Your soundtrack for this chapter is "Numb" by Linkin Park: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2REZSj4XnE

*Sam's PoV*

It had been three days since Andy first arrived. That time he came to talk to me in my bedroom seemed to have been a one-time thing. Ever since then, we'd been polite, yet distant with each other. Which was fine with me.

Jace hadn't stopped texting me. Honestly, he was the only reason I was still breathing. Even music wasn't enough this time. But his sweet texts kept me sane. He promised that he wouldn't give up, and that he was going to get me out of there.

It was about 3:00 pm, and I was just sitting on my bed, listening to Of Mice & Men and drawing. Suddenly, my phone went off. I picked it up, to find a text from Jace. Unlike his other texts, this one sounded urgent:

Hi, baby girl. I need you to get some clothes ready and be on your roof in thirty minutes, okay? I'm busting you out.

I bit my lip. If my dad caught me sneaking out, he'd kill me. Or at least put me in the hospital. But then again, maybe Jace didn't plan for me to come back. Just to be sure, I packed all of my favorite band merch, some clothes, my straightener, and my makeup in a bag. Everything I need to survive. I slipped on Jace's jacket, which was wrinkled and a bit tear-stained from all the times I'd cuddled it and cried into it, and climbed out onto the roof.

Jace's car pulled up, and I smiled as I climbed down to meet him. He didn't get out of the car to meet me like he always did. I frowned, then slid into the seat next to him. He smiled and leaned over to kiss my cheek before pulling out of the driveway and driving down the road as fast as the speed limit would allow.

"Have you found anything yet?" I asked anxiously, biting my lip.

He sighed. "Not yet. But I promise, I'm still looking. I just thought I'd take you out today, if that's okay."

"Of course it is." I smiled. "I can actually be happy for once."

Jace smiled. He drove to the arcade where we went on our first date. I smiled as he stopped in the parking lot. He leaned over to kiss me before we went inside, his arm wrapped protectively around my waist.

We spent the next few hours just walking around the arcade, playing video games and talking and kissing.

After the arcade, he took me to get icecream. I felt amazing -- I was actually happy for the first time in days. I had missed days like today.

Unfortunately, it couldn't last forever. Jace took me home after about six hours. I hurried up the fire escape after giving him one last, quick kiss goodbye. I opened my bedroom window and climbed inside, only to gasp.

My father was sitting on my bed, arms crossed. "I told you not to see him anymore. You're engaged, you little whore."

I smiled defiantly. "You don't control me."

"Wanna bet?" He lunged forward, slamming me against the wall as I yelped in pain.

***

*Andy's PoV*

I was looking out my window, thinking about new song lyrics. And yes, the song was about Sam. I didn't love her when I first found out that we were engaged, but now that I've met her... I definitely feel something towards her.

I was looking out the window when I noticed a car pull into the driveway. I could just make out Sam and her "ex-boyfriend", Jace. She leaned over to kiss his cheek before getting out of the car. I sighed. It was obvious that she still had some pretty strong feelings for him. Maybe if I explained things to her...

After a few minutes of thought, I decided to talk to her. After all, I should probably try bonding with her, since we're going to be married soon. And I'd rather not be married to someone who can't stand me.

As I approached her door, I froze, frowning at the sounds coming from her room.

"You. Little. Whore." Sam's father growled, and I heard a smacking sound, followed almost immediately by a choked sobbing sound. Sam? There was a loud thump, followed by more smacking and thudding sounds, and the occasional yelp. I couldn't believe this. Was her father... beating her? How long had this been going on?

Thinking quickly, I pulled out my cellphone and dialed the house phone's number. It started ringing, and I heard my future father-in-law curse. "We'll finish this later, bitch." He growled. I quickly ducked out of sight as he stormed downstairs. Once he was gone, I ran into Sam's bedroom, where I was met with the sight of my fiance curled up into a little ball on the floor, tears running down her bruised face.

"Sam!" I knelt down next to her, pulling her into my lap. There was a trickle of blood at the corner of her mouth. F***. I needed to get her to a hospital, like, now. I gathered her into my arms and carried her downstairs to my car. She coughed weakly, spattering my shirt with red specks. "Andy... hurts." She moaned.

I gently kissed her forehead. "I know, baby. Just hang in there. I'm not going to let this happen ever again."

Notes

Ugh. Sorry for disappearing for a while, guys. My Internet was down, like, forever. -.-

Anyways, I'll hopefully update at least once a week now. c:

I would love to update more, but school is super overwhelming right now. :/