(Lisa Cordero Above)

 I woke up to someone stroking my hair. I opened my eyes and saw Lisa sitting beside me. "Good morning, Carson. Did you sleep well?" she asked me as her hand moved to my shoulder. I smiled, my eyes struggling to open. "Yes," I said, my voice coming out raspy. I cleared my throat. "Thanks." I said, my voice coming out as normal. She smiled. "I'm glad to hear, and see, that." She teased. I laughed. "Come on, get up. Take a shower and breakfast will be ready for you." she said and got up. "Cool," I said as she left. I got up and walked toward my dresser. I grabbed a random T-shirt and jeans, along with a hoodie and walked toward the bathroom.

After my shower, I chucked my pajamas into the washing bin and walked out of the room. I stalked down the hall, but an opening door startled me. I looked to my left and saw a startled Rachel. "Oh, Rachel," I said, my hand over my rapidly rising chest. "Did I scare you?" she asked me. I chuckled then nodded. "Yeah, I'm used to sneaking down hallways, so when something like that happens... never mind, I'm starving." I said and walked toward the staircase. She followed me after closing her door. We made it down just as Lisa laid a jug of milk in the middle of the table. "There you guys are, glad you could finally make it." Mr Cordero, I mean Samuel, said, laying his newspaper down on the table.

I smiled and sat down in the same place as last night. They all sat down as well and joined hands just like they did last night. I followed suit and grabbed Rachel's hand as Kyle grabbed mine. Samuel smiled at me and then closed his eyes. "Heavenly father, we thank you for the food before us and for the opportunity to live and attend school. We also thank you for the freedom to pray to you whereas in different countries it is forbidden. We pray this in your gracious name, Amen." he prayed. We all opened our eyes. I let go of Rachel's hand immediately, as if it was a hot plate on the stove. She looked at me weirdly then started spreading butter on her toast.

Something weird happened during the prayer as I held her hand; I wanted to hold her hand. I wanted to hold her hand. That's not like me, I hate girls. What's wrong with me? I spread butter on my toast and took a large bite out of it. I looked up and looked at everyone around the table. The Cordero family were all eating their breakfast, while involving themselves in conversations with each other. I stayed quiet, until Kyle spoke up. "Carson, you nervous?" he asked me. I cocked an eyebrow at him. "Why would you think that?" I asked him. He shrugged. "I don't know, maybe because you've hardly eaten anything and your hands are in tightly holding onto the edges of the chair." My eyes widened as I looked down. It was true; I was basically clinging onto the damn chair like a baby. "Maybe I'm a little nervous, but nothing too big." I said and picked up my toast, taking another large bite out of it.

~&~

What was I thinking?

Kyle, Rachel and I walked into school side by side. I saw Adam, Ethan and my old friends laughing at me as I walked by, but ignored them. Kyle gave them a sick look and Rachel grabbed my forearm, showing that she supported me. I stiffened at the contact. I gave her a weak smile. She then let go and apologized. "No, don't apologize. It's my problem." I laughed it off. She nodded in understanding then Kyle spoke. "Hey, I've got to go. This is my class. See you later!" Kyle said, walking into his homeroom. "Let's go," I said and led her toward our homeroom. "Carson, do you mind showing me around the school, I'm new, remember?" She reminded me. My eyebrows creased in confusion. "But then how does Kyle know his way around?" I asked as we walked down the extremely long hallway.

I tried to keep myself busy by talking to Rachel to avoid all the stares from everyone in the hallways. It as basically just Rachel and I talking, otherwise it was dead silent. "Uh, he came with my dad to look around." She said awkwardly as she noticed all the stares. I started feeling extremely uncomfortable, so I tapped Rachel on the forearm, because I didn't want to grab her, and gestured that we get away from everyone in the hallways. She nodded and we started walking faster. But just as we turned the corner, I bumped into Adam. He smirked when he saw me and I gulped once I saw him. "Well look who it is," he said. I took a deep breath and decided to prove him wrong about all of this. "What do you want?" I asked him boldly. He laughed and looked around. "Oh my, look who's trying to be brave, well done." He teased, clapping in his mockingly. I clenched my jaw in anger. Rachel was silent beside me, obviously terrified. "Adam, I'm only going to tell you this once," I said to him, the crowd was growing now. "Leave me alone." I warned him.

He looked at me with a serious expression then burst into laughter. I watched him as he and everyone else laughed, everyone expect for Rachel. She stood beside me, not sure of what to do. My jaw clenched again. I then walked up to Adam, picked him up by his shirt and shoved him into a locker. He was shocked, but then smirked and chuckled. "Oh, you were serious?" he mocked. My blood was boiling and I had the definite urge to do something I know would land me in jail. I shoved him further into the locker. It seemed as though he had enough because soon I was shoved into the locker instead. "Stop pretending, Henderson. You're a fake, and that's all you'll ever be!" he yelled at me. I forgot about everything, the crowd, the school, even Rachel. Everything happened in slow motion as my fist collided with Adam's jaw.

I heard the chant of the crowd faintly in my ears and Rachel's screams, but ignored them. Adam fell to the floor. His smirk was gone and a malicious smile was playing on his lips. He got up and tried to pounce on me, but I dodged him and he collided with the locker. He grunted then came for me again. "Come on, fight like a man!" he yelled at me. "Stop running away!" That's when I punched him in the gut. "Carson!" Rachel screamed. I looked her way, she looked concerned and afraid. Adam took advantage of my distraction and kicked me in the leg, where I had been stabbed. I screamed out in pain as I grabbed the back of my thigh. Adam then punched me in the gut, like I did to him. I grunted then fell to the ground. Adam looked down at me. "I hope you know you're place now," he said then kicked me in the rib, just above where my father stabbed me. I groaned in pain. "You're a wimp, a runt, you're worthless and no one wants you, didn't you get that message from your father?" he asked me. I looked up at him, my eyes burning.

NO, not here!

I yelled at myself in my head. "Oh, is Henderson going to cry now?" he teased me. I tried to kick him, but instead I screamed I pain as I moved. He laughed then left me there. The crowd slowly started departing and Rachel ran up to me, Kyle at her side, along with Mr Martin, the Geography teacher. "Carson, are you okay?" Rachel asked me concerned, but didn't touch me. I just stayed lying there, looking upward. "He k-kicked my leg-g," I got out, feeling a little dizzy from the pain. "He kicked the leg that was stabbed?" Kyle gasped. I nodded, my eyebrows creasing as the pain shot through my body. "Okay that's it, we're going to the nurse and you're going home." Mr Martin said. "It was Adam Wylde, am I right?" he asked. I nodded as Kyle helped me sit up. "I don't want to go home. I need to catch up with my school work." I said. Mr Martin sighed. "Carson, you're injured. You still have 2 weeks of healing to do, Kyle or Rachel here can get the work for you." he said, as he wrapped my arm around his shoulder.

I sighed and nodded. "Okay, okay, fine I'll go home." I said, defeated. Kyle and Mr Martin helped me to the nurse while Rachel called her mother to come and pick me up. The two men laid me down on the bed as the nurse cut my pants open to see what damage had been done. Yes, it was awkward to have someone cut my pants open, but what choice did I have? I either took my pants off completely or I let her cut them, what would you have chosen? "Hmm, no stitches came out, Mr Henderson, he just caused some bruising. Good news is, you have no real damage, just a few bruises and a cut here or there." She said, taking off her gloves and grabbing a band aid. I nodded and thanked her. "Carson, my mother is on her way," Rachel said as she walked up to me. "Okay, thanks," I said as I sat up, after the nurse had finished.

Mr Martin entered the room, looking quite angry. "Son, I'm afraid we can only suspend Adam for three weeks. His father said he'd sue the school if we expelled him." he said, obviously not too happy about this. I nodded and sighed. "Thanks anyway, sir." I said. He smiled. "I'm glad to see the old Carson is back," he said. I nodded and looked down. He walked toward me and patted me on the back. "I'll see you around, Carson," then he left. I turned to the nurse and thanked her again. She smiled then left. I was left in the room with Kyle and Rachel. "You doing okay, dude that was harsh?" he asked. I nodded. "Yeah, I'm alright." I said with a small smile. "That guy was your friend?" Rachel asked me, as she crossed her arms. I nodded. "Yep, everyone that was watching were my friends, I was quite popular." I said, remembering those days. "And now you've lost everything because of that video?" Kyle asked. "Yep, but maybe it's better this way. I got rid of a bunch of fake friends, meaning all of them." I said with a chuckle.

Soon, Lisa entered the room and went straight in for a hug. "Oh that darn boy, I wish I could smack him." she said frustrated and took my face in her hands. "Are you okay, honey?" she asked. I smiled. "Yeah, I'm okay." I said. "Mom, you're being such a mom," Kyle whined. She turned to him and squeezed his cheek. "My little boy is too big for his boots," she teased him then turned to the nurse, who handed her the papers to sign me out. "Moms," I heard Kyle mumbled under his breath as he rubbed his sore cheek. I laughed then got up. Lisa came to my side to help me. I said my goodbyes to Rachel and Kyle and we made our way to her car.

"Have they expelled that boy?" Lisa asked me as we rode home. I shook my head. "Nah, Adam Wylde has a rich father who invests in the school all the time. He threatened to withdraw all the money he invested and sue the school if they expelled him. Adam's just been suspended for 3 weeks." I said. She let out a frustrated sigh. "Oh those rich, proud people, God will get them one day, he'll get 'em." She said.

I gave her a fake smile. Man, these people bring their damn religion into everything. I looked at the cut in my jeans and sighed. "There goes a good pair of jeans," I said and looked out of the window. "Nah," Lisa said. "I can patch that up for you easily, just needle and a thread." She said, her words making me think of Stitches by Shawn Mendes. I turned on the radio and music filled the car. I again paid attention to the lyrics.

For we trust in our God,

And through his unfailing love,

We will not be shaken,

We will not be shaken,

We will not be shaken...

I looked out of the window. These people are so naïve. I thought and leaned my head back onto the headrest behind me. Soon after that, we arrived home. I got out of the car and limped to the door, Lisa following behind. "Do you want some help up the stairs?" she asked, gesturing to the steps leading to the front door. I nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Lisa," I said as she wrapped her arm around my waist. She helped me up the stairs and opened the door. We walked inside and I sat down on the couch. I heard Lisa calling Samuel and minutes later he was in the room. "Hey, you doing okay, he hurt you badly?" he asked as he sat down next to me.

"I'm okay, just a bit sore. Adam kicked my leg and rib, that's basically it." I said, downplaying the fight. "That doesn't look like it," he said, pointing to my slightly bruised jaw. I chuckled softly. "Well, it's not that bad, I'm just limping a bit. This isn't real pain." I said in all honesty. He looked at me carefully. "And what is real pain then, Carson?" he asked me. I smiled slightly then drew my lips into a tight, straight line. "Real pain is when someone who's supposed to look after you tries to kill you." I said, referring directly to my father. He gave me a sad smile and nodded his head. "You're right. I think emotional pain is way worse than physical pain, do you agree?" he asked me. I nodded. He smiled. Lisa came and sat down next to me and placed her hand on my knee. I flinched away, but she kept her hand there.

"Carson, do you think you could tell me about your mother someday?" she asked me. I smiled and nodded. "I love talking about her to people who remind me of her," I said. She smiled. "Okay, well, would you like something to drink?" she asked, removing her hand from my knee. I nodded. "Yes, please anything." I said. She nodded, smiled then got up. I leaned back in the couch and lied back, relaxing at last. Samuel, mimicking my movements, sighed and then spoke, "Can I ask you some questions about your father, Carson?" Samuel asked and looked at me. I stiffened and kept my gaze directed to the ceiling. "I don't know, it depends on the question." I said and sat up, leaning my elbows on my knees.

"Carson," he said, sitting up and patting my back. "I would never ask you a question if I knew you couldn't answer It." he said. I nodded and held my head in my hands. "I know, I know," I said. "Go ahead," I said and sat up straight and looked at me. He nodded. "Okay, well first of all, I wanted to ask whether your father was always this violent?" he asked. I shook my head. "No, it only really happened after my mother's funeral." I said, my eyes examining the carpet in the middle of the floor before us. He nodded and crossed his arms. "And how did he act at the funeral?" he asked. I shrugged. "He was – sad and angry, whatever a husband would be if his wife died." I said, like it was the most obvious thing ever. "What about how he acted towards you?" he asked.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "He didn't talk to me, didn't look at me. He basically pretended I didn't exist until we got home." I said, a monotone coating my voice. He nodded. "How long did he abuse you before he stabbed you?" he asked. I shrugged and played with my hands. "I don't know, about 5 months." I said. It was silent, I heard our breathing and I could sense that Lisa was also there and listening. I looked up and saw her standing there in the hallway. She smiled at me and I smiled back. "Okay, I think I'll stop now, you're looking a bit tired." He said. "I am, just not physically." I said. He gave me a reassuring smile and patted me on the back. "I know, son." He then got up and left. I didn't get up or leave, I stayed sitting on the couch and just stared in front of me. I knew he had more questions, I knew the entire family had questions. I also knew that some of them were curious about my scars and wanted to see them. It wasn't hard to notice, I mean they look at my shirt sometimes, like really look at it; maybe I should start wearing thicker shirts.

They look at me carefully and I knew what they're thinking, what caused the scars or are they bad or how many are there? I closed my eyes and leaned back in the couch. I heard some talking in the kitchen, probably about me. I thought about Mrs Peters and whether I'd still have to see her. I thought about Amanda and Joe at work, and how I longed to go back. Then I thought about how weird it was to miss working and what a moron I was. I sighed and crossed my arms over my chest. I had begun doing that ever since the first month of beatings, it was somewhat of a protective instinct. I rolled my eyes inside my head and started breathing really deeply. I was trying to fall asleep. As I fell out of consciousness, I swear I heard someone whisper in my ear, "I love you, Carson," my eyelids flickered, but didn't open up. Then I was soundly asleep.

I love you, Carson...