I wake up next to Meliah's face, looking as peaceful and angelic as ever. Her breathing is short and quiet. She's gorgeous and it's almost like every time I see her, she gets better and better.

I must've fallen asleep at one point in the night, I don't really remember. A thick blanket is covered over the both of us, keeping me warm.

Meliah slowly stirs awake. She scoots closer to me with her eyes still closed.

"Good morning, Mel," I smile and whisper.

She smiles and slowly opens her eyes, "Good morning."

"When did I pass out last night?" I ask.

Meliah laughs, "You don't remember?"

I shake my head. I begin to worry about all the embarrassing things I may have done.

"I hope you remember our kiss-" she blushes.

"How could I forget?" I smirk.

She smiles and giggles, "Good. Well you stared at my ceiling for a long time. And then when I started to fall asleep, you were rambling on and on about... such random things..."

"Oh lord, I sound drunk," I press my fingertips into my eyelids and feel my face and ears grow hot.

She laughs at me, "It was adorable and hilarious. You kept me laughing the whole night. I'm really surprised no one came in to see what was going on."

At that moment I remember exactly what happened last night. I remember being beaten by my father. I remember hearing her voice and finding the courage to move towards her. I found her in her bedroom and she helped me when no one else would. I told her I loved her and it was the best decision I ever made. All of the memories flood my brain so quickly, I don't know how to react.

"Are you okay?" she asks and moves her head into my line of sight, sounding a little concerned.

I nod, "Yeah, yeah. Just thinking."

"I should probably go check on my parents, tell them you're here-" she gets up and tip-toes across floor.

"Whoa whoa whoa, wait," I sit up quickly, a little too quickly. My head spins and I see a wave of different colors swim around in my eyes. She stops in the doorway and tilts her head at me like a confused puppy.

"You're going to tell your parents I was here overnight?"

"Actually, that does sound like a bad idea..." she presses her lips together and taps her fingers on the door frame.

"Maybe, we need to finish a school project today?" she suggests.

"That could work," I reply.

"But, I don't want you to have to go back home to your dad," she starts pacing.

I rest my head in my hands and stare at her, "Mel, it's okay, it's not really that big of a deal," I lie as believably as I can.

A smile returns to her lips when she hears her nickname, "Alright, sorry."

"Maybe, this project is really long and you have to 'sleepover' ?" she air quotes.

"Brilliant," I grin widely to her.

"Great. I'll go ask my mom and 'call you' to come over," she winks and leaves.

"Don't miss me too much," I whisper after she leaves.

"Caleb!" Anna shrieks loudly and runs into the room. I sit up as fast as I can from Meliah's bed. My head spins like a carnival ride for the second time today, but I smile through it. I'm glad to see her happy to see me. I just hope my wounds aren't too noticeable.

"Anna, what are you doing here?" I ask as she wraps her arms around me.

"Meliah gets to babysit me again today!" she says excitedly.

She grabs my hand in a tight hold and brings me into the living room. I look in the doorway and find Mel and Joey speaking to each other. Joey was smiling, but definitely hiding something. He clears his throat and turns back to Meliah, "Sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I hope you didn't have plans... Something unexpected came up."

"No, no that's okay. Caleb and I have a project to work on, but she won't get in the way of that," Anna runs to Meliah and hugs her tightly. She fluffs Anna's curly hair.

"Okay Anna. Be good for Meliah and Caleb," Joey reminds her. He looks up at me again and gives me a sweet smile. It's awkward for both of us to see each other; I can tell by the way he acts in front of me. Although, it's clear he doesn't mind me around his daughter as much as my dad doesn't like me around her.

"I will," she promise.

As soon as he turns to leave, Meliah shuts the door. She presses her head and back against the door and frowns at me, "I'm sorry."

"Are you kidding? More time with my little sister. There is no need to be sorry," little sister laughs in the distance, already playing with something. Nothing bothers me about Anna being here but the fact that she might see a bruise.

Meliah reports that her parents just left for work and Chris is still sleeping like a rock in his room and probably won't wake up for a few hours still. Anna grows bored of playing by herself, watching us talk, and asks for something to do.

"I bet you could help with our project..." I tell Anna and wink at Meliah.

Shortly after, a long, white piece of paper is rolled out across the bedroom floor. Markers scatter over the paper, occasionally being picked up by fingers. We laugh, drawing pictures of each other, our houses, some toys, and our families. It lasts for a good three hours.

"Caleb, why doesn't your daddy go anywhere with you?" Anna finishes a drawing of a dog and asks me. Meliah and I both stop what we were doing. I can see her look from the corner of my eye.

"Well," I continue to draw, "You know how I can't come to see you all the time and I have to hide behind the fence? That's because my daddy doesn't like it when I talk to you."

"Yeah, I know that. But, don't you go out to eat and do fun things with your dad?" she continues to ask, sounding older and older by the minute.

I chuckle from nerves and the likelihood of that being able to happen, "No."

Meliah jumps in to change the subject, "What's that picture over there?"

Their conversation starts to fade out as I begin thinking about going back home. Eventually, I'll have to get necessities. Eventually, I'll have to meet his face again.

"Caleb?" Meliah's voice, once again, saves me from nearly passing out.

I shake my head from my daze, "Sorry, I'm gonna go get a glass of water."

Finding the bathroom is easy; clearing my mind enough to be able to come back into the room is a completely different story. I press my hands to the sink and shut my eyes tightly together. I start to breathe heavily just thinking about my father. He's probably completely furious with me right now. How can I possibly go back?

Someone knocks on the door. "Occupied," I say through breaths.

"Caleb," Meliah says plainly. I open the door to her curious eyes, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm fine," I lie again. It's easier to say there's nothing wrong than to have to explain not wanting the inevitable to happen.

She steps into the bathroom, shuts the door, and looks back at me, expectant for the real answer.

I walk towards the window and put my hands behind my head. I pace around the room and work up words to say, I admit, "I'm terrified. I'm completely scared of what's going to happen when I get home. The leftover anger that's still inside him and the anger I'm creating for him right now."

My eyes started to water, building up tears that I couldn't fight off. I look down, doing my best to look like I'm okay. Meliah takes my chin in her fingers and lifts it up for me.

"He's gonna kill me," I whisper.

She wraps her arms around my neck and holds me against her. I break down. There isn't anything else I can do to stop it. Here I am, hiding from my own father at Meliah's house like a pathetic coward. Here I am, crying with her pressed up against me, probably looking like a complete fool.

"I can't make you deal with my problems anymore. After today, I have to go back to my house-" I pull away from her and glance around the room.

"No, you know you can't do that, not right now. You're still healing from what he did to you and he's still angry from last night. Staying here is your best option until we can think of something better."

"You shouldn't even be caught up in this mess," I tell her, holding a strand of her hair in my fingers, "It's my problem, I need to find the answer."

Meliah searches my face and kisses me again, "I promise, I'll make things work," she says after pulling her lips back.

"You're amazing," I say and find it inside me to smile a little.

"But, it's going to cost you," she smirks and walks out into the hallway with me.

***

Joey comes at around six in the evening to pick Anna up. We were playing the Wii™ when he knocked on the door. I wonder what he has been up to. He doesn't seem happy when he walks in the door and wears a fake smile.

"Hey guys, having fun?" Joey asks.

"Yeah! We had a lot of fun today, dad!" Anna says and jumps with a remote.

"Good, I'm glad. Meliah, your parents still aren't home?" Joey questions.  I was kind of thinking of the same thing too.

"Yeah, still working probably," Meliah shrugs and fits her hands inside her pockets.

"Oh, well, I was about to make dinner at home, did you guys wanna join us?" he offers.

Meliah glances at me, "Umm, thanks but I think we're okay. My mom probably left something in the fridge or we can order a pizza, but I appreciate the offer."

"Caleb, how's your dad?" Joey asks me randomly.

"He's okay, still working at the hospital," I almost laugh. He's not even near okay. It's yet another outrageous lie.

"Good, I hope he finds someone. Maybe you could babysit Anna sometime? You know, an amazing babysitter like Meliah over here needs at least a little break. Or you could stop by whenever you feel up to it."

I smile, "I don't think he would approve, but I'd like that."

Anna hugs me from behind, "I would too. Bye Caleb."

I pat her back, "Bye Anna."

It's nice talking to Joey. It reminds me of what my dad used to be like. He wasn't ever as nice as Joey, but he was definitely more caring than he is now.

Meliah frowns at me once she shuts the door. She makes her way to the couch and watches me.

"What?" I ask when the suspicion grows unbearable.

"You should see them more often," she bounces onto the couch.

"I would if I could," I sigh and watch their car leave the driveway.

"No, I mean, you should live with him," she suggests.

"I've dreamt of that for years. I'd rather be alone on the streets than live with my father. No one should have to go through what I did. It's not fair. I just wish I could tell him to stop." If only I was brave enough to tell him.

She puts her hand over mine and massages my fingers, "You could. I'd come with you. He wouldn't hurt you in front of me, would he?"

"I don't want you to be around him. I don't want to risk you getting hurt," I shake my head and look back to her.

She waits a while before continuing, "Okay. Eventually you'll have to go back there, but I won't force you to go anywhere just yet."

It amazes me how supportive she's being, "There aren't words for how much I thank you right now."

Her lips bend into a smile. They stretch from rosy cheek to cheek, "I'm just paying a favor, Caleb. Having you in my life changed the way I think. So thank you."

"You're welcome -err wait- no, thank you," I interrupt myself.

"No. We are not going to be the couple that does that," she laughs.

"Oh, what was that word I heard? Did I hear the word 'couple'?" I lean in closer to her and smirk.

"I don't know...that depends on what you want to hear. Is that what you like?" she plays with me.

"No, it's what I love," I say and pounce on her.

She giggles and pecks my lips, "I swear we can't have one serious moment for two seconds."

"What fun is a serious life? Why not spice it up by dating the weirdest guy in the school?" I ask and peck her back.

"That's true, but I don't think you're weird enough to be the weirdest guy in the school," she compliments.

"Give me your keys," I command and hold out my hand. She takes it and lifts herself from the couch. I walk with her to the counter where she pulls out her car keys.

"I honestly question giving these to you. Where are we going?" she asked and reluctantly places them in my hand.

"You'll see," I say and grab her hand, pulling her through the door.