Kate had been spending more and more time at James' house since Wayne moved in. Some nights, she just couldn't take the sound of her mother being beaten by that loathsome bastard. She especially hated when he would practically rape her mother, yet her mother still said that she loved him and that he just had a bad temper. 'Bull Shit.' Kate would say to herself. She went by Kate nowadays; it seemed more sophisticated than 'Katie'. James had started having his teachers refer to him as Sawyer; even she called him that sometimes. She had to admit, the name just kind of fit. She was 13 now, almost 14, and he almost 16. Their birthdays were only a week apart, his before hers. One night, Wayne came home more smashed than ever before and started screaming and kicking her mother around and smashing her into walls more harshly than ever. Kate wanted to stay and help her mother, but she had to get out. She decided to call an ambulance, but it wasn't safe here, so she took some food from the kitchen, putting it in her backpack and a change of clothes and headed out. She wandered outside for a while before deciding to go to James' house. She knew that it was too late to knock on the door, so she climbed up the tree next to his window and skillfully opened it, crawling in. She'd done this many times before.

"I was wonderin' when you'd show up." She heard his southern voice. It was funny that he had developed an accent, but she hadn't. He sat up, rubbing his eyes. "How bad is it?" He asked her gently.

"C-can I use your phone… I need to call an ambulance." Her voice cracked as she tried to keep back her sobs. He got up and walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her like he'd done some many times in the past. She wrapped her arms around his waist and cried into his t-shirt. He rubbed her back comfortingly. When she quieted down, he motioned for her to sit down on his bed. She did and waited as he went and got the phone quietly.

"Here." He handed it to her. She silently took it, as she had so many times before. Wayne was such an idiot for never being able to figure out who had called them. She couldn't believe he'd never suspected her. And if he ever had, he forgot about it in the morning. When she finished giving information to the paramedics, she fell back onto the bed, closing her eyes and sighing heavily. James sat next to her, thinking about what to say.

"You ok, Katie?" She smiled slightly at him calling her Katie. She opened her eyes and looked at him, nodding.

"I hate that son of a bitch, James. I really do. Sometimes I just… I just want to blow him up!" She rolled over so her back was to him. She sniffled, and he could tell she was crying. Since she was lying on his pillow, he grabbed another one out of his hall closet and crawled into bed next to her. She turned around and looked at him gratefully. Lying with someone else always made her feel better, especially if it was her best friend.

"It'll be ok, Kate. You'll see. Let's get some sleep." He turned around so his back was facing her back and pulled the blanket up over them.

"Goodnight, Sawyer. And… thanks." She called him by his nickname. He smiled slightly before drifting off to sleep.

"Ok, now put it in Drive."

"Ok…"

"Ahh! No that's reverse! Take your foot off the acceleration girl!"

"Sorry! Jeez it's not like I killed anyone…"

"Not yet, but you're gonna if you keep drivin' like that!" Sawyer was teaching Kate how to drive, and so far… it wasn't going to well. She'd destroyed 3 flower pots, run over 2 rose bushes, almost hit a cow, run into Sawyer's barn, and a tree.

"Thank god this is just my old truck. There's no way in hell I'm lettin' you near my car." He said, playfully, although he meant it. She rolled her eyes, taking the keys out.

"I'm never going to get my license with you teaching me."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You think I'm a bad driver… You should see yourself, Mr. Road-hog-speed-demon."

"Oh so that's how you wanna play now?" He grinned at her slyly. She knew exactly what he was going to do.

"Ahh! No Sawyer! Don't you dare!!" She jumped out of the car running away as fast as she could.

"You know I'm gonna catch up with you!" He shouted after her, speeding up and quickly catching up to her. She screamed as he grabbed her and began tickling her.

"NO! STOP!" She could barely breath she was laughing so hard. "OK OK! YOU'RE A GOOD DRIVER! YOU'RE A GOOD DRIVER!" He stopped and let her up.

"You know what I just realized… You have a butt-load of freckles on your face." She rolled her eyes at him again. "I think I'm gonna refer to you as 'Freckles' from now on."

"That sounds kind of like a dog name."

"No… Spot sounds like a dog name." She sighed, shaking her head.

"I'll get you back for tickling me… you just wait…" It was his turn to roll his eyes.

"Yeah… sure you will… and monkeys fly out my butt." She laughed. Her stomach growled.

"Can we have lunch now?" He sighed dramatically at her request.

"Fine… You're so demanding, Kate."

"Well duh… It is my 16th birthday after all… Aren't I supposed to be demanding?" He motioned her to go inside when they reached his house.

"Whatever you say, Freckles." He said, calling her by her new nickname. "By the way… There's a worm in your hair."

Ok, chapter 2 done )

I have so much planned for this

I can't wait to write the next chapter because it has to do with…

Oh I won't give it away, because I'm evil like that.

REVIEW IF YOU WANT ME TO UPDATE P