“I still love him”, Klaire thinks to herself as she pats pale blush over her black eye; an injury produced by her only love, Joey. Klaire knew he didn’t mean it, after all, it did look like she was snooping. An exhausted sigh escapes her lips. Klaire, couldn’t let her friends she her shiner, and she couldn’t allow her doubts about Joey to show. He loved her and she loved him, who she to break his heart? A loud beep jolts Klaire from her thoughts, her waiting mother was growing impatient. Smoothing her red hair and grabbing her bag, Klaire checked her eye once again. “Here we go, Lord, please let Joey behave” she prayed, closing the door behind her.
***
“What is that?” Klaire’s best friend, Teagan gasped.
“Whatta you talking about?” Drawled Klaire, a failed attempt at nonchalance. Her black eye was exposed after sweating in gym class.
“Was it Joey?” Teagan asked, fear and anger dripping from her words. Klaire, after checking the now empty locker room, broke under Teagan’s glare.
“I grabbed his phone, all I wanted to do was play Flappy Bird…when a text came through. She looked at Teagan. “That’s when Joey caught me. But I didn’t look at the message I swear!” Klaire explains, her eyes throbbing. A hush fell between them.
“You gotta get away from this guy, K” Teagan asserted angrily. “I promise you, I got friends in scary places!”
Klaire smiled warmly, Teagan always had her back, but she couldn’t let Teagan harm Joey. Both girls had put up with him since Freshman year of High School. Now a Senior, she’d gotten used to Joey’s aggressive tendencies. Tegan, apparently, had not.
“It’s ok T,” Klaire said, shaking her head, “I deserved it, now, where’s your makeup?”

Handing her bag over to her friend, Teagan was definitely scared for Klaire. Why was Klaire still with him? What if that meathead upped the ante on his cruelty? Teagan’s conclusions scared her, Joey was dangerous, would he ever change?
***

It was sixth period now and Klaire struggled to stay awake. Her head throbbed and her AP History teacher, Mr. Brokaw, drawled on and on about something possibly related to WWII, Klaire couldn’t care less. Glancing around, she caught the eye of a girl a few rows ahead of her. A few beats passed. The Girl pointed to ear, and then to Mr. Brokaw, “Listen”, she mouthed, a smirk threating her lips. Smiling, Klaire comically rolled her eyes, “I’d rather streak through the halls in broad daylight” she thought. Klaire didn’t know who the Girl was, but throughout the semester, she’d quickly developed a habit of watching her. The way she twisted her dark hair around her finger, the way the natural light complimented her complexion, and the way she slouched in her chair when class seemed to drag on. Klaire liked the way the Girl made her forget about reality. The truculent Joey, a simple afterthought.
***

“CALL ME!” read Joey’s text message, the 16th one left on Klaire’s phone.

“Geesh, what does he want!” complained Teagan, the incessant ringing irritating her ears. Klaire’s boredom had just been cured by the dismissal bell, and now she and Teagan strolled slowly towards the school’s exist; Klaire still riding the high that the Girl had given her.

“I don’t care,” Klaire whined, “We’re not on-” her words caught in her throat. Joey was headed in their direction, charging straight at Klaire. “

“What the Hell!” Joey said, dragging her into an empty classroom.

“Joey!” Klaire yelled, but not too loud, he hated when she yelled.

“Why didn’t you call me?” his strong grip still firm on her right bicep.

“I was in class, why the hell weren’t you?” Klaire pushed, painfully wrenching her arm away.

“You don’t need to know that,” Joey growled. “My car’s in the shop, and I had an appointment after school, but since you didn’t answer, I had to cancel!” he sneered, tapping his large hand against Klaire’s skull, hard.

Klaire melted, “I’m sorry Joe, but I was in class,” she whispered. “You should have been there too,” she added.

Joey shoved her down, his brown eyes and blonde hair seemingly wild with rage. He kneeled down and grabbed her chin. “I love you Klaire,” he sighed. “But you need to learn how to shut up,” he breathed, pushing past a mortified Teagan who’d just entered. Joey slammed the door behind him.

“OMG, Klaire!” Teagan cried, rushing to her friend’s side. “He’s never hurt you when I was around, he’s definitely getting worse,” she asserted, simultaneously ushering Klaire out of the room.

“Really T is fine, Joe’s just been stressed lately, the baseball recruiters have been watching him for weeks now,” Klaire assured, more towards herself than to her friend. Teagan was right, Klaire thought, Joey had become more aggressive, his caring side a rarity versus the side that always scared her. Klaire knew that her boyfriend didn’t mean to hurt her, she needed to be taught, and Joey was her loving teacher, his methods were just…unorthodox.
***

Days passed and the weeks flew by. As Klaire’s eye healed, Joey’s “condition” had grown more confrontational, an increasing number of issues began to set him off. Now he resorted to emotional and physical lessons, striking her where clothes easily covered. Klaire’s life had become an exhausting game of “How to Please Joey” and now she seemed to lose frequently, unsuccessfully dodging both Joey and his taunting friends. Teagan too began to add to Klaire’s pain. Now she shot snide remarks about Klaire, claiming that she was choosing death over her best friend. “Teagan didn’t understand,” Klaire believed, Joey was scary yes, but isn’t love supposed to be scary? Klaire was confused. Now her only love spat in her face, while her only true friend called her stupid and dumb behind her back. The only solace Klaire found was through her observations of the Girl. Again, Klaire was transfixed by the Girl’s actions and their secret, silent conversations. Senior year was definitely not going as Klaire dreamed it would. She was trapped in a bewildering world, her only peace being found in these intriguing exchanges.


***
The Annual Spring Formal was fast approaching and Klaire was being forced to attend. She hated this dance ever since Freshman year- it was the first time Joey had hit her. Of course Klaire pleaded with Joey and even claimed that she had fallen ill. He quickly caught on to her bluff. Klaire’s ribcage now bruised because of her lie. “You’re going” he would say. “Wear something that shows off your boobs, the baseball team loves sluts” he told her. “Joey’s just teaching me proper etiquette”, Klaire would rationalize, although deeply she knew this was false. “I still love him” Klaire recited, an irrational attempt to denounce her faltering emotions. Joey was turning pure evil, was it time to escape her love’s choke-hold?
But how?
***

Wrapped in a blanket, Klaire sat hunched over on her bed. It was the weekend, the only time when she felt truthfully safe. The Spring Formal was happening later in the week. Klaire stared ahead, blocking out the annoying chatter of the TV and the noise of her mom’s “friend” from downstairs. She mulled over her thoughts from the previous days. Her only love was transforming into her only hate, Joey was suddenly becoming overly frustrated and secretive. Klaire needed to get away from him before his habits became deadly. Joey was going to ruin everything in her life…Klaire’s sanity was disappearing quickly.
***

The week passed by faster than Klaire was comfortable with. She’d glided through her classes, relishing the hours spent in AP History. Klaire had even went dress shopping with Teagan, a painfully awkward experience. Teagan had spent the entirety of the time complaining about Joey and Klaire’s relationship. “He’s stupid, I thought you were in love, but I’m fed up, and you’re muy stupido for taking his abuse” Teagan would grumble. Now today was finally Friday, and Klaire couldn’t wait to get to the Spring Formal shindig over with. Joey would be happy, and in return, she would be too.
***

Klaire stared at her image in the mirror. After hours of prep, she’d finally finished. Klaire glowed, her red hair tickled her shoulders while her green, pleated dress flowed softly.

“You’re gorgeous” her mom said, snapping a litany of endless pictures. “Where’s Joe?” she asked.

Klaire attempted to smile, but sadness lurked in her eyes. She rushed out of the bathroom, avoiding her mother’s gaze. “I have to drive myself, Joey’s car is still in the shop,” she lied. The truth was that Joey, after burying Klaire under a gamut of weight related insults, claimed he didn’t have enough room in his two-seater, the only available seat being granted to his best friend, Riley. Klaire kissed her mom on the cheek. “Be back soon!” she shouted over her shoulder. Klaire was desperate to get this night over with.
***

Klaire didn’t know that all of these kids actually went to her school. Packed tight with gyrating teens, the enormous gymnasium looked more like a Warehouse Rave than a Spring Formal. Klaire arrived alone, scanning the crowd for any signs of Joey. She did find Teagan, who was latched on to her fresh, new best friend, dancing off-beat to the music. Klaire had to admit, Teagan’s abandonment did hurt her, but nonetheless, she was happy it happened sooner rather than later.
***

An hour passed and Klaire still sat alone.
“Klaire!” shouted someone behind her. She turned. Joey stood there in his crisp tux, an angry expression plastered on his face.

“Hey babe!” Klaire exclaimed, excited to finally see her man.

“What are you wearing?” Joey demanded. The color drained from Klaire’s face. “You’re supposed to match my tie, my tie is blue” he spat, Klaire felt a mist of spiked punch paint her face.
Klaire slapped Joey then, a fury burning deep within her. “How dare you Joey!” she yelled. Joey stood stunned, a pocket of silent space developing between them. He grabbed her arm and began to squeeze. Klaire yelped in pain. Joey dragged her through the crowd, keeping his death grip on Klaire’s arm. He launched her into the peaceful hallway.
“Joey stop!” Klaire begged. Switching his grip, he began to choke her instead, draining life out of Klaire. His powerful hold held her as Klaire clawed at his hand. Joey let go when Klaire’s eyes began to flutter. She collapsed, weakly gasping for air.
Joey sat next to her. He banged his head against the lockers.
“I’m sorry Klaire”, he whispered.
An empty confusion materialized.
“To Hell with your sorrys Joe” Klaire choked out.
A flash of anger softened in Joey’s eyes. “I’m trying to apologize Klaire… it’s just, I’ve been so stressed and confused and-“
“And what?” Klaire demanded, “Baseball and your perfect life has you so stressed and confused that you wanted to kill me…is that it Joey?” Klaire viciously reprimanded.
“Just shut up!” Boomed Joey. Klaire braced for another strike. Standing her up, he shoved her against the lockers. They stood face to face, Joey’s eyes boring holes into Klaire’s.
“I’m done with you Joey”, Klaire said coldly. No feelings of love were left for Joey inside of Klaire’s heart. It was time to let him go.
Joey’s stare bore deeper, completely unaffected by Klaire’s worlds.
Joey sighed, “I’m gay Klaire”. He took a step back.
Klaire’s face softened, “What?” Joey ran a shaking hand through his hair.
“I’m gay Klaire, I’ve known it for a while,” he paused. “I’m sorry for everything, I used you as a mask, I abused you,” Joey shrugged then chuckled. “I’m so sorry,” he said.
Klaire stood in stunned silence. She checked her arm, it still ached…this was not a dream. She watched Joey as he disappeared through the school’s exit, the cool breeze hitting her face. Klaire’s makeup was ruined, her hair drooped, and her dress hung sadly on her thin frame.
“Are you alright?” came an unfamiliar voice. Klaire head whipped around.
Standing in the bathroom entrance stood the Girl. She loitered there, her blue dress tailored perfectly.

“I’m Jenna” the Girl said. “I like your dress” she added, smiling.
A beat passed.

“I’m Klaire” Klaire said, returning a smile. The bass from the gym pulsated the ground under the girls’ feet.

“Wanna dance?”