(1 a.m.)

I pondered my thoughts as I slowly began the clean-up of the now ruined wood floors. I slowly drug the rags across the crimson fluid, careful not to make it spill further across the floor. I zoned out as I watched the once brilliant white rags grow shades of red by the second. As the rag fully enveloped itself in the crimson color that surrounded it, I picked it up and placed it in the plastic bag along with the others.

"James would be pissed if he saw me using up all the rags like this" I thought randomly as I reached for the next rag to continue the process.

I had been at it for a few hours now and if I was being honest with myself, it looked worse than when I started. The puddle that once laid before me was nothing more than a shadow of its former self, but the floor in which it had rested was stained deep red. I tried to scrub it out, vigorously rubbing the rags into the floor but it was to no avail. All it succeeded in doing was scaping the skin where my knuckles met the floor. Deciding that it wasn't doing anything as sat back taking the weight off my knees for a bit. I could feel myself growing more tired by the moment and I didn't blame myself. I hadn't had a good night's rest in forever. I rubbed my face pushing the wariness that presided in it away. After a second it hit me that I had blood on my hands and I just rubbed my face.

I let out a sigh of defeat as my dumbness had out-smarted me yet again. In the end I guess it really didn't matter, it wasn't like anyone one was around to complain about my appearance anyways. My jeans had patches of red where I kneeled to close to the puddle causing it to soak into them. My favorite hoodie, or at least used to be favorite hoodie, had drops of red from where I had lifted the rags to place them in the bag, not being carful enough it would seem.

Looking over I noticed the broken pieces of chair scattered about and proceeded to pick them up and place them inside the bag as well. As I was reaching to pick up some of the last pieces, I bent down a little too fast causing me to yelp and drop to my knees as I grabbed my side. You would figure with a injury like this you wouldn't forget about it as much as I do. I just sat in the quiet for a moment as I waited for the pain to calm down. It was weird how quiet everything seemed now that I was alone. I mean I had spent plenty of days alone in the house due to James grounding me, but it never felt this quiet...this lonely.

I gave it a few more minutes before I slowly stood up, as to make sure not to disturb the wound again. I grabbed the bag of rags and wood and made my way over to the trashcan, lifting the lid and dropping it in. When I turned around, I noticed the clock on the wall beaming its bright red numbers in my direction. It read 4:34 a.m.

"Man, I didn't think it was already that early" I said shaking my head, still processing the passing of the time. I turned on the faucet in the sick and splashed some cold water on my face allowing it to drip back off and fall back into the sink. the drops were slightly orange, showing that they were washing some of the blood out of my fur. I grabbed a towel out of the drawer next to the sink and dried my face and hands off. I noticed my hands where still shaking lightly, even as I tried to steady them. I guess it was to be expected. I'm not sure what I was scared of though. I mean I've already been through the worst of it, so why was I being a wuss. I leaned against the wall, sliding down it until I reached the floor.

I wondered how the people back at school were going to act when I had to go back. I winced at the thought of the faces and looks I was going to receive. I mean the last time they had seen me; I had run out of the school after being push down buy another guy. That alone made me seem cowardly and weak, and now to be out of school for three days. I put my face into my hands not wanting to think of the nightmare I had just conjured up. I hadn't even made any friends yet, well unless you call my table buddies my friends but I didn't feel like we were that close yet. No one else had really talked to me except them and Kate.

I paused as I thought back to when I had first noticed her in the parking lot at school. I don't think I had ever seen a girl quiet as beautiful as her before. Instantly I had fallen head over heels for her, and I had never even met her. With everything that has happened now, I doubt she'd even want to be friends with me much less anything else. My eyes watered at the devastating thought that it was all over before it had even begun. I soon felt a few tears as they slowly fell down my face and onto the palm of my hand soaking into my fur. Before I could dwell on things any longer, I heard a sound that made my heart skip a beat. The handle on the front door had been turned. Someone was outside the house.

I watched as the door opened swiftly followed by a body entering the house. As soon as they stepped in, the dining room light hit them illuminating their faces. I let out a ragged breath of relief when I saw Eve's face followed by Winstons. My heart felt like it was going a hundred miles per hour, ready to explode. I relaxed the mussels that had tensed up, still looking in their direction. I had noticed both of them wearing what looked like pajamas and slippers before I could even process what I was looking at, Eves eyes landed on me leaned against the wall by the kitchen. Before I knew it, I felt her arms wrapped around me squeezing me tightly, causing me to whimper a little at the pressure she was applying to my abdomen. She showed no sign of letting up as she continued the awkward embrace for a few more moments. Soon after she pulled back with a sniffle as she wiped her eyes of a few tears beginning to build up.

"Thank god your safe sweetheart" she said, as she made direct eye contact with me. "What happened dear, why are you here? You should be resting right now, you look exhausted" she continued as she examined my face and the bags that weighed my eyes down. I didn't say anything in return as I just looked down at my lap. I didn't want this, I never wanted to burden people or their lives, and yet here was Kates mom in her pajamas asking about me. I had no right to ask anything of them, nor did I want them to feel obligated to pity me. I was here due to my own actions not theirs.

"Humphrey dear, please look at me" Eve asked slowly placing a hand under my face and gently lifting it. I'm not sure what see saw in me that made her expression change, but I didn't like it. She looked sadden, like she wanted to break down and cry right here in front of me. I noticed Winston right behind her, his face almost matching the one in front of me. It was starting to make me feel uneasy with them looking at me like that. I tried to reach up so I could move her hand away from my face, but as I did her focus shifted from my face to my hand causing her eyes to widen.

"What happened to your hands Humphrey?" she said rather loudly catching me of guard causing me to jump a little. She rolled my hand over in hers examining it carefully. I hadn't even noticed that my knuckles where slightly swollen from when they began to rub raw against the floor. she preceded to look me over wide eyed. "Why are you covered in blood, are you hurt?" she prodded further lifting my hoodie to examine me. I quickly grabbed it and brought it back down, feeling my cheeks burn red a little.

"No mam, I'm fine I promise" I spoke, almost in a whisper. I guess being in the quiet all night had something to do with that. Showing signs of not being very content with my response to her Eve continued to stare at me. I felt like I was being interrogated for a crime I didn't do. Noticing my quickly growing uneasiness, she decided to step back and allow me some space. I let a small sigh of relief wash over me as I pulled my knees up towards my chest and slowly pushed myself back up the wall to a standing position. I looked up at Eve and Winston, who were both still intently watching me, waiting for something. I wasn't really sure what I was supposed to do.

"I didn't mean to worry you guys, I just wanted to clean up the mess I had made" I said, trying to break the silence, but it didn't come out very well. My eyes were beginning to water again and my voice was weak and cracking. I'm not entirely sure if it was due to lack of moisture or nervousness, or both. I didn't try to make eye contact with them, knowing that they were upset with me. I could feel my whole body shaking vigorously as I stood in shame in front of them. I knew what was next and I braced myself to be hit. As Winston reached towards me, I flinched fearing the worst, but to my surprise he just placed a firm hand on my shoulder, and pulled me into a tight embrace as he patted my back softly.

"You've done nothing wrong young man; we were just worried about you. So worried" His said in a deep, smooth tone. It was kind of calming as I felt myself relax just a small bit. after a few moments he pulled away looking down at me. I was still avoiding eye contact with them though; I just couldn't face them. Not with the burden I was causing them.

"Im.. so sorry for everything you've had to do for me" I said almost fully breaking down at this point. I had so many emotions that I still hadn't even delt with, and adding this on top was just making it worse. "None of this would have happened if I hadn't called Kate. Everything would be fine and your lives would never have been disturbed." I was beginning to shake again as my emotions started to get the better of me. "I should have never made that call" I mumbled, barely audible to anyone in the room. I guess it wasn't as quiet as I thought because Eve's expression changed again. She looked taken back by what I had just said.

"Humphrey, if you wouldn't have reached out to us when you did, you would have-" Winston began but was swiftly cut off by Eve glaring at him. Winston immediately realized his mistake and lowered his head.

"I would have died" I said softly back, finishing the sentence that he failed to. They quickly brought their attention back to me. I mean he really wasn't wrong. If I had not called Kate when I had, I most defiantly would not have made it out of that situation alive. Honestly, I barley did make it out alive. That thought sent a chill down my back. The room was silent as no one spoke up. I still wasn't looking up at them but I could tell they were both struggling for the right words to say. I hadn't meant to make the situation worse, I just stated what was already being implied. I guess this is where the rule that some things are meant to be kept to yourself, comes in.

After a few more moments of silence, I finally spoke up. "I'm sorry." I said finally looking up at them. I had a few seconds to recollect myself and straighten out my emotions a little.

"Please stop saying you're sorry dear, you've done absolutely nothing wrong." Eve said gently not dropping her original expression. "For now, would you be willing to come back home with us, you look exhausted and you need to eat" she continued as she once again examined me. The thought of food didn't really appeal to me as the small apatite I had, was now gone. But regardless Stormy was there and I wanted to be with her in her time of need, as her big brother that was my job.

"Um..yea..if you don't mind taking me back, I would like to see my sister please" I said back softly. I had lost most of my motivation to do much else here anyways.

"Absolutely hon, let's go home" Eve said with a gentle smile. I gathered my stuff and followed them out the door, turning and locking it from the outside with my keys. Eve and Winston waited patiently for me to finish and then we made our way to the car. Winston opened the back door and I carefully climbed into the back seat trying to hurt myself. As soon as I was settled, he closed the door and made his way to the driver seat and started the car. He reversed out and took off in the direction of their home. I just watched as my home faded into the distance.