No one can change in a matter of days. Cedric knew that, but he had a certain resolve to give back what he'd taken. But it didn't help that the arguments were getting worse.

His mother had been beaten senseless by his father one night, and Cedric wasn't even sure if his father loved his mother anymore. He'd come out at 3am because of loud noises and found his father shredding their wedding photographs. The day after that, all photos including Cedric's father had disappeared from his mother's desk.

They stopped talking to Cedric too, becoming cold, distant figures in his life. Surprisingly, he ended up texting Chryss, a feat he thought would be impossible for him. And she responded quickly, listening to his worries and trying to help him.

If only his own parents were like that. Catrina and Carmen weren't exactly your typical happy couple, even if you discounted all the screaming. They wouldn't so much as glance in the other's direction, and Catrina had stopped cooking for Carmen at night.

Cedric's father hadn't exactly been thrilled, and had responded in a kind by no longer giving her part of his salary. Without the money, Cedric soon found the table had no dinner and his mother's belongings were being sold.

No one - and he meant no one - knew what happened to Cedric since he disappeared off the face of the earth four days ago. No one except Chryss, whom he still texted fairly regularly. Brandon and Jorgen were so stupid they couldn't even use a phone properly, so it wasn't like he could contact them.

Cedric's phone buzzed with new messages, and he reached over to respond.

Chryss: Hey. Things quietened down over there?

Cedric: Not in the slightest.

Chryss: You know, if there's anything I can do for you, you just need to ask, okay?

Asking help from a girl? That was stooping a little low, wasn't it? But surprisingly, he found he didn't really care about gender prejudices again. She was human, and so was he. Maybe that was good enough, a better reason than relying on the same gender.

Cedric: I will, I promise.

He wasn't sure if he had any intentions of keeping that promise, but he never knew.

Chryss: What's going on back there?

It was like she could hear the screaming in the house. Cedric winced as he covered his ears, fumbling with his keyboard with one hand. He took about one full minute to type a short reply.

Cedric: Mom and Dad yelling again.

Chryss: You okay? Wanna come over to my place?

A girl, inviting him over? That was almost like- nope. She was just friendly. Overly friendly. And she didn't really have any friends, either. Not that she would. She talked to the school bully.

Cedric: Are your parents home?

Chryss: Yeah.

Cedric: ... And you're still inviting me over?

Chryss: Hey, it's not like you're my secret boyfriend or anything.

His heart skipped a beat. Had she just texted that? What did she mean by that?

Chryss: Hey, you there?

Cedric: Oh, yeah, sorry, got distracted.

Chryss: By what?

Cedric: The noise. You know. In the house.

Chryss: Oh. You sure you don't want to come?

Cedric: Do your parents even know I exist?

Chryss: Sure they do. I've told them about you.

She'd what now?!

Told her parents - her freaking parents about him? What had she said? That he was a big fat bully who stole money from children? Accurate, but... Still bad.

Cedric: How much did you tell them?

Chryss: Chillax. It wasn't that much.

Cedric: Did you tell them that I'm a bully?

Chryss: Of course not.

Cedric: Then what did you tell them?

Chryss: That you're having financial problems and I've become your go-to for emotional help.

Cedric: ... Somehow, I think that's worse.

Chryss: Maybe.

Cedric: Wait, so that's it? They didn't ask any questions?

Chryss: Sure they did, but I just said it was private between you and me, and they dropped it. 

Cedric: But they're home now.

Chryss: Yes, how many times do I have to tell you?

Cedric: And you still want me to come over.

Chryss: Are you as stupid as you look?

Cedric: Are you sure this counts as emotional help?

Chryss: Sarcastic emotional help.

Cedric: Okay. To put it simply, you're fine with me coming to your house, your parents seeing me and you being associated with me?

Chryss: It's not like you're one of those guys with a big potbelly and disgusting tattoos.

Cedric: Is that supposed to be a compliment?

Chryss: Yes, in a way?

Cedric: So how many of these gruesome guys with tattoos have you seen?

Chryss: Too many to count.

Cedric: What exactly are these gruesome tattoos?

Chryss: Are you coming over or not?

Cedric: Smooth change of topic.

Chryss: Ced...

Cedric: Maybe, maybe not.

Chryss: We're ordering pizza, so if you want some food, I suggest you tell me now.

Pizza? Real food? For the first time in days? She really knew how to con a guy, didn't she?

Cedric: Okay, I'm coming. See you in ten.

He grabbed his phone, wallet and and a couple other things and dashed out of the house.