"Miles, wait!" Frankie shouted, trying to catch up with me in the hallway at school.

"Frankie, please. I don't want to here it."

"Dad has been worried sick about you. You didn't even come home."

I stopped and stared coldly at her. "Frank, I don't care if he worries himself into a coma."

"But I'm worried about you, too. So is Hunter."

"I'm not going back, Frankie!" I shouted, getting a few stares from people. "And if you were smart you'd leave too."

"And go where? Speaking of which, where are you staying?"

"That's none of your business." the bell rings, I sigh. "I have to get to class."

I was saved by the bell. I know I might sound a bit harsh to my little sister, but I already told myself I wasn't going back. And I'm not. Ever.

As I walked into class, I grabbed my seat in front of Winston. We smiled at each other and the teacher had us begin class working on our group projects. I turned around.

"So how's Casa Novak treating you? All your stuff still in the same spot?" he asked me.

"Dude-"

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding! Seriously though, Miles. How is everything?"

"Well, I've been ok. The Novaks are nice people." I told him. "Sure, the living arrangement is definitely different, but if it means my dad isn't gonna be around then I'm all for it."

"Good, I'm glad. Now onto another important thing. Summer is coming up, man! Now that you don't have your sweet pad to be around anymore, how are we gonna party?"

He was right, summer was indeed coming up. I thought by that time I'd have Maya by my side to spend it with me, but since after all the dramatics at the dances, it looks like I'll be spending it with Zig. But I'm not really complaining about that either. It's only been a few days and I can already look at him as someone I can trust.

"I dunno, buddy. Maybe Zig could hook us up with something. I mean, he's a remedial student. I'm sure they have wild parties."

"…. I'm sorry, what?" he asked me.

"I said I'm sure they had wild-"

"No, before that."

"I said Zig was a remedial student."

"Remedial? That's the first time I've ever heard you refer to those kids as something other than 'rubber room kids', let alone by the correct term."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"No... I think you have a thing for someone in the rubber room."

I almost choked on my drink. "Dude, you're kidding."

"Come on, which one of those girl stole your heart, eh? Was it Grace? I mean hey, she's nice. But she has a bad side you definitely don't want to be on."

"Winston, shut up." I deadpanned. His smile faltered.

"Miles, I was kidding around. Do you like Grace? I mean I don't judge but-"

"No I..." I didn't know how to answer. "I don't know. But I don't think it's Grace."

"Well then who?" he asked.

Then, as if on cue, Zig walks in the classroom and takes his seat across the room from us. He sees me, smirks, and waves a little. I don't know what it was inside me that caused me to, but I began to blush, and I waved back.

"Miles, you're really red." Winston said to me. He looked to where I was waving and finally put two and two together.

"Miles..."

"Can we talk about this later?" I murmured

"…... no way."

I guess I wasn't confused anymore.

I liked Zig.

Suddenly, I hear my name over the intercom.

Miles Hollingsworth to the front office. Miles Hollingsworth.

I looked at my old friend, then my new friend and got up slowly.

I walked to the office with an empty feeling in my stomach. Just as I walked in, it dropped to the ground. There was my father, panicked look on his face. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. He runs up to me.

"Oh son!" he wraps his arms around me. My surroundings melt around me as my worst nightmares come true. "I was so worried about you, Miles. NEVER scare me like that again. You hear me?"

"I... I..." I didn't know how to respond.

"You're safe. That's all that matters." he takes a big sigh of relief. "I'm gonna pick you up from school today, eh? We'll have a long and serious talk and everything will be back to normal, ok?"

"O... Ok." I said, still in shock.

"We're glad we could help you, Mr. Hollingsworth." said Mr. Simpson, who was standing by the door. "Is there anything else we can do for you?"

"No... I'm just happy to see my kid." said my dad. "I'll see you after school. Get back to class."

And with that, he left. Principal Simpson stared at me, concerned. "Miles, is everything alright?"

I nodded slowly and walked out of the room. As I walked down the hallway back to class, it was as if the room were spinning. I couldn't believe that, just like that, I'm back into my father's clutches. I leaned against the locker. I felt my world come crashing down. Suddenly, I hear footsteps coming toward me.

"Miles?" said Zig, who was holding a washroom pass. "You were gone for a while so I wanted to check on you... Is everything-"

"No, Zig. Everything is not ok. My..." my eyes started to water. "My dad... he um..."

"Miles, no..." he said, stepping closer to me. "He was here? And you didn't tell Simpson anything?"

"I couldn't. I... I don't know what he'd do to me. Or someone else." I told him. "I don't wanna go back. I can't. I can't go back. Zig... Zig, I can't-"

"Shhhh" he enveloped me in his arms. "You're not going back, ok? You have a spare after lunch right?"

"Y-yeah." I sniffled.

"Cool... We'll get out of here. My mom has this spot at the back of the store. We can stay there."

"We?"

"You think I'm gonna let you sit there by yourself?" he said, looking at me. "I'll protect you, ok?"

I nodded and he let go of me. "Okay, you're gonna have to compose yourself. It might be a long day, but it'll be worth it okay? See you in class."

"Zig, wait." I stopped him. "Why do you keep doing these things for me?"

"Because..." He walked back over to me and wiped a tear that was rolling down my cheek. "I don't like seeing you so scared."

He gave me a warm smile and walked back to the classroom. I was left alone in the hallway.

Zig was definitely right when he said it would be a long day. I avoided just about everyone until lunch. I was sitting and eating at my locker when my little brother, Hunter, walked up to me. I was a little taken aback at the fact that he chose to spend valuable video game time with me, but then again, I am the only one he talks to at school.

Hunter is a little, well, impulsive. He gets pretty grumpy without his video games and that leads to a huge lack of social skills. He doesn't talk to anyone that isn't speaking to him besides Frankie and I. If he ever does get angry, he might just yell, but my little brother wouldn't hurt a fly. I'm the only one that really understands him. No one knows him like I do, not even his twin.

"H-hey." he said softly.

"Hey, buddy." I said, patting the spot next to me. He sits down and starts twiddling his thumbs. "How's your day been?"

"Dad texted me and said you're coming home today." he said, completely ignoring what I had asked. "Are you?"

I sighed. "I... I don't know."

"Well why not?" his voice rose.

"Hunt..."

"You're my brother, Miles! You're the only person in that house that even listens to me. No one at school likes me. I mean, I like video games and all but I'd rather have someone to when I'm sad or something." he said, looking to the floor. "And Dad's..."

My eyes shot open. "Dad's what?"

"He's just been... just been really mean lately."

"Mean? What kind of mean, Hunter?"

"He... he yells a lot more. And face gets all red. He'll throw this enormous fit about the smallest things I did. Like last night, for example. I was on your computer trying to figure out where you could be and dad was calling me for dinner. I was gonna be down in a second..."

"W-What he do?" I said, breaking a sweat with so much frustration.

"He just barged in and snapped it. Like a board. He must have thought it was mine." he let out a sigh. "Scared the shit out of me."

"And he didn't hit you?"

Hunter's eyes widened. "Hit me? Miles you're nuts, I'm his kid. Dads don't do that to their kids." he said. "I mean, he kinda grabbed me and I got this bruise thing but-"

He started lifting up his sleeve but I had already stopped him in mid sentence by doing it myself. "HE did this?"

"Ow, Miles! It still kinda hurts." he said, snatching his arm back. "Yeah I guess. But it's my wrist, it's no big-"

"I'm coming home."

The both of us looked into each others eyes for a second. Hunter seemed as though he caught on to something, but shook it off. "You mean it?"

"Yeah... Yeah, I mean it."

My baby brother looked at the ground and smiled a little. He then closed the gap between us and leaned his head against my shoulder. I set aside my food and put my arm around him, resting my had on his. I didn't care who was watching, and we stayed there until the bell rang.

If this whole situation wasn't personal then, it damn sure was now. He actually stooped low enough to put his hands on a 14 year old kid, let alone my little brother. Going home is the only way I can protect my siblings.

I don't know how I'm supposed to tell Zig...

Guess who got inspired to write again! I was gonna take thi story one way, but I've found a much better way to do this. I think you'll all enjoy (if you still read this, that is).

SORRY FOR THE LATENESS

Also, I've come to like the Hunter character. I have some ideas for him too.