Enough

One week later, Jake kissed me on the lips before leaving for work.

"I love you," I told him as he grabbed his keys.

He smiled, "Love you too." Then he walked out the door.

I sighed when I heard him start his car and then drive off. It got worse with Jake and I. I've started to really wish things would go back to normal. I just wanted things to be like when we first fell in love, before he ever hit me, or introduced me to cocaine or allowed all those men into our house for a fee.

I began to clean the house, thinking about how nice things would have been if Jake never changed, or if I had never met Jake in the first place and went on tour with the guys instead. I was always told not to regret my choices in life but to learn from them instead. What was I to learn from this? Instead of furthering my education I should just drop everything and go on tour with a band? In what world was that acceptable? I didn't matter anyways because I didn't regret staying behind while my friends went on tour. I loved my job as a nurse. I loved the idea of being in love. I didn't regret staying behind and doing what I loved.

I sighed. I hated who I had become. I hated that I let Jake hit me. I hated that I let countless men rape me. I hated that I kept lying to my friends when they asked me about what was going on in my life. I hated how I was constantly finding reasons to blame myself for everything going on. Most of all, I hated how after every hit, kick, bruise, broken bone, rolled up dollar bill, forced thrust and plead to stop I still loved Jake. I think a part of me will always love Jake no matter how he treated me.

Of course, I couldn't blame Jake for everything. If I wasn't so weak none of this would have ever happened. If I wasn't so weak, I would have walked away the first time Jake hit me. That was my fault, I knew that.

Tears began to well up right before I heard a knock at the door. I tensed up immediately, I racked my brain and tried to remember if Jake had one of his friends coming over for me, but my mind was fuzzy. I wanted to crawl upstairs and under the blankets and pretend I wasn't home. However, I knew if it was one of Jake's friends and I didn't answer the door, Jake would want to know why and wouldn't be happy with any reason I came up with. So, instead of running upstairs, I pulled myself together and wiped my eyes. I walked over to the door, took a deep breath and opened it. I let out a breath of relief when I saw Zack standing on my porch.

When he saw me his face changed from content to worry. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head, knowing I couldn't tell him anything. "Nothing." I lied. I hugged him, and he hugged back, running his hand through my hair and down my back. "I missed you." I told him, that part wasn't a lie.

He hugged me tighter, "I missed you too," he was smiling when he pulled away from me. We walked inside and sat on the couch. "It's like he has you on house arrest or something."

I shook my head but silently agreed. "How are you? And Gena?" Gena was Zack's girlfriend. They started dating shortly after high school and have been together ever since.

"I'm good, she's good. We're good." He replied with a short nod.

I smiled. I was happy he was happy. "I'm surprised you haven't asked her to marry you."

Zack's smile seemed to have faded a bit, "Yeah, I guess so."

"What's that mean?" He shook his head, "Nothing." I didn't notice he had a small plastic bag in his hand until he started opening it. "I got you something."

"What?" I asked, "What for?" He pulled out a phone.

"Communication," he handed it to me. I grabbed it and held it as if it were going to shatter if I gripped it too tight.

"Zack, I have a phone." I tried to hand it back.

He shook his head. "Yeah, one your boyfriend pays for so he can keep an eye on all your incoming and outgoing texts and calls. Oh, and the prick blocked all of our numbers. I want you to be able to get ahold of one of us if you need to."

I nodded defeated and also relieved, honestly I was glad to have another phone in the house that wasn't tied to Jake in any sort of way. "But how am I supposed to pay the bill? I get all my money from Jake."

Zack gave me a look. "Seriously, Beks? Do you think I haven't thought about that? I've got the bill, don't worry about it."

I shook my head, “No, do you know how fast that money will add up?"

"Too bad."

I nibbled on my lip. I knew he wasn't going to take no for an answer. "Okay, but I'll pay you back. It might take a while but I'll pay you back for this."

Zack nibbled on his lip ring and stared at me intently for a few moments. "You can leave him."

"What?" I asked. That wasn't an option.

"To pay me back," he explained, "just leave him and we'll call it even. I'm serious, Beks."

"You don't even know him, Zack." I said in a soft voice.

"I know enough," he said. "I know you're not the same person you were when you graduated."

I crossed my arms. "Neither are you."

Zack gave me that look again. "I meant college. I know you're not as happy as you used to be. I know you don't want to be here. Something isn't right, I don't know what exactly but if you'll tell me I promise I'll fix it. I'll protect you and take care of you. I have connections, I can get you your job at the hospital back."

I stared at him. I wanted to tell him the truth. I wanted him to take me away from here, but then I remembered Jake. I remembered when his eyes were kind, I remembered how much I loved him. I couldn't leave with Zack. Not to mention, what's to say Jake would make it that easy for me to leave anyways?

"Zack, I'm okay." I told him reassuringly. "Thanks for the phone. I'll keep in contact as much as I can." Zack sighed and I knew he was wanting more from me, but I knew I couldn't give it to him. I hugged him tightly, holding back tears. "I promise."

*
For the next couple of days I kept in contact with the guys as much as I could. When Jake wasn't home, I was constantly texting them or on the phone with one of them. Things seemed to be getting better with Jake too. He hadn't invited any of his friends over since Chris, and we haven't fought since he left in our last fight. Things were really getting back to normal and that made me happy.

Today while Jake was at work Zack and I hung out at his house. I forgot how close Zack and I used to be. He was my very best friend, which was funny because we hated each other in elementary school. We spent almost eight hours just talking and laughing. I was really bummed when I had to leave so I'd be home in time for Jake to get home, plus I wanted to shower since Zack smoked and Jake and I didn't.

When I got out, Jake was sitting in the living room. I walked over to him and gave him a kiss. "How was work?" I asked him.

"It was okay," he told me pulling me onto couch. "You took your shower awfully early tonight." He pulled me into a kiss.

"Yeah," I told him as he began to kiss my jaw line and then my neck. "I was sweaty from working outside today."

"Mm, that's a shame because..." He pulled me onto his lap so I was straddling him. "You're just going to have to take another one."

I smiled and kissed him. I began to take off his shirt and he pulled my tank top from me. "I've been thinking about you all day," I whispered in his ear before he flipped me over and tore my shorts and underwear off.

*
"Go take a shower," Jake told me as he pulled his boxers back on a few hours later. "I want to take you to dinner tonight."

I smiled, "What's the occasion?"

He kissed me, "There is none. I just miss taking you out and showing you off."

I smiled again before scurrying off to the shower. I lost myself in thoughts while I washed myself off. If things continue to be this good, I could see myself being the happiest girl in the world again. I turned off the water and wrapped a towel around my chest before stepping out of the tub. I walked into the bathroom and seen Jake sitting on the bed with his back to me.

"So where are you taking me?" I asked as I grabbed a bra and panties from my dresser. I slipped them on and then walked over to Jake, "Hey, what are you doing? Day dreaming or something?" I put my hand on his shoulder.

Jake grabbed my hand and spun around in a fury. "What is this, Rebekah?" I shook my head, unsure of what he was talking about and then saw the cell phone Zack got me in his hand that wasn't gripping my wrist.

"I...I don't know." I told him.

"Really? Because it's not mine, so if it's not yours then who in the hell is it?" Jake asked me.

I didn't know what to say. Why didn't I hide it better? I put it in the hamper at the very bottom. He never does laundry so I thought it was safe. "Why were you in the hamper?" I asked and then cursed myself for such a stupid question.

"Why was I in the hamper?" He asked me, narrowing his eyes. He slapped me across the face and I fell onto the bed. "Because I fucking live here and I can do whatever the fuck I want."

"Jake, it's not what you think." I told him, getting up from the bed.

"Really?" Jake laughed, "want me to read you the only text message on here?" I didn't answer, but he read it anyways. "It was so nice to see you laugh and smile today, you looked more like your old self. I hope there are more days like this in our future where you're happy and we can just talk and hang out. I love you, Beks, and I will always be there for you. -Z"

Normally, a text from Zack like this would make me smile but right now, I wished he would have never sent this message.

"Jake, Zack's just a friend." I told him.

"It doesn't sound like it, Beks." He mocked. "Are you fucking him?" I shook my head and he slapped me across the face again. This time I tasted blood. "Don't fucking lie to me you stupid bitch." He threw me on to the ground and began to kick me.

"Jake!" I cried.

He grabbed a fist full of my hair and pulled me to my feet. "Why the fuck are you talking to those guys again, Rebekah? I asked you not to. I knew I couldn't trust you, you're a fucking whore!" He punched me in the stomach and hit me across the face again. "I told you to stop disrespecting me and what do you do?" He began walking out of the bedroom and towards the stairs, still with a handful of my hair wrapped in his fist. "You fucking cheated on me!"

"I didn't Jake!" I sobbed, "I love you! There's only you!" He turned me around at the top of the stairs and let go of my hair. "Please, Jake. I love you. I never did anything with them. They just came back and wanted me to talk to them again. I'll stop, I swear it. I just don't want to lose you. I love you."

He stared at me but his face didn't soften. "You're a fucking liar." He slapped me again and I fell down the stairs.

I dipped in and out of consciousness for a couple of seconds and I heard Jake walk down the stairs. "You're going to regret ever lying to me, bitch." I heard him say before everything went dark.

*
I woke up sometime later with Jake on top of me thrusting. I moaned in pain as I felt a sharp pain in my side with every thrust he made. Jake noticed I was awake and grabbed a fist full of my hair. He slammed my head into our floor and I cried out in pain. He did it again, and again until finally I passed out.

The second time I woke up I was alone. I felt as though I was dying. My head was in excruciating pain and I reached behind my head and felt a sticky substance. I tried to sit up but was in too much pain. I blinked, attempting to clear my vision and looked around. The cellphone Zack gave me was about a foot away with me, its screen was cracked but I hoped it still worked.

I shifted and reached for it. The pain was nearly unbearable and my vision began to darken again. Finally, I grabbed the phone and almost cried of joy when the screen lit up. I went into my contacts and clicked on a name. I wasn't sure who I was calling but they picked up on the fourth ring.

"Hello?" I heard distantly before I drifted back off into darkness.

Notes

You guys, I am so excited about this story because even though I only have up to chapter 10 written, I decided to write the final chapter last night. And it is sooo good! I can't wait for you guys to read it!

Anyways, thanks again for reading! I hope you guys liked it. Keep the feedback coming!

Title Credit: Avenged Sevenfold "Darkness Surrounding"