The ride back to the Shaw's home is awkwardly quiet. When we get to the house Hayden gets out and vanishes up the stairs behind his bedroom door. Mr. Shaw opens my door and asks, "Would you like some help getting to the house?"

"No, but thanks anyway; I think I can manage." I am still super sore but it was bearable. As I am walking I stop before entering the house and turn to look at Mrs. Shaw.

"Is everything alright dear?" She asks.

Calmly I say, "Why did you tell him?" I look down at the ground  feeling ashamed of who I really am.

"Tell who what?" She says it like she has no idea what I am talking about.

"Them!" I gesture towards the house. "About the scars, why both of them, why...why Hayden he didn't need to know?" The tears come slowly.

"Star I didn't mean for..."

I cut her off, "Maybe not, but he knows now, so..." I shrug my shoulders and go on into the house without finishing my thought. I climb the stairs slowly up to my room, then shut the door so soft that no one can hear the door click.

I lay on the bed forever and when I don't come down to eat, Mr. Shaw brings me some soup and a grilled cheese.

"Hey kido, mind if I come in...I got food." He says in a sweet fatherly voice.

My stomach was making a lot of noises and was starting to cramp a little from not eating sooner. "Sure, you can come in." I don't get up though hoping he would drop off the tray of food and then leave. He sits the tray on the table near the bed and then he pulls up the chair and sits beside me.

"Can we talk for a second?" For once he sounds calm and sincere.

Not really but it doesn't look like he is going anywhere. Maybe if he says what he is here to say he will leave faster. So I sit up in the bed with the covers still around me. I feel sick all of a sudden and I don't know if it's because I haven't ate anything or if it's that feeling that it's just the two of us in this room alone. I mean the door is cracked open so it's not like I'm stuck in here.

"I want to apologize to you. Mrs. Shaw was extremely upset at the hospital. She was just talking to me about what you showed her. We didn't realize Hayden was right there. He did not hear the whole conversation so he doesn't know everything."

"Well you all know more than I wanted you to, it was my secret. I didn't want him to know. I don't like seeing him upset."

"Hayden will be fine. Look kido I know you been through a lot. I'm sorry that jerk hurt you that should never have happened."

"But it did happen and there is no changing it and don't be sorry it's not your fault."

"I know, but I'm sorry. I'm also sorry for being upset with you and Hayden. It's just that I care about him, he has been hurt too and I just don't want him to get hurt any more. You know, he is like my son."

"I know, it's alright, like you said the trial with be over soon, so I'm sure I will be out of here in no time. I have a feeling I will be back at home, back to my old life." I pause, taking a deep breath, "Besides there is nothing going on between us. Why would anyone want a damaged girl? I'm not good enough for him and I'm sure one day the right girl with come along and sweep him off his feet."

"Star you are not damaged and if you are the one for him then it will happen."

I look up at him with tears in my eyes.

"Can I sit beside you; I won't touch you I promise."

I was very hesitate but these past few months I have gotten to know him he is more of a father than my own father ever was and he is nothing like Jackson. So I shake my head yes.

He moves from the chair over to the bed and sits on the edge. "I know you don't want people to know the truth but I think it's time. You need to show the judge, the jury, make them listen to you and don't ever give up on yourself. We will come to the courtroom with you, we will stand behind you. We are here for you kido."

His words are very touching. "I know I need to, I'm just scared."

"I know, I know, by the way I seen your parents earlier at the hospital what were they wanting?"

"They want me to decide on who to live with after the trial. It's not like they were really worried about me. They have never really cared anyway."

"I'm sure they do deep down they just don't know how to show it. So what do you want to do?"

"Die!" I roll my eyes and sigh. "But I know that's not possible. I have a little sister and two brothers to look after."

"They are not your responsibility; you're just a kid yourself."

"Well if it wasn't for me, they might already be dead. I know you don't get it, you don't understand, I have to protect them."

"I do get it kido, maybe not everything you have been through but I do understand about trying to be the one to protect your family. It's all going to work out; I promise. I just wanted to say that I was sorry for earlier."

"Thanks."

I don't know what else to say and I don't think he did either so he gets up and leaves, shutting the door behind him. I sit back and eat the grilled cheese and then the soup and within minutes my stomach subsides.

I want to escape to the roof but the windows have bars on them now. Apparently they are getting ready to do some more construction on the roof or something I have no idea.

It takes me forever to fall asleep. I toss and turn a million times. About three in the morning I wake up screaming and thrashing the covers off of me. I feel hands on me and I start to panic but then his voice speaks to me softly and soon I  start to calm down.

"It's just a dream babe wake up. It's just a dream everything is going to be alright."

His arms come around me, embracing me close to him. He starts rocking me back and forth. One hand is rubbing my back to sooth me, then the other hand moves to my face and he starts to sweep my hair away from my eyes. I rest my head on his chest letting him calm me. I listen to his heart as my body finally goes lax against his.

"Everything is going to be alright I got you."

I whisper, "No its not; it will never be alright. Do you see me differently now? Now that you know."

"I will admit its hard taking it all in. I mean you told me that he did things to you but he did more than that. You could have told me, I wouldn't tell a soul. I'm sorry I acted the way I did earlier I'm trying to process all of this."

"Honestly I didn't want anyone to know. I hate talking about it. I hate even thinking about it. Do you want to see?"

"I don't think I'm ready for that and neither are you. So was the dream about him?"

"Yeah...but I really don't want to talk about it."

"Ok well lay back down, put your head here." He pats his chest. "Come on right here babe. I'm not going anywhere, try to go back to sleep you need your rest." I lean against him and he starts to run his fingers through my hair. The last thing I hear is, "I won't let anyone hurt you babe, and I love you."

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Sometimes Hayden makes me mad and upset but then he can be so freaking sweet...

What do you think about him?