Somebody to Love

By Saturday, I was settled in and home alone as Marc was in Atlanta to play the Thrashers. It's actually the second to last game of the season and we're set to play Islanders on Sunday. I thought it was the perfect time to be settled in.

"How's it living with Marc?" Maddy asked that evening.

"Weird, but it's pretty great though. Nice, warm bed, amazing boyfriend..." I said laying across our bed.

"Comfy?"

"Yeah. Wanna lay on it?"

"Of course! Would he mind?"

"Of course not. If he did though, I'd have to kick his ass because this bed is amazing."

She laughed and proceeded to get on the bed.

"You're right; it is."

So that evening, we decided to watch the game in our bed. As wonderful as the bed was, my boys still lost against Atlanta 1-0. I knew that one goal just killed Marc. Who knows how he's gonna feel when he calls me.

"I can't even imagine how he's feeling right now." Maddy sighed.

"Me either. Hopefully, I can cheer him up."

"I have no doubts about that."

I nodded.

"Yeah."

Ten minutes later, he called.

"Hello?"

"Hey babe." he said sounding down.

"Hey Marc, what's wrong?" I said even though I already knew what it was.

"That one goal. Fuck. If I could've just stopped it...ugh..."

"Listen to me, you gotta remember the guys also had trouble themselves the whole game. It wasn't just that one goal."

"Yeah...you're right."

"Thought so."

"I know so."

I smiled and I could practically hear him smiling on the other end.

"So, how is everything? Enjoying yourself?"

"Oh yeah. Maddy and I watched the entire game on our bed."

"Really?"

"Really. You can't believe it?"

"You know what? I can. Nevermind."

I laughed.

"You're funny."

"How comfy does she think it is?"

"As comfy as I think it is."

"That's pretty damn comfy then."

"It's more comfortable with a certain someone...you may know him."

"He's incredibly good-looking, right?"

"More than incredibly good-looking. That's for sure."

I laughed again.

"Yeah, I know him. Great guy. You're lucky to have him."

He continued to laugh as I did.

"Hey good-looking, I'll talk to you tomorrow? I wanna go snack on something and hang out with Maddy some more."

"Sure. Talk to ya tomorrow. I love you."

"I love you too."

"Bye."

"Bye."

-click-

"How's Marc?" Maddy asked walking back into the room.

"Good. He was a bit disappointed in himself about the game, but I talked to him about it and he's fine."

"Cool. How's Matt?"

He was out at a bar watching the game...well...was with some friends.

"Great. It was hard to hear him, but yeah...he's great."

I nodded.

The following day, I headed to Wal-Mart to get some well-needed groceries. It's weird to see more stuff in his refigerator now. Walking through the frozens aisle, I noticed Nick's girlfriend or ex ahead of me. When she turned, I noticed bruises on her face and arms. I was shocked. Even if she got together with him and is possibly still with him, I wanted to kick his ass. No woman deserves to be treated like that. I bravely decided to go talk to her.

"Melanie?" I asked cautiously.

She looked at me nervously.

"Melanie, it's me. Nick's ex that got confronted at that Pens game?"

"Oh hi. No offense, but why are you even talking to me? I thought you hated me."

"Well, I can't really hate you. I don't know you. I just hate the fact that you got together with Nick."

"Ok. I understand. That's...I don't know."

"I also wanted to talk to you because of the bruises."

"What bruises?" she said looking away.

"Melanie, you know what I'm talking about." I said softly.

"Why do you wanna know?"

"I'm worried. Not one person, male or female deserves this kinda shit."

"Yes, I do."

"No, you don't. I have to ask. Are you still with Nick?"

She nodded getting teary.

That fucking son of a bitch! I'll kill him!

"When did he get out?"

"About a month ago."

"Why are you still with him?"

"I don't wanna be alone. Even after he hurt you, I thought it was just a temporary lapse in judgement. I still loved him."

I felt bad for her.

"Do you still?"

She shook her head.

"No. No, I don't. I'm too scared to leave."

"I can help you. I'm sure you can stay at my and my boyfriend's place until you get back on your feet. I just have to talk to him about it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Ok."

"When does he work? When do you work?"

"He works 9-5 Monday through Friday. 9-12 on Saturday. I work the same hours except on Saturday. I don't work then."

We talked for a couple minutes before we got each other's number. I hugged her and we went our separate ways. After spending twenty minutes shopping, I drove home and put everything away. I sat on the couch wondering how I could judge her so easily from the way she looked and the decision she made to be with Nick; I'm just awful. I looked at my phone and saw that it was one o'clock and contemplated on calling Marc. I wanted to talk to him about this as soon as possible.
After a few minutes of contemplating, I did.

"Hello?"

"Hey." I said sighing.

"What's wrong?"

"Well...I saw that woman who got together with my ex."

"And?"

"I noticed she had some bruises on her. She was unsure about me talking to her, but she listened."

"What happened to her?"

"Nick got out a month ago and they're still together. He abuses her, Marc and she's terrified about leaving him. She stayed with him after he hit me because she thought that was a temporary lapse in judgement. I offered her our house for the time being. What do you think?"

"I think that's crazy and bullshit. No one deserves to be beaten around like that. I wouldn't mind us housing her for the time being."

"You wouldn't?"

"I wouldn't."

"You have no idea how much I love you right now!"

"I love you too. When is she coming?"

"Not sure yet. I asked about his hours and her hours and she's able to get away from him somewhere between nine am and noon on Saturdays. So, hopefully, it'll be then."

"That's good."

After a few more minutes of talking, we hung up and I decided to go take a nap. I wanted to tell Maddy about what had happened today, but I figured it could wait till tonight. I made my way up to our bedroom and fell asleep fairly quickly.

It was a breezy summer day and I was sitting on my porch listening to music and reading a book. I have a boyfriend named Nick, who is just the most amazing man in the world. I don't know what I'd without him. I made the decision to text him, hoping he'd wanna do something tonight.

Hey. What's up? Wanna do something?

Not feeling well. Sorry. I wish I could do something. :(

I frowned.

Ok. Feel better soon! Love you!

I sighed and sat back in my chair. This was when my mom pulled in the driveway.

"Hi honey." she said getting out of the car.

"Hi Mom." I said with a frown on my face.

"What's wrong?"

"Nick's sick and can't do anything."

"Oh, you know you could always bring over soup to him."

I shrugged.

"Yeah...I'll probably do that."

After she went inside, I looked at my phone. 3 PM. Alright. Time to cook him some soup. I made a whole pot of soup for him and drove over to his apartment. An unfamiliar car was parked next to his, but I didn't think much of it. I knocked on the door and waited for a couple minutes before I got my key out and unlocked the door. I walked through the smallish apartment to the back where his bedroom was; that was when I heard moans coming from behind the door. Tears began running down my face. I didn't know whether or not, I could bust the door open. Damnit.

Okay, Bella. You can do this. Just open the door and confront him.

I pushed it open and found him on top of a bleach blonde with a fake-bake tan.

"Nick!"

"Hey Bella, what's up?"

"What's up? What's up?! What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

"Nothing. What's wrong with you?" he said with a smirk.

That bastard.

"What do you mean what's wrong with me?"

He excused himself and walked to where I was.

"We need to talk."

Well, aren't those my favorite words to hear...

"What? We can't talk here?"

"I'd rather talk out here."

And that we did.

"Tell me what's wrong with me. Go on. Tell me. I can handle it."

"I don't wanna be with you anymore. I can't be with you anymore."

"What? Why?" I said through tears.

"I realized how unattractive you are. The black hair and pale skin? Really? What guy wants that? And your taste in music? Horrible. Just horrible. The only thing you have going for you is your outgoing personality, but still, even with that, I don't know how far you're gonna get in life."

I was speechless. That's when I decided to pour all the soup that I made for him all over him. It was still hot, but it wasn't scalding. I didn't wanna go that far.

"You know what? You can go hell, you fucking piece of shit. Have fun with her and/or women like that because I can guarantee you that you will never meet anyone like me again. I hope I never see your fucking face again."

I grabbed my pot and walked away.

"You're such a fucking bitch!"

I smirked and took the key in my pocket and threw it at him.

"Bye!"

I walked out and managed to make it home without crying. How I did that, I will never know. Once I got home though, that's when the waterworks began. I heard my mom come from the backyard toward me.

"Bella?"

"No."

"What's wrong?"

"I don't wanna tell you."

"I can understand that, but you need to sooner or later."

"I caught him cheating on me. He was at his apartment. He told me he realized how unattractive I was with my black hair and pale skin and wondered what guy would want that. He insulted my taste in music and said that the only thing going for me is my outgoing personality; he doubted how far I'd go in life, though."

"Oh my God. That piece of shit!"

"I poured all the soup I made for him over his head and threw my key at him. I told him that he'd never meet someone like me again and to have fun wih the girl he was with and/or girls like her."

I felt a smirk coming on after that.

"That's my girl. Tough as nails."

"I really thought he was different though. I thought he was the one...as cheesy as that is."

"You'll find him someday, right when you don't expect it."

I smiled and wiped my tears.

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you, too."

----------------------------

Madison and I went out during the intermission mainly because we needed to pee, but to get a breather. As we were about to turn to the closest ladies' room, I saw someone so familiar, someone I never wanted to see ever again. I saw Nick. I saw my ex-boyfriend. When I stopped moving, Madison was overly concerned.

"Bella, Bella, what's wrong?"

I pointed to him.

"Who's that?"

"Nick."

She instantly knew who he was. I had told her all about our relationship and how it ended. Let's just say she was pissed off and couldn't believe a woman as beautiful and smart as me could leave me for some modelesque woman. He was with that "beautiful woman" he left me for.

"Is that her?" she asked referring to that girl on his arm.

I nodded.

"Asshole." she hissed at him.

"Madison!"

"What?!"

"I don't want him to draw any attention to us, 'kay?"

"Bella, you need to stand up to him!"

"I guess so. I just need Marc."

"You have to do this on your own."

"Ok! I will!"

That got his attention.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Bella Leyton, the quiet girl with the most horrible hair, no talent and loneliness?"

"Fuck you!"

"Is that all you have to say?!"

"No, it isn't! You can't break me down! I'm better now and I have more talent in one finger than you or her have in either of your entire body! Oh and just to let you know, black hair is always beautiful. Blond hair can look like crap, like hers'. Have you ever seen bleached blondes and how horrible it looks? Also, I don't like to brag, but I have a boyfriend who has a lot more talent than you! What can you do? 'Oh, I can play kickball and play with a yo-yo! I'm so fucking talented!' Well, you aren't, okay? Just get it through that thick skull of yours, you stupid banker."

He tried to come with a comeback but couldn't. All he did before anyone could save me, was punch me in the face and knock me against the wall till I saw darkness. I woke up in a small, quiet room, hearing a couple voices; the most distinct was Madison's.

"Bella! I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have gotten you into this!"

"Maddy, it's okay!"

"No, it isn't! You're hurt and it's my fault."

"I decided to do it. I could've decided against it, but I didn't. This is just what happened because of it."

She hugged me.

"You're an outstanding person, you know that?"

I blushed, then looked up to see a nurse or someone like that.

"How are you feeling, hun?"

"Okay. My head just hurts a bit, though."

"I'll give you some aspirin for that and you should be good to go and watch your eye, it may be a little sore."

"Alright. Thanks so much." I said as she handed me the pain meds.

"Oh, I want to let you know, that guy who hit you was kicked out and arrested."

I woke up to my phone ringing. I took a glance on my alarm clock and saw that it was three, which means I slept for nearly two hours.

"Hello?" I answered groggily.

"Bella? Did I wake you?"

"Yeah, but it's fine. I dreamt about a couple things that happened with my ex Nick."

"How far back?"

"The day we broke up and the day he confronted me at that Pens' game."

"Oh, what do you think brought that on?"

"Well, I...saw his girlfriend at Wal-Mart."

"Girlfriend? They're still together?"

"Yeah. They are. He got out a month ago and they're still together. The thing is though he abuses her."

"What? Are you serious? And she let you talk to her?"

"Yeah. Cautiously. She thought she hated me. I don't really. I just hated the fact they got together. Now, I'm trying to help her?"

"How?"

"I'm offering up our house. Marc is fine with it. She told me she thought that one time he hit me was just a temporary lapse in judgement. She still loved him and didn't wanna be alone all throughout his jailtime. She's terrified but ready now."

"Oh wow. What a way to judge a book by its cover."

"Tell me about it. I feel like shit, but I guess now I can make things better, maybe even become friends with her? Who knows. Anything can happen."

"You can say that again."

Notes