Sighing to yourself, you pushed open the door to your shared flat once again. Your boyfriend was sprawled on the couch, luckily asleep. You tip toed past him, almost making it to the stairs before he woke up. "What are you doing?" he asked, sitting up.

"I was just going to go to bed, long day at work," you replied. You were calm on the outside but on the inside you were quivering in fear.

"You weren't hanging around with that Alex guy again, were you?" your boyfriend growled, appearing threateningly in front of you.

"I told you I went to a long day of work, can I just go to bed?" you pleaded.

"Fine. But give me a goodnight kiss first," your boyfriend demanded. You stood up on your tip toes and gave him a quick peck. You walked around him, only for him to grab your shoulder and throw you against the wall. "I said kiss, not a stupid pathetic peck," your abusive boyfriend stated. He forcefully shoved his tongue down your throat. You allowed him to do so, although everything in your body was telling you to push him away. He smirked down at you. "Now see, that wasn't so bad," he smirked before his face turned dark. Pushing you towards the staircase, he walked out of the house. "When I come back, I expect you to be asleep in bed, got it?"

"Yes," you gulped, knowing full well what would happen if you didn't. Watching him drive away relieved you. You sighed and walked upstairs. Changing out of your work clothes you called Alex. He was your best friend since sixth grade and you always called him whenever Riley, your boyfriend, would get physical. You never told him what happened though.

"Princess (Y/N), so nice of you to call one of the commoners," Alex joked, picking up the phone. You smiled at the nickname. Alex had given it to you when you guys were in sixth grade because you had given a presentation on Princess Diana. You had made a tiara that was a replica of her own and wore it for the presentation. When it got stuck in your hair, Alex claimed that it was because you were a princess, and princesses shouldn't have to take of their tiaras for anyone. You had to cut it out of your hair and Alex had been there by your side, defending you against any kid that dared to make fun of your hair cut.

You two had been best friends since. "Of course, tell me peasant, what's going on in the Kingdom of Arsenal?" you returned in a posh accent.

"Training, as usual madam. Did you watch the game yesterday?" Alex asked, excited. You smiled at his childishness.

"No, Riley and I were out shopping for kitchen stuff then," you lied. In reality, Riley prevented you from watching any Arsenal games or anything that remotely involved Alex.

"Speaking of Riley, how is he?" Alex questioned, though it sounded forced and not very sincere. Alex and Riley didn't quite get along.

"He's good," you stated.

"How's he treating you?"

"Just fine," you lied through your teeth. Riley threatened to beat you within an inch of your life if you ever told anyone about what happened between the two of you.

"Why don't we FaceTime, I haven't seen your gorgeous face in forever?" Alex complimented, making you blush.

"Sure, just a sec," you smiled, clicking on the FaceTime app. Alex's face soon appeared on the screen.

"Ah, see. Now I can sleep at night because I've seen the beautiful Princess (Y/N)," Alex smiled.

"Ah stop it, peasant," you bantered back, tucking a piece of hair behind your ear. Alex's smile dropped from his face.

"What's that mark on your neck, (Y/N)? It looks like a . . . hand mark," Alex frowned.

"It's nothing," you stuttered, covering the bruise with your hand.

"Then what's that cut above your eyebrow?"

"Uh, clumsy old me, right? Tripped and fell onto the coffee table. Edge cut open my forehead a bit. Just a band aid and I was all set," you smiled, trying to cover up the truth. In reality, Riley had pushed you. You had fallen and sliced your forehead on the broken glass on the floor from the beer bottle he had thrown at you.

"(Y/N), stop lying, what's wrong? Did Riley do that?"

"No!" you shouted quickly, too quickly.

"He did do it, didn't he?" Alex accused.

"No, you just don't understand," you choked out, trembling at the thought of Riley finding out that Alex knew your little secret.

"Oh I understand perfectly well. I'll be there in ten minutes to pick you up. No if's, and's, or but's, you're coming with me and we're prosecute that douche bag for hurting you," Alex stated before hanging up.

"Alex!" you shouted at the screen but he had already hung up. You shook once you heard the door downstairs open.

"Bitch! Come downstairs right now!" Riley slurred. He had gone out drinking again. You sucked in a breath and walked downstairs, knowing if you avoided him it would only make him angrier. You walked into the living room where Riley leaned against the wall. "Where were you?" he questioned, walking towards you. You took a step back.

"I was sleeping, like you told me to do," you informed Riley, lying once again. You were quiet good at it apparently. The only person you couldn't lie to was Chambo. Chambo! He was on his way here right now. You sucked in another breath of air. Riley stumbled forward, grabbing onto you to right himself. You wobbled but stood standing.

"I never told you that!" Riley screamed, stumbling back to the wall. He was very drunk which meant he was very angry. You stood silently by the stairs. "You lie!" he shouted in your face. His alcohol breath made your eyes water but you stood strong and took the abuse. "You whore! I told you to go to bed!" he reiterated what you had told him earlier. "I hate whores," he muttered, grabbing your neck.

You chocked as his grip tightened. Your hands grabbed onto his as you tried to get out of his grasp. Black dots appeared on the peripherals of your vision. Riley threw you to the ground. You sucked in air, coughing as you did so. "Did I say you could breathe?" Riley snarled, kicking your stomach. You gasped as air was forced out of your lungs, coughing harder. "Stupid slut! All you had to do was follow simple instructions," Riley stumbled over his words, alcohol taking its effect. He grabbed your hair and dragged you away from the stairs. You screamed in pain until he slapped you.

Whimpering, you sat up and stared at Riley in fear. He pulled you to your feet. Inspecting your face, he clucked his tongue. "Covering up my love bites I see," he grumbled. By love bites, he meant bruises you had sustained from him throwing you into the wall. "We'll just have to make new ones then," he sighed. You screamed in pain as his fist collided with your skull. You dropped to the ground, clutching your cheek. Looking out the window, you saw a set of headlights pull into the driveway. Alex, you remembered. Luckily, Riley hadn't noticed.

"You can't follow simple rules. So I'm going to have to punish you," Riley said, picking up a beer bottle. You looked out the window to see Alex sprint towards the house. You screamed again as the shards of glass scratched your exposed skin. "I said be silent!" Riley growled, picking up another bottle. You turned your attention to the door. In his drunken stupor, Riley had left the door open, making it easy for Alex to run right into the house.

Hearing Alex enter the house, Riley turned towards the door. Alex looked down at you: battered, bloody, and bruised, before turning to look at Riley. Rage filled his eyes, which made you shiver. You had never seen him look that angry before. Riley, having recognized Alex, turned to look down at you. "I told you no contact with him!"

"Your days of controlling her are over, Riley," Alex spat, stepping forward. Riley was taller than Alex but Alex was stronger and faster. Riley hefted the beer bottle and you curled up, waiting for the blow. The blow never came, however, because Alex had tackled Riley. Sitting up, you watched the brawl unfold. Pure rage flashed in Alex's eyes and Riley's confidence quickly drained out of him. Alex raised his bloody fist once more when Riley whimpered like a little baby.

"Please don't hurt me," he begged.

"Why shouldn't I?" Alex growled.

"Have mercy please," Riley cried, tears flowing out of his eyes.

"You're pathetic," Alex spat. You had called the police and sighed in relief once the officers stormed into the house. Alex stood aside and let the police take Riley away in handcuffs. An ambulance showed up. The police officers sent you and Alex over to the ambulance. The lady moved to take care of Alex first but he declined and let the lady attend to you.

You pulled the blanket they had given you tighter around you and answered the policeman's questions. They nodded and said they would call you when the trial was set up. You nodded and walked back over to the ambulance where Alex was getting his knuckles bandaged. You sat beside him and rested your head on his shoulder. He thanked the ambulance lady as she walked away, to tend to Riley. Alex wrapped an arm around your waist. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I was just scared of what he would do if I did," you sighed, holding back tears.

"It's not your fault. He was controlling your with fear. All that matters is that he's going to jail and will be off the streets for a long time," Alex stated, kissing your forehead. You rubbed his bandaged knuckles. "The bastard's teeth cut open my knuckles. I think I knocked one or two teeth down his gullet though," Alex smiled. You shivered as a cool breeze filtered through the air. "C'mon, let's go home," Alex said, lifting you off the ambulance's trunk with ease. Setting you back on the ground, Alex led you to his car. You spent the night at Alex's and then the next and then the next. You just moved in with him. You would get nightmares but Alex would always be there to comfort and sooth you. You stopped having nightmares and grew to trust people again. All thanks to Alex, your now fiancé.