NOTE TO READERS: I know, it's been WAY too long. I'm really sorry, but the next TWO chapters are done. Finals and school are FINALLY over with. So, anyway.I hope you like the next chapters, and thanks for all who are sticking by me. If you want to be alerted for when my next chapters are up, leave me your email address, and I'll email you when I update. Well.on with the story..

Everything seemed to be in slow motion when Dave felt that first blow to his face, but things sped up as the second one came, soon followed by the third. Dave didn't just sit there and take it though, he fought back, and as best he could, which turned out to be quite well, surprisingly. When Dave's fist hit Danny's nose, hard and fast, he had to stand back from the shock. Seeing the blood from his own nose enraged Danny even more, as he seemed to go in for the kill.

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The only sound coming from the car was the faint breathing of both Matt and Kate, after driving around for a little while in silence. Through the rain, it was hard to see where they were, but it didn't seem to matter. Neither seemed able to speak, and Matt questioned his willingness to involve Kate even farther into his problems. Matt wished someone could understand all the mixed emotions, thoughts, and feelings going through his mind. No one knew what was going through his head, most of time Matt didn't even know.

As he looked into Kate's shimmering eyes, the tears built up inside him; all the emotions inside him came tumbling out as he cried upon her shoulder, his arms draped around her shoulders. Kate patted his head gently, comforting him as best she could.

"Shh, shhh.." Kate said, calmly, but with tears swelling up, "Matt, it'll be ok."

Matt turned away, fiercely, as if ashamed, "I shouldn't be like this. Why am I acting so selfish? Lizzie's the one who deserves to cry, to be broken inside, not me. I'm such a baby!!" Then directed at himself he continued, "STOP MATT!"

"Matt, listen to me!" While placing her hands on his shoulders, Kate turned him so their faces were only inches apart. "You are NOT a baby! Your sister is hurting inside; you have a right to feel pain, just like she does. Don't ever feel guilty about your tears, don't ever try to hide them." Then, she let go of him, looking down at herself; she began ever so slowly to pull back the sleeve of her baggy shirt, revealing a hidden secret. She whispered, "Or you'll end up like me."

Matt looked down, at the marks of red all over her arm. He tried not to stare; thinking it would be best to avoid them. When Kate saw his nervous state, she told him of the pregnancy and abortion. "Shortly after the abortion, it got worse, and with the rumors spreading through school and the friends I thought I had ditching me, I felt I didn't have any where else to turn." Now Kate felt the rush of shame brushing over her, as she turned away from him.

"Kate.." Surprisingly, his voice was neither scared nor angry, as Kate had expected it would be, only concerned and serious. She looked into his eyes, those eyes that pulled her into his mind, his soul, and most importantly, his heart.

Suddenly, there was an abrupt bang on the hood of Kate's car, breaking the trance between the two, as they watched the scene unfolding before their eyes.

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Dave screamed in pain as Danny shoved him on the hood of the unknown car, but retaliated by pushing Danny away with his legs against his stomach. As Danny and Dave rushed towards each other, a shadowy figure, wearing a dark brown trench coat ran between them, pushing them both to the ground. The teenagers, including the two in the car stared into the eyes of the mysterious man, breathing hard in shock, but only Matt could speak.

"Dad?!"

Sam McGuire froze at the sound of his name; he suddenly realized, his hood had fallen off and his cover blown. He stared at his son, tears building up in both pair of eyes, as the others stood in silence, unsure of what to say, or do, but stare.

Sam quickly glanced down, to see Dave lying on the ground, nose covered in blood, and Danny's eyes swelling up. "What's this all about?"

With no answer, only stares, Sam ignored his own question.

Sighing, Sam picked them both off the paved parking lot, and brought them to the car. Kate assisted putting them in the back seat, while Matt looked in awe at his father, unable to speak. Once both Dave and Danny were settled, and Kate, back in the drivers seat, Sam finally spoke.

With the rain pouring down, the window opened wide, and eight eyes gazing at him, he spoke two words, to all of them, but seeming to focus only on Matt. "I'm sorry," and then he disappeared, into the night.