CHAPTER 3

It felt like eons when I regained consciousness. I was tired and hungry. I faintly remembered a woman's face before I passed out.

I felt sore as I tried to sit up. I was in a room. A familiar room.

Isaiah's guestroom

The door suddenly opened and Monique emerged. She smiled immediately she saw that I was awake. She walked over to me and combed my hair wuth her fingers

"Are you alright?" she asked with an uncertain smile on her face.

I only nodded and turned to my left where I found a mirror. My face lookes terrible. I had a black eye and a busted lip with a few bandages over possible cuts and scratches.

"I'm sorry" I have no idea why I'm apologising.

"Don't say that, Isaiah didn't tell me where you were and you probably just ended up in a bad situation, it wasn't your fault" she said staring straight into my eyes.

I was about to speak but my tummy spoke for me

"I'll get you something to eat" she whispered and kissed my forehead before slowly leaving the room.

I stared at my hideousness for a while raising my hand to feel and then wincing afterwards. Monique eventually came back with a tray of food.

"Eat up hun" she said putting the tray on my lap before leaving.

I looked down at the food for a while before eventually digging in. I moaned at the deliciousness and chewed slowly savouring the amazing taste.

.........

It's been a few hours and I just heard Isaiah yell 'I'm home'. I lay on my bed with the sheets covering up to my chest.

Immediately the door opened, I threw the sheets over my head. I couldn't stand how ugly I might seem to Isaiah, that is if he was the one entering.

"Keith?" he called out but I stayed silent under the soft linen.

"I found him being beaten up in an alley by some kids" Monique said to him and I heard footsteps. Someone was coming closer.

I moved the sheets away from my face after a few silent seconds and I found his hand almost touching my shoulder. I stared at him but not in an obvious don't-touch-me-you-fucker kind of way.

He withdrew his hand before turning to his wife silently.

"He can stay" she said and I didn't see Isaiah's expression because he was back turned but I saw him nod making Monique smile.

"Your stuff are right by the bed" she whispered before dragging Isaiah out of the room and closing the door behind.

..........

I couldn't stand staying in that room and doing nothing so took out my phone and just stared at Dex's call profile.

I was about to let out a few tears but I didn't want anyone walking in on me crying. I thought about calling but I'm positively sure that he blocked my number.

I still decided to call though. Surprisingly, it rang but no answer. I called again and no answer. I just threw my phone aside and laid on my bed waiting for sleep to take me away.

DEX

I woke up to the sound of gentle knocking on my door. I looked at my phone, I had two missed calls but I didn't really care. It was about five in the morning.

I just lifted from the bed with a slight groan as I headed slowly for the door. I opened it and there stood Natalie holding her stuffed puppy, Spot.

"Natie what's wrong?" I carried her in my arms and he sniffled a bit before speaking.

"I had a nightmare" she said in the cutest way possible. I smiled at her before closing the door.

I took her to my bed and sat her down against a pillow as he held Spot close.

"Why didn't you go to mom and dad's room, it's closer, you had to walk all the way here" I said yawning afterwards.

"I'm a big girl, I don't need mommy or daddy" she said hugging her toy tighter.

"Oh I see" I chuckled and she smiled.

"So you want to sleep with your older brother?" I asked and she hesitated.

"Don't worry, I won't tell mom or dad so they don't think that you're a little kid" I said and she grinned and nodded vigorously.

"Now let's sleep" I said to her and we laid next to each other talking about cartoons till we both fell asleep.

.......

I made sure to put her back in her room early so mom and dad don't find out. I went back to bed and carried on with my sleep.

........

I step out of my bathroom nice and clean. The first thing I do is check on my phone. I had two missed calls from

Keith?

I honestly never had the courage to delete or block his number. I just felt like it wasn't his fault in a way and that there was a rational explanation

"Dex, someone's here for you!" my mom screechy voice startled me out of my thought.

"Be down in a minute!" I yelled back before setting my phone on airplane mode incase he decided to call again, I wouldn't be able to resist a call from my bestfriend.

I jog down the stairs and I'm met with the familiar raven black hair.

"What are you doing here?"