hey, sorry it's been a while. I meant to update sooner but my computer has been acting stupid and hasn't let me on the internet in a while and w/e. So, here's the new chap now.
Thanks for all the reviews so far and keep 'em coming.

on with the story...

CONFRONTATIONS

I woke up the next morning and smelt something coming from the kitchen. Since I was still half-asleep, I couldn't decipher what is was and the first thing I thought was 'smoke.' Iclimbed out of bed andwent straight downthe stairs, but ended up finding Jon and Thane making bacon and eggs. I sighed and slumped into a chair, seeing it was only 8:30.

"Morning J"

"Morning Thane. Jon"

"We were gonna bring you breakfast in bed," Jon said, scowling at me for 'ruining the surprise.'

"Really?" I asked, touched and surprised.

"No"

I rolled my eyes and glared at him. He just smiled and pushed some eggs and a few pieces of bacon onto a plate and handed them to me.

"Thanks"

I dug in and it was really good.

"You'll have to do this more often. Good job guys"

"Thanks"

"Yea, thanks but don't get used to it," Jon said around a mouthful of eggs.

I shrugged and kept eating. I'd take what I could get.

Jon left a little while later, taking Thane back home on his way to the garage his car was at. I did the dishes and went up to take a shower. I carefully pulled off my shirt and carefully examined the bruises on my torso. They were a deep shade of purple, with that sick yellowish, greenish color. They were sore and any big, sudden movements made them sting a little.

I turned the spray on light and stepped under the warm water, relishing in the feel of it.

I walked back to my room later with a towel wrapped around myself to find something to wear. I decided on dark blue track pants and a gray t-shirt that said BASKETBALL across the front.

I wandered downstairs and didn't know what to do. Leaving was out of the question, since Jon had my car, and I wouldn't have wanted to go anywhere anyway. I tidied up the living room a little, having nothing else to do, and went out on the porch and sat in one of the patio chairs, pulling my legs up in front of my chest and looking around.

I guess I kind of zoned out and got caught in my own thoughts because I was startled to awareness by sounds across the street. I looked up and Dom was out in his driveway starting to wash his car. I just stared at him for a while, not wanting to do anything that would bring attention to me. As was my luck, he happened to look up and see me anyway.

He set down the hose and strode purposefully across the street, across our lawn and up the porch steps. By this time I'd stood up but I couldn't bring myself to go inside because that would make things seem shadier than they already did. I just stood there calmly but my mind was going a mile a minute to think of what to say.

"Sup J?"

"Nothing"

"K... so what's the matter with you, huh?"

"Dunno," I shrugged and squinted a little against the sun.

"Uh huh...what happened to you? I barely touched you yesterday and you acted like I punched you"

"Look, it's not a big deal"

"Then tell me. If it's not a big deal that why not just tell me what's up?"

"Cuz you're just gonna think I'm a shittier person, since you already seem to think that," I shot out, hoping to get him off topic long enough to end the conversation.

"How's that?"

Damn him, he gave me no way out.

"I just got in a fight is all," I mumbled, biting my lower lip a little before remembering it was split.

I looked up and didn't miss the extremely disapproving look on his face. Now, come on, who the hell is he to talk? I seem to remember him getting thrown in jail for beating someone up and he was known to be a tough guy. No one ever wanted to piss him off. Gee I wonder why. Oh! Maybe it's because he'd beat the shit out of them.

"Don't look at me like that, Dom, ok? You don't know shit about it so stop acting so damn righteous," I told him firmly, laying it down.

He looked a little taken aback but then looked calm again. "Ok, explain it to me. Who were you fighting?"

"Macie Tran," I said automatically and then I congratulated myself. One: he'd believe it. Two: no one would talk to her to see if she backed it up because Dom wouldn't be caught dead talking to a Tran. Serious points for me.

He just looked disapproving again for a minute. I wonder if he can say 'hypocrite?' That's what he was and I had half a mind to tell him so.

"I told you not to look at me like that. Gee, talk about being hypocritical"

"This ain't about me, this is about you. You're still a kid you shouldn't be going around starting fights all the time."

Starting fights? Idiot...

"Starting fights? Right. Do you even have half a clue what happened at school on Tuesday? Do you?"

He didn't say anything.

"Well I think I'll tell you then. Macie was getting ready to beat the shit out of Alex so I tried to stop her and got caught up in it because Tristan got involved and Jon and Thane ended it. I know you think I'm the bad little rebel who tried to stir up trouble, but I wouldn't have been doing anything but going to class if Macie hadn't been messing with your cousin. And I don't think I have to go into why Macie was messing with her in the first place!"

I cringed when I added the last part but, hey, I got caught up in the moment. It felt good to just be mad at someone and let it out...but I didn't want him pissed at me. That was the last thing I wanted. In all honesty, I wanted a hug, but I didn't plan on letting him know that.

Dom looked angry for like two seconds but then exactly what I said sunk in. Then he looked sorry and embarrassed. Serves him right.

"Do you were saving Lex's neck..."

"Yea"

"Wow, uh, Jairyn... look, I owe you an apology then. I did think you started it. I dunno why, really, but I did. That's my bad and I'll talk to your dad"

"Whoa! Why?"

"Cuz I caught him outside the other day and told him about it...obviously he wasn't too happy. I'll tell him it was my mistake"

'Yea, too late for that...' I thought.

"Nah, don't bother. We already had a 'talk' about it so it's over"

"You sure? Cuz if you got in big trouble for it I'll talk to him to make it right"

"...Nah, no big deal"

I almost wanted to cry when he said that. Part of me was saying, 'good to say now, but it's a day late and a dollar short,' but the other part of me forgave him completely. In all reality, Dom really is a good guy. He just didn't know what he was doing when he was talking to my dad.

He nodded and we went quiet for a minute.

"So, what about Jon?"

"What about him?"

"Yesterday..."

Oh yea. I'd completely forgotten about it while we were talking but now it all came back. What do I say...?

"Well, I dunno what to tell you"

"The truth wouldn't hurt." He suggested.

Yea it would. I could just imagine the guilt that would spread across his face quicker than you can say 'sorry.' A twisted part of me found some kind of pleasure in the thought but it wasn't his fault.

"Well...I really don't know. You'll have to talk to him"

I didn't really feel guilty for pushing the situation to Jon. I'd taken care of my part and now Jon had to fix what he'd done. He's a good liar so he'd think of something. I was out of stories to tell.

"Ok...but you have no idea?"

"Nope, he can be a spaz, what do you want me to say?"

Dom nodded with a small frown and ran a hand over his head. "Look, I really am sorry for what I thought... I'll talk to Jon later though."

"Ok"

"Wanna come over for dinner?" he asked, turning around after going down the steps.

"Um... maybe...I don't know. I have to see what Jon and Thane are doing first but... maybe I'll stop over"

"Ok, you're more than welcome"

I nodded and he left to finish cleaning his car. I watched him for a few minutes before going back inside.

I made lunch and sat down to watch a movie, curled up at the arm of the couch, and waited for Jon and/or Thane to come home, feeling somewhat at ease.I'd given him a story that he seemed to believe and it looked like we were cool now. Hopefull it wouldn't cause any future problems.

> -> -> ->

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Jon pulled up in front of his house in high spirits. His car was going good and would be done pretty soon, so he was psyched about it. He locked the car and pocketed the keys, heading up the lawn.

"Jon!"

He turned and his spirits fell to see Dom walking across the street to him. His first thought was to ignore him and go inside, but what was to stop Dom from knocking? Besides, this had to happen sooner or later and he might as well get it over with, and he didn't look really mad. Not happy, but not mad.

"Jon, I think we gotta talk"

"Yea? Sup?"

"Dunno, I was gonna ask you the same thing man"

"Were you?" Jon raised an eyebrow as though he had no idea what Dom was talking about.

"Yea, what was up with you yesterday?"

"Nothin"

"Bull shit, nothing"

"If you're not gonna take my answers, then don't ask," Jon said simply.

"Look, I don't normally put up with people coming around my place and pulling that kind of shit, but I'm making an exception for you cuz you seemed to think you had a reason. Now if there's some misunderstanding, we're gonna clear it up right here, right now," Dom said forcefully, wanting to get to the bottom of this.

"Fuck off, alright? Sorry to disrupt whatever reality you're living in, but I don't have to discuss it with you if I don't want to"

"What the hell is this? We were cool and all of a sudden you're ready to throw down. Tell me what's up and we'll fix it."

"Nah, man. No fixing, no talking it out and making everything just perfect. Whatever you're looking for ain't happening," Jon said slowly, shaking his head, almost looking disgusted.

"Well why not? Something's up whether you're gonna say it or not. You look mad, but you're sad too, I can see it."

"Whatever," Jon turned and left. Dom was right. God, Jon so wished there was a quick solution the problem. If it was as simple as Dom thought it to be he would've done it in a second, but it wasn't. It was complicated.

"Hey!"

Dom reached out and grabbed Jon's arm to pull him back.

"Don't touch me" Jon yanked his arm around and leveled a glare at Dom.

"If we're not gonna fix it then you wanna finish it?" Dom offered, doubting the younger man would want to.

"What?"

"What? You started a fight, you should learn how to finish it."

Jon shook his head and turned away. He knew he couldn't take Dom, as much as he'd like to think he could. Jairyn was right, he was only 16 and Dom was a grown man with much more experience.

"You sure you can't tell me Jon?" Dom asked nicely as Jon walked away.

Jon almost stopped at Dom's words but kept walking confidently until he got into the house.

> -> -> -> ->

I looked up when Jon came in and didn't look away. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it. Tears brimmed his eyes but he wouldn't let them fall. Now I knew I really had heard the car pull up a while ago. He'd talk to Dom, and I knew it. I also knew he'd lied or something because Dom wasn't coming in after him. I sighed and walked over to him and gave him a big hug, not knowing what else to do.

And he cries, but you rarely see him do it

And he loves but he's scared to use it...

And he knows, he's so much more that worthless

But he needs to find the surface

Cuz he's, starting to get nervous...

This is a Call - Thousand Foot Krutch

well there it was. Another chap isn't too far off

R and R