Fear Itself
Brett Weston, (Not) Unlike Me - Part Five, Pre-Series/Post-NUM Part 4, PG-13,647 words, Title from Everwood

November 8, 2007.

Brett decides to take the day off from school. Texts Julie to say he won't be there but he misses her and hopes he can see her later.

He gets dressed and gets into his car and drives. He knows where he's going and why. No one dares to question his motives.

--

At six, it was a smack in the mouth for not finishing dinner.

At eight, it was a football to the face for not being able to throw perfectly.

At ten, it was a leather belt to the back for not making first string for his pee-wee team.

And at thirteen, it was goodbye. Why bother sticking around when he ain't worth shit?

Brett knew his dad was a hard ass but this wasn't normal. While other dads in town use their verbal skills to put their sons down, his dad used physical skills, prepped with a half bottle of scotch and a limp leg. And if he wasn't going after Brett, it was his mom, for being the lazy bitch who would rather work than cook him dinner when he wanted it.

The minute his dad left, Brett met Dan, who was a friend of his mom. Flash forward a few years after and Brett learns that his mom's been "with" Dan months before dad even left. Brett doesn't even mind it. Good for her. They get married the day the divorce becomes official.

--

Brett pulls into West Texas Memorial Hospital. He knows what floor, and what room to go to. And when he does, the sight gets worse than the time before. There's his dad, dying of liver disease and who the hells knows what else. Brett takes no pity in his condition. Serves that asshole right, he hasn't done a damn good thing in his life. Let him suffer.

Brett sees him sleeping and walks towards him, to leave his birthday card. Just like he's been doing every year. He knows he shouldn't even waste his time, but it doesn't seem right to just ignore it.

"Brett…" he hears his dad say painfully as he's walking out of the room.

Brett doesn't look back. He's already wasted twenty seconds being in that room and he isn't wasting any more than he has to. Maybe next year he won't have to do this at all.

--

He drives homes and heads straight to his room and stays there. Mom and Dan don't bother him. They know the drill.

He quickly falls asleep and wakes up hours later in his pitch black room when he hears what sounds like banging on his window. The banging gets louder and begins to sounds weirder. He gets up to find Julie climbing through his window.

"Julie?"

"Hey. I tried calling you but you didn't answer so I wanted to stop by and see how you were doing." She throws her purse on Brett's desk and sits on his bed.

"Yeah, about that…" He sits up rubs his hand over his face. "…I'm sorry I didn't call. It's been a rough day." He falls back down on his bed again. Julie falls down next to him.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"No."

"Can I stay overnight then?"

Brett begins to laugh. He doesn't want to think about how she'll do that without getting in trouble or how she even climbed that window, but he doesn't care. She's here and he could use the company.

"Sure."

Julie takes her shoes and coat off and pulls the covers over her body and lets Brett wrap his arms around her. She turns to face him.

"You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine tomorrow. I promise. Thank you."

"For what?"

"Just… thank you." He leans his head in and kisses her. She smiles and turns to face away from him.

They fall asleep in each others arms.