*Creighton's pov*

I jolted awake with sweat pouring down my face. I took in deep breaths and looked around my room. It was just a dream. It wasn't real. I grabbed the yearbook that was on my chest and sat it on the floor. I wasn't ready to get up yet.

Light was shining in through my window and it looked like it would be a nice Saturday. I smiled. No bullying today. Well at least from my peers.

I got up out of bed and went to my bathroom with my clothes. I put on a t-shirt and my skinny jeans. Normally I would never wear a t-shirt but I was either going to hang out with Abby or Alex today.

I knew Alex didn't know but today I had to tell him about my abuse. I shouldn't hide things from him.

I wanted to tell Alex a long time ago but I got worried that he would ditch me for not telling on my dad. But Abby hadn't and she just met me. She was there to help me and I assume that Alex will be too.

I could hear my father snoring in his bedroom and I crept out of my bedroom and through the house. I got to the front door and opened it slowly and then rushed out.

I let out a breath that I had been holding and started walking to Alex's house. It was fairly warm and not a cloud in the sky. Maybe it will be a good day then. The world looked happy.

It was only a ten minute walk for me to get to Alex's house. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. He was going to see all of my scars for the first time.

Alex opened the door and smiled. The smile quickly faded as he seen the scars all over me. Some of them were burns from my dad's cigarettes and others were from cuts that he caused.

"Creighton," Alex started but I pushed him inside so no one would listen to us outside.

"It's a long story," I said and he nodded. We went back to his room and Alex shut the door.

"Alright well," Alex said and panic coursed through my body. He thinks that I am hurting myself. Would he believe me when I tell him that it was my dad?

I gulped under Alex's gaze. He was watching me intently.

"Alex I didn't do this to myself. Do you know why I never invite you over to my house?" I asked and he shook his head.

"It's because of my dad. He's an abusive drunk. Even when I was little he was abusive but not towards me. It was towards my mother. And then when she left I could tell that he wanted to smack me around. It wasn't until freshman year that he started," I said and watched his reaction.

He didn't say anything and silently urged me to continue.

"He'd find any excuse to beat me. Most of the time it was because he said I was so unmanly and nonathletic that he had to do it. He hated the fact that I wasn't his little jock of a son. He hates that I am artistic. Other times it would be for showing up late and leaving things on the floor, which weren't even mine. I never told you because I felt that you would leave me. And I know that I shouldn't have felt like that because you are my best friend but there's that voice in my mind that always said I'm not good enough for anyone. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner," I said and looked away.

"Creighton I could never be mad at you! This isn't even your fault. I wish you would've told me about it sooner! Is this why you never came over after school?" He asked and I nodded.

"Creighton you need to tell the police," he whispered and I shook my head.

"I can't. He is the only family I have. I don't know what happened to my mom and I know she isn't going to ever come back. If I turn him in I have no one plus I'd feel bad because he is my father. I know I should tell them but what if they don't believe me? Then I have an angry father who will beat the shit out of me. I don't know how much more I can take from beatings. My rib is already broken," I confess. I still had the gauze wrapped around my chest.

"Creighton!" Alex yelled at me.

I shook my head and I laid back in his chair.

"Come stay with me till school gets out. My parents love you, they wouldn't mind. Please Creighton, you need to get out of that house," Alex pleaded.

I felt relieved. My best friend didn't hate me for not telling him. He even wanted me to stay with him so I could get away from my father.

Honestly I wouldn't know how to act. I wouldn't have to be fearful that he was going to kick the shit out of me. I haven't had that feeling in four years. That sense of safety in my home vanished a long time ago. I never felt safe in my house and I knew when my mom left that I would be getting the punishment. I'm surprised my father restrained himself till I was a freshman.

"But they're gonna ask why I want to leave my house," I argued. If they knew they probably would make me tell the police.

"I'll tell them that your dad wanted a couple weeks to himself. That should make them let you stay here," he said.

I nodded and he went to go find his parents. I laid my head against his chair and just thought to myself.

What if I did go to the police? Would they arrest my father or would they think that I was the one doing this to myself and then put me in a mental hospital? I would hope not but people today are unpredictable. You think that people are supposed to do the right thing but that never happens.

Look at my father. He was supposed to love me and support me. But he would never do that. He is an abusive alcoholic who thinks I'm worthless.

I sighed and got antsy when Alex did not return right away. What was taking him so long? I didn't hear yelling, so maybe they would let me stay.

Just as I was about to sit up in my chair when Alex came back in.

"My parents are cool with it, you just have to go and get your stuff," Alex told me with a smirk on his face.

I rolled my eyes at him. Maybe if I go get my stuff now my father will still be asleep.

I stood up and stretched.

"Do you want me to come with you?" He asked me and I shook my head. I didn't want Alex there if my father was awake. He didn't need to get hurt.

"I'll be back soon. If I don't come back within an hour then come and check on me," I said and he nodded. I left his house and started walking back to my home.

It really wasn't my home. A home is where you feel safe. I never feel safe. I'm pretty sure that if Alex wasn't letting me stay with him then I would die this year.

For some reason my father had increased his drinking this year and I can't figure out why. It isn't like he'd ever open up to me but it was making my life miserable.

I walked up to my house and then unlocked the front door. I went up to my room and started putting everything of importance in bags that I was taking with me.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" My father's voice rang out and I froze. No. This wasn't going to be good.

"Answer me you no good son," he said and I heard him come into my room. I stopped breathing. Fear ran through my body like lions running after their meal.

"I'm leaving. It's clear you don't want me here. Won't you be glad that I'm gone?" I said trying to make it seem like me leaving was a good thing.

He turned me around and punched me in the face.

"You are not leaving. You're like my maid," he said and started kicking my ribs. I screamed and everything went black.

***********

*Jessamine's pov*

I decided I should take my dog, Scruffy, for a walk. He seemed very happy about this and kept stopping every ten seconds to smell everything. I groaned. I looked up and seen that I was in front of Creighton's house.

I sighed. I missed that boy. We always had so much fun together. If my mother hadn't become the controlling woman she is today we probably still would be friends.

I wonder if he hates me. He probably does. I mean I ditched him and every time I see him I have to act like I hate him.

Maybe if I tried to talk to him he would forgive me. I don't know if I could hang out with him but I want him to know that I didn't want to be this way towards him. Personally I still liked him. I always had. He was just so cute with his green eyes and black hair.

I pulled on Scruffy's leash for him to follow me. I walked up the path to Creighton's front door.

I was just about to knock on the door when I heard screaming. It sounded like Creighton.

I stared in horror at the door and whipped out my phone. I dialed 911. There was definitely something wrong.

"Something is wrong at my friend's house!" I yelled into the phone, not waiting for the person to talk.

"Ma'am calm down please tell us what is wrong," the man said calmly through the phone.

I was anything but calm. What if Creighton was hurt? What if he was dead? I had to tell him I was sorry.

"There is screaming inside of the house," I said quickly then I gave him the address.

I decided to walk away from the house a little bit. I could still see everything clearly. Police cars came speeding down the road and pulled into Creighton's driveway. All of a sudden I seen Creighton's father running out the back.

I blinked. Was this real? Was Creighton's father the cause of this?

The police barged in the door and then I saw an ambulance coming. EMT's rushed in and my heart sped up. Oh my god is Creighton okay?

It was a couple of minutes before they brought him out on a gurney. He looked ghostly pale and I couldn't tell if he was breathing as they loaded him into the ambulance.

Scruffy was watching intently just like I was. Creighton had to be okay. Please let him be okay.

Once they left I took Scruffy back to my house and got in my car. There was only one hospital in town so I knew where they were going.

I was going to go see Creighton.

Tears were escaping my eyes. I liked Creighton. In elementary school he was my rock and my best friend. I needed him again. I still wanted him to be my friend. I wanted him to be more than my friend.

Please let Creighton be okay. Please.

Hey guys! Oh my god I am so sorry for not updating right away! I was on vacation and I never even considered the fact that I would get 400 reads before the end! I am so so so sorry! But guys I am thrilled! Almost 500 reads?! Like I can't stop smiling!

So I would like to thank @worldgirlalways because she designed that amazing cover that I have been getting comments on! So compliment her because she deserves it!

I'd also like to thank @Super_freak_, @louisluver99, and @Worldwith1Dx. They have been so supportive of this story and I could not have continued without them!

So I will be dedicating a chapter to someone every chapter so if you comment and vote a lot I might dedicate it to you.

Okay I'm done now! I hope you enjoyed!