I blinked a few times and looked up slowly. “You!” I growled angrily. I blinked harder and tried to shake off the blow. I pulled my arm out of the sling and forced myself to my feet.

Jake glared daggers at me. “I’m going to beat your sorry ass.” I laughed violently. “Your…face…” His nose was crooked and there were slight scars. He clenched his teeth and I laughed harder. He was missing his front tooth. Man I did good work.

Jake punched me hard in the face. I staggered back as blood gushed out of my nose. “You bastard,” I growled. “Jake! Stop!” Alex cried, running over.

“Alex, are you really going to stick up for this emo?” he demanded. She nervously bit her lip. A broken look entered her eyes. “No,” she whispered. “I’m not. He’s a fag.”

Anger exploded inside of me. I had told her my most painful life experience. Trusted her with my unbearable pain.

And she was just going to call me a fag?

My fist shot out to collide with Jake’s face. “Seamus! Stop!” Lizzy was running up the driveway towards us. Jake was getting ready to hit me again. Lizzy grabbed his arm and roughly yanked him away. “You stay away from my brother!” she snapped angrily.

Jake slapped her. That was it. I jumped on him and we rolled down the stairs to the ground. I punched him anywhere I could possibly hit. No one slapped my sister.

He fought back hard. We rolled on the ground throwing wild punches and just trying to hurt the other one. Lizzy grabbed me and pulled me off. Alex was watching in shock from the doorway. “Leave my house or I’ll call the cops!” she screamed at Jake.

He was breathing heavily. He angrily turned and stomped off. “You just stay away you fucking bastard!” I shrieked. He spun around angrily. “You fucking fag! Cut deeper next time!” He stormed out of sight.

Lizzy dragged me inside and sat me on the couch. She gave me a tissue to place under my bleeding nose. “I’ll fucking kill him!” I cried angrily. “Seamus calm down!” Lizzy begged. “He slapped you! I’ll kill him!” Her face softened. “I don’t want you getting in trouble alright?”

I glared at the floor. “Seamus?” Alex asked quietly. “Get away from me!” I screamed. She looked shocked. “You preppy bitch! I trusted you!” Why had I trusted a prep? Why was I so stupid?

She bit her lip and sat next to me. “Leave me alone,” I said dangerously. Lizzy was nervously watching. Alex gave me a sad look but stood up. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said softly and left my house.

Lizzy came next to me. “Are you okay?” she asked gently. I shook my head. “No.” “Do you want to talk about it?” “No.”

She sighed and a small smile took her face. “Well…I have some good news for you!” I rolled my eyes. “What?” I asked. Her smile grew wide.

“I’m engaged!” she said excitedly.

She proudly showed me the ring. My heart dropped. If she was engaged that meant she was going to leave me here alone. I felt betrayed all of a sudden. Hurt beyond belief. I stood up and slowly made my way towards the door.

“Seamus where are you going?” she asked, her face dropping into a sad and shocked look. “I’m leaving. Like you.” Her eyes widened. “Shame, I’m not leaving you! I’m coming back!” Those words staked through my heart.

“That’s what dad said to me!” I screamed. I fled out the door and down the street. I needed to be with someone. Someone who could help me. My first instinct was to run to Alex. But I couldn’t do that.

I ran to Richie’s house and knocked on the door. His sister answered and made a face. “Fa-” I shoved her to the ground and ran up their stairs to Richie’s room. I threw his door open. “Rachel I told you to kn-” He spun around and his eyes widened.

“Shame? What’s wrong?” I shook my head. “Do you have anything to drink?” He nodded slowly and pulled out a Mike’s Hard from under his bed and tossed it to me. “It’s the best I’ve got,” he said apologetically as I began to drink. I didn’t care. I needed something to drink.

I wondered if Gabby was free. That would get my mind off of Lizzy. I shook my head. I needed to walk. “Thanks Richie,” I said. He nodded. “Want another?” he asked, knowing I was going to leave. Richie knew me better than anyone else. I nodded and he tossed me another one. “Text me if you need anything,” he said as I turned towards his door.

I left and began to walk around town. I lit a cigarette and sighed. I took a long drag as I walked. “Seamus? What are you doing?!”

Turning around, I faced Alex. She glared at my Mike’s Hard. “Are you crazy?!” She took it from my hand. “Hey!” I said angrily. “I was trying to drink!” She glared. “You can’t just get drunk like that! It’s bad for you!”

“Oh shove it,” I said and reached for my drink. She held it away. I took out my other one. She grabbed that one too. “Stop it!” she snapped. “Why do you care?!” I cried.

“Because I love you!”