The sound of my feet hitting the pavement every step I ran was the only thing I heard as I sprinted for my life, tears escaping my bruised and swollen eyes. It is dark out, not even the stars shined bright for they know it is a horrible night.

As I ran, the tears flowing made it harder to see but I was capable of seeing blurry city lights. I knew where I was going and to hell I will never look back.

With every step it got harder and harder to breathe but it didnt matter. All that matters is escaping from someone I sadly call my father.

You may be wondering why I'm running from my father at night. Well he abused me again tonight. Usually I go up to my room, ignore the pain, and go to sleep but something in me finally snapped. Something inside me told me the only thing left to do is run.

So that's exactly what I did.

To me, crying makes humans weak. I've always thought that so I would never cry after Michael abused me, I would just endure the pain and carry on like a warrior would. But something told me it was okay to cry this time, because even the strong break. Not everyone is invincible.

Stopping in front of a one-story building, I squinted my eyes at words in blue and pink neon lighting shine brightly on a sign.

"Mary Anne's Parlor," I read allowed as my eyes traced over every letter.

I didn't have the strength to smile but let me tell you, I'm glad I made it here. I've always loved Mary Anne's. The music, the people, the food, the atmosphere. Everything about it was perfect.

Before I could wipe away some tears, my feet already started making steps towards the entrance.

Hopefully no one will notice my blackened eyes or my scarred arms.

Feeling uncomfortable, I pulled my sleeves down as I went to sit in one of the red cushioned booths. I didn't even look at who was around or what was going on as I buried my head in my arms and cried. I continued to sob uncontrollably but silently into my arms until I heard someone sit down across me in my booth.

"Autumn? Is that you?" someone asked me. The voice was one I could recognize at anytime, anywhere.

Slowly peering out of my arm, my eyes widened when I realized it was him. It was Ryder.

"No!" I said too quickly, ducking my head in my arms again. I practically had a birds nest in my hair, my eyes were bruised and puffy, arms were scarred, and my sleeves were wet with tears. The one person that has to see me in this condition has to be Ryder...this day is just getting worse and worse.

"Don't lie to me Autumn. I know it's you." he said steernly but I didn't give in.

"Go away," I mumbled, not daring to look up at him because then he will see the bruises on my face and ask question that I won't answer.

I could hear him getting up. "Fine."

Phew. Thank god.

When the coast was clear, I removed my face from my arms. An urge to look back to see if Ryder was still in the parlor was driving me crazy but I ignored it.

The bruises on my eyes are so bad that everytime I blink I can feel a sharp pinch. Every pinch, my eyes turned glossier and glossier until the tears fell. This time I didn't even stop them; what's the point? It hurt to touch my eyes and wiping the tears won't do anything because they will continue to flow.

Each tear droplet is a painful memory of everything bad in my life.

One tear drop, I remember all the hurtful and cruel things my father has said to me.

Second tear drop, I remember my mother abandoning me everytime something went wrong.

Third tear drop, I remember Luke.

Fourth tear drop, I remember the physical abuse.

I lost count once the droplets turned into waterfalls, streaming down my pale face.

I've been broken for a very long time and yet everyday I try to save myself. I've been alone for so long that I've managed to become strong by myself.

And it hurts to see how miserable I could become, even though I made myself strong. Maybe what hurts the most is that nobody understands how damaged I am. No one underst–

The sound of two glass cups getting placed on the table I'm sitting at ended my crying session. A body slightly pushed itself against mine as it sat next to me in my booth, but kept some distance. On the table was one cookies and cream milkshake and one chocolate milkshake.

"I got this for you," Ryder placed the cookies and cream milkshake infront of me.

I wanted to smile and thank him, but I couldn't. "Y-you didn't h-have t-to," faltering over my words, I tried to hold back my sobs so he wouldn't see.

"Hey what's wrong?" Ryder placed his index finger under my chin forcing me to look at him but I shut my eyes, afraid of his reaction to my bruised face.

"Why are you cry — oh my god! What happened to you?" His shocked voice held me by the throat and the tears started falling, even behind my shut eyes.

His thumb gently wiped away all the tears and my body went numb except for my face. His touch caressed my cheeks and I was glad the tears died down. His thumbs brushed along the bruises with such delicacy that it never hurt once.

"Please look at me Autumn," he whispered and before I could resist, my eyes fluttered open.

Even through blurred vision I could still see the brightness that shined in his brown eyes. There was something else that his eyes held at that moment.

Concern. He was concerend.

"I know you didn't do this to yourself so please tell me who did this to you. Please," he begged, voice full of worry.

Pain changes people. It makes them trust less, overthink, become parinoid, and shut others out. I've never been able to trust anyone after all the pain but as I'm looking into Ryder's eyes, I can't help but want to trust him.

But I don't. Atleast not yet.

"I c-can't tell you. Please f-forgive me." I felt really bad for not telling him but I've never been one for gushing my heart out to someone and the next day they leave. How do I know Ryder won't do the same?

"Can I be honest with you?" he asked in a calming voice as he brushed my long brown hair with one hand repeadtly and held my chin in the other. The way his gentle fingers got lost in my hair made me want to moan; it felt really soothing.

I nodded, wanting to hear what he had to say.

As Ryder spoke he never took his eyes off of mine, capturing my soul. "I remember the day you came over for dinner and I saw the scars on your arms and I don't know why but it scared me. It scared me how you were getting hurt. Don't ask why but I want to protect you, I really do. Now that I see you like this: bruised face, puffy eyes full of tears, sadness, pain, I can't help but feel an unecessary desire to save you — to protect you."

"I know I said I hated you many times before but it's not true — well part of it is. I don't hate you, but I hate that you're making me feel. You make me feel, and I don't like it. The last time I really felt was..." his bottom lip quivered but he bit down on it and looked away.

Now it was my turn to comfort him. "It's okay Ryder, you don't have to say what you're afraid to say, trust me I get it."

He inhaled a shaky breath, nodded, and continued. "After something in my life happened I never wanted to feel again, afraid of getting hurt. But then you showed up and well you made me feel."

I knew something happened in his past that was deeper than the conflict he had between Derek. I knew it.

"And before you ask if I like you, my answer is I'm not sure. All of this is new to me. I'm really confused by you because I don't know if I should stay away from you because you make me feel or not stay away."

Don't stay away.

"The way you didn't give up on me made me want to actually do well in school. It's scary that I spent so much time trying to be cold then you show up and it only takes you a second to bring back everything I so desperately tried to get rid of."

Emotions. So that's why he's been acting cold. He doesn't want to feel anything because he's afraid of getting hurt because of what happened in his past.

I tried not to have a shocked expression on my face but I was shocked. I didn't know that I made him confused and feel things he wasn't sure he wanted to feel. Honestly I like that he's confused by me because it makes me feel like I'm a mystery he's trying to solve.

His eyes shimmered with intensity and curiosity. "You may think your scars and bruises make you different in a bad way, but I think that makes you real. Your scars prove you are everything real in a world of fake."

Before I could react, he slid my sleeves up my arms, exposing the scars. "These scars, Autumn, portray a story. They are the reminder of all the times life tried to destroy you, but failed. Why on earth do you try so hard to hide them?"

"Because people ask questions and make fun." I admitted to him.

"Look around. Did anyone in this parlor come and ask you if you were okay?"

"No."

"It's because they don't care," he said truthfully. "But me," he pointed to himself, "I care."

Every word he says consumes me. He cares. Ryder cares about me. It sounds unreal but I believe every word that comes out of his mouth.

"The fact that you have to hide away all the pain you feel, I have a feeling that nobody knows how broken you really are."

"You're right," a tear escaped my eye but Ryder didn't notice it fall down my cheek because his eyes were exploring the depths of mine. "Nobody knows."

"For someone to see another persons brokeness means they must be broken too, or used to be broken. They know what broken looks like so that must mean you are broken as well." I pointed out and he gulped nervously.

Ryder smiled sadly, "we're all broken in our own little ways. But let's not focus on me right now, ok?"

Giving in, I sighed. "Ok."

For a while, he just held my face in the palm of his hands and stared at me. My pupils expanded when he moved a little closer to me. With him being closer I could feel his hot breath tingle my skin. "The fact that you are able to fight the pain alone and not give up makes you heroically brave, remember that," Ryder told me.

Sniffling, I slyly smiled. "Thank you."

His white teeth shinned behind his lips as he smiled back at me. "I know you won't tell me today, but someday I hope you will be able to open up to me as I hope to open up to you."

"I hope I can too."

My tears earlier were held with pain and sadness but the tears I wanted to cry now would be happy ones. Ryder understands me. No one has ever been able to understand me.

Ryder looked at the milkshakes, "we should probably drink those before they melt."

I giggled, my mood instantly brightening. "Ya we probably should."

We smiled at eachother and I came to the conclusion that maybe I don't have to fight alone.

Maybe we could conquer our battles together.