Becker's POV...

"Open this door you bastard, before I rip it off its hinges!"

Fuck! I knew getting any sleep tonight was a far stretch. Where's my phone, I need to warn Alec. Although I'm sure he's awake now that Jack is pummeling my door.

I find my phone on my nightstand and frantically begin typing.

Alec..stay in your room and don't come out until I say.

Alec: Becker, be careful.

I couldn't respond back in time as Jack kicked my bedroom door in. I'm not even sure how he managed to do that. He can barely stand, never mind walk or take down a door. His eyes are completely bloodshot, sweat is dripping from all his pores. He's so drunk, I think I can knock him out this time. What scares me isn't the bottle of whiskey in his left hand, it's the steel fire poker he's holding with his right. I can see a faint cloud of smoke coming off the tip of it, which tells me he was poking the fireplace with it before coming up here. This isn't going to end well.

"Your mother left me with you," he slurs and stumbles into my room.

Yeah, no shit, I want to say back.

"Alec is my responsibility, but not you, she should've taken you," he points the poker at me, spit spewing from his lips. What the hell is he talking about.

"We are both your sons, both your responsibility," I growl.

Jack takes a few more uncoordinated steps towards me. There is nowhere for me to go except back into the wall.

"That's where you are wrong," he says, lunging at me, arm stretched out with the poker ready to stab me. He stumbles slightly, yet just enough for me to try and push him backwards. He still outweighs me and manages to pierce my left side with the sharp, searing hot end of the poker.

The sound of my skin sizzle and the burning sensation I feel ripping into my flesh forces me into fight mode. My hand instinctively grabs onto the shaft of the poker and keeps it from penetrating into my body any further. Jack takes a swig of his whiskey and fumbles again, so I take the opportunity to shove him backwards and he lands on top of my bed.

I rush past him, grabbing my phone and bag of essentials on the way out of my room. Jack isn't stirring so hopefully he passed out. "Alec!" I shout his name. He opens his door slightly. "Grab your things, we're going to  Cohen's."

After snatching the first aid kit from the bathroom, I throw Alec the car keys. "You're driving," I hiss and clutch my side. He doesn't question me when he notices the blood soaking through my shirt. He doesn't have his license yet, but he's sixteen and I've already taught him how to drive.

"Becker, how hurt are you?" I know he's worried, but we don't have time for that right now.

"I'm okay, just a flesh wound...start driving," I tell him.

He does what I ask while glancing over at me from time to time. I begin ripping open gauze pads with my teeth and lift up my shirt. Alec sucks in a breath and turns his attention back towards the road. When I look over at him, he's gripping tightly to the steering wheel while silent tears roll down his cheeks.

"Hey, I'll be fine...see." I show him the bandages.

"We need help Beck, we can't keep doing this, I can't keep watching him hurt you like this."

"I know. I'll think of something. Don't worry, I'll never let him put a hand on you," I try to comfort him with words.

"I'm not worried about me anymore," he says. But I'll always worry about him. He has been through too much to have to worry about me. Things need to change, and soon.

It's 2:00am and Cohen's mom still welcomes us with open arms. She's had her suspicions for a while now.  Although she never questions us, she has a hunch about what's going on. She gives Alec a comforting hug and instructs him to go sleep in Macey's room since she's not here tonight. I know she wants to hug me too, but she's seen me freak out on more than one occasion, so she offers me a kind smile.

"I'll just head up to the guest room. Thank you for letting us stay here," I return the smile.

"You boys are always welcome here at any time. Get some sleep now Becker."

I couldn't sleep and before I know it, the sun has risen. Quietly making my way downstairs, I hear Alec talking with Cohen's mom. Once I enter the kitchen I see they're  making pancakes.

Clearing my throat to make my presence known, Alec turns and looks at me. The conversation coming to a halt. "Morning Becker, I hope you're hungry, Alec helped me with the pancakes," Mrs. Colins says in her sweet voice as she plops a plate stacked with pancakes on the counter.

"Cohen tells me you boys aren't going to school today?"

"No, we are going to a private burial service for a friend's grandmother," I tell her.

"Poor Greya, that girl has been through so much. She is so selfless and strong. We try to help her as much as we can when she lets us," a light chuckle leaves her lips when she thinks about Greya.

"Yeah, she is something," I smile to myself. Mrs. Colins catches me thinking about Greya and smiles again.

"So, I thought I'd pick up Alec from football practice and take him to dinner tonight. Alec can stay here again tonight. Don't worry, you and Cohen do what you need to do today," she says to me before leaving the kitchen.

"Are you alright with those plans for today, Alec?" He hasn't spoken since I entered the room.

"Yeah, that's fine. How are you feeling?" I knew he was concerned.

"I'm good, really," I lift my shirt and show him the clean bandages.

Cohen finally makes his way into the kitchen handing me a slate colored button down shirt and black tie to go with my black slacks. At least I had a nice pair of pants and shoes in my bag.

We pick up Declan on the way to the cemetery. Our ride there was mostly silent. No one knew whether to talk about what happened last night or the fact that we are about to crash a private ceremony.

A funeral is something I don't have any experience with. Everything I've heard about it is depressing. I'm thankful this is the first one I've ever attended. A permanent frown is etched to my face thinking of how many of these Greya has endured.

The three of us walk slowly to the grave site. Ari and Fynn spot us first and give us a nod. Greya still has her back towards us as she speaks to the priest. Her hand firmly holding her little brothers. When she turns around she pauses. At first she looks surprised, then she looks... thankful I think. I'm just glad she's not mad we're here.

She takes her spot by the grave stone. A silver urn in one arm and Chase holding onto her other. I'm not even sure what the priest is saying, probably reading a passage from the bible or something nice. My thoughts solely focused on the strong and beautiful girl across from me. The grave stone with her parents names and dates already engraved on it and now her grandmothers. Her whole family buried in this one spot. Only her and her brother remain. They are all each other has left, yet she stands strong and steady, carrying the ashes of her grandmother and comforting her young brother.

"Becker."

"Becker," Cohen's voice finally registers in my head.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He whispers to me. It's obvious that I had zoned out.

He hands me a rose and I see we all have one now. Greya gently places the urn into the special box that will be buried into the ground then helps her brother grab a fistful of soil. Together they sprinkle the soil over the box and then place a rose onto the gravestone.

One by one we all follow suit and place our roses where Greya places hers. Fynn motions for us to follow them back to the cars while we leave Greya and Chase alone to say their goodbyes.

A few minutes later, Greya and Chase join us. Chase immediately clings to Fynn who picks him up and hugs him. "Thank you for coming, it means a lot to me," Greya says to us.

"Of course, we wanted to be her for you," Cohen says on behalf of all of us then engulfs her into his embrace. She turns to Ari next, then Declan, hugging each of them.

I knew the next moment would be awkward. I want to wrap my arms around her but I don't want to fuck up when her arms attach to me. She stands right in front of me, waiting to see how i'll respond. Her eyes are hopeful and I know I disappoint her because I'm not ready to give her what she wants. I will work on it though, for her.

"I appreciate you being here Beck," her sweet voice breaks the silence.

I rub the back of my neck with my hand because I don't know what else to do. " I'm sorry for your loss Greya," I manage to solemnly respond.

"Let's get back to Greya's house. You're all welcome to hang out with us and have some lunch," Ari thankfully saves me from embarrassing myself even more.

We all get into our cars. "Dude, are you sure you're alright? I know last night was rough and you seem really out of it today," Declan points out as he slides into the back seat.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I have a lot on my mind." Like the fact that we just watched Greya burry her grandmother or maybe it's what Jack said to me last night. Why wouldn't I be his responsibility? He could've meant that I'm considered an adult now...who knows.

I do know life can be cruel and somehow Greya shows us that life can also be good, we can persevere. Amongst all the pain and loss, she is the light on the hill. She inspires me and makes me want to be better, stronger. I don't know how. All I know is I need to try.