Part Three

The warm glow of the taxi's headlights blurred my vision as i walked slowly towards it, aching with every step. Nathan had taken my bag and was slowly guiding me towards the safety of the car. I could feel the drivers eyes on me. My swollen face and exaggerated limp would appear suspicious to anyone but i was past caring.

Footsteps pounded behind Nathan and I. 

"Don't go. Nathan please" I heard Amy whimper, i knew without even looking at her she'd be pouting and making herself appear as innocent as possible. I just really hoped Nathan wouldn't fall for it after all, he'd been there, He'd seen how she was.

He guided me towards the door of the car; "Esmie, get in the car" I nodded slowly in reply and he walked up to her; "You, you're nothing to me anymore. We're over, if that wasn't already obvious enough." "But, I love you" She cried "But nothing Amy. I did love you, until i knew what an evil little bitch you were." "We were going to go to Paris Nathan, remember?" "Fuck off. You're never going to see Esmie ever again, you hear me? I won't ever let you hurt her again" He hissed in her face before turning around and sliding into the car next to me.

I glanced over at him, his hands were shaking and i could see him angrily grinding his teeth together. 

"Train station please" He mumbled to the driver who in return just nodded, knowing that now wasn't the time for small talk or questions.

As we drove away i looked into the rear view mirror, it was angled perfectly for me to see Amy fall to the floor. I couldn't help feel a little happy, now that she didn't have Nathan she might feel just a tiny bit of the pain she'd caused me over the past 6 years.

"Are you okay?" He whispered softly. I simply nodded and took his hand; "Thank you for taking me away from her, Nathan"  "I'd have done it sooner if i'd known"  "I know"

A silence fell across the car, not of sadness nor happiness. More of relief and the feeling of freedom, for myself anyway. I was going to be okay now. "We'll stay in a hotel tonight and catch an early train, you need some rest" "Okay"  "So a hotel mate?"  The driver asked, obviously overhearing our conversation. "Please, just somewhere cheap" 

It took no more than ten minutes before we were at a bed and breakfast and Nathan was booking us in. The manager who was stood behind the desk, tapping away noisily at the computer - Shirley, her name badge said - kept glancing up at me, not into my eyes but the bruises on my face and neck, the rest of my body was covered up. 

"I had to get a double bedroom, that's all they had at short notice, is that okay?" "Yeah sure" "Come on then, room 10, let me take your bag" Though he didn't give me a chance to decline his offer, he picked up my scruffy old kit bag and headed up the narrow stairway. 

We quickly found the room and let ourselves in.  "I'm just going to the loo" I half shouted shutting the door behind me. "Okay"

I stripped off Max's jumped and held out my arms and then ran my finger over the scars on my left arm. I breathed and smiled at the comfort of knowing that while everything else was completely out of my control and grasp, this wasn't. I controlled my own pain now that i wasn't going to see Amy again.  "What are you doing in there? You okay?" Nathan asked through the door, knocking gently. "One sec" I panicked and pulled on my jumper, scratching the many cuts as i did so, i winced but tried to ignore the pain. I flushed the toilet, washed my hands and left the bathroom.

Nathan was sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard and glugging down a bottle of water.

"Thought you might have gone for something a bit stronger" "Not a bad idea to be honest" "What is there?" I asked searching the room for the mini-fridge.  "I dunno, check?" He suggested, pointing to a small cupboard that the TV was on. 

I approached it hesitantly before tugging the door open and discovering the limited range of alcohol. 

"Vodka, Gin and some small beers" "Not much then, bring it over anyway" He shrugged.

I collected up the small bottles and kicked the fridge door behind me. We quickly drank the alcohol. At first Nathan had protested as i was underage but he softened when i hinted at the fact that there was no point in arguing.

"We never got a chance to clean you up" He frowned, scanning the many bruises and cuts on my face. "It's okay, i'll have a shower soon" "Let me help you clean up your face and then you can go, deal?" "Okay"

Nathan had seemed to grow up rapidly since two hours ago when he'd been joking about pissing in the front garden. Now he was an 18 year old rescuing some lame 15 year old from his - now ex - girlfriend.

Despite the sudden change in how i perceived Nathan it seemed to switch back to how i thought i knew Nathan before, He was coming out of the bathroom with a flannel on his head and a glass of water in his tight grip. Perfectly normal i guess, but then he decided to karate chop the air with his free hand, following up with wildly kicking his leg out but smashing it against the wall. 

He howled and fell on to the bed, throwing the water everywhere and the flannel falling from his head to the floor. I clutched my stomach, trying not to laugh too hard as my ribs hurt with each breath already and laughing really wasn't helping at all.

"Well i'm glad you're laughing at least, that was the idea" He sat up and clutched his foot.  "Sorry" I smiled innocently. "Come here then" He said, reaching down to pick up the flannel and then shifting closer to me. 

Each cut stung as he gently dabbed them with the cold water that remained in the glass. There weren't many, two i think but they were pretty deep and swollen.

"Okay, done" He nodded and handed me the cold, damp flannel. "Hold this on your face to make the swelling go down" "Okay"  "Are you going to tell Max what happened?" "No. Are you?" I asked worriedly.  "Not if you don't want me to, but he'll need to know one day and it's bound to look odd, you know, me bring you to London without..." He swallowed, not wanting to say her name; "Amy" "Yeah, Amy" He started to grind his teeth again so i distracted him by continuing to talk; "We should create a cover story then?" "I suppose. I don't feel great about lying to him though" "It won't be for long, i promise." I lied. I knew that i'd never want to tell Max. "I guess" "Um, well we could, um...We could say you were coming to do some dancing for our tour or something?" "I can't dance...Max knows that too" "Fair point, singing?" "Nope, useless" "Say you've got a job in London" "Oh, we could say we didn't realise we were on the same train back and I wanted to surprise him?" I suggested. "Yeah, sounds good" "The boys aren't expecting you for another 2 days either, right?" "Yeah, why?" "I'll hide out at your flat which will give me time for the swelling and bruising to go down" He flinched at how casually i said it. 

"How long had she been...hitting you for?" He asked slowly. "Not tonight eh Nath? Tomorrow i'll tell you more about it but i just want to be happy for now that it's over for a while" "For a while?" "Well, yeah" "No, Esmie. I'm going to protect you, i meant it back by the taxi and i still mean it now" "I know bu-" "No buts. I pinky promise, forever, okay?" He held up his little finger and i locked mine around it smiling. "Okay"  "Top and tail right?" He asked, standing up and pulling off his top, making the seriousness of our conversation pass. "If you want" "Okay, you can have the headboard end" "You sure?" "Yeah, i'll just get your stinky feet in my face all night" He winked. "You know, we could just sleep side by side? Like normal people?" I offered. "Only if you're alright with that?" "Mhm" "Alright, well i'm gonna sleep now" "Okay, i'll have a shower, night" "Night" he climbed into the bed snuggling under the sheets and curling into a ball.