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The first time Ethan had hit Justin it was in a moment of heated argument about Brian. Afterwards Justin started to see the more violent side of Ethan. Ethan was smart, though. When he would hit Justin he'd make sure not to hit him in the face, but in the arms and chest and ribs. He knew what Justin's friends would do if they ever found out. Justin was too scared to tell anyone, even though he knew Brian would beat the shit out of Ethan. But a part of him felt like he deserved it. That this was his punishment for breaking up with Brian and now he had to live with that choice. He was determined to hide it, to keep it a secret. He knew Brian would flip out if he ever found out but he was scared at what Ethan would do to Brian. Ethan often threatened the safety of his friends. The idea of them being hurt because of him terrified him. He'd rather Ethan take it out on him than them any day of the week.
He had gotten used to the blows. They still hurt but the pain was so constant he didn't feel it as much. And lately he had stopped trying to defend himself. Defending himself, fighting back, only made it worse. Ethan had once gotten carried away and hit him across the cheek, causing a cut to appear on his lower lip from Ethan's ring. Justin had to tell Debbie he had ran into a wall. And that was a little too close.
It really only happened when Ethan was drunk, which was fairly often. And the other times it would happen if Justin dared to mention Brian. Ethan detested, no loathed, just hearing his name. Justin would sometimes forget but Ethan always reminded him. Lately Justin was forgetting less and less. Ethan also didn't like him talking about the gang either. He used them as ways to get Justin to do what he wanted. Justin shuddered when he threatened Debbie's life, as well as Melanie and Lindsay's, and Vic's. Emmett's and Ted's life had also been threatened through a slurred speech. Ethan once mentioned Gus which got Justin to swing back at him. The idea of that sick bastard going anywhere near an innocent child made Justin want to hurl. But that was a mistake. Ethan had twisted his arm so much it almost broke it. Instead his wrist was sprained. He had taken a couple of weeks off work, saying he was sick in order to hide it.
During the next few months Justin became sullen, and even more withdrawn. He kept his head down most of the time and mumbled his responses as if they weren't important. Debbie was really starting to worry.
"Have you noticed anything strange about Sunshine?" She asked as she went to get the gang's orders.
"Who cares about him?" Michael muttered, still furious that Justin picked Ethan over Brian. Furious that Brian had gotten hurt. His mother hit him along the head.
"What the hell was that for?" He cried out.
"Give the kid a fucking break, he's not perfect!" She snapped. "Brian's far from an angel himself and you're always fucking defending him. Yet you won't get Justin the time of day."
Michael cast his eyes to the ground, feeling a wave of shame. His mother had that ability. There was some truth of what she said.
The others looked away, unsure of how to participate.
"I'm really worried about the kid," Debbie added.
"Worried?" Lindsay asked. "What do you mean by worried?"
"He's so withdrawn now-"
"He's probably just afraid to speak to us, "Emmett commented.
"Yeah," Melanie agreed. "Especially after what Michael had said to him."
Michael glared at her.
"No it's more than that," Debbie insisted. "He mumbles his responses to me and never makes eye contact. It's like he's become really shy, but Justin's not shy…I don't know…I just have a feeling this Ethan kid has something to do with it and I don't like it-not one bit."
"You're really worried about him, aren't you?" Ted asked quietly and Debbie nodded.
"I can barely get a word out of him and he flinches whenever I touch him, like I'm about to hit him or something…he's acting…"she bit his lip and Michael straightened up when he saw the look on her face. Even he was beginning to worry.
"He's what, mom?"
"He's acting like some people act in an abusive relationship," she finally finished and the others gasped.
"You…think Ethan's hitting Justin?" Melanie asked sharply.
"I…I don't know," stammered Debbie. "I don't know if it's verbal abuse, or physical, or no abuse…but something's wrong with Sunshine…he never smiles now. And just how scared he acts all the time…"
"If Ethan's abusing Justin…"Lindsay's voice trailed off . "We have to be sure of this, first, Debbie. We can't just go around accusing Ethan like that."
"I agree," Michael said. "But if he is being abused we do have to do something about it before it's too late."
The others looked at him in surprise.
"What? I maybe angry at the kid but I wouldn't wish this on him, I'm not that heartless," Michael retorted and Debbie quickly kissed him on the forehead.
"What was that for?"
"For being you," she sniffed.
He sighed and stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"To talk to Justin, what do you think?"
Michael followed Justin to the alley as Justin took out the garbage. As angry as he was at the kid the idea of someone hurting Justin made Michael sick to his stomach.
Justin turned, looked at him in surprise, and instantly cast his eyes to the ground. Almost as if he was afraid to look at Michael.
"What do you want?" He mumbled.
Michael sighed.
"I just wanted to make sure that…you're okay."
Justin did a double take and looked up before looking back down.
"Why do you give a fuck? Last time you came to me out here you told me to disappear."
Michael flinched at that reminder.
"That was really wrong of me, Justin. I was angry and upset and when people are upset they say irrational things. Things they don't mean…"
"Just back the fuck off okay!" Justin's voice rose. "You got what you wanted, I'm out of the way. Soon I won't be working here and I'm not hurting Brian so just leave me the fuck alone, okay?"
Michael was stunned by Justin's outburst. He was beginning to think Debbie was right, something was seriously wrong with Justin. He grabbed Justin's arm as Justin brushed by him. Justin winced at the touch and twisted it away. As he did the sleeve rolled up and Michael saw bruises on the side of Justin's arms.
He stared at the bruises in shock. Shit, his mom was right about Ethan. His stomach flip flopped. Justin stood, frozen in fear as he realized what Michael saw.
"Justin…"
"P…please don't say anything," begged Justin. It killed Michael to hear how terrified Justin sounded. "Especially to Debbie."
"You know I can't do that. Mom would kill me if I knew and didn't tell anyone. So would Brian." Michael's voice shook. His heart went out to the kid. He decided to take it once step at a time.
"How bad is it?"
Justin shook his head.
"He doesn't mean it," he mumbled. "He just…gets angry sometimes…and drunk. I provoke him."
Michael closed his eyes. Jesus Christ, Justin's trying to DEFEND Ethan now?
"No…Justin he does mean it, Jesus, I can't believe you're actually defending him..I can't let you go back to him-knowing what he's doing to you-"
"DON'T say anything!" Justin's voice rose. "He…you don't know what he's capable of."
Michael stared at him.
"What do you mean, Justin?"
Justin shook his head.
"N…nothing, just don't say anything PLEASE."
Michael was torn at the desperate plea in Justin's voice but he couldn't forget those bruises on Justin's arm..
"How bad is it?" He repeated himself. Justin swallowed.
"It's…not bad," he lied. He was always a terrible liar. Michael grabbed him by the wrist, causing Justin to gasp more out of instinct than anything else. Quickly Michael lifted Justin's shirt and it was his turn to gasp. Purple bruises were across his chest and ribs.
"Jesus fucking Christ," he muttered. Justin tried to twist away, his face flushed.
"Oh my God!" Debbie's voice was in the background. Both turned sharply. Justin's eyes got wide when they saw Debbie standing there, her mouth open.
"Mom!" Michael said quickly. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to check to see if everything is all right, I can tell that it's not…"
Justin's breathing quickened.
"Please…Deb…don't tell Brian…or anyone…"
"The fuck I won't! Michael did you see those bruises?"
"Yeah, I saw mom." Michael's own voice shook.
Debbie had tears rolling down her face. The idea of someone hurting sweet Sunshine like that…it was enough to make her sick to her stomach.
"I'm calling the cops," she said quickly. "I'm calling Carl-"
"Don't!" Justin's voice rose. "Please…don't call anyone…"
"He has to be arrested for domestic violence!"
"The judges won't care!" Justin shot back. "You saw what happened to Hobbes….they'll just let Ethan go and he'll be even more furious than before…"They watched as he shuddered at the thought.
"Well you're not going back to that bastard," Debbie said with a growl.
"Where am I supposed to go?" Justin challenged.
"With me."
"Forget it! If Ethan tried to find me and hurt you or Vic…I'd never forgive myself!"
"He'll stay with me and Ben," Michael decided. "And Emmett… It's just a couch, but it'll do."
Justin swallowed. The thought of leaving Ethan scared the shit out of him but he knew Debbie, especially, wouldn't let him go back. Even if she had to handcuff him.
"I thought you hated me," Justin finally mumbled, and casted his eyes towards the ground. Michael shook his head. He really had been an asshole to Justin and now he felt guilty about it.
"I don't hate you, Justin…I was angry at the idea of Brian being hurt and I was irrational about it…and I'm sorry…I really don't hate you."
"When Michael apologizes he always means it," Debbie added firmly. Justin kept his eyes lowered.
"Justin…"Michael grabbed his arm and Justin flinched and jerked away. It broke both their hearts to see Justin so timid. So shy and scared of everything.
"Justin please…come with me. Leave while you still can."
Justin sniffed as he thought of Ethan hunting him.
"I can't," he whispered.
"You can," Michael assured him softly.
"But what…if he hurts you? Or Ben or Emmett?"
"We can take care of ourselves…Justin."
"What if he goes after the others? Like Mel and Lindsay? To get back at me?"
"Sunshine, you're just making excuses up so you don't have to go. You're terrified of leaving him, I get that," Debbie said quietly, as she tried to control her voice. "But you have to leave now! While you still can. If you went back to him and you were killed…I'd never forgive myself. If you can't leave for yourself…please leave for us. Let US help you. Please."
Justin swallowed and slowly nodded, wanting desperately to escape the clutches of Ethan-but terrified to do so. He slowly walked back in the diner with Debbie and Michael, praying that Ethan wouldn't hunt him down. That he'd be safe, but he sincerely doubted it.
