***Phil’s POV***

                I sighed as I opened the door and let myself into the house. I took my shoes off and paused as I heard yelling. I glared and stormed into my living room.

                Mom and Torino, the fucker who had punched me yesterday, glanced at me as I stood in the doorway. I glared at Torino.

                “Phil, get him out. I don’t want him here,” mom said in annoyance, dropping onto the couch and glaring at Torino.

                “Don’t make me hit you again you little shit,” Torino threatened as I advanced at him.

                “If you hit him, I’m calling the cops,” mom said flatly, grabbing the phone and raising an eyebrow.

                “Get out of my house. My mom and I don’t want you here,” I snarled, clenching my fists tightly.

                “Listen you cock sucking piece of shit, just go play in traffic like a good boy, okay?” Torino said, shoving me and moving towards my mom.

                “Stay away from my mom!” I snapped, grabbing his arm and yanking him off balance.

                He stumbled and grabbed my arm, dragging me down with him as he fell. We hit the ground and he glared at me in pure fury.

                “You piece of shit!” he cried furiously.

                He moved to get up, and I punched him in the back of the head, jumping on him and tackling him back to the ground. I wrapped my arms around his neck and choked him slightly.

                “Get out of the house and leave my mom alone!” I cried.

                Torino spun around and punched me in the face. I struggled to keep a hold on him as mom sighed and called the cops.

                Torino gripped my arms tightly and flipped me off of him. I felt winded as I slammed on my back. I rolled over and coughed, my back aching.

                Torino grabbed my hair tightly and I winced. He glared at me in hate.

                “This will teach you to fuck with me you sorry faggot,” he snarled before slamming my head against the floor.

                I cried out in pain and squeezed my eyes shut as I felt dazed. He slammed my head against the floor again several times and then released me.

                “Get the hell off of him!” mom snapped in annoyance. I could hear her dragging Torino away from me.

                I heard the sound of fighting and Torino whimpered. Mom’s gun. She kept a gun in the closet in case someone ever broke in. She must have had it pointed at him right now.

                “Phil, can you get up?” she asked.

                I tried to make a noise, but all that came out was a groan. I think my nose was broken. My head was pounding so violently that I wished I could just pass out already.

                “The cops are on their way,” mom said and gave an annoyed sigh.

                I wasn’t sure how long it was before I heard the sound of cops in the house. Someone shook me gently, but I found that I couldn’t open my eyes.

                “Call an ambulance,” a familiar voice said. Mr. Bradley. It was Nick’s dad.

                “Phil, can you hear me?” Mr. Bradley asked gently.

                I tried to respond, but I couldn’t. My head was still pounding violently. A wave of darkness finally crashed over me and dragged me down.

                                                                                ***Nick’s POV***

                I rushed into the hospital and nearly slammed into my dad. He caught me and steadied me, frowning down at me.

                “He’ll be okay Nick,” he promised.

                “Was it his mom?” I demanded furiously.

                Dad shook his head, surprising me. “No, Ms. Brooks is in the waiting room. It was a, well, I guess you would him a boyfriend. We arrested him. I’ve got to get going, but I just wanted to make sure you somewhat knew what happened. Boyfriend trespassed, Phil tried to get him out, and he slammed Phil’s head against the ground several times according to Ms. Brooks”

                He hugged me and released me, ruffling my hair and giving me a slight wave before leaving. I went out to the waiting room and sat away from Ms. Brooks. She was texting on her phone, looking bored.

                A little while later, a doctor came out and told us we could go see Phil. I silently walked behind his mom to the hospital room.

                Phil looked over at us and smiled lightly at me. I hurried over to him and he sat up slowly and wrapped his arms around me, kissing me.

                “I’m fine,” he whispered as I opened my mouth to freak out.

                Phil glanced at his mom apologetically. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get him out of the house,” he said, guilt in his voice. “I tried.”

                His mom shrugged and sat in the chair next to him. I looked at Phil, and I suddenly knew I could never get him taken away from his mom.

                She was terrible to him, but Phil loved her so much. I could see it in his eyes. Losing him mom would crush him.

                “Your nose…” I started.

                “Is broken. I know,” he said and anger flashed across his face. “I hate that stupid fucker.”

                Phil grabbed my hand and the anger slowly drained from his bruised and cut-up face. He looked over at his mom with the eyes of a small child who knew he’d done something wrong.

                Ms. Brooks glanced at him and raised an eyebrow. “What?” she asked, her tone annoyed.

                “Are you mad at me?” Phil asked, gripping my hand tighter.

                “No, Phil. I’m pissed at Torino, not you. Stop being stupid,” she snapped.

                Phil relaxed and nodded at her before turning back to me. He pulled me so that I was lying next to him and wrapped his arms around me.

                “When do you get to go home?” I asked.

                “Tomorrow. They just want to keep me overnight to make sure I’m okay,” he said, kissing me deeply.

                “Are you okay?” I asked suspiciously.

                Phil rolled his eyes. “Yea, I’m fine. I just have a headache,” he grumbled.

                I stayed with Phil until my dad said he was there to get me. I slowly crawled out of Phil’s hospital bed and kissed him again.

                “Bye Phil,” I said. “I’ll see you tomorrow, I guess.”

                He nodded eagerly. I turned and left his hospital room, surprised his mom hadn’t left yet. I went outside and found my dad’s car, sliding into the passenger seat.

                “How was he?” dad asked as he pulled out of the parking lot and started driving us home.

                I shrugged. “He claims he just has a headache,” I said and sighed. “Dad, I want to get him away from his mom. She abuses him horribly. But…I don’t think it would be good for him.”

                Dad nodded. “I don’t think it would be, either. Nick, I know she abuses him. I don’t have to see it to know. But she’s his only relative. He’d be thrown into foster care, where he could just be abused again. And I think, deep down, she does care about Phil at least a little. When we got to that house today, she was standing in front of Phil pointing a gun at the man who’d hurt him.”

                I sighed sadly. “I just hate seeing him abused like that,” I whispered.

                “I know you do Nick. But if that’s how Phil grew up, it’s what he’s used to. Just like you grew up with your mother, so you’re used to her,” he pointed out.

                I laughed a little. “Yea, I guess you’re right,” I said, thinking about how my mother’s crazy tendencies didn’t surprise me anymore. Ms. Brooks’s abusive tendencies probably didn’t surprise Phil anymore, if they had ever. He was brainwashed.

                Hell, everyone was brainwashed. Brainwashed into what they’d grown up with. Like they say: plant corn, get corn. Plant an abused child, get an abused child. Plant a crazy child, get a crazy child. And so on, I guess.

                We pulled into the driveway and got out of the car. Dad came over to me and hugged me tightly, kissing my forehead.

                “I love you Nick. You’re a good kid. You and Phil will make it,” he said, smiling lightly.

                I smiled back at him. “Thanks dad. Yea. Yea, I think we will make it,” I said softly. Phil Brooks and I would make it, no matter what.

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A.N.- Not the last chapter, but the next one probably will be. And sorry for the slight delay on this chapter. I'm on summer break and (and this may be shocking) but my life does NOT revolve around writing, haha xD I have other things to do, too ;p