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ALEX'S POV

"Alex!" Kenzie exclaimed running downstairs.

"Kenzie!" I exclaimed with the same excitement. "I missed you!" I fake pouted after we hugged each other.

"I missed you more!" She argued. I just agreed knowing she wins these kinds of fights on who misses each other more. "I got you a present! It's in my room!" She quickly dragged me up to her room.

"Woah!" I walked in her room and saw a card with my favorite candy. I never had candy in a while, because I was trying to be skinny.

"Read the card." She stated. I picked up the card and read it to myself.

'Dear Alexis Grace Lovato,

              You're the sweetest person on this plant. I don't know what I would do without you. If you would've died that night, I wouldn't know what I would've done. I love you. I love you more than I love my dog, Maliboo. I love you more than you love singing. You get my point right? Alexis Grace Lovato, will you be my girlfriend?

- Kenzie'

"I-I would love that." I stuttered as I blushed. She then pushed the candy off her bed and pulled me on it, and we kissed each other passionately.

The moment was interrupted by my phone ringing. Unknown Number. I wonder who that could be.

I answered it. "Hello?"

"Hello, Alexis. It's Alice." Alice. The one who helped Trevor show my cuts to the school.

"What do you want?" I asked, trying not to sound nervous. Kenzie was intently listening in on the conversation.

"We just wanted to say that you're a sick piece of shit." Trevor's voice said next through the phone.

"Why haven't you thrown yourself off a cliff yet?" Alice asked.

"Just hang yourself in your room, fat bitch!" Trevor shouted. I held back the tears as I hung up the phone.

"I'm going to go home.." I told Kenzie.

"I thought your Mom was going to pick you up?" Kenzie asked as she pulled me into a hug.

"Just text her I'm walking home.." I said quietly. I ran out of her room and outside. I slowly trudged my way home. As if my day couldn't get any worse, I heard footsteps behind me.

"Well, well, well." A familiar voice spoke. He forcefully turned me around. Joe. My father's friend. "What is a little girl like you doing out here by yourself?"

"W-Walking home." I stuttered.

"You killed Aaron, you piece of shit!" He shouted as he backed me up against a wall.

"L-Leave me alone! P-Please!" I begged desperately, not wanting to get hurt again. Why am I so weak?

He ignored my desperate pleas for him to leave me alone and came closer. He raised his hand and before I had time to react, he slapped me. He kicked me and I fell onto the concrete ground, crying in pain.

He kicked me repeatedly. He was hardhearted, merciless. I wailed as every single kick kept me wondering why this world was so cruel. What did I do to deserve this?

"Get away from her!" I heard an unfamiliar voice shout. Joe immediately stopped and took off running. I looked up to see a slightly dark skinned man, looking like he was my Mom's age. "Are you okay?" He asked, kneeling down in front of me.

"Depends.. do I know you?" I asked hesitantly.

"Well, no. I'm friends with your Mom. My name is Max Ehrich. I heard a lot about you."

"Y-You have?"

"Of course I have. How bad did that man hurt you?" Max asked. He was actually worried about me.

"I-It's nothing major." I tried to hide my pain as I stood up. "I-It hurts!" I cried out as I fell back down.

"Let's get you home." He said as he picked me up gently. "I'll text Demi that I'm bringing you home." He said as he put me in the front seat.

I never felt this safe with a man in a long while. I felt safe with big Max because he's my bodyguard. Last time I felt safe that wasn't with my bodyguard, was with Wilmer.

"T-Thank you." I whispered as we started driving back home. We arrived home and Max helped me out of the car. He helped me walk inside as I was limping. As soon as I entered I was scooped up into my Mom's familiar embrace.

"Alex! How bad are you hurt, baby girl?" She asked frantically.

"N-Not too bad.." I half lied. She checked me over and I noticed she was tearing up. "M-Mom.. don't cry. I-I'm sorry.." I whispered.

"It's not your fault, baby girl. Let's go clean you up, okay?" She cooed. I hesitantly nodded. "Thank you, Max. You saving her means a lot." She said as she looked at him.

"Can Max stay for dinner?" I asked.

"Of course he can." Mom smiled at him. She carried me upstairs into the bathroom.

"I-It stings!" I screamed as she was cleaning my wounds.

"I'm sorry, baby girl." She said gently. "What's going on between you and Kenzie?" She asked, trying to get me to not focus on the stinging.

"Well.." I blushed at her name. "We're dating." I said shyly.

"Aww. My baby has a girlfriend!" She cooed as she playfully squeezed my cheeks. "I have to tell you something when we eat dinner."

"I'm not hungry." I lied.

"Don't lie to me, Alex. I can see through all of those lies." She said sternly. I sighed knowing there was no way out of eating. I smelled pizza as we walked into the kitchen.

"I ordered pizza!" Max exclaimed and smiled at us. I smiled back nervously as I sat down. All the grease. The fat.

"You got this, baby girl. Eat two pieces. Okay?" Mom said gently as she sat next to me and held my hand.

"What did you have to tell me?" I asked Mom as I was slowly starting my second piece.

"Well." She sighed. "Max and I are dating." She said hesitantly.

"You guys are?" I asked, shocked. I don't know how I feel about this. Am I going to have a father figure in my life that won't hurt me?

"Are you okay with that, baby girl?" She asked, looking me in the eyes.

"Of course! If you guys make each other happy then go for it!" I smiled at them and reassured them. "Does this mean I'm going to have a father figure in my life that won't hurt me?" I asked, full of hope.

"I will never hurt you, Alex. All of them that hurt you, don't deserve to be alive right now. I promise that I'll never hurt you." Max came over to me and reassured me. I smiled as I hugged him.

"I trust you." I smiled. "I trust you is better than I love you because you may not always trust the person you love but you can always love the person you trust." I quoted.

"Aww." Mom cooed as she took a picture.

"Can we watch Harry Potter?" I begged as we all finished eating.

"I have never watched it." Max said as he put the dishes away.

"I also never watched it." Mom replied.

"It's official. You guys are watching it!" I exclaimed. "Go sit down while I get the movies!"

"Demanding much?" I heard Max joke.

"I heard that!" I yelled as I quickly ran upstairs to grab my Harry Potter movie box set. I slipped on a Hogwarts hoodie and put on my glasses.

"Someone is going all out." Mom laughed slightly as she took a photo of me.

"Anything for Harry Potter." I laughed as I put the first movie in. They were about to kiss but I quickly sat in between them. "No kissing during the movie." I joked. "Shh! It's starting!"

"None of us said anything!" Max laughed. I smiled, content with life right now, despite what happened earlier.