Tracey flinched the moment he touched her hand, a tiny whimper escaping her lips as she said, "Please... please don't hurt me... I'm sorry I made you angry, I'm so sorry, please don't-" Her eyes pressed shut but she didn't pull back, because if she ran away it would only make Blaine more angry. He would catch her, and when he did, it would be worse.
She took in a deep shuddering breath, waiting for the hits to come, for the pain. But instead all she felt was fingertips brushing lightly against her knuckles. Dimly, through the haze of memory, the voice began to penetrate, and she knew distantly that it wasn't Blaine's voice. Hesitating, still trembling, she asked in a small voice, "Theodore?"