Beatifully Broken

Chapter 10

TRIGGER WARNING: The next few chapters will have some content surround abuse. 

"Drew threw a grad party the weekend after school finished. I knew his new friends were trouble, but one had always been nice to me and physically I was attracted to him. Garret, the guy with Drew when we saw them the other day. Anyway, Kara encouraged me to try to hook up with him, he's cute and so into me, she had said. You probably already worked out that hooking up is second nature for her, less so for me. I like to get to know people, but this was a party so, I went for it. I didn't plan on sleeping with him or anything, just make out, maybe a little more if it felt right."

I felt tears threatening to fall as I took another deep breath, urging myself to continue with the story. I watched to the ocean, the waves calming me.

"He led me to my room and we started making out on my bed. He was getting really handsy,and I wasn't as into it as I thought I would be. I could tell he was high and it was making me uncomfortable, so I tried to stop. I told him to stop."

The tears were falling silently now. Tyler didn't speak, but I could tell he was getting angry at Garret on my behalf. He knew what I was going to say next, but still let me continue.

"He, um, when I said stop, he didn't listen. He held me down on the bed, that's how I got that bruise, he held one hand there pinning me to the bed, with the other, he pushed my dress up and pushed my underwear down and he..."

"You don't have to say it, I get it. He sexually assaulted you" Tyler said softly, cutting me off before I had to explain anymore detail. 

I turned to Tyler, looking into his eyes, seeing a range of emotions. There was pity, sadness, and anger. I wiped away a few tears and finished my story.

"The only thing that made him stop was my brother calling his name through the house. He didn't want to get caught with me, so he left me there, promising me that he would come back and finish what he started. It's the same thing he said to me the other day and also the day I left home and came to stay with you guys."

Tyler pulled me close to him, wrapping his arms around me and letting me cry. 

"No one will ever hurt you like that again Kayla. I'll make sure of it." He said softly and I wanted to believe him so much. 

Eventually the tears stopped. Tyler had moved so he was sitting behind me now, his legs either side and arms wrapped around my waist. We made small talk, he asked if I had told anyone else, even if knew the answer. We stayed like that until we started hearing both our stomachs rumble. 

Tyler had been in my life for 5 minutes, but now he knew part of my biggest secrets, of what caused me pain. I trusted him. It felt like we had known each other all our lives and I couldn't explain this new found feeling. No one had ever torn down walls so fast.

"We should probably go and get something to eat, then head home" I said, moving away from him and standing up. Suddenly feeling cold without his body close to me. 

He stood too, "Yeah, the others are probably wondering where we are."

"Thanks for listening to me. It's been nice having someone to talk to and I feel a bit lighter getting that out." I said, giving him a hug. The moment only lasted a short time as my stomach let out a huge rumble reminding me how hungry I was.

"Any time Kayla. But I think we should really attend to that beast in your stomach" he laughed. 

We decided on Taco Bell, it was on our way home near the pier. He was trying to make me feel better and distract me from everything I shared with him. I appreciated him so much for this. 

We were in a booth enjoying our taco's, Tyler laughing because every time I took a bite the meat would fall out the other side. I glared at him playfully, then started laughing myself.

"You have a little something" I said, pointing to his chin, giggling. It was fun, we were more relaxed than ever around each other. Just as we were about to leave a voice stopped us, one that I was hoping not to hear all summer. 

"Kayla! Hey!" A high pitched voice said with far too much enthusiasm. Sasha one of the cheerleaders from school approached our table. One of the girls I had explained to Tyler already today, who didn't like me much. 

"Sasha. Surprised to see you here." I said, feigning politeness.

"I don't eat here; the food goes straight to your ass." She said, looking at our tray of rubbish. 

"Lucky I have a fast metabolism, my ass is peachy" I smirked, seeing Tyler trying to hide a smile too.

"I'm picking up dinner for my brother, then I noticed you and this gorgeous specimen. I'm Sasha" she shot her hand out to introduce herself to Tyler, ignoring my comments.

"Ty. Nice to meet you Sarah." Tyler said, winking at me as he shook her hand. 

I could hardly hold back my laughter at his deliberate mistake, watching Sasha's face fall.

She pursed her lips, "If you get sick of the virgin queen over here and need someone who can satisfy you, let me know" she said as she began to walk away.

"I prefer chicks who dig tacos" he said. 

Now I couldn't hold back my laughter at her face. She looked like she just got slapped. We slid out of the booth and Tyler slipped his arm around my shoulder and kissed my head as we walked out. I knew it was all for show to make Sasha jealous, but it felt nice. Really nice.

We walked back to the house along the shoreline of the beach, I held my flip flops in my hand as I let the ocean water splash around my feet.

"I'm not going to forget the look on her face anytime soon. Usually it's Kara that put's her in her place. But why does everyone need to come back to the virgin comments" I said, slightly frustrated.

"What are friends for. Especially gorgeous specimens like myself. But seriously, try not to let those comments bother you. It's not a bad thing, shows you have some self respect." Tyler replied, walking backwards so that he was looking at me and pulling modelling poses as he said that.

"One girl compliments you and suddenly your ego is bigger than Mt Everest!" I teased, kicking up water at him to splash him. That was a mistake.

"Did you? Did you just splash me? You better run" He warned teasingly. I didn't need to be told twice; I ran. My little legs though were no match for him, especially after eating all that food, and he eventually caught me, grabbing me around the waist and threatening to throw me into the water.

"No! Please no! My phone is in my bag!!" I begged. He gave in and put me down, both of us laughing. We realised were now on the beach out front of the beach house, which meant our day with each other was coming to an end. We head towards the house.

"Thank you again for today. Sorry I ruined the fun I promised you with my shit."

"Don't apologise for that. I'm glad I could be there for you. Plus, I had the most fun today that I've had in a really, really long time. So, thank you." 

He stopped, taking hold of my hand and turning us towards each other. He took a step closer to me and I felt my heartbeat quicken. Reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, our eye contact not breaking the whole time. My heart started to beat faster as Tyler began to lower his head towards mine.

"Kayla!! Tyler!! Where the hell have you been? Do neither of you have phones on you?" Harry yelled at us, "Oh s**t, sorry to interrupt" he took in the scene in front of him. 

I heard Tyler sigh annoyed as we stepped away from each other. I got my phone out to check it, wondering why it hadn't rung and found the battery was dead.

"Relax cus, we are fine. My battery died hours ago." Tyler said, patting him on the back as he walked past him to head towards the house, Harry following. I stood for a moment. Was he going to kiss me? Did I want him to kiss me? Surely we were just caught up in the emotion of the day. Yep that must be it.

"Kay, you coming?" Harry called, stopping to look back at me.

"Yup" I said, hurrying behind them. 

Harry called to everyone else at the house, "Found them guys! You can call off the search now!" 

Honestly, no one else seemed to be searching for us. They didn't even turn away from the Xbox as we walked inside. I sat down on the loveseat and glanced across to Tyler, he was looking at me and shot me a real, genuine smile and mouthed the words 'thank you' again. I felt my cheeks flush as I returned the smile, butterflies in my stomach. 

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