Vic's POV

"It's just over here Kels," I said as I climbed over the large rocks. I really hoped the guys didn't mind me showing him the hideout.

"Kels?" Kellin asked with a hint of a smile as he tried to maneuver the difficult terrain.

"Oh I'm sorry! I didn't even-" Oh man. Cue the blush.

"It's fine. Has a nice ring to it. Is this the cave?" He asked as he ducked out into the hollow in the rock. At least it helped shelter us from the wind that picked up. The downside was that it had grown darker outside, which means that it was near impossible to see once inside the hideout.

"Hold up, I know there's a flashlight somewhere aroun-got it!" I said as I felt around the cave walls for the makeshift shelf that held several flashlights and some snacks. I flicked on the light and shined it in Kellin's direction.

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"Kellin, did you cut yourself on the rocks?" The flashlight showed a dark red liquid flowing down his sleeve.

"It's nothing." He shrugged. "Really."
"Kels that's not nothing, let me see it." I demanded. He held out his arm and I pulled up the sleeve. I tried to keep my face looking calm, but some of my shock must have shown through. His arm was so bloody that I had a very difficult time telling what was skin and what wasn't. Kellin started crying and apologizing profusely. It felt like my heart was being torn in half with each word.

"It's okay. We have to clean it though, I have to see the wound. Try to put some pressure on it." I took the flashlight over to the other side of the cave where we had stored some vodka last summer.

"Why don't you talk to me while I do this? It doesn't have to be anything important." I opened up the bottle and started to pour it over his arm. He instantly winced and looked like he was in a lot of pain.

"I didn't mean to, I was upset, my stepfather is awful, I'm awful and worthless.." he said through thick tears.

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"I don't think you're worthless or awful." I said quietly as I ripped a strip of my start and started applying more pressure to his arm. "Kellin," I said as I tried to grasp the words delicately. "Kels, this wasn't the rocks was it."

He was so upset that he couldn't quite speak, so he just shook his head. "The bleeding isn't stopping, we've got to go to the hospital. When did you do this?"

"Last night. And I can't go, I can't. They'll tell him and it'll get worse. Please." I looked him deep in the eyes as he whispered "Please" again.

"At least let me drive you to my house. The bleeding stopped, but your arm is really red and swollen."

Kellin debated this a minute before I added, "My mom won't be home till midnight. You can stay over and escape your stepdad for a night."

"Okay… But I don't want anyone else to know about my arm."

"I won't tell, Kels. I swear."

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Kellin's POV

"It's just over here Kels," Vic called out as he disappeared over the large, sharp rocks. I didn't want to seem weak, but it was really really hard to climb in Vans. The skinny jeans didn't help much either.

"Kels?" I asked as I tried to stifle a grin. This was the first time that anyone had given me a nickname that wasn't mean, and I actually thought it was really cute.

"Oh I'm sorry! I didn't even-" Was Vic blushing? Was that name...a pet name?

"It's fine. Has a nice ring to it. Is this the cave?" I asked as I tried to make out the cave's opening. It has gotten quite dark outside and the cave blended into the rocks.

"Hold up, I know there's a flashlight somewhere aroun-got it!" Vic said as he disappeared deeper into the cave. He emerged with the light and turned it on.

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"Kellin, did you cut yourself on the rocks?" Vic asked worriedly as he stared at my arm.

"It's nothing." I shrugged as I looked down. "Really." There was no need for him to get him worked up and worried.
"Kels that's not nothing, let me see it." Vic sounded upset, so I gave him my pain ridden arm. He carefully peeled up my sleeve, and his face betrayed him for just a moment. My arm looked awful and there was blood all over Vic and his shirt. I broke down crying, trying to say sorry and that I didn't want him to see it. My head turned fuzzy and it become harder to see as the pain in my arm increased.

"It's okay. We have to clean it though, I have to see the wound. Try to put some pressure on it." Vic disappeared again, and I tried to concentrate on my arm.

"Why don't you talk to me while I do this? It doesn't have to be anything important." I heard the pop of the bottle open, and then suddenly there was blinding pain for a minute.

"I didn't mean to, I was upset, my stepfather is awful, I'm awful and worthless.." I tried to say as I was crying.

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"I don't think you're worthless or awful." Vic whispered. "Kellin," He paused for a second, and his thumb moved back in forth on my arm. It was comforting. "Kels, this wasn't the rocks was it."

It wasn't a question, and I couldn't seem to stop crying.

"The bleeding isn't stopping, we've got to go to the hospital. When did you do this?"

"Last night. And I can't go, I can't. They'll tell him and it'll get worse. Please." He gazed into my eyes and I asked "Please" again.

"At least let me drive you to my house. The bleeding stopped, but your arm is really red and swollen."

I weighed the options on the possibility of my family noticing before he added, "My mom won't be home till midnight. You can stay over and escape your stepdad for a night."

"Okay… But I don't want anyone else to know about my arm."

"I won't tell, Kels. I swear."