My first update on Monday :)

"Dan, you need to go to the police office today for an interview. They will just be asking you about your parents and I can be there if you need me to be." Alice spoke with a sympathetic smile. Dan just scrambled around for his phone which was on the bedside table next to Ethan's. He opened up the notes app, typed something and showed it to Alice.

I don't talk.

Alice placed a hand on Dan's shoulder which made him flinch: whenever his dad did that it hurt but Alice's hand was gentle and kind. "You're going to need to talk sometime." Alice had dealt with some tough kids in the past: people like Ethan who are absolute stubborn nuisances, the most anxious kids and also some who responded to everything with drugs and violence but she had never dealt with someone who refused to speak. It was different but she was willing to try her best to help the fragile boy.

Can I write in the interview?

"I suppose you could. I'll talk to them for you and see. Be ready in half an hour? If you ask- I'll ask Ethan for some clothes for you to wear. I do warn you though, they'll probably be black."

-

Dan ended up wearing a pair of skinny jeans and a My Chemical Romance hoodie and he wasn't actually complaining. It was similar to something he would wear at home, even if Ethan was a little smaller than him so it was quite tight. They arrived at the police office and Alice went off to talk to someone as Dan waited in the waiting room. He was sat on the soft chairs, swinging his legs like he did when he was a kid and he was waiting for his dad to come out. Police stations were all too familiar to him; his parents had been in them for a few too many times for small crimes like stealing or, on one case, drugs. It was sad that some of his childhood memories laid in a building of crime, not playgrounds or other places more suited for kids. A police officer walked out of one of the doors, smiling slightly at Dan who looked up at him expectantly. "Follow me." He said, his voice deep.

Expectantly, Dan's legs were shaking quite violently. He was nervous because his parents' fate was in his hands and he wasn't sure whether to deny everything that had happened or to tell the truth. He should probably tell the truth so that he could be safe and stay with Alice but he was.. afraid. Terrified even. What if he told the truth but they still got away with it? They could literally kill him. It was horrible that that wasn't even an exaggeration; it was an actual fear of Dan's.

Dan did as he was told and he was lead to an interview room where a table was set up with a camera for filming. "We have been told about your... refusal to speak and it's okay. We have got a notebook for you to write in." Dan forced a smile, gleefully taking the notebook and pen.

"Interview with Daniel Howell, son of..." The interviewer started, looking at Dan who was staring down at the blank paper. "So..."

-

Dan walked out of the room after the officer congratulated him for being so 'strong'. Dan wasn't sure if he had meant that because Dan had cried and almost had yet another panic attack. He didn't think he was synonymous with the word. He had admitted everything, from the mean words to the punches. As further proof of the abuse, the black eye he was given a while ago was still there albeit slightly faded. Dan was bombarded with a long hug from Alice as he made it back to the waiting room. "How'd it go?" Alice asked and Dan smiled softly. She sounded like she genuinely cared and he actually felt like he could trust her which was peculiar considering it usually took him a long time to trust people. Dan sent her a thumbs up, making her grin proudly. "Well done, I'm sure it will all be okay."

-

Dan: It went really well. They let me write in a notebook instead of talking.

Phil: Well done! I'm so proud of youuuu

Dan: Thank you. The home is really nice too. I've meant this nice boy called Ethan and he's really awesome

Phil: Not as awesome as me though, right ;)

Dan: Hmm.. Not sure about that

Phil: I'm offended

Phil: Will I see you in school on Monday then?

Dan: I think so

Phil: Yay! I'm excited to see you and give you a nice huuuug

Dan: Noooo I don't like hugs

Phil: I'm hugging you anyway because you deserve it :P

Dan: I have to go because we're all about to play a board game

Phil: Don't replace me with Ethan

Dan: Haha, neverrr

Whaaaaat? Could this be foreshadowing? Who knows ;)