-Charley's POV-

I finished my homework and closed my book. I sat at my desk for a minute hands knotted in my hair taking deep shallow breaths, trying to think of a good excuse. Crazy ex-boyfriend? That seemed plausible….yeah in fact that was good. My ex did it and now we live somewhere else and I'm safe and they don't have to worry. Too bad that wasn't true, I wished it was. I stood up and walked downstairs. My dad was nowhere in sight so I scrawled a quick message onto the notepad on the fridge and headed for the garage. I hopped into my car and slowly backed out of the garage, repeating the lie over and over in my head until I could almost believe it myself.

-Frank's POV-

We were sitting in Gerard and Mikey's basement talking about what to say or do for Charley. First we'd listen and then if it was indeed her dad we'd tell someone.

"I just feel so bad for her; today I noticed something was wrong with her. Like she was just tense and junk, it must be hard keeping such a huge secret." Ray said.

"Yea must be awful, but we can help her." I said.

We heard the doorbell ring and Gerard sprang up immediately like a jack in the box. The rest of us got up and followed him to the door; I arrived just in time to see him close the door behind Charley. God, could she be more beautiful?

"Hey guys, I just want to go ahead and clear the air ok? Those bruises you saw, they're from my ex…I'm not with him anymore so he can't hurt me anymore. I was just really embarrassed that ya'll saw them at all. No one knows and I would just die if anyone knew that I let someone do that to me." Charley said as she picked at her sleeves and looked at her shoes. Mikey hugged her, tight.

"That's great, not the abuse, of course but that you got away from it." Mikey said as he released her. She gave him a small smile.

"We were afraid it was your dad….and you shouldn't be embarrassed you're a strong person. I can tell." I said.

"Thanks Frank. So what will we be doing today, fellas?" She asked.

"Do you like comic books?" Gerard asked and Charley nodded, he grabbed her arm and pulled her downstairs.

"I just got like the best comic ever!" He said as we all followed them back downstairs. He pulled out the new comic and tossed it to her she caught it and smiled.

"You like this, eh?" she said with a smile.

"Yea, you don't?" Ray asked

"Oh no, I do really, I just think it's funny. I know the artist." Our jaws dropped.

"No fucking way!" Mikey said.

"Yea dude, my dad has connections with all kinds of people and so I meet loads of interesting people with cool jobs." She shrugged.

"Dude that is like so fucking awesome!" Gerard said.

"I can get his autograph for you guys if you'd want" Charley said as she plopped down next to me on the couch and flipped through the comic book.

"We want! We want!" Mikey shouted.

"Ok, I'll talk to my dad about it later."

We all sat around talking about other cool people she'd met and exactly what her dad did for a living. We talked about music and bands we liked and how the guys and I were thinking of starting a band. She liked that idea. The entire time I was sitting next to her, she was so amazing, I just wanted to reach over and touch her. I was enthralled by her.

A/N: So I know it's like really super short, but I have loads of stuff going on and I actually don't think anyone reads this….

Anyway, I do plan on updating more but please be patient. Random shit keeps getting in the way of my writing, that and I have huge bouts of writer's block. The next chapter I'm thinking will be huge, and set in the future…like the next year. And something MAJOR is going to happen, hopefully. Depends on if I can cultivate it well, but anyway Happy Reading!