Andy and Imogen spent all day at the lake together. Sharing kisses, joking around, and falling into a deeper attraction to each other than they already had. Sadly they knew today was going to have to end and Imogen would go back to school and dance for another agonizing week and Andy would go back to work. Even though they could text it wouldn't be the same. Hopefully they'd be able to make time for each other.

"I don't want to go to school." Imogen whispered against Andy's chest. They were laying in the grass by the lake keeping there arms around each other. Imogen was tracing the tattoos on his arms again and Andy imagined getting one of her name some day.

"I know." Andy said rubbing her back. "I don't want this day to end."

Imogen grimaced, "Don't talk about it."

He chuckled, "Let's elope."

"In this town? Forget about it. Only people that would marry us would be a deer or a hobo." She laughed and felt his chest move in his own laughter.

"We could always drive to Vegas, babe." He smiled. Imogen felt her cheeks warm when he called her babe.

"We're not even dating." She said looking at him. His face went blank for a second and then looked straight in her eyes.

"Why not?" He said.

"We just met..." Imogen trailed off.

"And we're laying in the grass like we've been together forever. Why waste time?" He shrugged.

"You have a point." She chuckled.

"So," Andy picked up Imogen by the waist and held her above him. She squealed and placed her hands on his shoulders, "Imogen Carolyn Bradley, will you be my girlfriend?"

"No." Imogen said trying to keep a straight face. Andy shook his head and crushed his lips to hers.

"Stop playing with me!" He laughed.

"You know I'm kidding," She said, "Yes Andy, I would love too, more than anything." She fell onto his chest and hugged him.

"I'm so glad." He said kissing her forehead. He reached behind his neck, unclipped his dog tags, and put them on Imogen. She looked at them, one said Andy and the other had a crow bird etched into them. She looked up at Andy quizzically "Your my girl now. Gotta wear something to show them all." Imogen smiled and kissed his lips quickly.

"I feel so special." She said as he wrapped his arms back around her waist.

"You are. The most special girl in the world to me." He said.

"You mean that?"

"Cross my heart." Andy said, "I've never liked someone as much as you, Imogen."

"Me neither." Imogen said snuggling deeper into his chest. They noticed the sun going down and felt there hearts drop. They'd have to get home soon. "Andy?"

"Yes?"

"I'm really worried about you going home tonight." Imogen sighed shakily. Andy set his jaw and squeezed her waist tighter.

"I'm going to be fine." He said, but he knew he was lying.

"You could always stay with-"

"No. Imogen running from my problems would only make it worse." He kissed her temple, "But thank you though."

"I really just don't want to leave your side." She said against his skin.

He closed his eyes, "I don't either, babe." He sighed, "I'm assuming you have dance every night right?"

Imogen groaned, this was the first time she wished she didn't have dance. "Yes."

"I could always take you." Andy smirked.

"On your motorcycle?" She raised her eyebrows.

He shrugged, "Why not?"

"Don't you have work?" She asked.

"During the day." Andy worked at the CD store and he had a job working with horses on a farm. He used to have a landscaping job but that ended.

"If you really want too, it might be boring just waiting in the lobby." Imogen laughed.

"Yeah, how about I pick you up?" He chuckled.

"Sounds good." She smiled. The sun had now completely gone down and both of them had frowns on their faces. "No." Imogen groaned.

"I know." He sighed running his fingers through her hair. "We've got to go babe." Imogen felt her heart drop and she didn't know why. She was going to see him tomorrow but she felt like something bad was going to happen.

"Okay." She said reluctantly climbing off of him. They both stood up and she immediately pressed into his side.

"Babe, are you alright?" He asked rubbing her arm.

"Andy, please don't go back there tonight." Imogen pleaded.

"Im, I promise I will be fine. If he tries anything you know I'll beat his ass." Andy said, turning her towards him. He pressed their foreheads together, his hands on her shoulders.

"I'm just worried. I feel like something bad is going to happen." She bit her lip.

"Nothing bad is going to happen. And if something does I will get out of there as fast as I can and come to you." He said hugging her. She nodded and breathed in his scent. She shivered as wind hit them and he rubbed her arms. "Cold?"

"Yeah, for real this time." She giggled. He took his jacket off and put it around her already covered shoulders. He slung an arm around her neck and they walked back to his bike.

They climbed on and sped down the road. Imogen held tightly onto Andy. She buried her face in his back and felt tears coming on. Why was she so upset?

Before they knew it, they pulled in front of Imogen's huge home. She got off the bike and Andy immediately pulled her into his arms. He kissed her, his lip ring digging into her lips. Her arms trailed around his neck until both of them pulled away.

"Bye." Andy whispered.

"Bye." She smiled, pecking his nose. "Be careful."

"I will, see you tomorrow." He pulled away and got on his bike. Then he rode off leaving his girlfriend in his wake.

He felt cold without her wrapped around him and without his jacket..

---

He got home fifteen minutes later to see all the lights on in the house and a few cars parked outside. He braced himself for what was to come and walked inside.

"Oh look he's finally home!" Yelled his father. He swore under his breath as he walked in the kitchen. His father was sitting around the kitchen table with five of his terrible friends. His mother was tending to there every need, as always when they come over.

These were the worst times for the Biersack children and wife. When his friends were over he was most abusive, physically and mentally.

All of the friends erupted into mocking laughter. "Yeah." Andy rolled his eyes and tried to walk back in his room but his father grabbed his arm.

"I think we should teach you a little lesson for what you did today." He said drawing his fist back. Andy blocked the punch and sent one flying back. He hit him straight in the eye. Roberts nostrils flared. "You embarrassed me in front of my friends. Just like I did to your pretty little girl."

"I swear to god if you say one more word about her I will-"

"You'll what? Kill me? I'd like to see you try." Robert chuckled. Andy ran at him but he shoved him back on the floor. He hit with a loud thump and landed on his wrist, twisting it. His dad's friends stood up and formed a circle around Andy. He tried to stand but yelped when he felt a pain in his ankle. Everyone laughed around him and began kicking and punching Andy. He tried and tried again to fight back but he was in too much pain. He could hear his mother screaming at them to stop but Andy was too far gone now. He could feel himself slipping and it was only a matter of time before he let go.

---

Andy opened his eyes to see a white hospital room around him. He felt an immense amount of pain all throughout his body and it took a while for him to recollect what had happened. He felt a weight in his left hand and looked over to see Imogen sitting there. She was leaning on her other hand, her eyes shut and her mouth parted slightly open. He smiled softly and moved his right hand to touch her but he noticed it was in a brace. He sighed, feeling frustrated. He wondered how he got here...

"...Andy...?" Imogen mumbled, her eyes slowly opened halfway and then popped open, "Andy!" She exclaimed. He chuckled as she threw her arms around him. He winced at the pain he felt but hugged her back. "I was worried sick!" She kissed his cheek repeatedly.

"Hey." Andy said softly, making her laugh. She dropped her head on his shoulder and breathed in his scent. He noticed she was wearing his leather jacket. "What happened, baby? Why am I here?"

"Y-you don't remember?" She asked, he shook his head, "You were in an alley or something. Some guys jumped you. They sprained your wrist and ankle, and cracked one of your ribs. Daniel found you after being out with a girl, and he brought you to the hospital. He called me as soon as you got here. You've been out for two days, Andy."

Andy felt sick that his brother lied. Sick to his stomach, that he stuck up for a man that beat the shit out of his son. He looked across the room his grip on Imogen's hand loosening. He closed his eyes swallowing back anger.

"Andy?" Imogen said, "What's wrong? Do you remember now?"

"N-no Imogen that's not.." He shook his head, feeling ill.

"What? Andy tell me what happened, you can trust me." Imogen gripped his hand and scooted closer to him. He grabbed her waist with his uninjured hand and pulled her into the bed with him.
She looked up at him in concern.

"It was my dad and his friends that did this, Im. Not a gang." Andy said, his voice breaking.

Imogen closed her eyes and sighed.

"I was so afraid you were going to say that." She said, her eyes filling with warm tears. Andy hugged her close to him, "I told you not to go home." He glanced at the clock and saw it was 7:30 at night. Imogen missed dance for him..

"I know, I thought I was going to be okay." He whispered against her hair. "His friends were over and he said something about you and I just got mad. I punched him and then, they all got to me."

"Oh god." She gasped, "You have to tell someone."

"No, Imogen, if I tell someone he'll hurt my mother and Daniel. I'm not letting that happen." Andy shook his head.

"But if you tell someone, they might be able to arrest him. Then you'll all be safe." Imogen said.

"It's not worth it." He said setting his jaw. Imogen breathed out a worried sigh.

"Please don't go back there." She said holding him close.

Andy closed his eyes, "I have to keep my mother safe."

"Why don't all of you leave him?" Imogen asked.

"I can't." He put his head in his hands. Imogen kept her arms around his waist.

"Why not?"

"It's hard to explain."

"It can't be that hard."

Andy sighed, and looked up at her, "If I tell you, you can't tell anyone okay? This is really serious."

"I swear, Andy." Imogen brushed his bangs back.

Andy exhaled, "Daniel, when he was your age, just turned sixteen. He had just gotten his liscense and he hit a man. He was killed on impact and he died. But Daniel drove away, they never found anything indicative of him doing it and the only people that knew were the family. Including my dad."

"A year later my mom threatened to take us and leave my father. I was only fourteen at the time and my dad was worse than ever. There was never a time I didn't have a black eye and I was always teased at school for it. My mom had had enough and she packed Daniel and I's bags and we were going to my grandparents. But my dad threatened to tell everyone Daniels secret. So we couldn't leave and we still can't."

"So he's basically untouchable?" Imogen asked, tears now falling down her cheeks. Andy wiped them away and kissed where they'd been.

"Yeah and so are my chances of leaving this town." He sighed.

"I'm so sorry Andy." She said holding tightly onto him.

Andy shook his head, "You know what?"

"What?"

"I'm gonna wait for you. And then when you can graduate next year, we can move together." Imogen felt her heart flutter. She would love nothing more than to leave this shit town with Andy. It would be the ultimate.

"I like that idea." She said smiling. "But I'm still worried. What's going to stop your father from doing it again?"

"I don't know, babe. I guess I'm just going to stay out of his way." He sighed.

"What if you got an apartment here or something?" She asked.

"I can't leave my mom." Andy said.

"How are you going to do it when I graduate?" She said running her fingers through his hair.

Andy groaned, "Imogen, I don't know. Most of my life is so fucked up and the only thing in it that's not is you."

"Well I'm not going anywhere." He happily sighed and kissed the side of her head. "I was so worried about you. I haven't gone to dance or slept in two days. School was wretched."

"I'm sorry." He buried his face in her neck. "No girl has ever cared so much for me."

"Not even your mom?"

"Your setting yourself up for failure there." They both laughed and lapsed into a silence of just holding each other, thinking of what was to come.

Notes