the introduction

Takes place in 2022

I was in the Bookstore looking for Manga books when I see Andrew in the same row of books that I'm in to the left of me. He looks at a book and puts it back and looks at me. "Oh hey Lewis." Andrew says. "Yeah hi. It's actually Lake now."

"I'm still going to call you Lewis."

"I know you can't help it but can you at least try to call me Lake. I also go by they/them now."

"Gotcha. Well I'll try but I make no promises. Lol"

"Yeah."

We start laughing. He then says "So you want are you doing here?" "Looking for Manga books like you." I say.

"You wanna get something from the Cafe. Like a drink or something. You know to gatch up."

"Andrew Astro. Are you asking me on a date?" I say flirting. "Maybe" he replies.

"Sure."

"Yeah?"

"Let's go get a drink."

We go to the Cafe that's part of the bookstore. Andrew order a black coffee and I order an ice tea. We sit down at a table. "So. Anything going on?"

"Well I'm agender. And theirs Prom coming up."

"Yes about that i-"

Just then a person annoces are order. He says "hold on while I get the drinks." He comes back with our orders. "Like I was saying I was going to ask if you'd be my date to the prom. So what do you say?" I said "yes. A thousand times yes." That was my biggest mistake.

I got to say at first it was a blessing to have him back in my life. But that blessing turned into a curse. I felt horrid and bad everything he would insult me or be mean to me and would threaten to kill my family if I told anyone. He would call Me a whore if I was hanging with my friends. He didn't want me to hang out with any of my friends. So I did what he said.

I stopped hanging out with them and talking to them. My friends wondered what was happing but I wouldn't budge. Because if I did I would get chocked or beaten when it was just Andrew and I but made sure not to leave a bruse cause he didnt want to get caught for beating or chocking me. The day of the Prom arrived. And I get text from him saying he was in a date with a girl when he was dating me. He didn't want anybody to know that I was dating him so to be the perfect boy wounder he dates a girl for the Prom.

So I went to the Prom alone. I was mad at my boyfriend. Like how could he do that to me? But can't say I didn't see it coming. But I was not happy.

I was in a white tux. I had driven to the Prom myself. In order to get in you had to have your school ID. The line was long but wroth the wait. Once in, I saw a place it was all white, the balloons white, their was a dj their, but I head straight for the water. I just so happen to see John.

John comes up to me and says "Hey Lake, not gonna walk away are ya?" I reply "No. I'm actually in the mood to talk."

" in the mood? So what? You decided to just leave and make us worry? It's not like-"

He pauses and says "your with him again. Aren't you?" I replied with "John please don't take this out of proportion."

"Proportion? He made you not talk to us in weeks and I'm guessing hes beating you up."

"But it doesn't show."

"Like that makes a difference."

"It means he's careful. He doesn't want anyone to know what he's doing to me."

"That just as bad. Look I can get visting him for money. But i cross the line at chocking and beating you up. I'm going to go give him a piece of my mind.

"Wait! no!" I say. But he just keeps walking away. But by time he walks away, Andrew sees and walks to me. Hes wearing black tuxedo. John tries to say something but he says "out of the way. Bitch." He shaves John out of the way and says to me "what. Do. You. Think. Your. Doing?" I try to play dumb and say "what? Me? I didn't do anything."

"LIAR! You spoke to him."

"Okay so I did. So what?"

"What did I tell you not to tell anyone?"

"What? about us or your abuse?"

"That's it we need to talk about this in private."

"So what? You can beat me? Chocke me?"

"LEWIS!

"ITS LAKE!"

I DON'T THINK YOU UNDERSTAND LEWIS!!" Andrew says angrily.  Everyone at this point was looking at us.  His face was so red from anger.  Red is like Anger from the inside out or Red from the angry bird.  But either way, he was so fucking pissed.

  I just shouted right back "NO YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ANDREW!!," I say getting closer to him.  "ALRIGHT!  I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS," he says while grabbing the top of my tux caller with both of his hands.

"YOU AND YOUR SHIT HAVE TO END LEWIS!"

"FOR THE LAST TIME!  IT'S LAKE!," I say grabbing both of his hands and getting them off me. "UGGG!," he says while throwing a punch at my nose and I bumping into a table.  My nose bleeds drops down on my tux and leaves a stain.  At this point, people around us are going "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!," nonstop while they record on their phones.  People are just surrounding us in a circle of feet away.

   I decided to punch back.  I punched him right on his left cheek.  He pushed me down to the ground.  He got on his knees and put his hands on my neck to choke me.  I tried putting his hands off but nothing would do this time.

   I couldn't breathe.  I felt like I was about to faint.  It wasn't until Nino and Maximus came and tried to pull away Andrew from my neck.  And it worked.  While my friends are holding Andrew back, I make a run for it and get away from him. 

"Why do you even hang around this guy?" Nino says.  "I don't know.  I guess I just wanted to be wanted and wanted something close.,"  I say.  "You have us now.  We'll be here for you no matter what."  Maximus says.  Just right then Mary Anne comes and says "What's going on?" she questions. 

" I…. I … I….I'm in an abusive toxic relationship.," I say