The next day, before I can even get into the classroom for Mr. Dunrier's class, Alex corners me in one of the side halls. He raises an eyebrow when I don't open my mouth with any type of explanation.

"So?" He prompts. "Where were you this morning?" I cross my arms over my chest and look away, unable to meet his eyes.

"Obviously, not at my tutoring session."

"Obviously." He spits out, annoyance in his voice. I cast a quick glance towards him and dig my nails painfully into my arms at the disappointment I see in his eyes.

Of course this would happen. It always does.

I grind my teeth together at the thought before meeting Alex's eyes head on.

"I told Mr. Dunrier I couldn't go today, alright? It's not my problem."

"It is your problem, April. If you don't start cleaning up your act, you won't be able to graduate." The bell rings and I make to get around Alex. He only stops me by gently grabbing onto my wrist. "We're not done." I yank my arm from his grip and look up at him squarely, exposing my neck some. His eyes travel down to it and I notice his brows furrow. "What is that?" He asked and my hand comes up almost instantly to cover it.

"It's nothing that has to do with you." This doesn't deter him in the least and he pries my hand from my neck exposing the large bruise visible from my turtleneck sweater.

"What the hell?" He questioned as he pulls the sweater down to reveal my whole neck. Even then, the full bruise isn't exposed, extending still further down. I don't look at Alex as I yank my arm from him once more, wrapping it around myself in a protective gesture. "What the hell?! Who did this to you?" His voice has risen now, but I don't answer him. "Where were you this morning. This happened today, right? It wasn't there yesterday."

For the longest time I don't answer, unable to find my voice. It's Alex's pleading eyes and the way he gently grips my shoulders that has me cave.

"I went to visit my older brothers grave this morning. Today is the anniversary of his death. When I left the house, I left my bag there. My parents saw my test grades." I shrug as if it's the most normal thing in the world.

"They did this to you?" I shrug once more because I don't want to answer him. In fact, I bite down so hard on my lip that it draws blood making it obvious how much I don't want to talk right now.

Alex notices this and does the last thing I expect him to. He pulls me protectively against his chest, encircling his arms around me.

"God, I had no idea. No one has any idea. How were you able to keep this from everyone?"

"A whole lot of foundation." I joke, trying to lighten the situation. It falls short and we just stand in silence until he finally decides to break it.

"You need to tell someone, April. You can't keep hiding this." I shake my head furiously and grip on tightly to the sides of his shirt. "April, please tell someone!" Alex begged me as he pulls away. He bends down to meet my eyes and there are tears in his. Actual tears and it hits me like a gut punch that he's crying for me.

He's worried for me.

"They're my parents."

Are they April? I like to call them monsters.

My brothers questioning voice fills my mind and I bite down on the inside of my cheek.

"They lost that privilege the moment they laid their hands on you in aggression." I look down, letting my blonde locks shield me from view.

"It wasn't always this bad. When Braydon was alive he took the brunt of it, but then...it was an accident." I said my voice wavering with the tears coming to life in my eyes. "It was an accident and they didn't mean it and he just wasn't there anymore." Alex pulls in a sharp breath. I meet his eyes, the tears freely falling from my cheeks.

"They killed your brother?"

"It was an accident."

"It's child abuse. How did they get away with it?" I shake my head and bite down hard on my lip so I don't say anything more. Alex gently shakes me as he says, "Don't you understand, April? That could be you next. No, that will be you." His own tears fall freely from his eyes now and the next thing I know I'm being pulled against his chest once more and his arms lock around me so tightly it's almost hard to breathe. "Please, please, please tell someone April. I don't want you to die. They've already hurt you to the point you need to wear this godawful sweater to school in the middle of summer when it's almost ninety degrees outside." I don't say anything as the events that took place a year ago play out in my head.

The one thing that continuously repeats is my brothers last words.

'Find your way out and run like hell.'

I concede to Alex.