SECOND CHANCE LOVE by Lisa Ann (ink ebook reader txt) 📕

getting revenge on each other?" Dare smiled at me.

"Hey Dare you wanna play football?" Leo asked from behind.

Dare looked at me with a fake smile and I knew that he didn't want to leave me here alone.

Then Tess came and sat down next to me, "Don't worry Dare I'll stay here with Annie while you guys play football."

Dare's face softed a bit, "Thanks Tess. If anytihng happends just call."

Then Dare and Leo headed further down the beach to an open space were there weren't as many people, but I could still see him and he could see me.

Me and Tess talked sbout what we wanted to do when we go back to Leo's place for the rest of the afternoon.

We only had about a week and a half before school started again so we wanted to spend as much time together as we could.

CH. 5 The Beach Surprise

After a while people started leaving the beach a little at a time until me and Tess were sitting by ourselves.

For some reason I started to get uncomfortable sitting out here alone with Tess in sand where anything could go wrong.

I never liked being alone on the beach with anyone except Dare or if I was with both Leo and Tess.

Tess sensed my tension and grabbed my hand gently, "We can pack up and go to the car or we can go to where the guys are playing if you want Annie?"

Before I got to answer Tess I saw two shadows in front of me blocking the sunlight.

"What's two pretty things like you two doing on a beach alone?" said a guy with blond hair.

"Yah why don't ya'll come hang with us?" said the other guy with brown hair.

Tess looked at the two guys and shook her head, "No we came here with friends so why don't you pervs go look for some other girls to mess with?"

The brown haired guy smirked, "Oh, I like um sassy!" Then he grabbed Tess by the waist and pulled her to him.

Tess struggled to get away, but whimpered in pain as his grip on her waist became too tight for comfort.

"Let me go!" Tess cried out.

I knew that I had to get away from them and somehow still get Tess too without freaking out.

But what happend next I didn't see coming. I was suddenly yanked to my feet by the blond guy when he saw that I was trying to scoot away to get to Tess.

"Where to you think your going?" he asked.

He was so close to me that I could feel him breathing down my neck. My heart started racing and I felt my throat close up.

I needed to get away from him, but I was so scared that he was going to hurt me or Tess if we tried something.

I looked at Tess and saw the fear in her eyes. I remember when I first met her how I didn't freak out as much as I normally do when I was around new people.

Then it clicked in my head. I knew what kind of fear that was in her eyes. It was the kind that I used to feel when my father would hit me.

The only thing I knew was that Tess never talked about her past. All she said was that she knew some of what I felt.

But how could she? I mean, at first I thought she was just saying it to make me feel better, but now I'm not so sure.

The fear in her eyes was telling me that she was hiding a secret from her past.

As I struggled to get away from the blond guy I all of a sudden heard Tess whimper more in pain.

"Tess! Annie!" I heard our names being called out.

The blond guy looked up long enough that I was able to step on his foot really hard.

He groaned in pain and let me go. Then I saw Tess elbow the guy that was holding her only to fall to the sand.

Right as I reached Tess I heard more voices from behind me. I was shaking really badly trying to keep from crying because I knew that I had to be strong for Tess.

"Take one more step near her and you'll regret it," Dare threatend.

Then I realized that Dare and Leo were standing between us and the two guys.

Leo stepped forward but didn't get very far because Dare grabbed his arm stopping him.

The two guys stepped back slowly turning around to leave.

Leo then ran to Tess's side pulling her up to her feet slowly.

"Le-o," Tess sobbed into his shoulder.

Leo wrapped his arms tightly around her waist pulling her closer to him.

"Shh... It's ok Angel I'm here now," Leo cooed.

I've never seen Tess like this before. Dare came closer pulling me to him.

"Are you ok Annie?" he asked.

"I'm ok now that you guys are here. Can we please go home now?"

Dare nodded his head yes kissing my forehead trying to keep me from shaking to much.

For some reason I wasn't freaking out as badly as I though I would be. All I could think about was Tess and how terrified she looked.

What I did know was that I didn't want to be alone and probably will have nightmares this week.

I guess what kept me from freaking out to much was the fact that Tess was their and I knew she needed me to be strong for her.

CH. 6 Learning The Truth

As we were walking back to the car I noticed that Tess was really quiet.

She stayed close by Leo's side with his arm around her waist.

Normally I would be acting the same way Tess was, but for the past couple of months I been getting better at respnding to things.

I think because I was with Tess I knew that I couldn't break down and freak out.

The only reason I freaked out when Marcus came over to my house was because I was alone and he was drunk.

Right now I was to busy trying to figure out wht Tess had freaked out than to even think about freaking out.

Maybe having a movie night will help Tess feel better and I can ask her to spend the night so we can have a sleep over.

When we got to the car I turned to look at Tess.

"Tess would you like to have a moive night with us and then maybe you could spend the night too?"

Dare looked from me then to Leo, who had a stressed look on his face.

Tess smiled weakly, "Yes I would like that. I don't think I want to be alone tonight either."

Leo put a finger under Tess's chin so that she was looking up at him.

"You don't have to be alone tonight Tess. I'll be right next to you holding you tight the entire night," Leo reminded her.

Tess snuggled into Leo's side thankfull that he was there for her since he knew exactaly why she was afraid when noone else did.

When we got to the car Dare put our things in the trunk and then jumped into the driver's seat.

I got in the passenger side while Leo pulled Tess into the back seat.

Leo wrapped his right arm around Tess's waist and then used his left hands to hold her right hand tightly in his.

I had known Leo a little longer than I did Tess, but I still didn't know much about her past.

Dare parked the car in the driveway and we all got out.

I grabbed my bag from the back and went to put my things in the house so I could set up everything to watch a movie.

"So what do ya'll want to watch tonight?" Dare asked from behind me.

"Umm.... Can we watch The Big Bang Series if you have any of the seasons on DVD?" Tess whispered.

"Yah we can watch that Angel. You don't have to ask cuase it's kinda your house too and you know we don't mind," Leo said.

I listened to what Leo was syaing to Tess. What did Leo mean by it's kinda your house too'.

Leo must have seen the confusion on my face cause he nodded his head towards the kitchen.

We went into the kitchen and I sat at the table while Leo stood against the counter.

"What's going on Leo?" I asked with a shacky voice.

"I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to get upset that Tess never told. The reason I'm going to tell you is because it's really on Tess to talk about it so she said that I could tell you," Leo said shifting his feet around.

"I promise. I have no reason to judge cause if it's something like my background then I understand her reason for not talking about it," I answered Leo.

Leo took a deep breath before talking, "Well Tess kinda has the same background as you do, but it's a little different."

"How so?" I asked.

"Well like you, Tess was abused, but by both of her parents. Then Tess eventualy moved in with some other relaitves that didn't care about her. They never tried to help or talk to her or even tell Tess it wasn't her fault," Leo clenched his fists at his sides, trying not get angry.

"How long was Tess abused," I whispered sadly. I knew that what I went through wasn't as bad as what Tess has gone thorugh.

My father didn't beat me everyday, but after my mom died it did get worse. The beatings started when I was