Jasmine's POV

T/W mention of physical abuse. I'll put a *** where it starts and ends.

Also one slight swear but y'all listen to Hamilton so...

I heard my alarm go off. Groggily, I turned it off and checked the time. 5:00. Perfect.

After last night I decided that I should probably get out of the house before Noah woke up. I jumped out of my bed and ran to the shower.

I was fully ready by 5:30. I snuck past the couch and walked to the nearest coffee shop.

At 6:00 I headed to my dressing room. Rehearsal didn't start until 9 but most of the cast got here early so I only had to wait around two hours. After watching a couple episodes of Fuller House. I heard my door open.

"Hey Pippa!" I said cheerfully *** but then winced slightly because of the bruise on my face. *** Pippa must've noticed.

"Hey Jazzy what happened to your face?" I fake smiled ***even though it hurt.*** (Ok, I don't get many bruises on my face so I don't know if they hurt when you smile. Just go with me.)

"Nothing." I lied. "I just ran into a wall this morning." She didn't look as though she believed me. Yet all she did was shrug and put her stuff down. We spent the rest of the time before rehearsal chatting. Renee, Oak, and Daveed came in and all asked me similar questions. They all believed me when I gave them my fake tale. Anthony was a different story.

"Whoa! Jas you alright?" he asked.

"Yah I'm fine I just ran into a wall. Why? Does it really look so bad?" I fake laughed. He kept a dead serious face.

"Yes Jas, it's a really bad bruise are you sure that's what happened?" Ant persisted. I was getting worried. If he found out about what Noah did, he might hurt Ant. I couldn't deal with that.

"Yah I'm fine Ant. Now will you stop questioning me?" he threw his hands up in surrender and backed up.

"I was just making sure." he said, backing away. I smiled slightly at him.

"Well thanks." I said. He grinned back at me but there was worry in his eyes. I ignored it.

----

Today we were starting dance practices. (they had only been doing sing throughs) The whole cast was dressed in there dancing clothes. The choreographer told us that we were starting with Helpless.

"Ok! Anthony.... You're with.... Jasmine. Anthony smiled and walked over to me. I got butterflies in my stomach. The rest of practice, as we danced, he grinned non stop. I knew I did as well.

Rehearsal ended. Daveed invited Pippa, Renée, Oak, Ant, and I over to his place for pizza.

Anthony's POV

I finished changing and walked over to the girls dressing room. As I walked in I saw Jas, without a shirt on. WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN?!?!!? I was about to start apologizing when I noticed something weird on her stomach. ***There were bruises all over her.

Jas looked up and saw me.

"ANTHONY" she screamed and quickly pulled a shirt over her head.

"Jas, what's... that." I gestured to her stomach. She looked as though she was about to cry.

"Come on Jas. What happened." I insisted. I closed and locked the door. Then, I lead her to sit down on the couch.

After a few moments of us sitting there and staring at each other, she flung herself  into my arms and started sobbing. It took me a minute to comprehend what was happening but when I did I wrapped my arms around her. It took her a couple minutes to be able to get any words out. She looked up from where her head was, on my chest.

"Well..." she started. She sniffed a couple of times before continuing, "I told Noah I wanted to break up with him and he... he..." she broke into tears yet again before I questioned her.

"Jas, " I forced her to look at me. "Did Noah do this to you?" She looked away from me. "Jas?" I persisted. She nodded slowly.

"That bastard." I jumped up from the couch before Jas pulled me back down.

"Please Ant, don't do anything. I can handle it." she said.

"No, Jas you clearly can't." I replied.

"Fine." she said.

"Good. Now we can go to Daveed's but you're not going back to your house. You can stay at my place." She let out an annoyed sigh.

"Anthony Ramos Martinez. What would I do without you." I laughed and slung my arm around her shoulder. We walked together out of the room.

"Hey Ant?" Jas asked looking at me.

"Yah?"

"Can you not tell anyone right now?" She looked up at me with pleading eyes.

"For now." I replied.

She smiled and the two of us walked over to our friends. ***

----

Pippa's POV (Ooooooh getting fancy with the POV's)

Something was wrong. Jazzy was clearly lying about what happened to her face. I realized she hadn't mentioned what happened with Noah.

"Hey Jazzy." I said before I could stop myself. She looked up from her spot on the floor. "What happened with Noah?" I swear I saw Jazzy shoot a nervous look at Anthony before answering.

"It's complicated. I'll tell you guys when I get it figure out." I nodded. Deciding against pushing the matter any further.

Jasmine Cephas Jones was one of my two best friends. I trusted her but she's obviously getting hurt.

"Renée can I speak to you outside for a moment." Renée nodded and followed me out into the hallway of Daveed's apartment.

"Is this about Jazzy?" she asked as soon as we got out there.

"Yes!" I replied immediately. "What's wrong with her."

"Pippa I knew you'd act like this. Jasmine will tell us when she's ready." I looked at her unbelievably. She continued.

"Plus, Anthony knows something's wrong. He won't let her leave without figuring out what it is." I nodded slowly and we walked back into the room. I trusted Anthony but can he really be trusted with this.

----

Anthony's POV

Jas and I walked into my apartment. Our apartment? Who knows. We both changed and watched How I Met Your Mother  together. I was drifting off to sleep when I felt a pillow hit my face. Jas sat on the other end of the couch looking away innocently. I decided against attacking her. I mean, she's had a really hard week with-. My thoughts were interrupted with another pillow flying into my face.

"THAT'S IT!!" I yelled. Jasmine screamed as I tackled her and tickled her until we were both out of breath. We laid there for a couple seconds, just staring at each other. I looked into her eyes. She had REALLY pretty eyes. Suddenly Jas cleared her throat, shaking me out of my trance.

"Well I better get to bed." I said, way too loudly.

"Yah. Me too." Jas said. She sounded sad. Did I do something wrong. Oh dang it I did something wrong didn't I. Stupid me! I turned around and took a step toward my room when I felt Jas grab my wrist. I turned around.

"Ummm.. I don't think I'll be able to sleep with.. yah know the thought of him... coming." She looked down as she said all this, clearly embarrassed. I chuckled.

"Do you want to sleep with me?" my cheeks flushed as I realized what I said. "I mean just in the same bed. No like-" It was her turn to laugh.

"Sure. I'll sleep with you." Jas walked past me into my room. She then proceeded to flop onto my bed. I crawled in next to her.

"Hey Ant?" She asked.

"Yah"

"Thanks"

"Hey what can I say except, you're welcome." (Yes. I am aware that Moana did not exist at this time.) She laughed.

As I drifted off to sleep I couldn't help but imagine falling asleep like this every night.

OK I have like no time tonight and I have a crap ton of homework but here's you're update. I know it's cringy af (as frickle) but oh well. Also I didn't edit this. Also it's 9/11 so anyone who died during that or anyone who knew someone that died, I'm praying for you. Please tell me if there are any mistakes. Thanks!

Have a great day!

~Kate

Word count-(not including a/n) 1255

Sept. 11, 2017