Chapter Ten

It was Nova's first day of his freshman year of college. He couldn't be more excited. Being done with high school early had finally given him the freedom to go for something he really wanted to do.

His parents were of course proud of their only son going to college early along with pursuing his dreams.

With a confident pep in his step he walked into the room of his first class for the day, and one he'd been looking forward to the most, photography.

Nova slid into his seat and took his camera from around his neck so he could fiddle around with it. It was brand new, a gift from his mom and dad for graduation. He was to busy trying to figure out all the setting to notice the person who sat in the desk in front of him.

He only looked up when he felt eyes on him. Nova looked up into a pair of chocolate brown eyes that belonged to golden haired boy.

The boy gave Nova a charming smile and said, "hello there."

Nova immediately noted his British accent and gave a smile back. "Hello." The boy had caught his attention because he was extremely attractive.

He had high cheek bones and a strong jaw, along with a straight nose. Along with the chocolate colored eyes they were framed with long eyelashes that girls were always frustrated with when guys had them. His hair was the color of a golden sunshine and was in the style of tousled curls.

Nova thought he was perfect and didn't notice he was staring so until a hand waved in front of his face, making him snap back into reality.

The boy laughed and got a smirk that could make any person weak in the knees. "See something you like there love?," the boy hummed.

Nova felt his cheeks go a light pink but rolled his eyes playfully, not wanting to give this guy the satisfaction of making him blush. "No, why do you?," he asked innocently, looking around.

The boy let out a low chuckle that made Nova's stomach flip. "Maybe I do," he said raising an eyebrow with that smirk still on his lips.

Nova held out his hand with a wide smile, "I'm Nova Luthens."

The boy smiled back gripping his hand in his and shaking it gently. "Jack Evens."

This was only the beginning

"I don't know about this guy Nova," his friend Kaylie said watching as Nova got ready.

After a couple weeks of flirting and talking to Jack he had asked out Nova. Much to Nova's delight.

Though his friends were a bit skeptical.

"What do you mean? He's amazingly gorgeous, funny, and super sweet," Nova said brushing his fingers through his hair. "What could be wrong?," he said turning to face his friend.

"Doesn't he just give off a bad vibe to you?," Kaylie asked frowning. "Plus what is he doing in a photography class as a painter anyways?"

Nova shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe he wants more experience in different areas as a fall back if being an painter doesn't work you."

Jack's work was beautiful to Nova. It was always very abstract and plenty of colors, he had even told Nova he would love to have him as a model to paint sometime.

Nova didn't see anything wrong with him yet and couldn't understand why his friends all told him to stay away.

It wasn't until a couple months into dating him that problems started to show themselves.

Nova at first thought Jack's habit of always wanting to know where he was just because he wanted to make sure he was safe. When it turned into multiple texts and calls though alarms started to go off in his head.

He had walked into photography that day and Jack was already waiting for him siting on his desk.

Nova smiled at him but Jack just stared at him with an angry look on his face, causing a pocket of cold to bloom in his stomach.

"What's wrong babe?," Nova asked setting his stuff down.

Jack gripped the side of the desk and said in a gruff voice, "where were you last night?" "I called and texted you but you never answered."

"Oh, I was just studying late in the computer lab with Kaylie, she needed help with some math." Nova shrugged and gave him an apologetic smile. "I had my phone off, I'm sorry," he lifted his arms to wrap them around Jack's neck but Jack just grabbed both his wrists.

Jack tightly squeezed them causing a small gasp of pain to come from Nova's lips. "Don't ever keep your phone off, what if I got into trouble and needed someone to call? Do you not want to be the one to help me?," he said squeezing harder.

Nova was sure there would be matching bruises on both of wrists now. "N-No," Nova stuttered. "Of course I would wanna be the one to help."

"Then keep your phone on," Jack sneered letting go of his wrists and hopped off Nova's desk and sliding into his own seat.

Nova sat down and kept his mouth shut the whole hour of class and didn't so much as pay a second of attention, his eyes just staring wide eyed at his desk.

"Nova," he heard a soft voice say.

Nova looked up and saw Jack watching him a sad look on his face, his brown eyes full of pain.

"I'm really sorry if I scared you baby," Jack said gently as he reached over and grabbed Nova's hands. Much more gently than his grab earlier, he kissed the light red marks that ringed Nova's wrists. "You know I just wanna make sure your okay right?" Jack said looking up at Nova.

Nova nodded his head giving a light smile, "I know." "I'm sorry too, I'll keep my phone on for you okay?"

Jack got a happy smile on his face that immediately made Nova forget his behavior and caused him to smile back. "That's my Nova," he leaned over the desk kissing all over his face causing Nova to giggle and grin.

This was the Jack that Nova was used too, the one that made him stay as long as he did.

Over the two years of dating Jack had seriously changed Nova for the worst. He had basically cut off all communication from friends and even family. So all Nova would have would be Jack. He would constantly berate him but then apologize for it so Nova would forgive him and continue to stay.

Jack would always be with Nova every second of the day. Even convincing Nova to switch some of his classes to ones they could take together, making him go off track of what he wanted to do.

Nova's friends still tried to help him get away from Jack but he had the smaller boy completely wrapped around his finger. Nova would do anything to please or make Jack happy with him.

It wasn't until that night that things had finally made Nova see what type of person Jack really was.

Jack had never done anything to physically harm Nova. Psychologically is where he got Nova most.

It was a normal night for the couple. Jack had convinced Nova to be his roommate at the start of their second year.

So right now Nova was currently making some dinner, trying to finish it before Jack got home from his late class. He knew that Jack hated coming home to make his own food and Nova had no problem with cooking for his boyfriend.

The door opening loudly caused Nova to jump and let out a small noise of fear. He knew by how the door was opened that Jack was angry.

Nova cleared his throat and quickly put the food in the oven as he heard Jack into the kitchen. "H-How was class?," he asked without turning to face Jack.

"It went perfect," Jack said sarcastically. "That stupid fucking professor clearly doesn't know good art when he sees it though." He stopped and glared at the back of Nova's head, "look at me Nova."

Nova bit on his bottom lip hard and slowly turned around to face Jack. "I'm sorry," he said softly.

Jack laughed and it sent chills down Nova's spine in a bad way. "No you're not."

"I am," Nova said then shut his mouth immediately at the change on Jack's face. He talked back to him.

"Where's your sudden bravery coming from?," Jack said with a fake smile on his face, getting up from the couch and walk to Nova. "Hmm?," he asked cupping Nova's face roughly in one hand.

"N-No where, I was just saying," Nova began but was cut off.

"You talking to your friends again?," Jack asked snatching Nova's phone from his pocket immediately. He opened it, knowing the pass code, and went through Nova's text messages.

Nova cringed back from him, knowing he'll see the conversation from Kaylie, the only friend who stuck with Nova even after Jack's persistence to break them apart.

"What did I tell you about talking to her?," Jack asked with anger clear in his voice. He started to read the conversation, "Nova you need to leave him, he's an abusive asshole and doesn't really love you." Jack glared deeply at the screen before throwing the phone across the room so it smashed against the wall.

Nova closed his eyes tightly, fear starting to course through his body. He didn't want to see Jack's face, he couldn't handle it right now.

"Open your eyes Nova. Now," Jack said firmly.

Nova slowly opened his eyes just as Jack's hand backhanded him hard across the face, making him stumble slightly to the left. He looked at the floor then up at Jack who was still staring at with a face twisted in anger.

"Jack," Nova began but Jack just slapped him again then pushed him to floor and started to kick him repeatedly. In places like the stomach and his head.

Nova curled up trying to protect himself begging him to stop, pleading him too.

In the morning

Nova had finally gotten the courage to go the campus police. With his busted lip and bruised body there was no way for the cops not to believe him.

Jack had been kicked out of the university that week, and sent back home.

But the damage was done.

And Nova was never the same

***

"Soo, how are things going with Nova?," Layla trailed off with an excited tone to her voice.

Julian could practically feel her smile through the phone. He laughed softly and rolled his eyes playfully. "Things are honestly," Julian started with a smile. "Things are amazing, he's so adorable Layla."

Layla squealed happily through the phone. "I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to meet him, hopefully you guys can go public with this though."

"I know," Julian said sighing. "Nova hates that were hiding but I think he understands that this is the only chance we have. Hopefully he'll be able to stick it out for a while," he said biting on the tip of his thumb.

"He will Julian," Layla said softly. "If he likes you as much as you say than I know everything will work out."

"What did I do to deserve a friend like you again?," Julian asked smiling.

"I have no idea actually, you so don't deserve me," Layla teased. "Now go have fun with you boyfriend," she said in a sing-song voice.

"Goodbye Layla," Julian said laughing and hanging up. He gestured for Nate to follow him and walked off in the direction he saw Nova go in.

When Julian walked in he still had a smile on his face and was looking around for the boy who had caused it. Then it dropped almost instantly when he saw him.

A guy had his hand resting on Nova's shoulder and was whispering in his ear. Even from here Julian could see how much Nova was shaking.

Julian immediately ran over and pushed the guy away from the smaller boy, putting himself between them.

The guy looked at Julian annoyed and said, "what the fuck is your problem?"

"What's yours?," Julian asked with a glare on his face. He glanced back at Nova who was still shaking, his hands twitching a lot at his sides. Julian immediately forgot the guy and turned himself fully to Nova.

Julian gently held Nova's face in his hands and frowned softly when he flinched slightly at the contact. "Nova, Nova what's wrong?," he asked softly. "I'm right here, it's okay alright?," Julian said reassuringly. He didn't understand why Nova was so scared.

Julian turned back to the guy keeping himself protectively in front of Nova. "What did you do to him? Who are you?," he demanded, the glare back on his face.

"Who are you is more important," the guy said with a glare as well. "Did you find someone else to take your messed up self? Hm?," he hummed with a smirk.

Julian wanted to smack that smirk right off his face. "Who are you?," he repeated firmly.

The guy looked at him looking him over once and said with a smile on his face. "My name is Jack. I'm surprised Nova didn't mention me to you."

"Probably because you're not worth his breath," Julian retorted taking satisfaction in the infuriated look Jack got on his face. "I don't know what you did to him but you need to walk away right now."

"Oh?," Jack laughed grinning wide. "Says who? You?" "I happen to work here thank you," he said showing his name badge. "I can kick you out quickly."

Julian opened his mouth but felt a light grip on his wrist and looked back at Nova.

Nova was still shaking lightly and he stuttered out softly, "I-I wanna leave." "Now," Nova said quietly.

"Still have that stutter?," Jack teased making Nova stiffen at the sound of his voice.

Julian ignored him and nodded softly, holding out his hand for Nova to take if he wanted. "Come on, Nate can drive us back."

"What, are you some pampered rich boy?," Jack asked with a snort shaking his head. "You've really downgraded Nova, although anyone who would want you clearly is just as messed up as you."

Julian's jaw clenched and he looked up at Nate who was watching the whole situation, ready to intervene if it got violent. When he saw the look on Julian's face he quickly walked over to the two.

"Thank you, we'll be going now," Nate said without another word and pulled the two away from Jack.

"I'll see you soon Nova!," Jack called out as they walked out of the room.

It took everything in Julian to not go back there and punch Jack in the face. He just held Nova's hand in his firmly, following Nate out the door and towards the car quickly.

They both got in and the car started driving back towards the hotel.

Julian turned to Nova immediately and looked at him with worry. "Nova, what happened?," he asked quietly.

Nova looked up from his hands and Julian felt his heart falter at the sight of his face.

He had tears in his eyes.

"Nova," Julian said urgently.

Nova didn't say anything, but threw himself against Julian, hugging him tightly.

Then began to cry