Richelle's PoV

Absolutely no one can find out. The bruises on my stomach, the cuts on my wrists, the tears in my eyes. I don't know why my parents do it. And by parents I mean Father. He just gets so agitated towards me and lashes out most of the time. My mother has never laid a finger on me but that doesn't mean that she stops him from abusing me. Yes, I get abused by my father while my own Mother is a silent bystander. I wish that I could tell somebody. Every time I come close to asking my boyfriend, Noah, for help... I freeze and end up changing the subject completely. I know that he would help me in a heartbeat because that is just the type of person he is. I am so lucky to have him in my dysfunctional life. Noah is just about the only thing that actually makes me happy. Dance, dance is my life too. Well, dance was my life up until a few months ago. That is when it started happening, the abuse. I quit dance as a result of the fear of someone finding out. Believe me I want my Father in trouble but for some reason I always become full of fear whenever I go to open my mouth. I know, I know... I need help. I am sixteen years old and I am already thinking about moving away. That's bad, right? I keep thinking that perhaps Noah and his family would take me in for a while. That's the dream anyway. Today, Noah asked me to meet him at the studio so we can walk to the movies together. Noah still dances at my old studio, The Next Step, with all of my old friends. I sort of lost touch with all of them since I left. I think it happens to be because I left a few weeks before nationals, not giving them a lot of time to search for a replacement. I even think that Noah was a little but pissed off with me for that. If only he knew why....

So, as I am walking down my lonely street, the sweet breeze swishes through my hair which is shoved up into a messy bun. I decide that I am going to tell him, today. The question is how am I going to do it? I can not just go up to him and say 'hey, my dad is hitting me, can I move in with you?'

So what do I do? I cant just blurt it out, it will most likely freak him out.

Noah is the sweetest boyfriend anyone could ever ask for. A few weeks ago he presented me a ring, with the promise that it will be an engagement ring one day. You can not get any sweeter than that. Since that day I have not taken it off of my finger. I look down and stare at it, it is gorgeous. He loves me I think to myself. If he loves me enough to give me this ring, he loves me enough to understand, right?

After spending ages convincing myself that I am going to tell him, I finally reach the studio. I take a deep breath and look up at the building which used to consume my waking days. It was my place. It was where I met my best friend Lola. It was the place where I learned to do my first aerial. It was also the place where I met Noah, the love of my life. I miss it so god damn much.

'Hey beautiful' smiles my stunning boyfriend, exiting the studio doors. As soon as I see him I have this big stupid grin on my face which he laughs at every single time. I walk up and hug him, soaking up the feeling of him, bracing myself for revealing my darkest secret.

'Noah we need to talk' I say pulling away from our hug, my face becoming serious. This scares him, oh no. 'Is something wrong Richie?' He asks furrowing his eyebrows.

I nod sorrowful.

'Something wrong with us?' he asks worried.

I can feel my eyes widen with surprise 'Of course not! Noah, I love you' I say cupping his cheeks.

I hear him take a sigh of relief 'then what is it?'

Okay Richelle. This is it. Now is the time that you tell him, he can help you, remember?

'Noah what I am about to tell you is kind of... personal' I say, playing with my fingertips.

He once again looks at me confused. Tears fall down my cheeks as all the memories come flooding in my mind all at once.

'Woah woah woah woah woah, What's wrong gorgeous?' he asks softly, wrapping his protective arms around me. He leads me to an empty bench nearby and we sit cuddled up next to one another.

'Noah, my Dad... he...' Is all I manage to say.

'What is up with your dad Richie? Is he okay? Did something happen?' he asks more concerned than ever.

I nod, not knowing what else to do.

'Something did happen... but not to him. Something happened to me' I whisper.

'Okay you are scaring me now baby, please tell me what's wrong' he says before kissing my cold cheek.

'A few months ago he started hitting me and I got so scared that someone would find out that I lest the studio and didn't know what else to do' I blurt out.

He looks completely taken aback. I am guessing this is not a normal conversation that you have with your girlfriend everyday?

'Baby. You could have told me' he says, almost in tears.

'I know I could have Noah, I was just to afraid that he would hurt me even more'. I whimper, tears beginning to fall faster.

'Why are you telling me now? Is it getting worse?' Noah says sounding broken.

A simple nod is all that I give in response to this.

'Come on' He says, locking our fingers and holding me close while we walk down the street.

'Where are we going?' I wonder confused.

'We are going home' he says like it is the simplest thing in the world.

I knew telling him would be a good idea, I don't know why I didn't sooner.

So its a few days later and I am staying with the Erlicks. The let me live with them, permanently! His family are great. But they are only letting me stay as long as Noah and I sleep in separate rooms... I suppose that is for the best...

My Father is now in court, he might get jail time. Fran, Noah's mum, encouraged me to report him, so I did. Trust me my life is so much better now. I am even back at the studio! However, the sad thing is, my Mother is now living in that awful house, alone. Which, now I realise she deserves, she could have helped her own daughter multiple times, but chose not to. That doesn't sound like a Mother worth having around.

Buy hey, at the end of the day, I have Noah.