Chapter Five

I do not know HG characters/cast etc or I don't own them, blah blah... I do own Kristin, her dad, Steven and every other non-HG related person.

Thanks for the reviews, both good and bad. Keep up comin' but remember however many reviews I get has nothing to do with how fast hte chapters come up, sometimes it might take a while but hopefully not! In this chapter, Kristin's other (not the beating one) secret is told (not openly, in a dream) and she gets into a fight with someone.

Note: Jon is pronounced "shawn" in my story because that's how my friend's name is spelled, and a lot of the character names are based on my friends, but you can pretend is John or whatever you want:)

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"Umm...what is this?" Kristin muttered, not directing the question to anyone, but Shelby spoke up. "Meat loaf. It's like, the only thing actually BAD here, most of it it's pretty good. Not like cafeteria food, right?" She asked. "Not exactly. All of our food was pretty much unreconizable." She said. She went back to her 'meatloaf' but ate the roll only. "So, do we have to wait until a specific time to leave?" She asked Scott since Shelby was talking to Daisy. "Naw. Just go drump your tray and go to wherever you have to. In your case, Peter and Sophie's office." Scott said, turning back to his conversation with Auggie. She wasn't the only one leaving. A few Trackers were leaving. Including fifteen-year-old Jason McGarmie. He was one of those kids who would fight you if you said 'hi' in the wrong tone-girl or boy, 18 years old or 8 years old.

Kristin, worried about the meeting with Peter and Sophie accidently bumped into him. He turned around as his tray dropped. Anyone who heard the tray started looking at Jason, who towered over the 12-year-old by at least half a foot. "I'm sorry." She said, not really meaning it, just wanted to get out of there. "What'd you say, kid?" He demanded, getting on his tough attitude to impress the other kids. "I said I'm worry!" she yelled, tired of taking everyone's crap. He shoved the tray out of hand, but she still didn't move. "What are you, slow?" He asked loudly. She still didn't answer. She was just going to keep her mouth shut for once. He pushed her- hard. "Leave...me...alone..." she said slowly. He shoved her again. "I told you to leave me alone!" She yelled and flung herself at him. She pushed him, but her thin arms were no match for the hard punch he gave her in her stomach. She nearly doubled over in pain but she tried to punch him but she felt strong hands grab her arm. It was Peter. "Goodie!"... she muttered.

10 Minutes Later

"Jason, you knew it was inappropriate to even shove her, she's 3 years younger than you and a lot smaller!" Peter yelled at Jason. They were in his office and Kristin and Sophie were in the nurse's office and Sophie was checking over her back to see if there were any bruises from crashing against the table. Kristin refused to let her at first, even going as far as to back against the wall and threaten to kick her. Sophie calmed her down, promising she wasn't going to hurt her, just checking her lower back.

"Well, I didn't notice any bruises that would have been from a table, but I did notice some swelling, welts, scratches and bruises." Sophie told Peter when Kristin and them were in his office. It was their regular meeting. She had been let off easy-no punishment- because it was her first day, and because Jason had started it.

Kristin looked down at her hands. Don't make eye contact...eye contact BAD!/i she told herself, trying to humor herself for once. "Can you tell us why, Kristin?" Peter asked. He was extremely tired from the days events...a new kid, a 12-year-old with to many secrets for her own good, and she's already in a fight. This kid was going to be a tough one, he told himself. "Nope." She said simply, shrugging. Sheyn wasn't kidding! he told himself again. "Hey, Kristin, anything you tell us is between us. Your brother, your dad or mom or friends will ever find out. Won't you feel better talking to us?" Sophie tried. Kristin's eyes became wide at the mention of her brother-Steven-and her father. "NO." She said, more strongly now. Sophie glanced at Peter. Peter looked sad. He hated to see kids suffer. When he was in rehab, he saw guys that were in there for beating, molesting, and neglecting their kids, and he wanted to kill each and every one of them. He looked at Kristin again. "Are you sure you don't want to tell us anything?" Damn it! She thought. "Y-E-S-" she said, still not looking up. "Okay. Can you find Scott-he should be in his dorm-and tell him to come here. Do you know where it is?" "Yes." She muttered.

She went off in search of Scott. It was kind of cold, so she wrapped herself in her sweat shirt. She walked to the boys' dorm and knocked on the door. She didn't know what to do, so she just..knocked. "You may enter!" a mocking, high-pitched voice called. Kristin shook her head. It was Auggie. "Yo, Kristin!" Auggie called. He was sitting on his bed, flipping through some magazine. "Hey." She said. Ezra was at his desk, catching up on some last-minute homework. Scott was just coming out of the bathroom. "Hey, kid!" he called. "Hi." She said again. "Does Peter and Soph want me now?" He asked, getting on a jacket. "Yeah." She said. "Okay. I think he told me he wanted to talk to you at the same time, I'm not sure, so wait right there." He said and put on some shoes. "Bye, Homes!" Auggie yelled. "Bye, Auggie." Scott said, shaking his head. Auggie couldn't do anything quietly.

"Do you think they are really mad at me?" Kristin asked on the way back to the office. "Probably not." Scott muttered. He was thinking on what she said earlier, about trust. "Oh. Okay." She said. When they got there Peter and Sophie were looking through some files. Kristin didn't doubt they were hers. "Did you need me again?" Kristin asked. Peter and Sophie glanced at each other, and gave each other a look that said "She won't talk with Scott here, and he won't tell us anything she said with her here." "Um, nope. Do you remember when classes begin for you?" Peter asked. "Yeah. 9:00 in your office." She muttered. School was fine with lots of kids, she could shrink down in her seat and the teacher would ignore her, not wanting to start a fight with anyone saying something to upset her. With one kid it was going to be impossible to be ignored. "Right. I'll have your books. Go get some sleep." Peter said as Sophie was putting the files up. Kristin walked to her dorm.



In the dorm:

"What do you think of the new girl?" Shelby asked as she was getting ready for bed. "I think she's kind of messed up." Daisy said. "We all were/are, Dais..." Jules said. "We didn't get into fights our first days," Daisy pointed out. "But I guess she's alright. She doesn't talk. I wonder why she is here? I saw bruises and she flinches a lot, but it could be from sports." Daisy said. "I don't think it's sports. Scott told me something she said. She doesn't trust anyone, and she is a cutter. Not with knives, as far as he knows, but with sowing pins. That 12-year- old must be one screwed up little kid." Shelby said, shaking her head. Usually she found joy in things like this, but Kristin was different.

Kristin walked in. "Hey, kid!" Kat called. I wish people would stop calling me 'kid'! She growled to herself, not saying it aloud. "hi." She answered, going straight for her bed. "So, what's your story?" Shelby asked. "None of your-" "Lights out!" Peter called from outside. "Nice one, Kid." Shelby muttered and got in her bed and turned off her light. In about 5 minutes, all the lights were out.

Kristin was asleep within 5 minutes of her head touching the pillow. She woke up Shelby with her twisting and turning and occasional cries for help.

***Dream***

"Hey, kiddie!" Kristin heard her brother call her name softly. She was 6. "Yea, Steven?" She asked. She was extremely tired, it had been her last day of kindegarten and they had many parties. "Are you scared of the storm?" He asked, moving closer to the bed. "Yeah, Stevie. Where's mommy and daddy?" She asked, although she could care less where her 'daddy' was. "Mommy's in California, remember? Daddy's gone somewhere with a friend." Steven had said, moving closer to her bed. "Oh. I miss mommy!" She cried. Steven sat on her bed and started stroking her hair. "I know I know..shhh..." he said, pulling her covers down. "When is mommy getting home?" She asked, tears coming down her face. She had bruises on her back and a black eye from her father and she hadn't seen her mom in over 2 weeks. "I don't know, Kristin." He said, climbing under the covers. "Do you want to play a game?" He asked. "Yeah!" She said. "But you can't tell ANYONE. It's just between me and you. It's a special brother/sister game." Said 12-year-old Steven. "What is it-don't do that!" She cried as he tugged at her pants. "Hey, I thought you wanted to play the game?" "I do-but not a game that hurts!" She cried again as he started at her knee and moved up...

**End of dream***

"Ah! No...stop, Steven, it hurts! Please, don't do that!" Kristin called in her sleep. "No! I won't tell anyone..just don't!" She cried, tossing and turning. Shelby tip-toed over to Kristin's bed and knelt by her. "Hey...hey, Kristin, wake up!" She said, gently shaking her. She reminded her of Jess, her 14-year-old sister. She would have nightmares about their father raping them. No matter what Shelby's usual tough-girl attitude, she suddenly had a soft spot for Kristin. "Hey! Wake up!" She said a little louder, shaking her just a bit harder. "Oww! Stop!" Kristin cried, waking up and sitting up. She was crying a little, her back hurt and her dream had terrified her. "hey...what's wrong? What was in that dream? You were crying and tossing and screaming..." Shelby said, trailing off. Kristin just sat against the bed, trying to dry her tears. She hadn't had a nightmare in a week, since her brother had last visited her. "Do you want me to get Sophie or Peter?" Shelby asked. Kristin just shook her head. She stopped crying and felt ashamed of herself. She had never cried in front of people except her Dad before. She went back to sleep, nightmare-less...