Nathan led me down the stairs and into the dining room that was a separate room to the kitchen.

"It's beautiful..." I gasped, looking  at the deep mahogany coloured dining table and the chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

"Oh honney!" Penny squealed "Let me look at you!" She dumped the tea towel onto the table and rushed towards me, she took my hands and looked me up and down.

"Thank you for the dress Penny," I smiled.

"You look breathtaking...." She gushed "I bought this dress for my niece but it didn't fit her so I held onto it." She explained.

"I'll make sure I wash it as soon as I get home," I smiled at her as she stepped back and took the tea towel off the table.

"Oh nonsense Gretchen! You keep the dress." Penny grinned from ear to ear.

"Oh please Penelope I couldn't possibly-"

"Gretchen, I would really like for you to keep the dress." Penny smiled.

 “Thank you,” I smiled at her.

 “Penelope, the dinners ready to dish up!” Matthew called from the kitchen.

 “I’m being summoned!” Penny dashed out the room.

"Gretch,” Nathan called softly from around the other side of the table.  I walked round and allowed Nathan to pull out my chair to sit on then I watched him take a seat next to me on my left.

“I would like to apologise in advance for anything my parents say or do.” Nathan sighed shooting me an apologetic look.

“It’s fine, everything will go fine,” I laughed.

“Yeah I hope so,”

“Shotgun!” Kendall jogged into the dining room and took a seat next to me on my right.

“You only say that for a car you twat,” Mason rolled his eyes sauntering to the table taking a seat opposite me.

 “Not just for a car,” Kendall glared at his brother.  Penny walked into the dining room holding two plates, she placed one in front of me and the other to Nathan.  It looks delicious! A perfect pie was placed in the middle of the plate with a small bunch of carrots, pea’s and sweetcorn.  Once everyone had there plates in front of them everyone began to eat.

 "So Gretchen do you live with your parents?” Matthew asked.

 “Um not exactly,” I replied “My parents are business associates and spend a lot of time away, I believe now they’re in New York.” I explained.

 “I see,” Matthew nodded “So do you live alone?”

“No, I have my older brother Bellamy,” I smiled.

 “Are you sure your being looked after well enough?” He asked.

 “Matthew! Don’t be so rude!” Penny scolded him. Out the corner of my eye I saw Nathan shake his head.

 “It’s fine,” I smiled “I’m absolutely fine, we have money transferred into Bellamy’s account and the bills go to wherever my parents are.”

 “Right,” Matthew nodded.

 “It’s so lovely to have you here Gretchen,” Penny smiled at me.

“Thank you and it’s a pleasure to meet you all,” I replied.  There was something about this woman that just made me want to smile.

“Kendall, please your eating dinner not at a stag!” Penny narrowed her eyes at Kendall beside me.  Glancing at him I saw three empty beer cans beside his empty plate.

“I deserve it!” Kendall slurred and immediately the smell of alcohol was extremely strong.

"Do you mind if I get a glass of water?” I asked Penny.

“Of course not sweetie,” She beamed.

 “I’ll get it.” Nathan slid his chair back.

“No it’s fine Nathan, I’ll get one,” I smiled at him squeezing his shoulder as I stood.  I left the dining room and walked to the kitchen; I took a clean glass off the rack and began to pour some water in it from the tap.

“You know…you look  really….hot in that dress.” I heard Kendall say behind me. I turned round and smiled at him.

“Thanks,” I laughed taking a sip from my glass.

“You know, Nathan’s a lucky guy. But I’m the lucky one….” He slurred and staggered towards me.

 “What?” I asked putting my empty glass down. Kendall staggered towards me and grabbed my waist, his face so close to mine.

“Kendall get off….” I pushed his chest slightly. Kendall brought his hand up to my cheek and cupped my face then brushed under my eye with his thumb. I froze.

 FLASHBACK

 "I'm so proud of you Gretch!" Daniel grinned as I ran towards him.

 "I can't believe it!" I squealed.

"Bellamy is going to be so proud, baby." Daniel trucked a strand of hair behind my ear and I smiled at him nuzzling my face into his touch.

"Gretch! See you later girl!" Alice called from the top of the steps staring down at us both.

"Sure Alice!" I yelled back beaming, before turning my attention back to Daniel.

"Intelligent and beautiful," Daniel smiled as he cupped my cheek with his hand.

"No I'm not." I blushed leaning into his hand.

"You are baby," he smiled as he brushed his thumb under my eye then he leaned in and gently pressed his lips to mine. I snaked my arms round his neck as he slipped his arms around my waist. Our lips moved in sync and I felt complete. He pulled away briefly to look in my eyes.

"I love you." He smiled.

"I love you too."

PRESENT

A tear trickled down my cheek as Kendall continued to caress my cheek.

"Please get off Kendall," I managed to say through silent tears.

"No more talking now," he slurred leaning in.

"How long does it take to- What the fuck!" Nathan shouted and he ran towards us and yanked Kendall off me.

"What the fuck do you think your doing dude?!" He shouted.

"You always have to ruin everything Nathan!" Kendall yelled back. Nathan swung his arm back and punched Kendall square in the face. Unable to stay in the house any longer I quickly ran to the hallway and grabbed my bag and phone, I then popped my head round the dining room door wiping my eyes.

"Thank you ever so much for dinner Matthew and Penelope but I really have to go." I rushed.

"Are you ok Gretchen?" Penny stood quickly.

"No I'm not.....Nathan needs you in the kitchen," I said and quickly headed out the front door. I was almost to the pavement when I heard the front door open.

"Gretch!? Please come back I'll take you home!" He called.

"Just no!" I shouted and started running from the house. I ended up running for ten minutes. My legs ached and tears stained my cheeks.  I plonked myself on a bench just below a streetlamp. I pulled out my phone and text Bellamy.

'Please come pick me up Rudrack Avenue. I'm sitting on a bench x'

In a matter of seconds my phone vibrated.

'Leaving now x'

I curled myself up into a ball and kept wiping away fresh tears. My heart ached. Daniel's face flashed across my mind and I squeezed my eyes shut hoping to block my thoughts out. This is why I've never got involved with boys again, they reminded me of....him. I know Kendall was drunk and he'll kick himself when he's sobered up but he still did it, and he does exactly what Daniel does with his hand. Ii tried to blink back tears and car headlights flashed into my eyes and a car pulled up in front. Bellamy stepped out the car and rushed to my side.

"What happened Gretch?" I saw concern etched into his face.

"I can't deal with this anymore!" I sobbed as Bellamy pulled me tightly to his chest.

"You must be cold, lets get you home." Bellamy whispered into my hair as he helped me up and into the car. The drive home was silent apart from a few sobs and sniffles, I saw it was frustrating him because he couldn't comfort me whilst driving.  We pulled up outside the house and Bellamy led me inside.

"I think it would be best if you were to shower first then we'll talk, baby girl." Bellamy soothed, nodding my head I trudged up stairs and stripped of my clothes and had a quick shower the I changed into my white and purple fluffy PJ's and grabbed a blanket and my phone and went back down stairs and plopped myself on the sofa next to Bellamy. He switched the tv off before angling his body to face mine.

"You want to tell me what happened?" Bellamy asked, I nodded my head in reply.

"Meeting Nathan's parents were lovely, his mother gave me the dress. I've met Nathan's brothers once before..."

"Go on." Bellamy encouraged taking my hand in his.

"His brother Kendall had quite a lot to drink and..." Tears welled up in my eyes "he tried to make a move on me in the kitchen when nobody was about..." I managed to say as I watched Bellamy's features harden.

"I'm going to kill him."

"No! This is the thing he's such a nice guy it was just the alcohol...." I pleaded.

"That doesn't make it okay Gretch."

"I know. I wasn't total bothered that he made a move....I could have easily put him in his place...its what he did...."

"What?" Bellamy demanded.

"He cupped my face and brushed his thumb under my eye." I said as silent tears began to overflow.

"Oh." He whispered.

"I hate him but I miss him!" I cried out.

"Shh shh I know Gretch, I know," Bellamy pulled me into a hug and stoked his hand over my hair.

"Why did Daniel do that to me?" I sobbed into Bellamy's chest. "Am I a bad person? Maybe I deserved it..."

"You listen here Gretchen Rousso! Don't you ever put yourself down. There is nothing wrong with you, you are perfect to me, do you understand? And no boy should ever take you for granted because you'd be the best thing that ever happened to them." Bellamy said firmly holding my face between his hands.

"I just ache Bellamy...." I whispered.

"Your tired and I don't want you to overthink anything, you should go to bed and have a lie in tomorrow. I'll call in saying your sick and we can have a proper munch out and lazy day yeah?" Bellamy smiled a little handing me a tissue.

"Yeah," I smiled.

"See you in the morning." He kissed the top of my head.

"Love you," I said standing up.

"Love you more."
I walked up stairs to my bedroom and collapsed into my bed. I sae that my phone had three missed calls and thirteen text messages all from Nathan and one from Mason. Ignoring them I switched off my phone and snuggled into bed... I needed a good rest.