Chapter 6

I closed my eyes and silently prayed that this wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. But it was, and I had to face it. I sat down on the back porch steps next to Aden and he started crying. I didn't know what to say. That was the one thing I couldn't handle - other people crying. I never knew what to say or what to do. I wasn't good with that kind of stuff. But I did know that this was serious.

"What happened?" I asked him. He just shook his head, "I can't tell you." he whispered.

"Aden, please. I can help. You have to tell me what happened." I said softly.

"I can't." he whispered.

"Why?" I asked him, "Why can't you tell me?"

"Because I just can't." he cried. I ran my hands through my blond hair and sighed, "Aden, please. We're friends now remember? You can trust me. I'm not going to say a word I promise."

He looked at me with his gray eyes, lost and scared, "Promise?"

I nodded and he took a breath, "M-my dad got mad at me last night because I was home late." he began, "I mean, it was my fault. That's the second time this week and I've done it before too. He yelled at me and hit me. It was my fault though. I deserved it."

I shook my head and held back tears. If I stared crying it would only upset him more, "No you didn't." I told him, "You didn't deserve it. No one deserves that. He might tell you that you did, but you didn't. Has he hit you before?"

"N-no." he said quietly and he shook his head, "No...He's never hit me before. This was the first time."

"You promise me that he's never hit you before?" I asked him. Aden looked up and nodded. He wouldn't look me in the eyes, though. It was almost as if he stared right through me. I didn't believe him.

"Will you tell me if this happens again?" I asked him. He didn't say a word. "Please? You need to tell me if this happens again. We have to tell someone if it happens again."

"Tell who?" he asked getting worried.

"I don't know, like the police or something." I shrugged, "We have to tell someone if this happens again, okay?"

"No!" he shouted, "No you can't tell anyone! You promised!"

"Aden, we have to." I told him quietly, "If your dad hits you then he needs to get help and you need to get out of the house."

"No. He doesn't hit me. I...I already told you. It was just that once." he said, "I swear. It probably won't even happen again. So...so we won't need to tell anyone, right?"

"If it never happens again, then...no. I guess not." I shrugged. I didn't know anything about child abuse. I didn't really know what to do about it. I never even wanted to meet this kid in the first place and now that I have I've grown so attached that it's my problem now. Well, to me it was my problem. He really felt like my little brother and it's only been three days that I've known him. He kept crying and I just sat there and held him in my arms. He was so small. How could anyone hurt a little kid? I didn't get it.

"So please, if this happens again please tell me." I said, "Do you promise?"

"I promise," he whispered through his tears. "Dougie..."

"Yeah?" I said as he pulled away from my hug.

"I'm scared." he said shakily.

"I know," I whispered. "I know. I'm scared too. But you're going to alright. I promise. Everything will be just fine."

"Promise?" he asked me.

"I promise." I nodded. He wiped his eyes. "Dougie..."

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Thanks. You're the best friend I've ever had. I love you." he told me. I pulled him in and hugged him again. "I love you too, Aden."

"Can we go inside now?" he said into my chest, as I was still hugging him

"Sure," I said wiping my eyes before he could notice I was crying.

Short chapter, so sorry.
But, I like it I guess.
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