I sat on the couch of my living room listening to the rain come down outside. It has been pouring all day and well into the night. I watched Daisy, my mother, rush about the house finishing the final touches of her packing.

Me- so…how long is your business trip?

Daisy- well it takes me a week to get there and it's a two week trip.

Me- so…a month…?

Daisy- yes Sam, it's a month. Can I trust you to be home alone that long?

Me- yes…

Daisy- and go to school?

Me- yes mom…

Daisy- how about take out the garbage after I leave?

Me- yes mom I'll do it after you leave.

Daisy- alright, well I'm leaving now. All the stuff is in the car.

She rushes over to me and kisses my forehead and squeezes me close to her. I kiss her back and stand up to walk into the kitchen. I hear her say goodbye, which I return, and then the door close and the car pull out of the driveway and down the street. I sighed lifting the filled bag out of the can and tying it. I grabbed a hoodie out of the closet and zipped it, pulling the hood up and close to my body. I looked out the window at the pouring rain with a feel of irritation deep inside me.

Me- man I'm gonna get soaked…

I picked up the bag, opened the door, and sprinted through my yard to the end of my driveway. I threw the bag into the dumpster and got ready to run back but something caught my eye. There was someone walking down the middle of the sidewalk.

Me- who the hell would be walking out in this weather and this time out of night?

I took a closer look and gasp when I realize I know who it was. It was a girl that goes to my school. I didn't know her personally…but I've seen her walking with her boyfriend down the hall every day. As she approached closer, I realized something was wrong. Not only was she completely soaked…but she was covered in blood and limping badly. I took a few steps closer towards her.

Me- E…Erica?

She raised her head and looked at me at the sound of her name escape my lips. The look on her face was of pure exhaustion. Not only that…but it was covered and bruises…as was the rest of her body. A smile of relief crossed her face before she collapsed onto the sidewalk in front of me. I ran and knelt down beside her, rolling her onto her back. She was unconscious. I slowly lifted her off the ground and carried into the house, being careful not to hit her head on anything. I opened the basement door and walked carefully down the stairs to my bedroom. I didn't bother turning on the light, it would just be more difficult. I slowly set her down on my bed and looked at her for a few minutes.

Me-…what the hell happened to you?

Hours passed and I had Erica all cleaned and bandaged up to the best of my ability. I discovered that she had been cut in several places by what I suspected was the pocket knife she was carrying…they weren't deep cuts to the point she needed stitches but enough to make it dangerous. She also had many more bruises then what was visible at first. Most of them were on her face and under her shirt on her back and stomach.

Me- Erica…

Suddenly, she groaned in pain and sat up quickly and without warning, causing her to scream in agony. I quickly grabbed her shoulders and lowered her back to the bed. A look of pure terror crossed her face when she saw me and she immediately went for the knife…which I just happened to have taken away from her…just in case.

Me- Erica calm down! It's ok! You're safe now!

She looked around desperately and slowly began to relax to the point where she lied back down on the bed. She looked at me with a mix of fear and sadness in her deep brown eyes.

Erica- Sam…?

Me- yeah it's me…at least you don't have amnesia or anything…

Erica- what do you mean?

Me- Erica…what happened to you?

Erica- nothing…

I glared at her which caused her to draw back cowardly in fear. I quickly softened my gaze.

Me- Erica it's ok…you can tell me.

She looked down and stayed silent. I waited for almost half a minute before I stood up. She flinched at the sudden movement. I gave her a reassuring look that she was safe.

Me- I understand…you don't want to talk about it yet. Listen…you need to stay here for awhile ok? I don't want you going anywhere until you can at least stand without hurting yourself. Understand?

She nodded obediently. I looked at her for a few seconds the walked over to the stairs.

Me- I'm going to go make hot chocolate…would you like a cup?

She nodded silently, still yet to look at me. I sighed and walked up the stairs and into the kitchen. I opened the pantry and took out the box of hot chocolate mix and emptied it…two bags left. I smiled to myself.

Me- perfect.

I prepared the hot chocolate and put it in the microwave. Right as I started the timer, the doorbell rang. Suddenly, I remembered I had a small party planned tonight.

Me- shit!

I walked through the living room and opened the front door to see three boys with huge grins on their faces. They were soaking wet. The tallest one, Matt, walked through the door first, shaking his hair dry like a wet dog. The middle-sized one, Jake, laughed as the shorter one, Shaun, pushed him aside.

Shaun- so you ready for the party, Sammy-Boy?

Me- um…actually guys…something came up.

Jake- are you kidding? We just walked halfway across town!

Me- why didn't you drive?

Matt- the car broke down and my parents are out of town.

Me- oh…

Shaun- so what came up that's more important than a party with your best buds?

I sighed looking at them. I knew it would be pointless to lie about what was going on. I cleared my throat and began in a serious tone.

Me- listen…there is someone downstairs—

Jake- who?

Me- will you shut up and let me finish!

Jake- sorry…

Me- ok please, please, PLEASE listen to me when I say be very careful around her—

Jake- HER?

I glared at him and his mouth snapped shut.

Me- yes…her…it's a girl from school. Something happened to her…I don't know what but you have to be careful…she scares easily.

Matt- um…ok…?

Me- just do it ok?

Jake- ok, ok…calm down, man…jeez.

Me- c'mon…

I led them through the living room and the kitchen. I opened the basement door slightly then stopped.

Shaun- what?

Me- nothing…

I opened the door and led them downstairs, being careful not to spill the hot chocolate I barely remembered to grab out of the microwave. I stopped halfway down the stairs.

Me- stay here.

Shaun- why?

Me- just do it…

Shaun- ok, ok.

I went down the rest of way by myself. I set the two glasses on a table and slowly approached my bed.