A/N: Trigger Warning, this chapter contains abuse of a minor. 

"Eddie, come on, pay attention." Bex sighed as she tried to show Eddie the same equation for the third time.
"Make it make sense." Eddie groaned. "I can't figure this shit out."
"You could if you would listen to me." Bex said.
"I am listening." Eddie said.
"But you're looking at me like I'm speaking Elvish." Bex sighed.
"I can actually understand Elvish. I don't know what language you are speaking." Eddie said and pushed his Algebra book away from him.
 
"Okay, lets take a break. Sometimes it does your brain good to take a break and then come back to the problem." Bex suggested.
"Cool." Eddie said and sat back in his chair tipping it back balancing it on the back legs.
"You're going to fall and crack your skull, and then even I won't be able to teach you Algebra." Bex said.
"Oh come on, live a little. Lifes no fun without risks, besides I do this all the time and haven't fallen yet." Eddie said and grinned ear to ear.

It was at that moment that one of the legs on the wooden chair broke and Eddie fell backwards. Bex stood from her chair and looked down at Eddie on the floor. She smiled at him.
"We call those famous last words." She said and extended her hand to help him up.
"Very funny." Eddie said, almost pouting at this point. Which Bex found adorable. He grabbed her hand and she helped him up off of the floor. The two of them locked eyes for what felt like eternity. Before Eddie cleared his throat and pulled his hand away. Bex frowned and quickly shook it off before he noticed.

Eddie sat down in a different chair anxiously playing with his long curls.
"I still stand by what I say. Lifes no fun without risks." He said.
"What do you think I'm doing now by tutoring the leader of a Satanic Cult." Bex said with a straight face. She sat down giving him just enough time to think she was serious before she grinned.
"Oh she has jokes!" Eddie laughed.
"Lets get back to work." Bex suggested and bit her lip. She didn't really want to get back to the algebra. She really wanted to keep up the goofing off. She wasn't sure what it was about Eddie, but she felt like she could be her true self around him. The silly part of her she had to hide from her parents, her brother, and her crowd at school was let out of its cage and she felt a huge weight was lifted from her soul when she was around Eddie. But just as soon as she felt the weight lifted, an even heavier weight took its place because deep down she knew, it wouldn't last. Her green eyes involuntarily watered.

"Hey...you okay Bex?" Eddie asked, tilting his head like an adorable puppy.
"Yeah. I'm fine its just kind of dusty in here and its messing with my allergies." Bex lied.
"Oh. Okay." Eddie shrugged and picked up his pencil. "I'm ready for more torture." He smirked.
"You haven't even seen torture yet." Bex said and laughed at Eddies fearful expression

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Once their first tutoring session was over, Bex and Eddie went outside so Bex could wait for Jason to pick her up.
"You want me to wait with you?" Eddie asked.
"No its okay, I'll be fine." Bex smiled. "See you at school tomorrow."
"Yeah." Eddie said. "See ya." Eddie said and began walking to his van. He stopped and to Bex it looked like he was thinking about something. He turned around and walked back over to Bex.
"Hey.. so do you maybe want to do something that doesn't involve Algebra with me sometime?" Eddie asked.

Bex's breath caught in her throat. Her heart was thundering in her chest. Her brain was screaming at her to tell him yes but she couldn't seen to get the word out. A loud horn startled her and she looked over at Jason in his truck.
"I..I have to go." Bex said. "See you tomorrow." She said and turned around and hurried to the truck.

Once in the truck. Bex looked out the window to see Eddie still standing there.
"Whats he doing staring at you like that?" Jason asked.
"He's not staring at me J. Just drive or we'll be late for Church." Bex said.
"He is staring at you Bex. Look at him." Jason argued and rolled down his window.
"Jason don't." Bex groaned.
"What are you staring at Freak?" Jason asked.
Eddie flipped him off and turned back walking to his van. Jason rolled up his window and looked back at Bex, who rolled her eyes at him and turned away from him and looked out the window.

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The next morning in Mr. Steeles class, during the middle of Mr. Steeles lecture. The classroom door opened and everyone, including Bex turned their attention to the door as Blaire walked into the classroom. The first thing Bex noticed was the cast on her left forearm.
"Welcome back Miss Nolan." Mr. Steele said.
Blaire was quiet as she walked to her seat and sat down. Mr. Steele approached her.
"Do you have a tardy slip?" He asked. "You're 30 minutes late."
Blaire shook her head.
"Well, I'll let it go this time, Get out your notebook to copy the notes I write on the board."
"I..can't write. I'm left handed and I can't write with the cast on." Blaire finally said something.
"Well you do have another hand." Mr. Steele said. There were a few chuckles around the room, mostly from friends of Bex's.
"I can't write right handed.." Blaire said.
"That's not really my problem Miss Nolan." Mr. Steele said. "If you don't take notes, you will not pass the test next friday."
Blaire sat back in her chair and shrugged.
"Guess I'm going to fail."

Bex was appalled. She really didn't notice how differently Eddie and his group of friends were treated by the students but also some of the staff.
"I'll write another set of notes for you tonight and have it for you by tomorrow." Bex spoke up.
Blaire looked in her direction and Bex noticed her bottom lip had been split open and scabbed over. Apparently Blaire had quite the few days while on suspention.

Blaire scoffed.
"I think I'd rather fail." she said.
"Fine." Bex said Knowing she would probably still write an extra set of notes in case she changed her mind. Blaire had talked about boxing before so she assumed that may have been where her injuries come from but..there seemed to be something wrong, She tried to pass it off like she didn't care, but her voice shook a little when talking today.

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After class, Bex finished getting things out of her locker and she noticed Blaire struggling to get her lock open. Bex wasn't the best at getting combination locks open, but she figured she would at least offer to help. She approached Blaire
"Need help?" Bex asked.
Blaire turned and looked at Bex and rolled her eyes.
"No." she said. "Why do you insist on being so helpful today? I assumed you were trying to earn extra brownie points with Mr. Steele earlier, but now there's no one around." Blaire observed.
"Why do I need an ulterior motive to be nice to you Blaire?" Bex asked.
"Because you and your people are never nice to me and my people without one." Blaire said.
"Fine. Suit yourself." Bex sighed and started walking away.

Blaire groaned almost as if in disgust by what she was about to say.
"Wait." She said. Bex turned around.
"I need my Sketch book for Art.." Blaire mumbled. Bex turned around and smiled and back over to Blaire.
"Whats your combo?" She asked.
"8-20-18" Blaire said.
"I'm not very good at these either but at least I have both of my hands that I can use." Bex shrugged and entered the combination and pushed the lock and it popped open."
"Hah! I got it!" Bex exclaimed.
"Congratulations..." Blaire said. "You really need to get out more." Blaire retrieved her sketchbook and closed her locker.
"Thanks.. I guess." Blaire shrugged.

"So what happened to your arm?" Bex asked.
"Thats none of your business." Blaire said
"Well I know that you do that boxing thing but..how hard did you have to hit someone to break your arm?"
"Let it go Carver." Blaire said beginning to get angry.
"I was just curious I mean how bad does the other guy look?" Bex chuckled.

Bex was caught off guard as she was pushed into the lockers and pinned there with Blaire's good arm.
"I said fucking drop it Carver!" Blaire seethed. "Its none of your fucking business."
Bex was startled and she just stared at Blaire with wide eyes.
"Hey!"
Both Bex and Blaire turned to the left to see Eddie racing down the hallway towards them.
"Blaire, come on let her go." Eddie said.
Blaire scoffed and pulled away from Bex.
"Don't worry I didn't hurt your little girlfriend." She mumbled.
"Girlfriend??" Bex exclaimed.
"Whatever." Blaire said and walked away.

"Are you hurt?" Eddie asked. "Blaires knocked me around a good few times too." Eddie said.
"What is her problem?!" Bex asked and rubbed the back of her head.
"She's got a whole book of problems. Best to just stay out her way when shes in a mood like this" Eddie suggested.
"I just wanted to see if she was okay." Bex said. "But she flipped out on me."

Eddie sighed.
"This stays between you and I. Got it?" He asked.
Bex nodded. "Sure." She said.
"Blaire doesn't have the best home life, Her Dad is a raging drunk. I've tried to get her to come stay with me and my uncle...but she refuses help." Eddie said.
"Are you telling me her Dad broke her arm? And hit her in the face?" Bex asked.
Eddie didn't answer but the look in his eyes told Bex everything she needed to know.
"She needs help Eddie, whether she wants it or not." Bex said.
"I know that, the police have already been involved once but her Dad played father of the year and then beat the snot out of her after they left. I'm worried if anything else happens he'll kill her."
"We have to do something Eddie. We can't just let her continue to be abused...Its my fault she got suspended in the first place."
"Did you not just hear what I said? I've tried to help her the only way I know how and it just made things worse." Eddie said.
"I will come up with something." Bex said.
"Please just be careful." Eddie sighed.
"I will." Bex said and shrugged.

The two of them stood in the hallway with their eyes locked on one another in awkward silence "So...you never answered me yesterday when I asked if you wanted to do something that didn't involve Algebra with me." Eddie finally broke the silence.
"Oh. Uh.." Bex started.
"Do you like music? I'm in a band, Corroded Coffin. We play every Tuesday at the Hideout."
"I have Cheer Practice." Bex shrugged.
"Skip it?" Eddie said and raised his eyebrows.
Bex bit her lip and smiled at him.

"Rebecca."
Bex cringed and turned around to face her brother.
"What?" She asked.
"You're going to be late to class. Why is it every time I see you, you are with this freak." Jason scoffed and approached them.
"We were talking about algebra." Bex lied.
"You have Wednesdays to talk about Algebra." Jason said and moved Bex so she was behind him.
"Let me get one thing straight. My sister? She's nice. And you're lucky for that, but me? I'm not so nice. Don't think that my sister being your tutor changes anything. She's not your friend, shes not your girlfriend she's only doing this as a favor to Mr. Jones."

Bex looked at Eddie with apologetic eyes. She felt like she was in an impossible situation. She couldn't defend Eddie, because she didn't want Eddie to end up getting hurt. But she really wanted to tell her brother to shut up and leave Eddie alone.

Eddie scoffed and raised his hands in defeat.
"Sure. Whatever you say." He said.
Jason started walking away.
"Lets go Rebecca." He said.
Bex stood there and looked at Eddie and mouthed the words "I'm sorry"
"Rebecca! Now!" Jason snapped. Bex sighed and turned around walking with Jason.

"If I have to I'll walk you to every class from now on to make sure he stays away from you." Jason said.
"I can take care of myself Jason." She said and walked ahead of him to class.

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It was the last class of the day, and Bex was ready to get done with Cheer practice and then go home. She planned to talk to her mother alone about Blaires situation. Usually when she talked to her mother alone about things that were bothering her, she actually felt better, but if her dad was thrown into the conversation her mother always sided with him.

"Remember Class, there is a test tomorrow. Everything on your study guides is what is on the test. If you've finished your study guides you should have no problem passing the test. Study and get plenty of rest for tomorrow." Mr. Jones said. "I'll let you all work quietly for the next few minutes before the bell." He said and walked back to his desk before sitting down.

Bex turned to Eddie.
"Do you have your study guide done?" She asked.
"Not even close.." Eddie said. Bex sighed and turned back to her binder on her desk. She pulled her study guide out that she had completed. She put it on his desk.
"I'm not expecting miracles here Munson, but I do want to know that I'm not wasting my time trying to tutor you. Study up make an effort to pass this test get at least a passing grade and maybe I will entertain the idea of skipping cheer practice Tuesday and coming to see your band play at the hideout." Bex said with a smile.

"Really?" Eddie asked. "Are you sure your brother will let you?" He said with a smirk.
"What Jason does't know won't hurt him."
"Ah but what Jason eventually finds out will hurt Eddie." Eddie said.
"You asked me if I wanted to do something that didn't involve algebra with you, so heres the deal, if you make an effort on this test and get at least a c, We will do something next week." She said and extended her hand for him to shake.
"Deal?" She asked.
Eddie put his hand in hers.
"Deal." He smirked. "What if I need a little help understanding this?" He asked.

Bex thought for a moment and reached in her bag and grabbed a permanent marker. She took Eddies hand and wrote down her phone number.
"Do not call after 10. My parents will freak, also..maybe don't tell them who you are if you have to call?"
"Got it." Eddie winked. "Not how I figured I'd end up with a cheerleaders number, but I'll take it."
The bell rang and the classroom erupted with noise of students getting ready to go home for the day.
"Remember to study!" Mr. Jones hollered over the noise.

Bex just shook her head at Eddie and smiled. "I have to go before my brother comes looking for me again."
"He's a bit obsessed don'tcha think?" Eddie asked.
Bex shrugged and gestured 'Only a bit' with her hand making Eddie laugh. A sound that she had come to enjoy even though she hadn't spent much time with him.
"See you tomorrow Eddie." She said.
"Looking forward to it, Bex." He smiled and walked backwards out of the classroom keeping his eyes on her.

Bex bit her lip and smiled as he was leaving.
"So hows the tutoring going?" Mr. Jones asked from behind her.
Bex jumped and turned around.
"Oh, I'm sorry to have startled you Miss Carver." He said.
"Its okay...and tutoring him is going fine. We've only had one session so I wouldn't look for an A on that test tomorrow."
"If you tutored him for one day and he got an A on the test tomorrow, I would gladly give you my job." Mr. Jones chuckled.
Bex just smiled.
"I have to go get to cheer practice. I'll see you tomorrow Mr. Jones."
"See you tomorrow Miss Carver."

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After dinner that evening, Bex walked into the kitchen where her mother was doing dishes.
"Need any help?" She asked. Her mother turned to look at her and smiled.
"I could use some help." she said.
Bex walked over to the sink and stood beside her mother with a towel drying the dishes.
"You don't often ask to help with the dishes, so something tells me, you have something you want to talk to me about." Her mother said.
"Kind of." Bex shrugged.
"Is it about that Eddie boy?"
"Oh.goodness no." Bex said and pretended to scrunch her face in disgust. Even when talking to her mother alone, she knew better to admit she actually liked Eddie. Her mother cared a lot about their families image and Half the town thought Eddie was in a cult so that would not go over well.
"Well then what is it?" Her mother asked.

Bex sighed. "You know that girl..Blaire?"
Her mother scoffed.
"The little delinquent that ruined your cheer uniform?" She asked.
"Yeah.." Bex said.
"What about her?" Her mother asked.
"She came back to school today after being suspended. Her lip was busted up, and her arm was broken." Bex said.
"Isn't she the girl who does the boxing thing?" Her mother asked. "I'm not surprised she came back looking beat up."
"Well, yeah she does boxing...but I mean..how hard do you have to hit someone to break your arm?" Bex asked. "I..think her Dad hurt her, Mom."
Her mom stopped washing the dishes and looked at her.
"That is a serious accusation Rebecca." She said.
"I know. But.. when I asked her about how she got hurt she got extremely defensive.."
"The police should be called if you think she's being abused." Her mother said.
"I know, I've heard the police have gotten involved but after they left her Dad beat the crap out of her." Bex said.
"Where are you getting your information?" Her mother asked.

Bex thought for a second.
"A mutual friend." She shrugged. "I know you don't care for her-" Bex started.
"My feelings about someone do not matter if that someone in question is being hurt by their parent. I'm not going to think that that girl deserves to be abused because she is a bully to you. That may be why she acts the way she does for all we know." Her mother said and sighed. "I hope you don't think that low of me Rebecca."
"No, mom I don't. I just don't know what to do."
"I will speak with my friend who works with child protective services, and I will tell her that you are worried about your fellow student and that a check in with her and her father needs to happen."
"What if he plays the father of the year card and hurts her even worse when they leave."
"I can assure you that will not happen. Do you trust me Rebecca?" She asked.
Rebecca nodded.
"I will make sure that that girl is taken care of. Its very honorable of you to want to help her even after how she has treated you. That tells me I'm raising you and your brother right." Her mother smiled and pulled Bex into a tight hug.
"Well..at least me, Jason is questionable." Bex said making her mother laugh.

The phone started ringing in the living room. Bex's father grabbed and answered.
"Yes, she's here. Who might you be?" He asked in a protective tone.
Oh no..Bex thought. Knowing it was more than likely Eddie.
"I see." Her father said and walked into the kitchen with a stern look on his face. "Its for you Rebecca." He said.
"Who is it?" Bex asked.
"Not Eddie Munson." Her father said unamused.
Really Eddie.. Is that the best you could come up with?? Bex thought.
"He probably just needs help with the study guide for the test tomorrow in math. I'll be quick." Bex said and took the phone and hurried out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
"Don't run on the stairs Rebecca!" Her father scolded her.

Bex got into her room and shut the door.
"Hello Not Eddie Munson." She sighed.
"Hello." He said with amusement. "At least its not after 10 right?" He asked.
"Right." Bex said and went to her desk and grabbed her Algebra book and opened it. "So what are you hung up on?" She asked
"If I'm being honest..not algebra." Eddie said.
Bex blinked and slowly closed her algebra book.
"Then why did you call?" She asked after processing what he had said for a minute.
"I don't know, just to talk I guess. My uncle works overnights and its just me and him and I'm bored."
"So you should study." Bex sighed. "Or did you forget our deal?" She asked.
"Not a chance." Eddie said. "But studying this stuff alone is boring." He said.
"Well I can't study with you. I gave you my study guide." Bex said.
"I don't see how I'm going to remember any of this by tomorrow afternoon." Eddie groaned.
"Do something you enjoy doing while studying, and then right before you take the test, do that thing again and it will refresh your memory on what you've studied." Bex suggested.

"Does that actually work?" Eddie asked skeptically.
"It usually does for me. What is something you enjoy?" Bex asked.
"Well...I kind of enjoy talking to you." Eddie said.
Bex felt herself blushing and she swallowed hard.
"Well..I don't think Mr. Jones would be okay with you talking to me during the test.."
"You're probably right." Eddie chuckled. "I guess I'll have to figure something else out."
"Meet me, tomorrow morning outside at one of the picnic tables. You'll have to get up early be there at least an hour before school starts so I can go over the stuff that is going to be on the test with you."

"An hour before school starts?! School starts too early as is and you want me there an hour earlier than that? Are you insane?" Eddie asked.
"Depends on who you ask I guess." Bex shrugged.
"Good answer." Eddie laughed. "Fine. I'll be there."
"Good. See you tomorrow Munson."
"Before the Roosters it seems." Eddie groaned. "See ya." He said and hung up. Bex smiled to herself and held the phone to her chest. She felt butterflies in her stomach. She knew that she was getting herself into trouble with her feelings. Bex normally liked to plan things out when it came to her relationships with anyone even her friends, but there was just something about Eddie that was chaotic and exciting to her. He was a Wild card that was capable of taking her picture perfect image and burning it around the edges. And she was more than certain at this moment, that she would let him.