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Right now she hated her best friend, why did he have to bring up her mother, JJ hated Sandy. It had been a year since she left and JJ remembered it like it was yesterday.

Flashback.

Will, Beth, Cassie, and JJ all went to Will's house after school; this wasn't unusual their mom's had grown up together. Will and Beth were a year older then JJ and Cassie was four years younger than JJ. When they walked in JJ felt that something was wrong.

"Beth could you please take Cass upstairs?" Erin LaMontagne asked as she walked into the room.

"Sure Mom, come on Cassie." She replied, looking at Will and JJ before heading up the stairs with Cassie following.

"Something wrong Mom?" Will asked.

"Sandy would like to Jen and we both thought you should be with her."

"Why? Is something wrong with my mom?" JJ asked worried.

"Jen" Sandy as she walked out of the kitchen.

JJ and Will were both surprised by her appearance; she had two black eyes, a busted lip and her hair was a mess.

"Mom what happen?" as she run to her mom.

"Jen I am okay." She whispered as she hugged her oldest daughter.

"Did you get in an accident?"

"No, I need you to listen to me carefully." Sandy told her as she led her to the couch.

"You and Cassie are going to stay here for a little while with Erin. I need you to help with Cass."

"Okay. Where are you and Dad going?"

"Dad is on the road for two weeks."

"When did he leave?"

"This morning."

"Does he know that you hurt?"

Sandy looked up at Erin, who nodded her head yes.

"Yes, we had a fight after you and Cassie left for school."

"He did that?" Will asked.

JJ looked from Will to her mom.

"Yes, he was upset and things, well they just got out of control."

"Where are you going?"

"I am going to get help and then come back and get you and Cassie."

"Before he gets back?"

"I hope, Jen he won't hurt either of you; he adores both of you."

"I want to go with you." As she was crying.

"Right now you can't but I promise I will be back to get you and your sister."

"Why not?"

"I have to get help and a place for us to live. You both need to be in school and Erin is right down the road."

"How long?"

"I am hoping no more than 6 months. I love you so much."

Sandy left after talking to Cassie, Erin had taken her to the bus station. JJ and Cassie had stayed at Will and Beth's for a month before their dad, Jake had insisted that they come home and because Sandy left without pressing charges Erin didn't have a choice but let them go.

/

"He won't hurt you." JJ thought to herself as she walked on the field for practice..

JJ had only done one thing her mother asked, she had taken care of Cassie. JJ swore to protect her sister unlike her mother who had still not come back or even contacted the girls. After school Cassie came to the soccer field, usually with Will or one of her other friends, while JJ practiced. On the nights she had games JJ had arranged for Cassie to go home with one of friends.

"Didn't plan on seeing you here." Will as he and Cassie sat down next to his stepfather and the new Principal.

"Thought I should check out the team. Cassie it's good to see you again." David told them.

"You too." She replied in a whisper.

Unlike JJ, Cassie was quiet and kept to herself, she also had light brown hair and dark eyes most people didn't even know she was JJ's sister until they found out her last name.

"So you wanted to check out the team." Will, questioning his stepfather.

"Maybe just a certain player."

"You didn't believe her."

"No, I don't think any of you did."

Will looked at Cassie he thought maybe she would tell him if anything happened to JJ this morning.

"Hey Cass, did Jay and your dad have a fight today or last night?"

"No why?" as she looked up from her book.

"I was just wondering, she looked upset earlier." Will told her.

"It's been a year today since mom left." She informed them.

"Was Jen upset?" Dave asked.

"Yes, so was daddy but she didn't say the safe word." Cassie replied, but she was watching JJ on the field.

"What's the safe word?" Will

"I'm not supposed to tell."

Will glanced up at Dave.

"What happens if she say's the safe word?" Dave

"I leave the house and go to your house but she's never said it." Cassie turning to look at them.

Practice was over and Cassie really didn't want to go home.

"Cass did Jay have a black eye this morning?" Will

"Really you are asking her about me." JJ standing behind the two men.

"I'm worried." Will admitted.

"And I told you not be. We are just fine!" she yelled at him.

"Jen" Cassie looking at her sister.

"Come on we need to get home." JJ as she grabbed her bag.

"How about the two of you come over for dinner? I know Erin would love to see both of you." Dave suggested.

"No thanks you." JJ as she helped Cassie with her bag.

Will and Dave watched the two girls walk away.

/

"What do we do?" Will as he turned to look at Dave.

"We keep an eye on both of them. Unfortunately until she says something there's not a lot we can do."

"You didn't see their mom."

"I know but Jen is smart. She has a safe word for Cassie and probably a plan to escape for herself. Right now we can't prove anything."

"I hate this."

"Will, I know but now she needs a friend."

"If something bad happens to them I'll never forgive myself."

"Son, I know."

/

JJ and Cassie walked the long way home, JJ didn't want to walk past Will's house; Cassie finally broke the silence between them.

"Jen why are you mad at Will?" she asked.

"Because he thinks he knows everything."

"Is that why we couldn't go to their house for dinner?"

"No, I didn't want to see his mom and dad is home."

"Why don't you want to see Erin?" Cassie asked confused.

"She will only want to talk about mom and I don't want to talk or think about her."

"I still miss her, she might come back."

"Cassie, I don't think she is but I hope for you she does." JJ admitted.

"You need her too. Why didn't you say the safe word?"

"Cass, you didn't tell Will or David about dad hitting me this morning did you?"

"No and you didn't answer me."

"I didn't say because I was okay and I won't say it if I can handle it."

"Why not?"

"I'm afraid that they will split us up and I won't let that happen. I don't have enough money saved up yet, promise me you will never tell."

"I promise."

JJ could tell Cassie was worried but she only needed another month or two and she would have enough money saved up from doing other kids homework. She could handle anything her dad did until then and hopefully he would be gone most of that time.