A/N

Hey guys! Sorry for the wait, if you saw my last author's note, you'll see why I haven't updated in awhile. Next week my preseason for field hockey starts which will take up about half my day, but I'm gonna try to update as much as I can. Sorry if this chapter is on the short side, next one will be longer I promise.


Miles sighed and got up slowly. What just happened? Hunter was acting weird, in denial almost. Miles saw the look of fear in Hunter's eyes whenever their father was around, so why was he claiming nothing was wrong? Miles didn't understand one bit of it. He wanted to go after him, make sure he was ok, but the oldest Hollingsworth sibling knew that wasn't an option, based on the way Hunter had just acted. The best thing he could do was make up for all the time he'd missed cutting class and getting high. That might put his father in a better mood and avoid another outburst at breakfast. Whatever it takes.


With a new mindset, Miles decided he was going to be a better student, son, and brother. He went to class, stopped smoking weed, and helped his family anyway he could. Since the breakfast episode, Frankie continued to stay locked in her room all day, claiming she was still feeling under the weather, but everyone knew this wasn't the case. However, Mrs. Hollingsworth insisted that she needed time to get over the cheerleading scandal, and if staying in bed all day was the answer, then that was fine by her. Hunter on the other hand isolated himself from the rest of the world; he went to school, shrinking in the shadows, played video games until his hands fell off, slept and repeat. Miles wanted to say something but knew if he did it would only anger Hunter further. Still, that didn't stop Miles from worrying about his siblings. Something had to be done.

School became a blur for Hunter, a stressful and lonely blur. He didn't have many friends. In fact, he wasn't sure if he had any. In the past he had always counted on having Frankie by his side, or Miles as a bodyguard. But everything was different now; Frankie was held up in her room all day, refusing to come out, not even for food, and Miles was actually trying to do well in school, shocking Hunter beyond belief. Hunter tried to do his best too, but he didn't see the point anymore. He didn't see the point of anything anymore.


She sat in the back of the computer lab, trying unsuccessfully to get past level 47 in Realm of Doom. C'mon she muttered out loud. No! She groaned as the words game over appeared on the monitor. Sighing, she switched off the game and sat back in the chair, looking around her. The room was completely empty except for one other person, Hunter. He was sitting a couple of rows away from of her, but she could see his face; his porcelain white skin lit up under the dim lights and the computers' glow. As she got a better look at his face, she noticed dark purple rings under his once crystal blue eyes. They had lost their sparkle that made her heart melt. His pearly white smile that he usually flashed had also disappeared. Something was clearly bothering Hunter, but Arlene didn't know what.

She and Hunter barely talked anymore, which upset the young gamer. It wasn't like they were soul mates or anything, but since Frankie introduced them, they had eaten lunch together everyday, hung out at the Dot after school, (usually to discus the differences between American and Japanese comics), and passed notes during class. Arlene really missed her friend. She knew he was hurting; she could see it in his facial expressions. She wanted to make him feel better, but she didn't know how. I guess I can start by talking to him she thought to herself. She got up from her chair, but as soon she did, Hunter was out of the door, leaving Arlene speechless. What's going on with him? I didn't do anything, did I? No, Arlene, don't think like that. We haven't spoken to each other in weeks! He's probably just late for something. Arlene bit her lip. I hope.


Days passed, but nothing changed. Hunter went to school, blocking everyone out with his headphones. He would try to come home as late as possible, attempting to avoid his family all together. Dinners were the worst; Frankie had still not come out of her room, and no one spoke. The only sound that could be heard was the clinking of silverware against the china plates. Every so often awkward eye contact would be exchanged, but it was quickly subsided.


One night Hunter was playing Call of Duty. He had his headphones on and the volume turned up all the way.

"Hunter, dinner's ready!" his mother called, but Hunter, lost in the game, didn't hear her. Frowning, she set the plates she had been holding on the table. "Hunter?" his mom called again.

Just then, loud footsteps echoed throughout the house. Mr. Hollingsworth strode into the living room, eyeing his son wearily. All he ever did these days was sit around and play video games. At least his other two children had done sports but Hunter couldn't be bothered to move at all.

"Hey!" he yelled at his son. When he didn't respond, he yanked his earphones off.

Hunter look at his father, confused. "Dad, what the—"

"You be quiet!" he hollered. "Your mother calls you to dinner twice and you don't answer?! What's the matter with you?!"

"Honey, give him a break. The poor boys been—," Mrs. Hollingsworth started, but her husband abruptly cut her off.

"This doesn't concern you!" he yelled. "Stay out of it!"

Mrs. Hollingsworth sighed and looked longingly at her son, but his eyes were glued to the floor. She sighed again and went back to setting the table.

Hunter, glancing at his mother for a moment being staring incredulously at his father said, "Dad, I had my headphones on! I swear I wasn't—"

His father cut him off again, "And that's another thing. Why do you always have to have these ridiculous things covering your ears?!"

The youngest Hollingsworth glared at his father. "Maybe they help me tune out all the crazy shit that's going on!" He tried to grab his earphones back, but Mr. Hollingsworth held them up so high that he couldn't reach them. Hunter silently cursed for his short height. He jumped as high as he could but that did nothing. Mr. Hollingsworth got an evil look in his eyes. Hunter gasped. He wouldn't. Before he had time to react, Mr. Hollingsworth threw the headpiece across the room, causing it to snap in half. Hunter just stood there, lost for words. Finally, he came to his senses.

"Those cost me like 200 dollars!" he yelled, furious now.

"Then stop spending your money on useless crap! I'm tired of watching you sit around all day!" He hollered back at his son.

"How would you know what I do all day?!" Hunter asked, fuming. "You're never home! And even when you are, you're either yelling or breaking things!" he shot back.

That did it. How dare Hunter talk to him like that! In a fit of rage, he grabbed the Xbox and the game controller and threw them both hard on the ground. They instantly shattered into a million pieces. Satisfied, Mr. Hollingsworth stormed out.

Mrs. Hollingsworth looked at her youngest son apologetically and murmured, "Hunter—," but before she could finish, he ran out of the room, tears streaming down his face.


A/N

And that's it! Next chapter will be posted sometime this week. As always, don't forget to leave a review and remember to follow and favorite!