell anyone. He trusted him. Zayn listened attentively as he drove Harry home, heart filling up with sadness and anger when Harry got to the part where Harry was met with a half-naked man and Adriana at some point. His fists clenched around the steering wheel when Harry's voice broke while he told him about the things Adriana said when they broke up and when he ran into her tonight.

   "I'm so sorry, Harry," Zayn sighed heavily, gaze flicking over to Harry who sat there, slumped against his seat, hugging the water bottle to his chest. "You deserve so much better."

   "Everyone says that. Even she said that," Harry muttered under his breath, baby pink lips pouting.

   "That's because it's the truth, H," Zayn responded, as he pulled up into Harry's underground garage.

  He leaned back into his seat and stared at Harry, who had sobered up a little bit now after drinking water. He still looked a bit dazed, especially when he turned his head to look at Zayn. It hurt Zayn how much pain there was in Harry's eyes, swirling around with the pale jade and blue hues of his eyes. He felt bad that Harry was suffering like this; he had never seen him so down and sad. Harry sniffled quietly, eyes growing glossy as he looked away, mind replaying the conversation he had with Adriana.

   "I promised her I'd never leave her, and that I was gonna help her get better. I feel so guilty for not keeping that promise," he whispered ever so quietly, face contorting with sadness.

   "Yeah but you didn't think that there'd be anything stopping you from keeping that promise, Harry. You didn't think she would cheat. You did all you could and you were there for her...it's her fault for letting you go this way," Zayn turned in his seat a little to face harry better. "Plus, it seems like she'll be taken care of by that Dean guy so you can't have any regrets if something bad happens to her."

   "That's what kills me the most," he breathed with fresh tears. "The fact that she's able to move on from us quicker than I can. It just shows that she never really loved me as much as I her. Also, it kills me to know that she's getting better so quickly because of Dean but when we were together everything was so tough and complicated. I-I don't get it Zayn."

   "If that's really the case, I'm sorry Harry. But it is what it is and you've gotta move on," Zayn reached out to touch Harry's hand comfortingly.

   "M-Maybe Dean is better than me," Harry ignored Zayn's words, rambling emotionally. "I-I mean I remember him in highschool. He was perfect. Maybe he's like that now? I feel I just wasn't enough-"

   "Harry, look at me," Zayn suddenly spoke sharply, interrupting him. "You are the kindest person I know. It hurts me to know that people take advantage of that, and that it's your weakness. Don't for one second think that you weren't enough. That fucking Dean ain't shit compared to you."

  Zayn didn't notice the way Harry was gazing at him, so intently with his wide, glossy green eyes. He didn't notice the way his gaze would flicker down to Zayn's pale pink lips every now and then. He didn't notice how Harry was inching closer to him.

   "Harry, you'll find someone who'll love and cherish you the way you deserve to be loved and cherish," Zayn told him firmly, feeling an odd pang of pain in his heart because he knew he would never be that person. "Someone who won't hurt you, who'll make you realize just how incredible you really are."

  The rest of his words didn't get a chance to leave his mouth because it was soon occupied by Harry's. Zayn was taken back by the suddenness of Harry's action, overwhelmed by the feeling of his soft lips on his. But the feeling disappeared as instantly as it appeared, brown eyes fluttering open to find themselves gazing into a pair of confused, regretful green eyes. Harry pulled back suddenly, embarrassed that he randomly made a move on Zayn because the words he spoke made him emotional. Zayn was confused too, and didn't like the look of regret on Harry's face. His thick brows furrowed, pink lips parting to speak, only getting out Harry's name before Harry himself cut him off.

   "Harry-"

   "I think I'm gonna be sick."

∙❧∙

   "Adriana! I've missed you!"

  A genuine smile crawled onto Adriana's lips at the sight of Stephan the bartender grinning at her. It was around 2 in the morning when Adriana decided to leave the apartment for a bit to get some fresh air. She couldn't sleep because the guilt and shame were keeping her awake, as well as fueling her cravings for cocaine. She knew she'd have ended up doing some cocaine if she stayed any longer since Dean always had a stash sitting around.

  However, the cravings weren't the only thing that was keeping her awake. It was the moment she found blood between her legs that kept her mind shaking with fear, which made it difficult to sleep. She had to wait till it was the morning to go to the doctor, since she needed money from Dean. She just hoped that what she found wasn't that serious. For now, she just cleaned herself up and put a pad on Incase there was more bleeding.

   "Stephan, I've missed you too," she responded.

   "Come for a drink? Some tequila?" He arched a brow at her with a cheeky grin, making her chuckle lightly and nod.

   "You guessed it."

  She didn't know why she chose the Neon Demons out of all the places in New York to come to for a drink. But a part of her wanted to see the strippers dance, to reminisce on how she used to be one of them before Dean forced her to quit her job. Her heart missed dancing. It was the only thing that gave her relief from the pain, a distraction from the hell she was living in. She didn't know if she would ever get to dance like that again, or at all. Her mind didn't even have the capacity to continue playing her dreams of becoming a ballerina in the movie theater that was her head. There were too many things playing already, too many emotions, too many sad memories. No space for hopes and dreams.

   "I just hate that he's going through this."

  Adriana's body froze at the familiar voice that spoke up near her, just a few meters away. Her head turned slowly, dark eyes landing upon Niall and his friends. Harry wasn't there, much to her relief. She then remembered that Harry had left separately, earlier than the rest of his friends, but she didn't expect them to come here. She kept her head low and had her drink, hoping and praying that none of them would notice her. She just wanted to finish her drink quickly and leave, but she found herself listening in quietly to the conversation they were having which was about Harry.

   "Yeah it sucks seeing him like this," Liam agreed with a light sigh. "I used to think she was just another girl using him that he'd easily get over, but he really thinks she was the one. You know?"

    "Clearly she wasn't since she decided to fucking cheat on him," Louis spoke bitterly, before taking a sip of his whiskey.

  Adriana felt his words stab her heart, face contorting with guilt and pain. The urge to walk up to them and scream at them that she was raped and she didn't cheat on Harry, was indescribable. It killed her that nobody knew. Nobody knew what she was going through, how much she was struggling, how she can barely breathe because the pain, guilt and shame was suffocating her. She hated that it was because she didn't have the strength to tell anyone about it. Her true colors were so hard for her to reveal because of how afraid she was that no one would believe her, or if they did, they'd never look at her the same.

   "I still find it hard to believe that she did that," Niall muttered quietly. "I honestly thought she loved him."

  I do love him, Adriana wanted to say to him desperately. Her heart was aching by the time she finished her drink, quickly grabbing her handbag that was on the counter to pull out a few bills. Once she left it on the counter, she began standing up. Stephan noticed her leaving, frowning and calling out her name because he wanted to say goodbye before she disappeared off. Her heart dropped to her stomach at the loud calling, knowing that Niall and his friends had probably heard. However, it was only Niall that heard.

  Niall felt this odd sense of anger overcoming his senses at the sight of Adriana bidding the bartender goodbye and turning to leave. He wanted to go up to her and give her a piece of his mind, yell at her for hurting his bestfriend terribly but he refrained from doing so. Thus, he stuck to just glaring at her from the distance. He watched as she got off the bar stool, handbag slipping from her shoulder and hitting the ground. A couple of her personal items spilled from the bag, making her curse under her breath. Niall frowned deeply as he saw the sleeves of her coat rise due to her hands moving, noticing the dark bruises around them.

  Adriana lifted her gaze up, unexpectedly meeting Niall's before she realized what he was staring at. Her heart dropped in her chest, quickly scrambling to shove her things into her handbag and leave. Niall excused himself from his friends and began following her. He called out her name loudly, following her until they were outside of the club. He managed to catch up with her, hand quickly attaching to her wrist causing her to flinch because of the physical contact as well as wince in pain.

   "Don't touch me!" she shrieked loudly, spinning around and ripping her wrist from his grip.

   "Shit I'm sorry, just wait! Stop running," Niall quickly responded with wide eyes, wondering why on earth she reacted so strongly. He understood that him grabbing her probably put pressure on the bruises, but the way she looked at him with fear surprised him a little.

  Adriana ignored his words and bolted, disappearing into an alleyway that was a shortcut to her apartment building. She looked back to see if Niall was still following her or not. Her back pressed against the wall of the alleyway, chest heaving up and down as she inhaled and exhaled quietly. Her eyes fluttered shut as they pricked with tears, now worried that Niall was going to start assuming things since he saw the bruises. She looked down at her wrists, lower lip trembling and eyes squeezing shut when flashes of Dean holding them behind her back while taking her that way, appeared in her brain. Her arms wrapped themselves around her slowly, tears streaming down her cheeks like a steady, flowing lake while her knees buckled and she slid down to the ground.

  Her heart caved in as she cried sorrowfully. She cried for everything. For being so unlucky to have such a tragic life like the one she was living. For every single person in the world who suffered like she did, who were victims of abuse. Victims of rape, child abuse, and drug abuse. She cried for the women and men who have to fight and survive these things that tried to reduce them.

  She cried because of the darkness and evil that lurked in the world and preyed on innocent souls, tortured them and imprisoned them for all eternity.

≫≫≫

∙ my eyes were drooping as I updated this I'm SO sleepy so I'm sorry if this chapter is a little shit. But what did you think?

∙ what do you think of the ending? Like when Niall saw the bruises, what do you think will happen?

Love you all and

Until we meet again...

Mr. Pool ❤️