A year ago...

"But when are you coming back?" I asked pouting.

Noah chuckled placing, a tender kiss on my forehead and said: "I'll be back before you know it,"

"Do you have to go?" I asked.

"You know this is important to me," he said.

"I know but, I'm going to miss you," I told him.

Noah had to leave for an important football game outside of school for the week. Though I knew how important this was to him, I did not want him to leave at all.

Most times, when he came back from those games, he was beaten and bruised, and its not the sight I like to see him.

"And I you," he said, grabbing my face in the palms of his hand. "More than you can imagine, but it's only 3-days,"

"I know," I said.

He gave me a smile leaning in to peck my lips, but I moved away. "Now we got to get back to class," I say, pushing him off me.

"Hey!" He pulled me right back, my body slamming right against his. "Not so fast," he smirked before he crashed his lips right against mine.

-

I hated it when Noah left. He went more often than I liked him to go, and sometimes it would be weeks until he returned.

And having him leave once again killed me. There were times when I asked if I could go along, but he always refused and told me that I wouldn't like it.

Though I trusted Noah with everything in me when he came most times, he would be brutally hurt, and I didn't even know why and he would only tell me some sort of excuse to shut me up right away.

But he never went alone. His friends Liam and Isaac both went with him, and they would have their shares of bruises.

And no matter how curious I am to know what happens at those games, they would never answer.

"Noah went again," I told Tyler.

Tyler looked me up and down and asked: "football?" I nodded my head. "It's twice in the last couple of weeks, and he never goes this often," I told him.

"I'm sure it's nothing, Storm. You trust him, don't you,"

"More than anything, of course, but I'm just scared,"

"For what?"

"He comes bloodied and injured each time, and I couldn't watch him like this all the time he went," I said. "Now that I think about you guys all do," I told him.

Ty shrugged his shoulder, not meeting my eyes. "Things can get heated sometimes."

"Ya but not to the point you guys are all limping," I mumbled to myself. "I just wish you guys didn't have to go," I said.

"Me too. But we can't do anything about it," he said. "Now, do you want to go get some food? I'm starving," he asked.

But I indeed didn't have an appetite when all I could think about was Noah.

"I'm not hungry. But I'll go with you," I say. He nodded his head, grabbing his keys while I followed behind.

We arrived at a random fast-food place, sitting at one of the booths.

He ordered a bunch of food and munched on them quicker than I ever have seen anyone eat anything.

"Oh, my goodness, Ty! Eat slower you're going to choke," I warned. He took a big gulp.

-

It's been a total of 3 days since all of them had left.

They would be coming back tonight. Noah told me he would meet me at school the next day, but I didn't want to wait that long.

I debated just waiting at his grandparents' house till he did get home, but I decided against it since I knew he would only yell at me if I did show up.

So, I just kept pacing around my room checking, the time and my phone a billion times. I knew he would call me straight away when he came home. He always does, but I am growing impatient.

I didn't know why but this time when he left, I felt this bad feeling in my gut this whole time, and I tried ignoring it, but the more time passes, the more scared I became.

And I just want to know that he is safe.

I went downstairs, unable to stay in that small room any longer. I sat on my couch in the living room and turned the tv on to distract myself.

Until I got a message on my phone from Tyler.

Ty: Can you help me with Math? It read.

St: Ya, what's up?

Ty: Can you just come over and help? It will be easier for me.

I thought about it for a second but decided on going over since it will be the perfect distraction when I would be with Tyler.

So, I made my way over and began helping him with math.

"Oh my gosh! I don't even know what I would've done without you," he said, grabbing my head and leaving a light kiss on top of my head.

I giggled and said: "probably fail math," I shrugged my shoulder. He laughed.

We continued to study together and laugh when we both jumped at the noise coming from downstairs.

"He could have killed you," I heard Liam's voice say.

"But did it happen?"

"Noah?" I say. "I think there back," I said, getting up from my seat and rushed downstairs.

To see Liam, Noah and Isaac standing in the middle of the living room.

"Noah," I called.

He turned around, and my mouth fell open. He was beaten. It was what I feared. He looked awful. He had cuts everywhere he lips cracked open, bruised all over his skin.

All of them looked the same, but Noah was the worst.

I rushed to him, grabbing his face in the palms of my hand. "What happened to you?" I questioned him.

He didn't say anything; instead, he pulled me into him and pressed his lips against me.

"I won!" He said, releasing me from his hold.

"I don't care, Noah. You look horrible," I said.

"That doesn't matter, Storm. I won!" He said again.

"What did you do after. How did you get so many bruises from a football match?" I asked him, examining all his cuts. He winced at times.

I knew there was no way he got all of this from a football match.

"It's nothing," he said, pushing my hands away from him.

"Don't lie to me, Noah! What happened?" I asked, raising my voice more than I intended to. "You come home like this every time, and you always say it's nothing,"

"Storm, leave it," Tyler, who stood near the stairs, said.

I ignored him and glared at Noah. "I'll talk to you later, Storm. Let's go home," he told me.

But I was having enough of this. I couldn't keep watching him get harmed like this every time he left. And I couldn't understand what part of the football match all of this had to do with anything.

"No!" I yelled. "Tell me now," I stood my ground.

"This has nothing to do with you," Liam said, coming up to stand in front of me.

"This has everything to do with me. He's my boyfriend," I told him, speaking up to him in what felt like ever.

"That's it. He's just your boyfriend, not your kid, so fuck off and mind your business," he said, defending Noah.

"Don't talk to her like that, Liam," Noah said. "Let's go home, Storm," he says once again, grabbing my elbow, but I stopped him.

I put my hand in front of him. "No..." I took a deep breath. "I'm going home, and you're not coming," I told him.

"Storm, come on..."

"Stop," I said before I rushed past him and out the door.

I stood in front of the porch letting the tears roll off my eyes. I didn't want to leave him in that state when he was hurt, but I couldn't do that to myself when I knew he was lying.

"When are you going to tell her, Noah?" I heard Tyler ask.

And I stood there waiting for him to reply to whatever Tyler said.

"I don't want her involved in any of this. I can't do that to her," he said.

And I ran to my house and into my room. I didn't know what he meant by anything, but to know that he was lying to me about something only hurt me more than seeing him hurt like that.

****

Hello, my lovelies! How are you guys doing?

I missed you all terribly. I'm so sorry I haven't updated in the last week but, the online school has been hard for me, and I'm still getting used to everything.

But I'm really glad to be back, and I hope you guys enjoyed this flashback chapter.

What was Noah hiding from Storm? Do you think the football game was just a lie or real? Why didn't he want to say anything?

Leave all your amazing theories and comments down below, and please don't forget to vote.

Lots of love,

Just another girl