Chapter 2

It's 10:30 pm, the award ceremony is over and it's time for the after party. Tom and Ava walked out together arm in arm, then Ava pulled away. "What's wrong?"asked Tom. "No it's nothing, I just...I can't go to the party."

"Why, is there a problem"

"No there isn't, I mean I have a huge headache and I don't think I can go," Ava replied while massaging the side of her head. "Well then I'll take you home," Tom offered.

"No! I mean,no. I've already called a driver to pick me up so you don't have to worry at all. Just go to the party, I'll be fine," said Ava weakly. "Are you sure, I can always..."

"If she says she'll be fine,what's the need to argue," interrupted a voice from behind,it was Lana, Ava's best friend. "Let her go, she's a strong girl and anyway we an go together,"she continued. Ava waved Lana and Tom goodbye as a car pulled up beside her. Ava got in and the car drove off. After a while the driver dropped her home.

'Finally', she thought to herself. '' Enough of this act, I can't do this anymore,"she cried to herself. She couldn't take it anymore. The truth was, Tom and Ava weren't the perfect,ideal couple everyone thought they were. For Ava their relationship was nothing more than living in hell. Tom wasn't the man everyone thought he was. She was tired of everything,Tom's aggressiveness, his abusive behavior towards her, always shaming her in some way or another and after everything always having to smile and wave in front of the whole world as if everything is going great.

It's dawn and Tom still hadn't returned since last night. Ava had fallen asleep while waiting for him.

The sun was now up and shining Ava felt someone breathing down her neck, then an arm slowly wrapping it's self around her slim waist. "Good morning beautiful," she recognized that voice even in her sleep. Tom was home. Ava slowly opened her eyes and turned around to find Tom laying besides and her and staring. "Good morning, to you too," she replied sleepily. "How did you sleep last night?" he asked as he got up and started unbuttoning his shirt. He then went and stood in front of the mirror. "Good," she replied "and where did you sleep last night?" she added suspiciously but yet quickly regretting ever uttering those words ."Excuse me?"he asked turning to her. His facial expression had changes from all good and jolly to angry and devilish. Ava could see anger in his eyes but she tried to ignore it all.

"What are you implying?" he asked her angrily. "No what I meant was why didn't you call to let me know you wouldn't sleep home last night, I was starting to worry about you," she lied. Tom eased down. "No uhm... actually my...my battery died and I didn't have a charger. Anyway you were sick and I didn't want to bother you." Tom went towards Ava and sat in front of her. He reached for her hands and held them in his. Ava always felt weird whenever he did that, she felt like pulling her hands away and screaming out loud. Tom slowly leaned forward and gave her a soft kiss. She could feel the warm touch of his lip on hers. She looked at him then she looked down, she knew Tom was just trying to buy her with his fake love and fake kisses. He softly squeezed her hands and smiled at her. "I'm gonna go freshen up." He stood up and went to the bathroom.