Hello everybody, I have to admit you all made me a little sad. I didn't get a single review for this story. Luckily someone did favorite it so it is because of them that I am continuing. That and I like this story. Please remember I own nothing and pretty please leave me a review.

Chapter 2

Phoebes POV…

The next day I woke up feeling like I had been strangled. It didn't take me long to remember that I nearly had been the night before. Like I knew I would I had bruises all over. They were on my face, on my neck, on my shoulders, and they covered my arms so bad my skin looked black. Laying there in bed at that moment I remembered the night before and at first all I could remember was the beating my daddy had given me. But then I remembered Jerome, my new friend. The thought that I had a friend now made me feel happy for just a moment, but then a thought entered my mind. What if I dreamed it all? What if Jerome was just something out of my imagination and I signed then because that meant I was still all alone. So all that day I stayed in bed wearing the same clothes as the day before feeling miserable. The last thing I wanted to do was make my daddy or my uncles mad I was already bruised enough, so it was best just to hide myself away. That way they wouldn't notice me and if they didn't notice me they wouldn't hurt me. And at that moment that was all I wanted.

"We're leaving," called one of my uncles probably to me though he could have just been talking to himself. I was glad when I heard those words, but I still didn't move. There wasn't a reason for me to. I thought Jerome just a figment of my imagination I thought I had no friends. I saw no reason for that day to be different from any of the others I could remember. But then I heard a knock at our door. I didn't really want to answer it, but I did anyway watching as it swung open to reveal someone with the biggest smile standing on the other side. A smile instantly found its way onto my face too.

Jerome, the boy I thought my mind had created, stood there on the other side that smile I remembered plastered across his face. Like me he was wearing the same thing as the day before only he didn't look nearly as crumpled as I did. He just stood there at first just smiling that smile in my direction. And it was then that I was so happy because now I knew he wasn't a dream; he was real.

"Hi Phoebe," smiled Jerome finally speaking his eyes shining as he looked at me giving me a wave that I quickly returned.

"Jerome, you're really here," I exclaimed leaning against the doorframe.

"Yeah…didn't you believe me when I said I'd come find you? We're friends now, remember," explained Jerome pretending to be hurt that I hadn't expected him to show. I was about to apologize to him and explain how I thought I dreamed him up, but he never let me speak. Instead before I knew it he was speaking to me again drawing all my attention immediately.

"So…do you want to come hang out with me? We could walk around, or talk…something like that," whispered Jerome looking at the ground now as if afraid I would say no. He didn't have any reason to be afraid the last thing I was going to do at that point was say no. In fact he had just made my day.

"Yes I'd love that…just let me get ready real quick," I said my words coming out in a rush making him smile; it was clear just how excited I was at the idea. I left him standing there just outside the door as I ran out of sight running my fingers through my hair to smooth it out before attempting to smooth the wrinkles from my clothes before searching for my shoes. I quickly found them tying the laces hurriedly before running to return to Jerome.

"Let's go," I called excitedly joining him outside the trailer. I closed the door with a slam not even bothering to lock it before leaving out of sight with Jerome. And for the first time in my life I didn't care if I got in trouble later. We didn't do much at first. We just walked around the grounds of the circus both of us had our hands in our pockets refusing to look at each other. I was waiting for him to say something and I didn't know it then, but he was waiting for me to say something. Things were very awkward between us that first day.

Part of me was afraid he would ask about the bruises that covered me, but he didn't. I could feel his eyes on me when he would glance at me from time to time looking at the bruises, but he never said a word. It was like he knew better. But then he finally broke the silence.

"So Phoebes…what do you want to do," asked Jerome pushing his hands farther into his pockets his feet kicking at the dirt as he walked.

" I don't know…you know for a circus there isn't much to do around here," I shrugged telling a joke to break the tension between us making him laugh the beginnings of what I didn't know would someday scare the hell out of an entire city. But that laugh would never scare me. Unlike everybody else that laugh could always bring a smile to my face. It was so carefree, so happy, and it would always be one of my favorite things about Jerome. I could make him laugh even then.

"I know, let's go climb those big rocks just outside camp. When we get to the top we can finish asking each other questions," suggested Jerome his entire body filling with excitement at the idea making me feel the same excitement just watching him. He was so full of excitement, so full of energy, and it all made me smile at him. I instantly wanted to do what he suggested even though I had never left camp before and had no idea what he was talking about.

"Sure Jerome we could do that I've never seen these rocks before. I've never left camp before," I explained watching as he stopped jumping around in excitement staring straight at me. The look he gave me could only be described as a "really "look his eyebrows rising. We just stood there and then suddenly he seemed to get his energy back. His grin quickly returned and returning to my side I wasn't sure what to expect of him next. He quickly took my hand. That was the first time he would ever do so and even then it felt right to hold hands with him.

"Well Phoebes you're leaving camp today. We're gonna go climb those rocks," explained Jerome acting as if he was explaining an important fact to me as he started leading me by the hand through camp. I had no idea where he was taking me, but I couldn't care less. Even though I had known Jerome for less than a day something deep inside me told me I could trust him. And until then I had trusted nobody. Jerome was much faster than me. I practically had to run to keep up with him and a couple of times as he led me in this direction and that direction I nearly fell.

I was just barely managing and was about to ask him to slow down when suddenly he stopped. Pulling me from behind him, I stood at Jerome's side now staring at the amazing sight he had brought me to see. It was just a simple stack of rocks, really big rocks, but as we stared up at the top it looked really cool. I had never seen anything like it before. Each boulder appeared to be perfectly polished stacked one atop the other. I wasn't sure how many rocks there were, but the sheer beauty of it took my breath away. It was as I was admiring the sight that I caught Jerome watching me. Looking at him finally I had a smile on my face nearly as big as his own. We looked into each other's eyes and I knew he could see my amazement at the pretty sight. In that moment I was so happy he had brought me there to see that.

"It's not much, but I think it's neat," whispered Jerome taking a step forward.

I nodded my agreement his hand still gripping mine as he tugged me forward towards the rocks.

"What now?" I exclaimed my voice shaking as he led me closer to the rocks. I couldn't take my eyes off the rocks then as fear suddenly gripped my whole body. But then I looked at Jerome, something told me deep down inside that he wouldn't let anything happen to me. Something told me I was safe with him. But still my eyes roamed between him and the rocks unsure of what would happen next. Jerome shook his head at me when I asked my question still tugging me forward.

"Weren't you listening Phoebes I told you we're going to climb up to the top. Then when we get there we can pick up our question game," explained Jerome the tone of his voice sounding annoyed. As he spoke he suddenly stopped letting go of my hand for the first time that day beginning his climb up the first rock. When he looked down at me I knew he expected me to follow him, but in that moment I wasn't sure if I could.

" Come on Phoebes, your turn," said Jerome encouragingly extending both his hands down to me ready to help me up to his side again his eyes locking with mine as I left him waiting there for the longest time.

"I don't know Jerome…I'm scared. What if we fall?" I stammered looking at him for a long time before moving my eyes up the length of the rocks to the very top. This made him laugh drawing my attention immediately back to him as he continued to wait on me patiently.

"We won't," said Jerome simply waiting for me to take his hands still. But still his hands remained empty as I stared at the top once more. I trusted Jerome, but despite that I was still scared I just couldn't help it. And in that moment I wished that I could be as fearless as he appeared to be.

"What if we do?" I repeated my voice shaking.

"Phoebes trust me…we won't fall. I've done this before and I promise we won't fall. I won't let us fall we'll be okay," smiled Jerome the look in his eyes pleading with me to trust him. I looked at him hesitating still seeing as he silently begged for me to take his hands so he could help me up.

" Alright, but you better not let us fall," I exclaimed finally looking into his eyes still as I took his hands letting him help me up so I stood close by his side.

"Don't worry Phoebes I got you. We'll be at the top before you know it," whispered Jerome that smile as wide as ever on his face. He turned away from me then beginning to climb the next rock without a word.

"Jerome I'm scared," I whispered as he helped pull me up next to him once again both of us looking down at the ground. He didn't say anything in response just kept climbing pulling me up after him each time. That was how the climb worked and as time passed I wasn't scared anymore. I knew Jerome had spoken the truth he would not let us fall.

Jerome kept me close to his side the entire time. He held my hands tightly in his each time he pulled me up. My fear disappeared because of that because slowly I realized he had me. He wasn't going to let anything happen to me as long as he was by my side. And then we were finally at the top.

"So…was it worth the climb," smiled Jerome referring to the view at the top when we reached it. And in that moment I didn't know what to say. All I could do was nod in answer because it was amazing. I mean in all actuality we weren't up that high, but it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. We could see everything almost, the circus grounds, the trees just beyond, and my fear then was gone completely replaced with complete amazement. Jerome still held my hand, I felt as he gave it a squeeze tugging me to sit Indian style on the ground.

Jerome's POV…

Sitting there with Phoebe I couldn't remember ever feeling so at ease with someone before. We were kindred spirits going through the same abuse each day, both of us finding a way to live through it. I had never met anyone quite like her before. We were a lot alike, we both had to deal with our parents, but where it had made me strong it had made her hide herself away. It was something I hoped to change. I could see there was a strong person inside her just waiting to be unleashed and I wanted to do that for her. The same bruises that covered her covered me. My mother gave them to me all the time, but the difference being I knew how to cover them better. Seeing them made me mad even back then when we were just barely friends, but they did because I didn't like the idea of anyone hurting her. I didn't understand it then, I didn't know why I should care, but even at five I did. And looking at her I was glad she was my friend now.

I didn't mind being alone all the time, but I didn't like it. But now that she was my friend I wouldn't have to be alone if I didn't want to be. For a long time that first day we just sat there in silence, but then she broke it.

"I thought we were gonna talk," said Phoebe simply a curious look in her eyes that I couldn't help, but smile at.

"Then talk," I laughed placing my elbows on my knees to rest my head in my hands never looking away from her.

"Okay," she laughed and god if I didn't love her laugh it was like a bunch of tiny bells ringing.

"Um…Jerome…do you like living with the circus?" asked Phoebe her laughter stopping then her tone making it seem like she was asking such a serious question. She copied my movements then her elbows finding purchase on her knees her head in her hands as she stared at me with her big blue eyes. Her question surprised me; no one had ever asked me that before though until I met Phoebe no one really talked to me let alone asked me questions.

"I don't really have much of a choice," I answered looking at her. At the time that was the only real answer I could think to give because that was the truth. I was five years old, I had no one else, but my mother. She was a circus performer, though I never actually saw her perform during the show, as long as she lived with the circus I lived with the circus. And looking at Phoebe I felt a connection with her yet again because she was in the exact same situation. If I had asked her that question she probably would have said the same thing.

It was my turn to ask her a question now. I sat there then a thoughtful look on my face appearing to be thinking when I really wasn't. I had lots of questions I could have asked her, but I chose to just stare at her in that moment because well I just wanted to. At that point Phoebe was still a mystery to me so I just sat there staring right at her. Instantly I liked her blues eyes, I don't know why maybe because I was staring into them, but they just stood out to me. And though we were just friends then I couldn't help, but notice that Phoebe was really pretty. Most five year old's don't notice that, but I did. Beyond all the bruises she was always really pretty. Phoebe had simple looks, but looks none the less. Her hair was this dark brown; it was so dark it was nearly black. Her skin was slightly tanned, not the brownish tan you usually see, but the type of tanned that made it seem like the sun had just barely kissed her skin. And her eyes, I loved her eyes immediately they were the most expressive baby blue eyes. They seemed to see right through me. They were so expressive, they could have so many emotions in them all at once; I had never seen anything like them.

Finally I knew I couldn't just sit there staring at her anymore so I finally picked a question to ask her. At first I wasn't sure if I should, if someone asked me that question I wouldn't have answered it, and I wasn't sure she would if I asked her. But something deep inside me urged me to ask. Plus this particular question was very important for me to know. In my opinion it was the most important question I would ever ask her. It told me a lot about her then in the beginning.

"Tell me something you're afraid of," I whispered looking into her eyes still until she looked away from me making it clear immediately that she didn't want to answer. She wouldn't look at me for the longest time and as I waited I considered asking her something else, but I hesitated. I really wanted to hear her answer and when she finally looked at me again I saw that she had tears in her eyes. I instantly felt bad for putting them there. But still she didn't answer me. She didn't answer me for a long time choosing only to stare at me. I had finally made up my mind to change my question when her answer came flying out of her mouth. And when it did what she said didn't surprise me one bit. In fact it made me feel an even closer connection to her in that moment.

"I'm afraid of my daddy. He hurts me a lot," answered Phoebe her voice as well as her whole body shaking as she looked away from me. All was silent once more as I signed preparing for the climb back down. I could understand Phoebe's fear then because I was scared of my mother back then too.

"Jerome…can I ask you something?" whispered Phoebe still not looking at me. She drew me from my thoughts then looking at her part of me wishing she would look at me again.

"Yeah, Phoebes," I whispered finally getting her to look up into my eyes in that moment.

"How long do you think we'll be friends?" said Phoebe her voice shaking as if she was afraid of the answer I would give? Her question made me smile.

"How long do you want to be friends?" I said not really answering her question.

"Forever," exclaimed Phoebe immediately barely giving me time to finish speaking. I smiled then taking her hand.

"Then we'll be friends forever," I smiled giving her hand a squeeze watching as she returned it almost instantly. I didn't know how true those words would be. I don't think I loved Phoebe yet at five years old, but as time passed I would. I would love her with all my heart. She would be the only one I would love throughout my life. Phoebe Nullen would be my best friend, my light when there seemed to be none at all, and my escape. It would be that way from that day forward.