I sat next to Melissa and behind Nathan in math class. Both had turned in their test. I hadn't.

My leg jumped up and down and I bit my lip. Maybe I'll just go with the Pick C Method. Have you ever heard of that? When you don't know what the answer is, just pick C. It usually worked in elementary school if I'm remembering correctly.

The next question wasn't multiple choice, which means that I don't have a fourth of a chance to get the answer correct. I really should've studied. I'm most definitely going to fail this one.

"No talking," Mr. Hayes said from his desk. He looked at the two boys, who had stopped whispering to each other. "There are still a few people trying to finish the test."

I glanced around the room and noticed that I was the only one that still had a test on my desk. I put my attention back on it, but sighed and dropped my pencil into my backpack when the bell rang.

Everyone rushed out of the classroom.

"Bye," Melissa and Nathan both said as they exited the room with the rest of the crowd.

I stood and gave my test to the teacher.

"See you later, Cody."

"See ya."

"Hey, Cody. Come on in."

I stepped over the threshold and immediately took a seat on the couch. "You busy?"

"Not at all."

"Do you mind explaining this math to me?"

Mr. Hayes took a seat next to me on the couch. "Sure."

I pulled my book bag off of my back and searched around for a sheet of paper.

"You should probably get more organized."

"I know. I just haven't gotten around to it."

"You didn't pass your math test today."

"I figured that." I set the paper and pencil onto the coffee table. "I didn't have time to study."

"You've been busy, huh?"

"Yeah."

Mr. Hayes took the paper and pencil. "So you have the problem (7+2i)(4+5i). All you do is~what I call~FOIL."

"What's that?"

"First. Outside. Inside. Last. See? You take the first number in each pair of parentheses, which is seven and four. You multiply those together, which is…?"

"28."

"Right. Then you take the outside numbers in each pair of parentheses, which is 7 and 5i. Multiplied together, they make…?"

"35i?"

"Yes. Now you use the inside numbers in each pair of parentheses, which is 2i and 4. And that is…?"

"8i."

"And now the last numbers: 2i and 5i."

"10i²?"

"Correct. So now you have 28+35i+8i+10i². So what should you do next?"

"Combine like terms?"

"So then you add 35i and 8i, which gives you…?"

"43i."

"That's right. And now you have this i², which will always be equal to (-1). So 10 times (-1) is…?"

"(-10)."

"Yes. So now you have 28+43i-10. What can you do now?"

"Subtract 10 from 28."

"And what does that give you?"

"18."

"So what's the answer?"

"18+43i?"

"Right. Do you get it now?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. Try this one for practice." Mr. Hayes wrote down another problem on the piece of paper.

I took it when he handed it to me and started to work out the problem while he watched over my shoulder. I FOILed, then combined like terms. After that, I plugged in (-1) for i² and combined liked terms again.

"You've got it, son."

It made me feel good when he called me that. I can't describe it. I don't know. I've never really had a father-son moment before, so I liked it when he called me son.

"The adoption agency told me that they only had a few more things to do before you could move in with me."

"That's great." I smiled and looked up at him.

"I already have your room ready. You wanna see it?"

"Yeah."

Mr. Hayes led me down a hallway, then opened the last door on the right, which was directly across from his room. He stood in front of the door and motioned me inside.

I went into the room and looked around. There was a twin bed and a TV. A closet was in the corner and a single window was on the other wall.

"Oh, and I got you a surprise. Close your eyes."

I did, then opened them when he told me to. Resting in Mr. Hayes' hands was a brand new acoustic guitar.

I stared at it in awe for a moment before snapping back to reality. "Thanks. A lot. But I can't accept this."

"Sure you can."

"But it's probably very expensive and-"

"It's okay, Cody. We're family now." He smiled.

I did the same back and uneasily took the guitar. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. You can take it with you if you want."

"Okay." I followed the man out of the room.

"You wanna stay for dinner?"

"No, thanks. I really have to get going."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye." I grabbed my backpack and tossed it over my shoulder, then started out the door with the guitar in hand.

I climbed over the balcony and then crossed it and opened the glass door. It's a good thing that I'd dropped the guitar off at my house, or I'd have a lot of trouble doing this.

Melissa, who had been sitting on her bed with her arms crossed, turned to me. "You're late."

"I know. I stopped by Mr. Hayes' house to get help with my homework."

"Well my dad is home today anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter."

"Why didn't he go to work?"

"He switched positions with someone else. But it's just a one-time thing," Melissa quickly added when I started to ask her a question.

I sighed, then thought for a moment. I dropped my book bag, then took her hand and opened the bathroom door, closing and locking it behind me.

"Jackson, what are you doing?"

"We can do it in here."

She just smiled at my need for this and put her lips to mine. I pinned her hands against the wall as I got closer to her, her fingers interlocking with mine. Our tongues danced together as we made out.

After a moment, we both unzipped out pants, then reconnected. I didn't hesitate to enter her. I unbuttoned the three buttons on Melissa's shirt, revealing her black bra. I caressed her breast, then moved my lips to her neck. She lifted her chin so I could have easier access, then she moaned. He hands slid up my butt and into the back of my shirt, trying to lift it up. I removed my hand from her breast and pushed my shirt back down. She knew that I was uncomfortable with that so she didn't try again.

Melissa and I have been having sex for a while, yet we've never seen each other naked before. It's weird. I know. But I'm constantly covered with bruises, and she doesn't know that my father is abusive. But, soon, I'll be living with Mr. Hayes and then I'll be out of my dad's house.

Melissa wrapped her legs around my waist and pushed away from the wall. I spun around and leaned her against the bathroom counter. We knocked several things over, but that didn't stop us. Her hands ruffled through my hair as she guided my head back up so our lips could meet again.

Soon after, we ended up on the floor with Melissa sitting on top of me, a knee on each side as she looked up at the ceiling with her hands clenching my shirt. Both of us were sweating and panting, but we didn't quit. I put an arm around her waist and pulled her down, then rolled on top of her. I slid my hands up her body, but instantly removed them when there was a knock at the door.

"Melissa?" It was her dad. "Are you okay?"

Her eyes went wide with panic as she shoved me off of her and stood, then grabbed her robe from the back of her door while I searched for a place to hide. Melissa eyed me commandingly and waved her hands, telling me to hurry, so I just carefully stepped into the bathtub and slid the curtain closed behind me.

Melissa took a breath before opening the door. "Hey, Dad."

"What was all that noise? I thought you fell."

"Oh, no. I'm fine. I just dropped some things off of the counter," Melissa said as she held her robe closed.

Mr. Wu checked over her shoulder. "I see. What are you doing in here?"

"I'm about to jump into the shower."

The man eyed her suspiciously, then stepped inside and looked around, searching for something out of the ordinary. Melissa tried to act normal. When he came toward the tub, I tried to make my breathing as quiet as possible and I stood as still as I could.

Suddenly, Mr. Wu's hand appeared in the curtain, which made me jump. Soon realizing that he wasn't going to slide the curtain open, I tried to hold in my laughter at my…whatever you call it. I laugh at things like that.

Mr. Wu's hand grabbed one of the knobs and twisted, then his arm disappeared behind the curtain.

I was instantly drenched from head to toe. But I didn't move for fear of making a sound.

"It might take a minute for the water to get hot because you mother just took a shower," the man said.

"Okay," said Melissa.

Mr. Wu exited the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

Melissa pulled the curtain open and turned the shower off, then grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me. I was shivering and freezing. My hair and clothes were dripping. Before I stepped out of the tub, I dried off as best as I could.

After that, we left the bathroom, immediately coming to a halt when we saw Mr. Wu sitting in a chair next to Melissa's bed. The girl opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"Come here." Her father used his pointer finger to wave us over. "Have a seat. We need to talk."

We did, taking a seat next to each other on the bed. I put the towel down under me so I wouldn't get anything wet. Neither of us spoke a word.

"Now I'm not going to tell you that you're too young or that you don't know what love is or anything. I believe that it's your choice to make. I remember what it was like being a teenager. And I'm sure that you know all of the risks of having sex. I hope that you're using protection," Mr. Wu emphasized, looking at me.

I uneasily dropped my gaze to my lap. I mean, this is really weird. I never thought anyone really had this talk with their parents. I never did. And now I'm getting it from Melissa's.

"But I just want you to know that I am really uncomfortable with the two of you doing this."

I glanced over at Melissa, who seemed to be deep in thought.

"Cody, I'm gonna have to inform your father about this."

I let out a short breath as I closed my eyes and dropped my head again. I knew I'd be in big trouble.

"I think it's time for you to go."

I stood and started out the door. "See ya, Melissa. Bye Mr. Wu."

"Bye," they both said in unison, Melissa's voice more quieter.

I knocked on the door.

After a moment, a twenty-two year old man answered. "Hey, CJ." He held the door open wider so I could step inside. "The guys are here."

"Great," I lied.

I'd wanted to talk to Big Jay alone. He was my best friend in the gang and I trusted him the most. I wanted to tell him that I was planning on leaving the gang soon. But I didn't want to say it while the others were here. At least, not yet.

I followed him to the living room and took a seat on the couch next to Elvis. He offered a blunt and I took it, put an end into my mouth, and breathed in.

"So where you been, CJ?" Moe said with a little bit of anger.

I passed the blunt on so it could make it's way around the circle. "Just busy, you know?"

"No, I don't know," he shot back. "Where the f*ck you been?"

"I don't know. I got school. Then, when I get home, I have homework. I told you. Just busy."

"Too busy to hang out with your friends?" Since Moe was the oldest in the gang (twenty-four years), he felt like he was the leader. "Or are you ditching us for those rich b*tches?"

I said nothing, only took another puff of the blunt when it was my turn.

I really hated Moe. But we're all a family, and I'd stick up for him any day. But still, I can't stand him. It always seemed like he was trying to pick fights with me or something.

"What?" Moe said. "You think you're more special than us now that you got your new school and your rich friends and a new family coming? Huh? Answer me!"

I took yet another puff before passing the blunt on to the next person.

Moe jumped up and came toward me. "Answer me, you son of a b*tch!"

I stood, too, prepared for a fight.

Big Jay stepped between us. "That's enough, Moe! Leave him alone!"

Moe's teeth were clenched as only Big Jay's arm separated him from me. He was breathing heavily. After a moment, he back up and took a seat.

You may think that since we're a family and all that we don't fight, but every family does. Well, usually there are only arguments.

"That f*cker p*sses me off~thinking he can come in whenever the f*ck he pleases." Moe was fuming.

"I'm just gonna leave," I said, starting toward the door. "I'll see you guys later."

Moe chuckled furiously. "Say goodbye to CJ, guys. You won't be seeing him for another week or two."

I couldn't help myself when I said, "That's because I actually got a f*cking life, and I'm not just sitting on my *ss or selling drugs to get money like you."

Moe got up so fast that I had no time to move. He shoved me up against the wall and winded his fist back. I didn't even flinch before Big Jay grabbed Moe's arm.

"Leave him alone, man," Big Jay said.

Moe glared at me. "You better watch that wise-*ss mouth of yours. It's gonna get you into a lot of f*cking trouble one day.

I walked down the street alone, my hands in my pockets as I headed home. I hope that I can talk to Big Jay alone soon. I've been trying really hard lately to get kicked out of the gang. But they just don't seem to even have that thought cross their minds.

A pick-up truck came to a stop beside me, but I didn't notice it until the man inside started talking. Maybe it was because of the blunt.

"Get in the truck," my father said, instantly snapping me back to reality.

I did as I was told. Once I got inside, I could smell a strong scent of alcohol. I could tell that he was angry by his tone and facial expression.

"I've been trying to find you for an hour! Where the f*ck have you been?"

"At a friend's."

"Melissa's father called. We're gonna have a long talk when we get home." He took a swallow from his bottle of beer, which was in a brown paper bag. He then set it next to him.

After a moment, I leaned forward to turn on the radio. Dad suddenly punched my shoulder, so I quickly retreated.

Hesitantly, I got out of the truck. My father turned it off and got out after grabbing his beer. He followed me toward the house, shoving me to the floor once we stepped over the threshold. He then slammed the door closed.

I opened my eyes to find myself on the floor. I pushed myself up and immediately felt pain. I forced myself to my feet and glanced out of a window, noticing that it was dark. I walked into my room and slowly laid down on the bed.

Dad was a very smart man. He usually never hit me in the face. Most of the time, he'd punch and kick me where I can be covered with a shirt or pants.

I've been getting abused ever since I was nine. It's definitely gotten worse over the years. But I can handle it. I don't want my father to go to prison.