He ignored her pleas as he raised his hand back and landed it in her stomach.
Nicole immediately bent over in extreme pain.
Lance watched Nicole clutch her stomach and sink to the floor in tears.
Oh my God! Did I just do that? I hit my girlfriend… He thought as reality sunk in. “Nicole? Baby, I’m sorry.” He kneeled down next to her and engulfed her in a tight embrace. “I don’t know what came over me.” Lance pulled back slightly and brushed the tears from her flushed cheeks. “Are you- Are you okay?”
She shook her head slightly.
“I’m so so so so sorry. I don’t know why I did it. I love you so much, Nicole. You know I’d never hurt you.”
“But you did Lance. You really did. In more ways then just one.”
“I know. But it won’t happen ever again. I promise. I don’t know what came over me.”
“How do you know it won’t happen again?”
“I won’t let it.”
“You can’t control your anger. You just proved that.”
“I’ll learn… for you because I love you and I care about you.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Okay.” She said after a moment.
“I love you Nicole.” Lance leaned in and kissed her deeply.
“I love you, too, Lance.” She kissed him once more.
He then scooped her up into his arms and carried her into their room.
“Are you okay now?”
“Yeah, but I think I’m gonna have a bruise.”
“Aww… Do you want me to kiss it better?”
“Lance!”
“What?” He smiled innocently.
“Nothing.”
Lance dropped her on the bed. She went to sit up, but he knocked her back down again when he tickled her. Which was followed by a passionate kiss.
“I thought you were going to kiss my stomach better. My lips don’t hurt.” Nicole giggled childishly.
“As you wish.”
But Lance didn’t keep the promise he had made that night. And much to Nicole’s dismay over the next two months things began to get increasingly worse. Yet, he was smart about it. Lance would hit her in places that Nicole could and did cover up. No one had found out yet, but they did notice her self - esteem was dropping lower then it had been. The amazing thing is… she never left him or told anyone, not even Leslie, about what he was doing to her. Lance always apologized and told her he loved her and that it wouldn’t happen again. And lie after lie, bruise after bruise, she always went running back into his arms.
Lance looked back at the girl crumpled on the floor one last time before slamming the door on his way out.
Moments later, Joey walked through the unlocked door. He saw her on the floor and was instantly at her side.
“Nicole? What’s wrong? What happened? Are you okay?” Joey asked, clearly concerned.
“Joey?” She looked up revealing her bloodshot eyes and tear-stained face. Nicole practically knocked him over when she jumped into his arms for a comforting hug. She clung to him as if he was life and she was holding onto it.
“Nicole, tell me what happened. Tell me what’s wrong.” Joey pleaded.
“Lance… he… he hurt me, Joey.” She cried into his chest.
“How Nicole? What did he do?”
She lifted her shirt a little to show him the numerous bruises, which made up the massive purple and blue area, on her stomach and torso area.
“Lance, our Lance, did that to you? He actually hit you?”
Nicole nodded meekly.
“How long has all of this been going on Nicole?” Joey asked seriously.
“About three months.” She sobbed.
“Why didn’t you tell any of us? Or leave? I mean how can you stay with a guy that beats you?”
“It’s my fault. I make him angry. He only does it because he loves me, and I deserve it.”
“That’s bull shit, Nicole! And you know it!”
“He does love me! He does!”
“Okay, Nicole… We should get you cleaned up.”
“Okay, Joey. And thanks for being here like this for me. It means a lot.”
“I’ll always be here for you sweetie.”
Meanwhile, JC had been giving Leslie more independence since the “mysterious” disappearance of his book.
“Leslie, you’ve already\ cleaned that spot four times!” JC exclaimed, not able to stand all the cleaning she had been doing lately. “You’re putting way too much stress on yourself. Relax. You don’t want to hurt the baby do you?”
Leslie continued to scrub furiously at the spot on the kitchen counter. “Shut up, JC! I’m so sick of hearing ‘don’t put too much stress on yourself! It’s not good for the baby.’ “ She mocked her husbands tone. “So just drop it!”
“I think I remember the book saying one of the phases you would go through would be cleaning.”
“I wouldn’t have to clean so much if this penthouse weren’t so dirty! I just can’t get it clean enough!”
“Just take a break. Please? For me?”
“Fine.” Leslie plopped down on the sofa next to him.
JC leaned over and kissed the mother of his unborn child. “Thank you.”
She just sighed.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you something.”
“What’s that?”
“The guys and I are-” He was interrupted by the ringing of the phone. “Hello.” JC said into the receiver. “Yeah, she’s here. Hold on.” He put his hand over the mouthpiece. “It’s your mom.” He handed his wife the phone. Leslie took it and then stood up making her way into their bedroom.
“Yeah mom. The baby and I re doing great… JC? Um… He’s good. But he’s getting on my last nerve.” Leslie confessed to her mother as she laid down on her and JC’s bed. “I know he’s just concerned. Yeah. We’re living together. Didn’t I tell you that a while a go?” Her mother wasn’t aware that her daughter and JC had been married in Vegas almost nine months a go. In fact, none of her family knew about it. “Mom, I’ve got to tell you something… JC and I… We’re married.” She hesitated for a moment. “You do? How? The radio? TV too? How does JC’s mom know? TJ told her? We tried getting an annulment. You know that too? Of course I love him mom. He’s the father of my child.”
Meanwhile
“How long will you be gone?”
“Four months.”
“I’ll miss you.” Nicole told him.
“Me too.” Lance said before kissing his girlfriend. “Well, I’ve got to get to an interview. I’ll see you later tonight.” She nodded. “Bye.”
“Bye.” Nicole replied as Lance walked away.
A Half Hour Later
“I know I shouldn’t cry mom… I know. I’m just so emotional lately. I love you, too. Bye.” Leslie laid on her bed and closed her eyes and soon she found herself drifting into a world of dreams.