7-SPEWING THE TRUTH

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The truth was eating her alive. It clawed and chewed at her insides, just fighting its way out of her. How could she possible keep such a secret to herself? She knew that Peeta's father was physically abusing him and his mother. Nova needed to tell someone, to tell anyone. There was no way that she could keep such a thing to herself. The blonde was conflicted. She didn't want to break the trust and promise that Peeta had established with her, but she also couldn't let his father keep hurting him.

Nova loved Peeta; whatever way, she wanted to help him escape his abusive father. Nova couldn't stand the fact that she had to watch countless bruises, cuts, and scars appear on his body. She hated hearing him having to lie numerous times about how he got the injuries. They went from falling to getting beat up-the beating up part was partially true, but instead of older kids, it was his own father. His own flesh of blood, his family. Nova didn't know how a parent could take their anger and aggression on their child.

Who in their right mind who put their hands on their own child like that? A man who was a drunk and a deadbeat. A man who was a downright coward and a selfish abuser.

Nova Mae tucked on the ends of her cotton shirt, as she shifted her weight from foot to foot, waiting for her father to be done in the kitchen. She needed to tell someone, she had to tell somebody. Someone she trusted, and that was her father.

"Is something wrong, No?" Her father asked, as she smiled lightly at the nickname, 'No'.

That was her nickname since she was a toddler. The bushy-haired blonde had earned that nickname with the countless times her father would have to tell her no, when she asked for a sweet. It had seemed to turn into a nickname that had been used for years.

Nova stood in silence, before her father knelt down to her level. "Is it your mother?" Her father trailed off, looking into her fearful eyes.

Nova shook her head no. "It's about Peeta," her soft voice coarsely spoke.

"What about him?"

Nova was fighting an inner battle with herself. "His father-his father abuses him," the blonde blurted out.

Her father stared at her in shook, till he suddenly stood up.

"Nova, stay here. And don't come out till I tell you, alright?" Her father sternly told her, as she nodded quickly.

Her father walked out the front door, as Nova flinch at the sound of the door slamming shut. She looked out the window, as she watched her father bang on the Mellark's household. A fumbling, drunken man had stumbled to the porch. Nova's father instantly punched her best friend's father, as the drunken man fell to the ground. The fight of the two fathers had begun. Peeta and his mother had came out of the house, as they tried to break up the fight. The town had came out to watch. The fight was soon broken up by Peacekeepers.

Peeta had glanced through the window, seeing Nova watching from the distance. She caught the disappointed glance of her best friend, the guilt was engraved into her.

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The next day, Peeta had dragged Nova to the side, before their school day. He glared at her, his eyes beating into her conscience.

"How could you?" He demanded, his tone making her flinch.

"I'm sorry...Peeta, I couldn't just not tell anyone. Your dad was beating you," she tried to explain.

"No! I trusted you with my secret, and you broke your promise. You promised me you wouldn't say anything! That was my secret to tell, not yours!" Peeta yelled and hollered. Tears started to form from Nova's tear ducks. She felt so hurt and broken.

Never in her life, had she had someone yell at her so loud. The blonde knew it wasn't her place to tell, but she needed to spew out the truth. Her best friend was getting hurt and she couldn't let that continue on. She at least needed to notify someone.

Nova never seen Peeta so angry and hurt before. She wondered if he would ever was going to forgive her, for her betrayal. Nova could only hope that he would sometime soon.

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