Becker's POV...

Greya hasn't been to school for the last three days and it's making me feel more anxious than usual. I know she's dealing with a lot, preparing for a funeral and all. She will probably be out of school all week. My mind is constantly gravitating towards her, I need to see her. Her presence alone calms me, and I need to know how she's doing.

Needless to say, Jack was not pleased to see me return home after my weekend away. I've spent the last few nights deterring Jack away from Alec and taking the brunt of his wrath. Every ounce of my body aches from fighting against his demons.

Jack didn't always abuse me. He once was a loving father and husband, when he was around that is. Something inside him snapped when he blew out his knee and couldn't return to the family he loved most... his football team. The pain pills took over and he became withdrawn from us, from our mother. When narcotics weren't enough, he began mixing them with alcohol and that's when all Hell broke loose. Maybe that's why my mother decided to up and leave all of us. I woke up one morning and she was leaving. Alec and I haven't heard from her since, and that was over five years ago.

Without my mother around, Jack's been completely lost. He started drinking more and become more violent. He also disappears for days at a time and when he comes back home, I'm the one he takes his frustrations out on. Leaving me bruised and battered at least once a week. Alec was only ten when mom left, there was no way I was going to let Jack touch him and to this day I still won't let him. Even if it means I'm broken in the process. Thankfully Jack considers me good enough for all his attention and leaves Alec alone. I just don't know how much more I can handle.

Ari walks into class with Fynn and I have the urge to find out everything I can about Greya. I scoot over into her seat to be closer to them.

"How's Greya?" I ask them both, hoping one will answer me.

Ari answers first, "She's holding up the best she can, although I don't know how she does it?" She shrugs at me.

"That's because she's the strongest human being we know," Fynn adds.

I smile to that, knowing Fynn is correct.

"Is there going to be a funeral?" I ask.

"She's having a private burial tomorrow. There's no other family so no need for a funeral," Ari's eyes divert towards the floor when she answers.

Hearing that makes me feel sick. I don't know why, but I feel jittery and nauseous at the same time just thinking about Greya's suffering.

I appreciate Ari and Fynn even more now knowing Greya at least has them in her life. I want to be here for her too. Maybe she needs me, if only I can find a way to help her without hurting her.

"Hey man, you look like you're about to hurl," Fynn speaks up.

I quickly grab my books, "Yeah, I don't feel so well," I admit before rushing out of the classroom.

I need to get out of here, get some fresh air. Before I have time to rationalize what I'm doing, my car manages to bring me right in front of Greya's house.

What am I doing here? Should I knock on her door? Will she even want to see me?

My body seems to have its own agenda as I slowly trudge up her walkway. The sounds of giggling has me changing direction until I find myself peering into her back yard. What I see surprises me. Her and her brother are juggling a soccer ball together and laughing. Makes my heart happy to see her happy during a time like this. Only proves how strong she really is.

I'm not sure how old her brother is, he looks around ten. The same age Alec was when I needed to take care of him. He's fantastic at juggling too, better than me it seems.

"Alright Chase, that's enough for now, how about you go get washed up for dinner," Greya says lovingly.

She hands her brother a white stick and I watch as he unfolds it and then taps it side to side in front of him while he walks towards the house.

Wait. What? No that can't be. Greya's little brother can't be blind. He plays soccer, juggles a ball like a pro, watches her games. No wonder she's never left home before, she's been caring for her old grandmother and disabled brother by herself. Why the fuck am I only figuring this out now. I can't do this.

Thankfully my feet move faster than my brain and I speed off in my car as quickly as I can. I thought driving around aimlessly for awhile would help clear my head. How very wrong to assume that.

I wasn't in the right mind frame when practice time rolled around. Cohen was the first to notice. I can tell he doesn't want to approach me as I pace around the locker room.

"What are you looking at? Get to practice!" I hear Declan shout at one of our freshman teammates, causing him to scurry out the door.

Declan and Cohen cautiously approach me yet my thoughts are so messed up, I flinch back towards the wall.

Cohen catches sight of the bruising along my rib cage and automatically assumes my mental breakdown is because of Jack. This time I actually wish it was.

"When did that happen?" Cohen asks while pointing to my ribs.

"It doesn't matter," I deadpan, throwing my practice jersey on.

They both give me that 'are you fucking serious' look.

"It always matters Becker. But I think it's more than just Jack that has you freaked out right now," Declan points out.

I want to pull my hair out, break something...I don't know. I feel like a total jerk. So concerned about hiding the truth about my family...I'm so selfish.

"Did you know Greya's little brother is blind?" I ask both of them. They only stare at me confused, so I continue rambling.

"Did you both know her parents were dead? Do you know how they died? That she's been alone taking care of her old sick grandmother and a blind little boy?" I'm pacing again.

"Yes." Both Cohen and Dec answer at the same time.

I'm suddenly frozen in place. "What do you mean yes? Yes to which part?"

"All of it," Cohen admits.

"Does everyone know this? How did I not know?" I ask myself, knowing I'm too caught up in my own problems.

"No, barely anyone knows about Greya's life. She keeps it hidden. Ari and Fynn know everything of course and I'm good friends with Ari so she confides in me sometimes," Declan shrugs.

"And my parents knew her parents. They even had to help with her parent's will after they died and help her and her grandmother keep the house. Now they will help Greya get custody of her brother since she's eighteen," Cohen informs us. " It's a sad story, one I wouldn't want everyone knowing about either," he adds.

The door busts open before I have a chance to absorb this information. "You three better get to the field, coach is pissed you're late," the freshman says before leaving us again.

"Let's go Becker, I think you need a good practice session," Cohen holds the door open, motioning for us to follow him.

Declan almost places a friendly tap on my shoulder but thinks better of it. "Becker, It's not your fault you didn't know. You never asked too much about her either, so I figured you didn't want to know."

He's right, I never asked more than I needed to. Doesn't mean I was right not to. I thought maybe I was protecting her from me, or maybe I was only trying to protect myself.

"How did her parents die?" Declan turns to look at me and shakes his head at my question.

"Are you sure you want to know?" he questions.

"I need to know."

Declan gives me a shortened version of how her mother died from cancer and how her father couldn't handle it. As soon as Declan said her father took the easy way out instead of being around for his thirteen year old daughter and young blind son and that Greya was the one who found him, I sprinted to the nearest garbage can and unleashed the contents of my stomach into it.

Declan hurries to my side, "Jesus! Becker!"

I swig down some water and wipe my mouth with my shirt.

"We are going to her grandmother's private memorial tomorrow." Is all I say.

"Okay, if that's what you think we should do."

"Yes, it is." Is the last thing I say before taking the field.