"Are you even listening Leo?" said Lucas a messy brown-haired boy with blue eyes. He is the same height as me.

"Yeah something about the stray cat you saw on the way to school" I signed. Lucas is a talkative boy unlike me. I don't talk to many people. He is an extrovert and I am an introvert.

" You didn't listen to the best part did you?" he made an angry pout. he is right I didn't.

"Um... You adopted it..?" I said smiling awkwardly. He looks shocked. Or should I say disappointed?

"When are you ever going to listen to me you dreamy brat? Could you stop dreaming for once in your life and focus on your surroundings?" he said taking out his phone from his bag. He is obsessed with animals. Especially cats.

" So what if I am not listening? You don't seem to get enough of me it's not like you will leave me alone. You can find better friends you know." I signed... He is so energetic. I can't even take out my books when we have a class.

"Look it's the BLACK cat isn't my photography impressive? people should hire me for their weddings. I might get a cool part-time job. " he said proudly. Urgh! his energy is too much for me. I want to take a nap.

" Don't get your hopes up, Mister Leo Williams. You can't escape from me only death can do us apart. We are best friends for life." he said trying to get a high five from me.

I just put my head on the desk and try to take a nap. He grabbed my hand and forcefully gave me a high five. I was about to fall asleep... But the teacher has to come in and ruin it for me.

"wake up sleepy head," said Mrs. Amanda which made the whole class laugh at me. So annoying...

As much as I hate being in school... I can't go back home as well, life nowadays doesn't even feel right. my only hope is my father. 1 year ago today he left me with grandpa for work. He lives in Spain now.

I have been waiting for a whole year now. Although he told us that he will be back after 2 or 3 months something came up and he had to stay there for a year.

"psst. dreamy brat the teacher is talking to you." Lucus whispered which brought me back to reality.

"Leo! Are you present today?" Mrs. Amanda shouted.

"Yes, Ma'am." I flinched.

"what's the answer to this question," said Mr. Amanda. Oh crap, what do I do now? I wasn't even paying attention.

Suddenly Lucus stood up and answered.

"That is correct Lucus, good to hear that you always study, unlike some students," said Mrs. Amanda proudly.

Lucus is a brilliant student unlike me who never pays attention to what is happening around me. Not gonna lie he saved me this time. I hate it when people laugh at me, not like I care but still I get super irritated.

I heard the bell ring... Thankfully it's time to go, today was worst than I thought.

"Hey, dreamy brat wanna walk home together? Please say yes! " he asked excitedly. he is annoying me again!

"NO! I have a name you know." I rolled my eyes and picked up my bag to leave. He got along anyways.

I want this way back home to be shorter and longer at the same time. I want to take a nap but I don't want to face the old man. I just can't keep up with anything right now. All I think about is resting so that all my pain can go away for a while. Lucus is telling me stories about his life again I am not sure what he is saying. all I can focus on is the weather. It's winter so the cold air is matching my mood. There is a park near my house. I can see the kids making snowmen some are having a snowball fight as well. Trees, grass, and the roof of people's apartments are covered in snow. Even in this cold weather, people are sharing the warmth of love everywhere. I miss dad more after seeing the neighbor kids having the best time with their families.

"LEO! watch out!" Lucas shouted grabbing my arm and pulling me out of the way.

A car was speeding on the road I was so busy looking at the neighbors that I didn't see that coming.

"ARE YOU EVEN PRESENT RIGHT NOW!?. you could have got injured or in the worst case died of a car accident" said Lucas letting his anger out on me. I know his reaction is logical but... What would have changed if I were to die in a car accident? NO! I have to stay alive for dad... Focus Leo Focus you can't lose your life like this!

"LEO! I have had enough of YOU! are you even sorry for being so careless?" said Lucas while shaking me with both his hands to get my attention.

"I gotta go. we have reached my house. See you tomorrow" I said and tried to leave.

"Is that it? Is that ALL you have to say after almost being run over by a car?!" he said disappointed.

"Yeah, that's all. Thank you for walking me home. For saving me" I said and shut the door.

I could see him leaving in disappointment through the window. Was that too far? Did I hurt his feelings this time? I will just apologize tomorrow.

I locked the door and went straight to my room. I lay down on my bed and closed my eyes. Today was a long day and I almost died on my way back home as well what a great way to end my day. I signed in relief that I survived although I didn't show it in front of Lucus the way I was shivering after the car crossed right passed me was intense. I am good at hiding my emotions that's why everyone thinks I am a weirdo at school and stay away from me. But Lucus is different he doesn't want to leave no matter how much I ignore him. Seems like grandpa is not home yet finally my whole house is to me.

I was about to fall asleep when I heard the main door being unlocked. He is here! Speak of the devil... "I am back dear grandson to give you the taste of hell!" he shouted as I heard him coming closer to my room. He opened my door angrily. I bet our neighbors could hear the door slam open. He took my hand and dragged me to the kitchen.

"Let go of me, you old man!" I shouted but he didn't stop until we reached the kitchen.

"Remember what I always say.. the less you speak the less painful it is.. and if you speak more the pain will be 10 times more," he said smirking at me the ugliest way possible. I bet he is still mad at me because I didn't make him breakfast this morning.

"Dad is coming back this weekend because I told him everything although he didn't believe me he will surely find out about this wrinkly and ugly face of yours once he is here. " I said while pushing him away.

"He is my son. there is no way he will believe YOU over me" He laughed and started heating the frying pan. I guess he is hungry and would leave me alone for a while.

He never cuts his nails so every time he holds my hand or arm I get new scars. I grabbed a paper towel from the table and started cleaning the blood off the hand he just grabbed so brutally. Thanks to him this is 7th time I had a scar this week. I am already running out of bandages. gotta ask Lucus to remind me to buy new bandages.

"So you are just asking for it. how DARE you called him and speak crap about me?!" he grabbed my hand again while I was only halfway done cleaning the blood. cool now I can't wipe my blood in peace anymore.

"I think the cold weather has frozen your mind or something.. Let me give you some taste of heat," he said while making the scariest face possible. Please don't be what I am thinking. Please don't do what I am thinking. NO!

He took my bleeding hand and put it on the hot frying pan. I screamed at the top of my lungs but he stuffed my mouth with paper towels to make sure the voice of my screaming doesn't reach the neighbors. After what felt like the longest 2 minutes of my life he let go of me and throw me on the ground.

"Make sure you don't make the same mistakes again! Because next time I might cremate you. Now be a good boy and don't make any noise." he said while kicking me right in the stomach as he made his way to his bedroom to rest.

I looked at my burnt hand its a second-degree burn. I quickly grabbed the first aid box and started looking for the ointment for burns. I found one but it's expired... I didn't expect him to go this far so I haven't brought ointments for burns. I just grabbed some water for my hand and head towards my bedroom. I put my shivering body on the bed and closed my eyes... I cried my heart out missing dad and before I can realize it I fell asleep.
.
.
.
.
.
"GOOD MORNING... Leo aren't you forgetting something," he said while throwing water on my face.

I flinched and opened my eyes. The pain was starting to show up again as I was starting to regain consciousness. I saw the clock. I was late for school I quickly got out of bed grabbed some bandages and started applying them on my hand and because it's winter grandpa is taking advantage of the weather. He knows I have to wear gloves to keep myself warm. He doesn't injure the visible parts because he knows that if anyone saw these. The police will have to get involved. But I want my dad to be the one to file the report of him being an abusive grandfather. I can't wait to see the look on his face. I am cursing him while wearing gloves because even if I can hide my emotions from others I do feel the pain.

"Aren't going to apologize" he shouted from his room.

Apologize and me?! He should be the one apologizing. I wish I could just give him slow poison and watch him suffer each second begging for death.

I just ignored him and headed to school. As I am crossing the street near my house I remembered yesterday's incident this was the place where I almost got hit. I don't see Lucus anywhere did he leave without me today because I am late? But he does wait for me whenever I am late. Maybe he finally decided to let me go. I need to apologize to him. Making up with him was the only thing I had in mind while walking to school.

As I reached the school I noticed Lucus has changed his seat. He sure is mad at me. I put a sticky note with "Sorry" on his desk and go back to my seat. He looked at the sticky note and turn to look at me angrily. I will just make him forgive me after class.

And before we can realize it. It was lunch break I followed Lucus all around the cafeteria. But he was ignoring me the whole time.

"I am sorry for yesterday. I know I shouldn't have reacted that way." I said trying to catch up with him while he was walking around as if he is teasing me. Slowly I saw his face turning into an evil smirk. He sure is teasing me now.

"I have got you now you can't run away," I said while grabbing him and we both laughed.

"Okay. I give up I forgive you" he said while getting his lunch to the table. We both sat together he even changed his seat in the class and sat beside me. I knew he can't stay mad at me for long.

We are taking the last class for most of the students this is the most exciting moment because they get to meet their families as for me it's a pain I wish I could stay longer with Lucus yet a few more minutes are left for the class to be over. But something unexpected happened. I was called into the principal office. As my usual thoughts were that I am not good at studying but it was worse.

"Leo, Did you hear about the plane crash that happened last night? I heard your dad was one of the passengers... I am sorry to inform you that none of the passengers survived the crash. " said the principal while trying to console me.

This can't be happening... How did it happen this wasn't supposed to happen. Why did just why did you lie about your stay... You said you will be back after 2 months and it took you a whole year to come back... Yet you managed to die in a plane crash... I was on my knees crying my heart out... Not caring about how weird I look... My dad died... My only hope has died. The teacher who was taking the class along with some other teachers came to console me as well. It's not enough that you can't possibly help someone who had lost his mother after birth and now his father as well. I heard Lucus coming toward the principal's office. He ran into me and hugged me. After a while, we both head home because we can't just stay at school when it's closing time.

"I know nothing can make you feel better. But could you please stay with me for a day? I know your grandfather so well he is going to give you a hard time if you go back" he said while we were walking home.

"What's your problem, Lucas?! I know he can be rough with me but he loves his son and I am sure he will be super shocked to learn that his son died in such a tragedy" I said angrily. He is just framing him at this point. I am sure grandpa loves his son. He would probably be busy being miserable himself.

"No that's not what I meant-" he said but I cut him off

"I don't wanna know what you meant please just leave me alone.." I said as I shut the door in his face.

I went inside my room and locked myself in... I lay down on my bed and just slept for almost half of the day.

I woke up to the sound of my grandpa banging on the door. I nervously opened the door. He slapped me so hard.

"Why did you lock the door," he asked furiously. Urgh! What's his problem now?

"I wanted some privacy because of the incident that happened this morning" I replied and tried to close the door.

"What incident?" he said while holding the door open. He doesn't know that his son died?! The news was in the headlines today how come he doesn't know that?

"Grandpa. Didn't you see the news?" I said confused.

"What news..?" he thinks for a while and then the moment of realization hit him.

"Are you still whining about his death? Quit whining about it already. He wasn't supposed to be here if it was not in his fate" he said making his way inside my room to find some keys from a keychain. WHAT?! he just said it like it was not a big deal how heartless of him. I hate to say this but Lucus was right.

" I will be out late. I have a dinner with some old fellows make sure not to get caught by monsters" he said while making a scary face.

"Who needs monsters when I have you as my grandfather," I said... He got mad and grabbed a steel bottle from my desk and started hitting me with it.

"Always remember that the less you talk the less painful it is.." he said and left the house... Thankfully none of my bones broke but it's still painful. I just grabbed a first aid box and started looking out the window while applying bandages to my wounds. I saw the same road where I almost died across the street near my house and that's when it hit me. I ran away from my house.

"I planned to end my life I wrote an apology letter to Lucus and told him that he was my best friend as well. And you know the rest of the story. "as I said that I finished the story.

Mr. Lincoln was listening to my story attentively while observing the situation... While Mr. Chad was crying the whole time. Or should I say whining the whole time?

"Oh, my little Leo you have gone through a lot all alone. " Mr. Chad gasped while trying to reach his hands to hug me...

" No... I am fine..No touching..!" I said while getting away from his hug. He is annoying. When did I become his Leo?

"So even If I wouldn't have ended my life with my own hands that old man will kill me," I said while looking at the sky. It was already sunrise and here I thought the first light of the sun will fall on my dead body.

" So you're saying that if it wasn't for us. You would have ended your life" said Mr. Lincoln raising his one eyebrow.

"Unfortunately... Yes, sir that's the case" I said looking at him with a straight face.

"So that means we saved your life and now you owe us one kid," he said while laughing.

Did he not hear the whole story or was he only interested in that one part?

Mr. Chad brought some paper towels from the car and whipped his tears... Glad he stopped crying... He sure is annoying... As he was done whipping his face he got a phone call.

The sky looks beautiful today. The fresh air is giving me good vibes today. I hate to say it but what a wonderful day to be alive. It's a hot day after so many cold days... I am feeling a bit weird..Mr. Chad went near Mr. Lincoln and whispered something in his ear.. judging by their facial expressions it looks like something urgent. After that Mr. Chad walked towards the car. I kinda feel some sort of pain in my head. Is it because of all the stress?

"Let's go kid," said Mr. Lincoln while walking towards his car as well.

"To where," I asked nervously. Is he taking me back to that old man even after I told him the whole story..?

"Don't worry. I am not taking you back to him anymore.." he said and came back towards me and grabbed my arm.

He pulled me and as I was trying to stand up. My mind went blank. My head hurts like crazy. My breathing got heavy and within seconds I fell to the ground. The last thing I remember was hearing the footsteps of Mr. Chad running towards me and his voice

"LEO..!" he shouted while I saw him running towards me. And within that second I closed my eyes.

End of chapter 2