Jennie took your hand into hers from across the table, making you lift your head and shift your gaze from the menu you stared down at and over to your beautiful girlfriend instead.
The look in her eyes melted her heart, that sweet smile you adore so much tugged at her lips.
"I'm so happy to be able to do this tonight. I missed our date nights." She smiled and you did the same as she kissed your hand.
"Me too. Thank you for bringing me here. It's so romantic and everything looks so good."
She giggled before staring down at her own menu. But she kept her hand wrapped in yours, not wanting to let it go for even a second.
Even though you've only been together for a couple of months, your relationship is quite serious already. Of course, you're not rushing into anything. But Jennie has a way of making you feel different from your past relationships.
There's this happiness she constantly brings you, managing to make even your worst days better. She understands you, she always hears you out, she makes you feel worthy and beautiful.
It was a breath of fresh air for you, a major difference from your last relationship, and that was much needed.
You decided on what you wanted and looked up from your menu to see if Jennie had decided on her meal yet.
She was still looking, her big brown eyes shifting from side to side as she thought very carefully about what she wanted. Everything sounded amazing, it was so hard to make a choice.
You heard footsteps approaching your table and you thought it was the waitress. You planned to tell her that you weren't quite ready yet, the words right on the tip of your tongue. But it wasn't the waitress.
Your heart sank and you started to tremble from fear as soon as you saw his face.
Your ex-boyfriend.
You escaped him months ago, but you've always feared he'd find you.
You were terrified, this rush of fear flooding over you. It was too familiar for you. You lived every day when you were with him spent in fear.
"Jennie?"
The tone of your voice caught her attention instantly.
"We need to leave."
She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Of course, if you were fearful or uncomfortable, she'd take your hand and lead you out the door in a heartbeat.
But she couldn't think of what could possibly leave you so terrified in a place like his and honestly, it scared her.
"What is it, baby?" She asked and squeezed your hand comfortingly as you started to breathe unevenly.
"There you are," she heard an unfamiliar voice say from next to you.
She turned her head and stared at the tall man by your table. He was staring you down and Jennie felt extremely concerned for you and very uncomfortable when she saw that evil smile on his face.
"Nice to see you again, y/n."
"Y/N?" Jennie whispered softly, feeling her heart pound when she saw the look of fear in your eyes. "Who's this?"
"I'm her boyfriend."
"Ex-boyfriend." You corrected, trying to find the courage in yourself to get him to leave you alone.
But he just laughed and that indescribable fear you felt returned and any ounce of courage you once felt was gone completely.
"I don't think so." He said sternly and licked his lips before he grabbed your wrist.
His grip was so strong, so forceful and so tight that your hand slid right out of Jennie's and you yelped in pain.
"No, you're mine. Always have been, always will be." He spat, gazing at you with rage in his voice. "I don't appreciate the way you left. You just walked out in the middle of the night!"
"You gave me no choice." You said as you tried to pull away from him.
"Well, you should've known I'd never give up on you. I've been trying to find you from the moment you left and now that I have, you're coming home with me and you are never leaving me."
Tears stung your eyes as you thought back to that house.
Home.
That place he mentioned was never home to you. It was a place of rage and anger. It was a place where he had total control over you. You never once were allowed out of his sight. It was no home.
Home is a place of love, a place of belonging. You never once felt that with him.
"She's not going anywhere," Jennie said as she clenched her jaw.
"Want to bet?" He asked and Jennie nodded. "Who are you?"
"Her girlfriend."
"Yeah, no. Not anymore she's not. She's mine." He laughed and Jennie slammed her hands on the table and you swear, you saw him jump a little and noticed a look of shock in his eyes for just a split second before that scary, tough-guy exterior came back.
If people hadn't been staring at the three of you before, they were now. The slam of her hands was forceful and loud. She caught attention from people nearby, just like she wanted.
"Let her go. Right. Now."
"I'm not letting her go. I'm taking her home."
He tightened his grip on your wrist and seeing you in even more pain only infuriated your concerned and protective girlfriend even more.
She was not afraid. Not of him.
She shoved his shoulders, taking him by surprise. He dropped your wrist as he bumped into a table. He looked between the two of you, fury in his eyes.
"She's not going anywhere with you."
"Do you know what I'm going to do to you?" He asked as he stepped closer to you and Jennie.
"I'm not afraid of you. You're a coward and it's time for you to leave."
You walked to Jennie, standing behind her as you buried your face in the back of her dress.
"You can leave the easy way or my way." She warned and suddenly, he noticed all the eyes on him and all of the people that were standing up, ready to defend you and Jennie if needed.
She watched him walk away, scoffing as he shoved his way through the crowd of people and out the door.
Jennie pulled you into her arms, letting you cry against her as she held you close.
"I want to leave."
"Okay, baby. We'll leave."
She quickly grabbed your things and led you out the door and to the car, where she drove off and took you to her house.
"We need to talk." She said calmly as she handed you a warm drink and sat right beside you. "I'm not going to push you into telling me anything you don't want to and I'm not going to rush you to open up to me. You're shaken up and I understand that. But I'm here and I care about you."
"I know." You said and took a few sips of the drink.
She took your wrist gently into her hand and placed the bag of ice over it. It was bruised from how hard your ex had gripped you.
You didn't wince. You didn't move. It was as if you were used to nursing your wounds this way.
"I don't have to tell you how mean he is. You can tell that already." You mumbled and watched her nod her head slowly. "He was even meaner than that when we were together. He was controlling and he wouldn't let me out of his sight. He called me names. He tore me apart."
"He hurt you?"
She already knew the answer to that. But she couldn't believe it.
She didn't get how someone could be so cruel and especially to you. You're the sweetest girl in the world and she wonders every day how she'd gotten so lucky to have you.
And here was this man; belittling you, controlling you, making you feel worthless when he was lucky enough to have the chance to love you.
She didn't understand how someone could have so much anger, so much hatred in their hearts.
"Yeah. Every day."
"You left though. That was really brave of you to do." She said as she gently stroked your cheek with her other hand.
"I didn't feel so brave at first. I felt like he was always watching me. I stayed inside my best friend's place for months, like a hermit. I was scared to leave." You sniffled.
"But then, one day, I did. I was tired of him having control of me, dictating my life even when he wasn't physically there. So, I moved on. I picked up the pieces on my own and it led me to you, the best thing to ever happen to me."
She smiled brightly and leaned in to lay a kiss on your cheek.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I was going to one day but I just didn't know how."
"I understand." She assured. "I'm happy you did, though. Makes me admire you even more. You're so brave. I couldn't have made it through all you did."
"Thanks, Jennie."
"You know you're safe with me, right? You don't have to worry about him coming back?"
"I'm not. I think you actually scared him a little."
"I'm not surprised. He's a coward, anyway." She shrugged and you chuckled, only for her to shake her head with a serious look in her eyes. "I mean it. He puts his hands on you. He's a coward for that."
You put your head on her shoulder and felt relief flood over you as she wrapped her arm around you.
"I swear, no matter what, I will always protect you."
"Can I stay here tonight?"
"Absolutely." She said. "We'll have a date night here. I can order food if you'd like."
You nodded but clung to her a little tighter, wordlessly telling her that you wanted her to hold you a little longer first.
"I've got you." She whispered softly. "You're safe with me, always."
And you knew she was right. With her, you'd always be safe and sound.