24

Y/N POV

Later that day, after we got home from the beach, we made dinner together and then cuddled on the couch, watching Chopped.

It's Sunday, which meant we'd have to go back to work tomorrow to finish filming, which also meant that I needed to go back home. Over the past month of being together, Blake and I have worked out an unspoken schedule where I'd stay at hers for the weekend, and then the next weekend, she'd stay at my place, and we'd keep switching off.

We definitely weren't ready to move in together, but this was the next best thing. I was enjoying the bliss that came with being wrapped in Blake's warm embrace, when suddenly my phone rang.

I grabbed it off the coffee table to look at the caller ID, when my stomach dropped and my heart stopped.

My mother was calling. I hadn't spoken to her since I moved out to LA. Not since she moved in with him. When I was in college, my mom met this guy, named David. He was good to her at first, at least when I was around. My mom was head over heals for the guy. But something was off about their relationship. Suddenly, my mom began to wear makeup and clothes that covered her whole body. It wasn't like her.

I confronted her about it when I visited her a week before my graduation. He wasn't with her that day.

Flashback

"Hey mom, can I talk to you for a second?" My mom and I were making dinner together in the kitchen. I was cutting the vegetables while she prepared the pizza's for the oven. I have always loved my mom more than anything. I had so much admiration and appreciation for her and everything she's done for us, but we only really grew close once I finished high school. I got a full ride to Yale, so she was able to quit her two extra jobs, which allowed us to actually spend time together.

In the four year's I have been at Yale, we've caught up on lost time and formed a very close bond. And then David came, and it felt like I was slowly being replaced. My mom still did her best to make time for us to hang out, but it seemed like she was always busy. Always doing something with him. At first, I thought he was really nice, and I was happy for my mom. But then I started to notice a change in my mother.

She was quieter, more closed off. She wore makeup now, which she never did. Her clothing style became more covering, and she'd wear long sleeves even when it was 100 degrees outside.

"Sure sweetie, what is it?"

I wasn't really sure exactly how to approach a situation like this, but I had to try. "How are you and David doing?" My mom smiled, her eyes didn't sparkle. "We're doing so well! He's the best."

I nodded, tossing the salad. "Does he ever...get mad at you?" My mom stifled a humorless laugh, almost like she was scared. "We all get mad, Y/n. What's this really about?" I sighed and set my knife on the counter, turning to face her.

"Mom. Does....does he hit you?" My mother bristled, telling me the answer. "Mom?"

"He loves me Y/n. It only happened a few times and- and he apologized to me and he even bought me this necklace."

"Mom, he's abusing you." I clenched my fists at the thought of anyone hitting my mother. "He loves me." She said quietly, but I could hear the doubt in her voice.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "No, mom, people who love you don't HIT you!" I took a few deep breaths to try and calm myself down, but it didn't help. "Honey, can we please not talk about this? I want to have a good night with you before you graduate."

I sighed, not wanting to drop the issue, but out of respect for my mom, I did. "Fine."

She smiled, but it was obviously a little forced. "So...have you figured out where you want to move? I know you've been thinking about LA and New York, but they have very different industries."

Reluctantly, I went along with the change of topic, but I knew we'd need to talk about this later. "I think I like LA more. Theatre just isn't really for me."

"Maybe you'll meet Blake Livley." She said, wiggling her eyebrows suggestive. I laughed and threw a piece of lettuce at her.

"In my dreams mom."

End of Flashback

The last time we talked was when she kissed me goodbye at the airport. That was.....quite a few months ago.

"Who is it, babe?" Blake asked, looking down at me. "It's my mom. Hang on one sec, I should take this." She nodded and I answered the phone as I climbed off her lap, walking to the backyard.

"Hey mom." I answered, hoping to god nothing happened.

"Hey sweetie...How's LA?" Her voice sounded shaky and broken, and I knew right away she had been crying.

"What's wrong?" I asked, already starting to panic. My mother held back a sob. "Um...it's okay, just a little accident with David is all. We had a small fight."

"Where are you?" I asked, barely letting her finish her sentence. "Y/n...it's okay. I'm fine."

"Mom, where are you?"

She sighed. "I'm at the hospital."