Chapter 2

Authors Note: I didn't get much of a response from my last chapter and I'm not sure if people actually liked what I wrote or just didn't like the characters. But I decided to write one more chapter to see if I get more feedback to see how people feel.

KL inc THIS ONE is definetely for you. So you better enjoy!! Happy reading:)

"See you guys." Danni and Chris both waved as Gordie turned right and they turned left. They had spent another hot day of the summer lounging around town without anything to do, all none too happy to be going home. Chris's footsteps seemed to drag on the pavement with lethargic dread as they came closer and closer to his home. Danni could already feel the tension in the air build and all she could do was grip her notebook a little tighter not knowing how else to react.

"You could come hang out at my house if you want." Danni stated lightly trying to think of anything that could possibly alleviate her friend. Chris simply shrugged his shoulders and smirked.

"I really wish it was that easy." It seemed they had walked too quickly for it wasn't long until they were both standing in front of Chris's home. One could already hear the distant shouting between his parents. Chris sighed loudly, "Guess that's my cue."

"Chris…" He glanced back at Danni with a questioning look in his eyes.

"Yeah?" Danni could do nothing but feel helpless trying to figure out the best way to actually say what she was thinking.

"Just…come with me tonight okay?" Chris just smiled and began to strut towards her with one hand in his pocket.

"Oohh…someone wants me bad. What's the matter Danni? Need a real man by your side?" He ran his hand through his lengthy dirty blonde hair for extra charm effect. Danni just shook her head.

"No…you know what I mean."

"No actually…I think I need you to explain it to me." Chris lifted his eye brows with a sly grin. But his mood was immediately put to rest when he saw the somber look in Danni's eyes.

"Chris…you shouldn't feel obligated."

"Obligated to what?"

"I mean, you shouldn't feel obligated to break up that fight that's going on in there between your parents. You shouldn't feel obligated to take the brunt of your dad's anger." Chris's shoulders fell and he looked back towards his house with eyes that held so much pain, too much pain for someone so young, for someone so kind.

"Then what am I supposed to do? Just let him do whatever he wants?"

"No, you're supposed to give yourself a break. I know you feel like you should be able to stop it but…I mean…god…why do you give yourself so much responsibility?"

"Cause no one else will." He said this under his breath.

"But you're just a kid. We're just kids Chris…you of all people shouldn't have to deal with this." Chris tried his best to shake off the entire conversation. He knew Danni would never understand. It's great to have close friends you could pour your heart out to but Chris knew no matter how hard he tried to make Danni understand she never would. Unless you had gone through the same thing…the understanding just wasn't the same. He swallowed his tears, those would be saved for later that night when he was alone in his room, and gave Danni a hard hug.

"Hey, hey no need to worry about me! I'm the bad ass Chris Chambers haven't you heard? It's the word around town." He tried to give Danni the most genuine smile he possibly could. "I'll see you tomorrow?" He left it at that, pulling away from the warmth of Danni's body to the desolate building he called 'home.' Chris couldn't bear to say anything else to her in fear of completely breaking down. Just one more year he thought. Just one more year and I can finally be free of this.

Danni could do nothing but watch as Chris marched towards his house as a soldier would into a battle zone. She was sure that Chris was the bravest person she had ever met. But their conversation soon began to slip into the back of her mind as she noticed a familiar car pulled up into her home's driveway. Danni's heart began to beat faster as the fear began to creep through her body. She opened the door to her house and found him sitting at the table.

"Danni!" Danni tensed as she felt her father's arm wrap itself around her shoulder. "Sorry about the surprise but…Keith decided to join us for the last of his summer before going back to school." And there he sat in all his glory at the kitchen table. 6'2, a sharp face, short blonde hair, and cold hazel eyes. This was Keith Travis. Danni's step-brother, the son of her father from a previous marriage that didn't work out too well. He was honestly the best son any father could ask for. Keith was very good, almost too good in anything he attempted to do. But more than anything, he was very good at football. The star quarterback of his college football team, on his way straight to the NFL. But of all the people that Danni knew…there was no one else in the world that hated something with more burning passion than the way Keith hated football. But of course he would never tell anyone except her and he made sure she would never ever tell anyone. He had a very persuasive way of making sure of this...his fist.

"Hi Keith." Danni mumbled hesitantly as she watched him turn away. Her father pulled her out into the hallway.

"Look Danni. I know that you and Keith have never been very close but…he's been having a pretty rough time. What with college, and football, and now his mother getting engaged to a new man well…it's been hard for him." Danni gave her dad a confused look. "He's my son and he is your step brother after all so…you know. Make him feel welcome okay honey?"

"I'll try dad." Danni ran to her room and shut the door charging to her phone. She quickly dialed the number she knew so well and waited for that familiar voice.

"Hello?"

"Chris?"

"Danni? Look Danni I already told you okay…I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

"Chris…" Danni heard the doorknob turn and she quickly glanced over her shoulder. "I have to go Chris. I don't think I can hang out tomorrow."

"What? Wh…" It was too late. She had already hung up the phone. Keith closed the door silently behind him as he looked upon his step-sister with what could only be described as envy.

"Having fun with the life that should've been mine Danni?" Danni began to tremble in fear.

"Keith I…"

"Just shut your mouth!"

Authors note: So? Hope you guys liked it. PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW IF YOU READ THIS. If I get enough feedback I may contemplate on actually continuing this story. THANK AGAIN TO KL inc for the motivation.