6-BRUISED ON THE OUTSIDE

➳➳➳➳

Her body was rigid. It was stiff as cardboard, cold as ice. She felt miserable. Miserable enough to stay in her small, worn out bed. It had been a week since Nova's mother was murdered right in front of her eyes. The haunting images still lay in her mind, forever engraved in her brain-scarring her for life. Nova was indeed bruised inside, internally, mentally. The young girl will forever be known as the girl that killed her mother. The talk of the District 12 was Nova had killed her own mother by starting the so called revolution. Which was completely gossip and rumors. It didn't matter if Nova shot her mother or stood and watched it happened, because to her home, she did it.

Nova hadn't spoken to anyone, including her father. Peeta had looked through his bedroom window, waiting to see if his best friend would reveal herself, but she never did. He felt discouraged, wondering if the blonde would ever show herself again. He heard the rumors around town, and in school. A couple of times throughout the week, he would start shouting at anyone who would insult Nova. Peeta was never one to be the center of attention-he was shy, quiet, the boy who sat in the back of the class. It was out of his character to defend Nova like that, but he loved her.

He loved her girlish smile, and how her eyes lit up every time she saw him. It made his stomach turn with warmth, like he was walking on cloud 9. His world was Nova; she was his best friend, and so much more words can't describe.

When Peeta couldn't handle the anticipation of waiting for Nova, he took matters into his own hands, and was going to see her for himself. He wanted to give her some space, to let her grieve and morn, but he missed her. He missed her icy blue eyes, that made him smile.

Peeta started towards the front door, when his father called him. The young boy gulped, as he slowly turned to face him. The man stood at 6 feet tall, and had dark brunette colored hair, with a slight stubble. He had a bottle of whiskey in his hands, as his pupils were dilated, and he had a revolting smell to him.

"Where the hell are you going, Peeta?" His father slurred.

Peeta took in a sharp breath. "To Nova's," his voice was small and timid.

His father narrowed his eyes at him, slamming the front door shut. The noise of the door slamming caused the young boy to flinch. "You're not going anywhere. That Nova bitch is a bad influence. I forbid you to see her!" His father yelled, his words still slurred.

Peeta quivered with fear. "B-But she's my best f-friend," he stammered.

"Not anymore," the man grumbled, as he flung his hand back, stinging his own son in the face. Peeta cowardly whimpered, as he felt his father had stung him countless times. He felt his body shake as he cried, and throb. Peeta was left alone on his wooden floor, curled in a ball as he sobbed quietly. His body was covered with scars, cuts, and bruises. Blood had covered his wounds, as no one was coming to safe him.

From his blurred vision, he saw his mother giving him a sympathetic glance, as she cowardly skimmed away. His mother was frighten of her own husband, as was Peeta to his own father. His father would beat him and his wife. There was no one to run off too. Peeta's father was the beloved baker of District 12-everybody loved him, except his own family.

Peeta hissed when he struggled to get up. He reached up for the doorknob, turning it, as the door opened. The boy limped across the street, over to Nova's house. He wasted no time to knock frantically on the cream colored door. A startled Nova Mae answered the door, as she gasped in horror. The blonde let him in, as Peeta struggled to walk, he collapsed onto the carpeted floor, his injuries failing to keep him going.

Nova had began to tend to his wounds. Before her mother died, she had taught the young girl how to do first aid. In times like this, that skill came in handy.

Peeta had lay flat on Nova's bed, as she lay beside him.

"Peeta, what happened?" She trailed off. The question had been at the tip of her tongue for awhile now.

Peeta finally sighed. "My father hits me." The boy felt strange saying the sentence, he never had said it out loud before, and certainly not in front of someone. "He beats me and my mother constantly. He's drunk half the time, so I know he doesn't mean it. He's just sick."

Nova stared at him, her eyes glossing over with tears. She couldn't imagine her own father beating her. Her father was so loving, and kind. She couldn't believe what goes on behind closed doors. "Peeta..." she drifted off. "We need to tell someone."

"No!" Peeta barked, causing the girl to back away. His eyes soften. "Nobody can know."

"Promise me you won't say anything-to anybody."

"Promise," Nova said, as her fingers were crossed behind her back.

➳➳➳➳