Warning: Mentions of abuse, addiction, and profanity. Long chapter ahead too. I hope you all like this chapter. It was painful just writing it, honestly ^^'

Don's POV~

I got back home from school after a day of staff talking to me. It was like this everyday. The staff at school always worried for me because I was pale and skinny in comparison to a lot of my classmates. They always question my home situation, in which I never wanted to talk about.

I head up to my room quickly as to not get noticed by my parents. I went upstairs and pulled out my phone and started to play games on it. My room wasn't really a room, honestly. It was more of a crawl space with a window. The bedroom that I should have, but don't have us filled with lots of bottles of beer. Some were empty, some were half finished, but most were still full. My parents don't use a lot of money on me. I only have 7 outfits, which all consist of white shirts, jeans, underwear, and socks. I only have one hoodie that I found someone throw away.

That's another reason for the questioning at school. My hoodie is in the worst shape you could possibly see in a hoodie. There was holes everywhere. Almost like someone cut the hoodie with scissors. Even if it didn't help with the cold of winter or fall all that much, I still liked it. My hoodie is just a plain black hoodie, but I think the holes kind of make it look cool. Especially with the white shirt underneath.

My room didn't consist of much. The room was pretty tight. All I had in here was a makeshift bed, the window, a power outlet, my charger, and a small toy safe that actually works. Luckily my parents don't know about it. If they did, my mom would use that money on her gambling addiction. And my dad would use whatever bit of money he can find on either alcohol or some food for himself and mom. I was always left out of the picture when it came to dinner. They always eat whatever they can afford. I often have to find food for myself, which is hard to do in the summertime.

I looked at my phone to see the time, which is only a little after 4:00 PM. My stomach growled, but I ignored it. It's too early for my dinner, which brings me back to why it's hard for me to eat during summer. For dinner, I eat the school's lunch. Every day, I take the small styrofoam boxes the food comes in and take it home for dinner.

I held my stomach in pain as it growled once again. I was very hungry, but if I ate too early, I wouldn't make it through the night without being hungry again. So I went through my school bag and pulled out a small bag of chips that came with the school lunch. I opened it and started to munch on the chips. It wasn't much, but it was something for now.

Soon, I heard the sound of glass breaking and the sound of arguing erupting from downstairs. My parents were probably at it again. Soon, I heard the front door slam as I heard yelling.

"Damn! Get your ass down here with another bottle of beer!" I responded with "Okay" as I crawled through the entryway of my room and went downstairs after grabbing a 6 pack of bottles of beer. I went downstairs and handed him the 6 pack of beer. I know he asked for one, but knowing him, he'd probably say he asked for a 6 pack. And if I denied it, I'd probably get more bruises on my back again.

Also, another thing. When my dad called me down to get him his alcohol, he said Damn not in the way it's used, but as a name. That's my parents nickname for me. Honestly, they literally forgot my name. Not even joking. They ruined my birth certificate years ago when my dad dropped one of his beer bottles on it, which darkened the text to the point it was unreadable. My name is Donnie, but my parents forget that since they pay no attention to me unless they need something. So they gave me the nickname "Damn," as a replacement.

Well, Damn may sound questionable. But, it has reasoning. Multiple reasonings, actually. It means "Damn waste of money." You think it stops there? You're damn wrong. Pun fully intended.

"Damn disappointment."

"Damn Beggar."

"Damn bastard."

The list goes on. I was about to go upstairs, but before I could take a step, my dad called me again. "Hey Damn. There's half a pizza left from yesterday. Go ahead."

For the first time in a long time, I felt happy. I'm getting good food for once? And not just another cold school lunch as a dinner? I didn't want to question the situation. One because of the idea he'd change his mind, and two because I was seriously hoping this wasn't a dream.

Without hesitation, I grabbed the box and opened it. The pizza was cold, but I'm not complaining. Based on passed experience, I love cold pizza. I started to chew on it before my dad got up and went upstairs. Probably to grab a box of canned beer, that way he can drink longer.

However, my thoughts were interrupted when I heard the sound of something breaking. It didn't sound like glass either. It sounded like plastic.

I felt fear in my eyes as I finished up the bite I was eating and ran upstairs. As I had feared, my dad was holding money in his hand. And pink plastic pieces that was once my small safe was spread on the floor.

"50 bucks and 73 cents. That's enough for another case, I think." I ran over to my dad.

"Please stop! That's my money! I've been collecting it!"

I was pushed away when he taunted me back.

"And what the hell do you need money for, huh?! I got you that damn phone for your 16th birthday last month! What else do you want, huh?! Fucking beggar!"

I grabbed his arm as tears ran down my face.

"Please sir! I need it! Please give it ba-"

My thoughts were interrupted with the feeling of a sting on my face. Of course he fucking slapped me. Not like it's the first time.

"I'm the owner of this house. You don't fucking need the money. Now get out."

I was shocked to hear what he was saying.

"What do you mea-" I was interrupted again. Not by a slap, but by the pain to my head. I need to stop questioning what he says when it only results in pain. That's what I was thinking as the glass shards of a now broken beer bottle fell down to the floor as blood followed suit.

"Get the hell out. Ungrateful beggar."

I didn't question him anymore. I went into my room and grabbed my charger and phone before heading out of the house. It was cold outside, especially at night. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't walk around the town at night due to curfew. Only adults were allowed out at night, and I'm only 16. So I went into the woods. There was an old abandoned truck in these woods that I've seen multiple times. I never tried to open it, but now would be a good time I guess.

I tried to open the truck, only for it to be locked. Of course. I looked into the back of the truck and saw nothing but a tire and a lot of leaves from the Autumn trees. I scooped out the leaves and used my weak arms to just barely knock the tire off the back and onto the ground. I spread out the same sleeping bag from my room out onto the back of the pickup truck. I didn't have a blanket, so I could only rely on my hoodie for warmth. I tried to go to sleep, but my stomach growled again for like the fifth time since I left the house about maybe two hours ago.

I was about to fall asleep, but then it started to rain. All of what happened today got to me as I began to bawl my eyes out. I'm so cold. So hungry. I'm in so much pain. I continued to cry as I continued to get drenched. I just continued to cry... and cry... and cr-

"HARU!!!"

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a familiar name being called to me. I looked up and saw Nathan and Josh beside me from each side. Josh was the first to speak.

"Haru, you were crying in your sleep. What happened? A nightmare?"

Nathan continued.

"Haru, are you hungry too? Your stomach growled a bit. I can go make you something if you'd like." With that, Nathan got off the bed to leave and make food.

However, I grabbed ahold of his hand and pulled it towards me as I hugged him arm and started to bawl. "Please don't leave me... I'm sorry..."

Josh and Nathan were astonished by my sudden burst of sobs and tears. Nathan got back on the bed and they both hugged me tightly from both sides.

"Haru, we don't know what you had a dream about. And unless you want to talk about it, we won't ask. But we'll never leave you, Haru. You're like a son to us. We could never abandon you. You mean so much to us."

I looked up at the two tigers who were staring down at me.

"Really?" I asked the two tigers as I stared up at them with puffy, red, tearful eyes.

They both gave me a reassuring smile and tightened the hug on me. "Really." They both said at the same time. I smiled from the reassurance as my tears went from sad tears to happy tears. I don't want to tell them the details of my past yet. They already know what my parents were like. But that doesn't matter anymore. They're my guardians now. They're my parents. And even if the people of my world tried to pull me away from them, I wouldn't let them. Neither would they. They're my true parents. And no one is going to tell me otherwise.