Chapter 13

Alex POV

"Oh my god, where is he!?" I asked, looking around the room.

"What if his dad came?"

"I don't know..."

"Well maybe he just went to someone's room or something."

"Nick, he wouldn't do that. He's scared."

"Well duh!"

We continued looking around the room. And then I saw some fingers until Jeff's bed. I bent down, and sure enough, Jeff was under his bed.

"Jeff. What are you doing under there?" I asked.

"I just got scared my dad would come, and no one would be here to help me," he whispered.

"Oh. Well come here."

I took his hands in mine, and pulled him out.

"We won't leave you alone, alright? Someone will always be with you. Would that make you feel better?" I asked.

"Yes..."

"Alright. That's what we'll do then..."

The next morning...

Alex POV

Nick and I were letting Jeff sleep in a little bit this morning. It was Sunday, and we weren't doing anything important.

All of a sudden, we heard a scream from Jeff. He sat bolt upright in his bed, and started crying. I ran over to him, and pulled him into a hug.

"M-my b-back!" Jeff screamed.

"What's wrong with your back?" Nick asked, climbing down from the top bunk.

"H-hurts!"

We had Jeff lay down on his stomach, and then we looked at his back. There were bruises on there, but they were mostly faded now.

"Jeff, the only thing on your back is the bruises, and they're mostly gone now," Nick said.

Jeff calmed down, and stopped crying.

"M-maybe I d-dreamed it..." He mumbled.

"Does it still hurt?" I asked.

"Not really..."

"Ok, good. What was your dream about?"

I helped Jeff get settled under his blankets again.

"Um... My dad got my mid marking period report... And he... He took me home... And he started um... he... he hit me a few times..."

Jeff was starting to get all worked up again. I took his hand in mine, and held it tightly.

"Jeff, is your dad abusing you?" Nick asked.

"I deserve it!" Jeff cried.

"Why do you say that?" Nick asked.

"Because I'm a horrible son!"

"Why? What have you done that's so wrong?"

"I don't obey! And I get bad grades!"

"Jeff-"

"Please don't tell him I told you! I'll get in so much trouble! He'll kill me! Please!"

"We won't, Jeff," Nick said.

"Can you please tell us what he does to you?" I asked.

Jeff POV

Flashback

"Worthless! Do you hear me!? Worthless!" My dad yelled, making it echo all around the house.

I'd just gotten home from school. And my dad had gotten a call from the school, saying I was in a fight, and I got beat up. This was one of the few times the bullies had gotten caught. But dad didn't care. He said I should be able to take care of myself, and if I can't, I'm a pathetic excuse for a son. 

I was hiding in my closet right now. I didn't know if dad was going to come up here to punish me or not.

"Jeffrey Simon Sterling! Where are you!?"

My breath caught in my throat. I moved to the very back of my closet, and tried to hide behind a few boxes I had in there.

I heard dad's angry steps coming up the stairs, and down the hall towards my room. I stayed frozen where I was.

I saw the door fly open. My dad spotted me immediately. This was one of the places I would hide, and he knew it.

He grabbed my arm, and ripped me out. He threw me on the floor, and started beating me with his fists.

Alex POV

"Jeff? Hello?" I asked, waving my hand in front of his face.

Jeff was frozen. His eyes were all glazed over, and he wasn't responding to anything.

"I think they call this the thousand yard stare," Nick said.

"What?"

"Thousand yard stare. He's probably having a flashback or something."

Jeff POV

"Please stop! I'll be good! I promise!" I screamed.

I managed to crawl underneath my bed. But dad flipped my bed over, exposing my hiding spot. He grabbed my arm, and yanked me up from the floor. He pulled me over to the stairs, and pushed me. I caught myself before I fell, and quickly went down the stairs. I went to the living room, walking quickly.

"Get down on the ground. 100 push ups. Go."

I got down on the floor, and started. I could barely do 5 without resting. My arms are so weak, especially when they're hurt.

"Keep going!" Dad shouted.

He kicked my side, and I curled up on the floor. 

"Get up!"

I got back into my push up position, and continued. I hadn't eaten since yesterday though, and I was becoming really dizzy.

"Keep going, Jeffrey!"

My arms gave out, and I fell. I received a kick in my head for that. The whole room started spinning. I could barely tell up from down. Everything was a blur.

"Jeff! Jeff! Can you hear me!?"

End of flashback

"Jeff! Can you hear me!?"

I jumped, and fell off my bed, hitting my head on the floor. I pushed my hands to my head, and curled up, trying to make the pain go away.

I started to cry, but I didn't know why. I just felt really upset.

"Aw, Jeff."

I was pulled into someone's arms. I realized it was Alex. And I cried into her shoulder. 

"What happened?" Alex asked.

I didn't answer. I just tried to get closer to her, and feel safer in her arms. I just wanted protection and comfort.

"Aw, Jeff... Please tell me what happened. You zoned out, and then you started shaking."

I inched closer to Alex, and I kept inching closer until I was completely on her lap, clinging to her for dear life. 

"Jeff, it's ok. You're safe," Alex said.

I was trembling inside. Some of the memories were coming back to me. And I was becoming so scared.

I felt more arms around me, and I realized it was probably Nick. 

"Jeff, can you please calm down?" Nick asked.

I laid my head on Alex's shoulder, and just tried to push all the scary thoughts and memories away. I got myself to calm down, but I was still clinging to Alex with a death grip.

Nick picked me up, and put me on my bed. I immediately curled up under the covers.

"Jeff, are you ok?" Alex asked.

I nodded a little.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

I shook my head no really quickly.

"Ok. We'll try again later..."