“Theresa?” A familiar raspy voice said to her from a distance. Looking up Theresa seen a familiar face that she didn’t want to see right now.
“Why are you here A.J?” Theresa frowned, standing up but then sat back down grabbing her side.
“I came to get you.” A.J answered sitting down next to her.
“Steph’s on her way.” Theresa replied nonchalantly as she took in ragged breaths.
“Baby, I’m really sorry what happened this morning. Honestly.” A.J apologized taking her hand into his, which she didn’t snatch away.
“That’s what you always say.” Theresa sniffled as a small tear ran down her cheek.
“Baby, I mean it. I promise I’ll get help.” A.J promised raising her hand to his lips and kissing it lightly.
“I would love it if you would at least follow through with what you say.” Theresa sighed looking at him.
“I will if you help me.” A.J stated placing a hand on her chin and lifting it to his lips. Kissing them lightly he pulled away and looked into her eyes and smiled. “Will you?”
“Yeah.” Theresa nodded smiling.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Come on lets get you home.” A.J suggested helping Theresa to her feet and headed out of the lobby.
-At home-
Theresa stepped into the house that she shared with A.J to see the still shattered glass, flipped chairs and other debri scattered along the floor of their living room. Just the sight brought tears to her eyes as she broke away from A.J to start cleaning up the mess.
“Baby, I’ll clean up for you.” A.J commented walking towards her and taking her hand in his. “You go upstairs and rest up ok.” Theresa just nodded walking slowly towards the staircase and grabbing a hold of the pole for support as she climbed them. Just as Theresa reached the top of the stairs the phone started to ring. “I’ll get it baby.” A.J yelled to her as he ran to find the ringing cordless which was thrown across the room. Finally answering it on the fifth ring. “Hello.”
“A.J?” A sweet voice said on the other side.
“Yeah.”
“Where’s Theresa? I was suppose to pick her up at the hospital but she wasn’t there.” Stephanie asked.
“Oh, I brought her home.” A.J replied as he started to pick up pieces of broken glass.
“What was wrong with her?” Stephanie asked, the worry in her voice noticeable.
“Oh she just had really bad coughing and stuff like that, I was worried about her so I took her in.” A.J lied through his teeth, he couldn’t tell her because, just think what would happen if Nick, Brian, Kevin or even Howie found out what he had done to her.
“Well why did she call me?”
“Oh, she thought I forgot to go get her…listen Stephanie I’m sorry.”
“Ok A.J just take good care of my girl ok.” Stephanie stated.
“I will don’t worry.” A.J nodded saying his good-byes then he hung up with her and began to finish on his cleaning project.
-The next day-
Rolling onto her side, Theresa looked at the empty spot next to her. A.J had to go to the studio to work on the guy’s new album. Rubbing her eyes she slowly climbed out of the large bed, Theresa was hit with a terrible sharp pain in her side. Gripping the white comforter tightly Theresa sat that way until the pain subsided. When it did, she stood from the bed and waddled her way to the bathroom, where she took a scolding hot shower and pulled on a pair of jean flares and a yellow long sleeved ‘Abercromie & Fitch’ shirt, to cover the bruises. Pulling her shoulder-blade length brownish blond hair into a ponytail, she then added three coats of concealer and face powder to cover her bruises in some places on her face.
“There you go looking pit-a-full.” Theresa sang quietly as she left the room and down the stairs and into the living room where she collapsed onto the couch and turning on the TV with the remote.
“Baby?” A raspy voice called from the kitchen. Theresa jumped a little then stood from the couch and looked towards the kitchen where A.J stepped out of looking fine as ever. “There you are.” A.J smiled as he came towards her and sat next to her. Wrapping an arm around her A.J felt her tense up a bit. “Oh sorry, how are you feeling?”
“Better.” Theresa muttered looking away from A.J.
“What’s wrong?” A.J asked her turning her face back to his.
“Nothing.” Theresa shook her head ignoring the fact that she was scared to be around him, but she was in love with him.
“Something’s wrong baby.” A.J stated placing his hand on her chin and turning her face towards his.
“A.J…I’m just scared.” She sighed holding back a tear.
“I’m so sorry, how could I do this to you??” A.J cried letting the tears fall freely.
“I’ll help you baby, that’s all you need.” Theresa suggested holding him tightly resting her head on his chest as his tears well into her hair.
“I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” Theresa said in a whisper. Once Theresa got A.J settled down A.J began to tell her about this party that Nick was throwing at his house.
“So you wanna go?” A.J asked his long time girlfriend as they laid together on the couch in each other’s arms.
“I dunno…”
“Please baby, you’ll have fun.” A.J insisted stroking her hair lovingly. Theresa just shrugged her shoulders. “Stephanie will be there, and so will Jennifer.”
“Oh I guess.” Theresa gave in sitting up.
“Great, I know you’ll have fun baby.” A.J smiled widely sitting up next to her then standing up off the couch. “Be ready by 9 o’clock, were something casual.”
“Ok.” Theresa nodded as she watched A.J head down the basement that contained their own bowling alley.
-9:00 p.m.-
Theresa looked herself up and down in the body length mirror examining herself. She was wearing a pair of black leather pants and a long sleeved tight black shirt that had ‘Angel’ written across the chest. Her hair was down and slightly curled and her make up was done semi dark and again ‘cover the bruises’.
“Baby are you ready?” A.J questioned walking into the bedroom wearing a pair of baggy jeans and an over large white ‘Fubu’ sweatshirt on.
“Yeah.” Theresa replied walking towards him grabbing her purse off the bed.
“Lets go then.” A.J smiled widely. Tonight he might have fun…but for Theresa, she just thought that tonight might bring another beating. But deep down inside she hoped he change.
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