Walking home was the 2nd worst part of the day. Being home was the first. Thorne walked through the pouring rain, while everyone else was running ahead. Cress's words kept on repeating in his head, over and over again. "I think I like you, Captain." "I think I like you, Captain." "I think I like you, Captain." "I think I-

Suddenly, Thorne wasn't in the rain anymore. He looked up. Someone put an umbrella over his head. He smiled when he saw who it was. "Hey, Damsel. You walking home, too?"

Cress nodded shyly. "Yeah. You looked like you were going to freeze to death, so I decided to walk, not ride the bus home."

Thorne nodded. "Thanks, Cress. I guess I can count on you now." Cress smiled.

"Of course you can, Captain. We're friends, right? Anybody can always count on their friends."

After that, there was this thick, awkward silence between them, and when they arrived at Cress's house's doorstep, Thorne said, "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Text me later, Damsel."

"'K, Captain. I'll see you tomorrow." Then, out of nowhere, Cress got on her toes, and gave Thorne a peck on the cheek. Even though it was a peck, Thorne felt electric currents rushing through him. Cress ducked her head shyly, and went inside her house.

Thorne turned around, smiling like a fool, and ran out in the rain. "Whoo-hoo!" he shouted in the rain. All thoughts about going home to see his dad and the thoughts of getting beaten were disappeared.

But that moment didn't last long.

Soon, and maybe too soon, Thorne was in front of his house. He knew that if he went in right now, his dad wouldn't be there yet, and that his stepmom would get on him for being wet. If he went to the nearby convenience store and came back later, then his dad would be there, and beat him for coming home late.

He turned around and walked to the convenience store. He hated talking to his stepmom more than getting the beatings.

It was still raining when Thorne got to the store, his hear racing since he ran there. He took off his hood, and shook his wet bangs out of his eyes. Instantly, some girls nearby (and they were good-looking, too) turned towards him and started whispering behind their hands. If it was yesterday, Thorne would've winked at them and ask for their numbers before he left. Now, he just ignored them and went straight to the coffee aisle. Probably because of Cress…

He got a regular black because it was bitter like his life at home, and went to the cashier to pay for it. He then saw little barrette clippings, and again thought of Cress. He wondered how she would look with short hair.

"Um… how much are these?" Thorne held them up to the cashier.

"5 univs," he said. "Would you like to buy them?"

Thorne thought about it. "Sure."

"That's 12 univs in all."

Thorne dug into his pockets and pulled out the same amount. "Thanks," he said, and he went to a seat on the counter in front of the window. He opened his can of coffee and started to drink it, but one of the girls he saw before came to him.

Thorne raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" it was a better looking girl out of the bunch, and she twirled a finger in her hair.

"Hey, I'm really sorry to bother you, but my girlfriends over there dared me to make-out with you." She bit her bottom lip.

Thorne shrugged. "That's fine with me since it was a dare."

"I don't think anyone else would be fine with it if they saw two people making-out in a store where kids could come in any moment, don't you think?" she asked him.

"Well, do you have a place in mind?" Thorne asked her. She took his hand, and started to drag him outside. Next to the door, her group of girlfriends cheered her on. Soon, they were out in the rain, and the girl was taking Thorne to an alley.

On the way there, there was a nearby house. Thorne heard lots of crashing, along with shouts that came from a man. Then, there was a terrified scream, followed by a large crash.

Suddenly, Thorne's head started to ache, and memories came out, like crashing waves on a beach during a storm.

"You little bi**h. Where were you all day, huh? Where were you?!" Thorne's dad shouted to Thorne's mother.

"I was out at the market, buying some groceries for tomorrow's meal," Thorne's mother said calmly, clutching her bag of groceries. 7-year-old Thorne was hiding on top of the stairs, listening and watching their conversations downstairs.

"Oh really? Then how come you're SO LATE?!" At "late", Thorne's dad picked up the chair next to him and threw it to Thorne's mother. She shrieked and ducked, covering her head with her hands. The bag of groceries was on the floor, and a bag of flour was ripped open.

On the stairs, Thorne flinched, wanting to help his mother, but too scared to do it.

"I'm sorry! I tried to come back as soon as possible, but I couldn't! The line for the smoked lamb was too long!" Thorne's mother backed away as Thorne's dad picked up the lamp next to him. The stench of alcohol didn't sting Thorne's nose anymore. He was so used to it.

Another loud crash. Some glass shards cut and scratched Thorne's mother's face. Thorne's dad raised up his fist and was beating her. Thorne started to cry.

"Um, hello? Are you okay?" the girl askekd him.

"Y-yeah. I'm fine," Thorne gasped out. He hoped the rain would cover his sweat beads forming at his forehead and neck.

The girl then pushed Thorne to the wall, and put her arms around his neck. He felt a rush of pain go through his head again. No! Not again! Please, no! Thorne thought as the girl said, "Well, here goes nothing." Thorne needed something to distract himself, and the girl's lips were the only distraction around now.

He smashed his mouth right into the girl's. She froze for a second, but quickly recovered, kissing him back. The pain got only a tenth duller, and Thorne flipped the girl so that the girl's back was on the wall.

The girl's hand slipped under his shirt and skimmed over his rock-hard abs. Thorne pushed himself so close to the girl, that her was practically with the wall.

Half of half of the pain was gone, but it still hurt like crazy. His mouth trailed off from the girl's, and started to kiss her jawline. Then her neck.

Somehow, the girl got Thorne's jacket and shirt off, but Thorne couldn't feel the rain. He still felt the pain, but it was almost gone now. Just a little more time, and it'll be completely gone.

"Ca-Captain?"

Thorne froze. The girl froze, too. Thorne slowly pulled away from the girl, not reluctantly, but of horror and fear. No one else except one person called him that.

Cress.

Thorne stepped away from the girl, bending down to pick up his shirt and jacket. To the girl he said, "You can go now, right? You've done your dare."

The girl nodded and walked back to the store, flipping her hair as she passed by Cress. Cress's eyes were full of hurt. Betrayal. Fear.

Thorne took a step towards Cress, and she took a step back, clutching her umbrella handle so tight that her knuckles were white.

He quickly put on his shirt and jacket and started out with, "Look, Cress. It's not what it looks like." Stupid! Of course it's what it looks like! He was kissing a girl, and she saw it! "I'm really sorry you had to see that. It's just tha-Cress? What are you doing?"

Cress ran over to Thorne, and was pulling his shirt up. Now it was Thorne that was backing away.

"Um, Cress Can I ask you wh-?"

"Shut up for a second and stand still!" Cress burst out. Thorne shut up and stood still. Cress turned Thorne over so that his back was towards Cress. She was fumbling with his shirt and jacket, and Thorne cleared his throat. "Um, Cress? What on earth are you do-?"

Cress gasped. "Ca-Captain… Wha-what's wr-wrong with you-your back?!"