"Please welcome to the field... The Beigoma High Valkyries Marching Band!" The announcer introduced, the crowd cheering as the band began their pregame by marching out onto the field. Everyone got into position and, making a grand entrance as the youngest Drum Major, was a short blonde girl. Her grey eyes shone under her hat, a bright smile lighting up the field as she twirled her baton. "And, making her debut, is Drum Major Night Slydale! The youngest Drum Major in Beigoma High history!"

The band marched along the field with Night leading them, playing flawlessly and finishing up their routine before they filed over to the stands. Ending the fight song, the crowd was electric, cheering happily for their school's band.
    "Great work everyone!" Night smiled, her and the band clapping and rooting for each other. The football team was introduced to the field after the marching Valkyries settled into the stands, the game getting underway shortly later.

~~~

    "You played great today, Alex!" Night smiled, running up and giving a Wide Receiver a big hug. The Senior football player laughed and spun her around in his arms, holding her tight.
    "So did you and the band! I'm so proud of you, baby sis." Alex smiled, tossing her onto his shoulder and holding her legs. The Freshman Drum Major laughed and patted his messy raven hair, the two walking off toward the school with the rest of the team and band.
    "Jesus Christ, I'm happy that the game is over..." Alex whined, having finally set his sister back on her feet when they walked inside. He popped his neck sighed, the young blond laughing beside him.
    "Come on, we won! The O-line was on point today!" She beamed as she started undoing the buttons on her uniform, smiling warmly. "I have to go get changed, I'll meet you at the car."

The sibling parted ways as Night waved, walking off toward the locker room in order to get changed. As she was going, however, she was stopped by another football player, electric green eyes piercing into grey.
    "Hey, Night right?" He asked, his smooth voice causing heat to rush to the young blonde's cheeks. She brushed her bangs behind her ear as she gave a shy smile, nodding.
    "Yeah, that's me. Uh, Vincent right? You're a Runningback?"
    "I'm surprised you know me, not a lot of people care about the RBs." Vincent smiled, his hand tightening on the face mask of his helmet. "You did great tonight, must be nice being known as the youngest Drum Major in the school's history."
    "Well, it's a lot of pressure... All eyes are on me all of the time, so it's pretty stressful." Night rubbed the back of her neck shyly, grey eyes glinting in the fluorescent lighting. Vincent chuckled, reaching forward and tucking a stray strand of hair behind the young female's ear.
    "Well, if you want someone to talk to, I'll lend an ear." He passed her a slip of paper, it holding his phone number. "Why don't you shoot me a text sometime, cutie."

The Junior winked at her and ignited her cheeks aflame, the Freshman smiling and nodding.
    "Yeah, I'll text you later." Night told him, waving before turning away and trotting off, leaving the Runningback to join the rest of his team.

~~~

They talked non stop before they ultimately decided to start dating, Alex finding it nice that his sister was dating one of his teammates. Vincent was a charmer. Tan skin, gorgeous green eyes, an undercut for his fine black hair he kept styled. He was quite the looker.

So what happened to that?

About two months into their relationship did Night notice a change in her partner's behavior, almost thinking nothing of it as it was encouragement to help her get fit. Right?
    "Night, babe, you got to lay off the sweets. What would everyone think if they saw you with me?" Vincent snorted, looking at the outfit she was wearing. Grey eyes looked down as she admired her figure, the younger teen nodding partially in agreement.
    "I do look like I put on a couple pounds... Yeah, I'll lay off, I'm sorry." Night told him, fingers fumbling with her shirt.
    "That a girl. Come on, you and I are going to hit the gym so we can run that weight off."
    "But, what about our other plans?"
    "I said, we're hitting the gym..." Her boyfriend's tone sharpened to a scary level, an overly stern look in his eyes. Night shut her mouth and nodded, wincing when the football player took her wrist a rough way to lead her to his car.

And it didn't stop there.

From comments about her weight to laughing at her about her insecurities, Night started to shelter herself. But that wasn't the best idea.
    "Why haven't you answered my calls?!" His voice boomed when she got into his car, the female flinching as she sat down.
    "I-I'm sorry, I was busy... My mom needed-" she was trying to explain herself but he wasn't having it, further angering him.
    "I don't want to hear excuses! Any time that I'm calling you, you're supposed to drop whatever you're doing to talk to me!" Vincent's anger was irrational and Night didn't know what to do, staying quiet as tears filled her eyes. "Are you fucking around with another guy? Is that why you weren't answering me?! Because you're fucking someone else?!"
    "N-no that's not it! I told you, I only love you!"
    "Obviously not, Night! So either you tell the truth or we're done!"
    "I was with my family!"
    "Fucking prove it!"
    "You're literally at my-"

Night wasn't able to finish her sentence, her beloved dealing a harsh slap across her face. She gasped and bit back a sob, holding her searing cheek as she looked tearfully into terrifying green eyes.
    "From now on, I'm checking your phone. The only man's contact I should see is your idiotic gringo of a brother. Am I clear?" Vincent spoke through grit teeth, pointing at her angrily. Night took in a shuddering breath, barely having time to comprehend as her boyfriend gripped her cheeks harshly. "I said, am I clear?"
    "Y-yes..."
    "Good girl..."

~~~

It wasn't the last time he got physical with her.

From that day on, if she did something he didn't like, he was always putting his hands on her. So bad to the point that makeup was no longer enough to hide them. Her demeanor changed during marching practice that concerned her band mates, the teen forcing a smile and saying everything was fine.

Everything was not fine.

    "N-no, Vincent, I-I'm sorry! I-I'll be good!" She cried, cornered in her own bedroom on a day her mother and brother were gone.
    "I knew you were fucking around with another guy..." His voice was eerily low, hands curled at his side as he stalked towards his girlfriend. "After all I've done for you, this is how you repay me? By fucking some band nerd?!"
    "H-he's just my friend! N-nothing's happened with us!" Night was terrified, tears pouring down battered cheeks as her body quivered in terror. She whimpered and kept trying to swat his hands away from grabbing her, crying out in pain when he pulled her hair and gripped her throat.
    "I've done everything for you! I've thrown so much into this relationship and you have done nothing! Now, I have to make sure that the band pussy knows you're taken..."

Night cried and fought against the larger man, trying to punch and kick to get him off. It was futile as he pinned her down, beating her nearly unconscious before kissing her roughly. She wheezed and continued to try fighting, her strength vanishing as her clothes left her form, tears constantly flowing as she closed her swollen eyes.

~~~

    "Mama...?" Her eyes snapped open at the small voice, vision cloudy as she rubbed away the sleep.
    "What's wrong, baby ghost?" She asked once she found her voice, finally feeling the tears on her cheeks. Jin looked at her warily, fumbling with his fingers.
    "... Who's Vincent...?" The teen asked shyly, flinching when he saw the flash in his mother's eyes. She sighed, leaning back into the chair and delivering a kind pet to her son's head.
    "He's no one, dear. Just a figure of my imagination..."

Jin bit his lip and nodded, glancing over at his sleeping dad. He brought his plushie closer to his chest and nuzzled into it, leaning against his mama's shoulder.
    "How much longer is this flight...? I'm getting restless..."
    "Not much longer, honey bug... It should be another few hours..." She smiled warmly, leaning her head against his. "Try to get some sleep, it passes the time faster..."
    "Okay mama..."

The two closed their eyes, falling asleep together as Night let out another deep sigh, hoping to forget about the past that still haunts her.

The past that Jin doesn't need to know about...

NightBear15 signing off...