Chapter Three!

Ronnie walked with Simon through the crowded school hallway the next morning. Simon's homeroom was conveniently right next door to Ronnie's, so the two usually made their way to class together. Simon had wanted to ask Ronnie a question all morning, but wasn't sure if he should. He didn't want to assume things that may not even be true, and he especially didn't want to upset Ronnie in any way.

Ronnie caught Simon's gaze shifting over to look at her every few seconds as they approached their classrooms. Ronnie stopped in the middle of the hallway and stared hard at her adoptive brother.

"Are you going to tell me why you keep staring at me, or are you going to keep giving me the creeps?" She asked, crossing her arms. Simon laughed nervously.

"Sorry." He said simply. Ronnie raised an eyebrow, waiting for Simon to say something; anything. Simon sighed.

"Look, I just noticed you seemed weird at dinner last night. Distracted. Matt noticed it too. He asked me if you were okay so-"

"So Matt told you to ask me if I was okay." Ronnie assumed, knowing Matt was sometimes sneaky like that. Simon shook his head quickly.

"No! Well, I mean he did ask me to make sure, but hey, I wanted to make sure too." He replied. Ronnie shook her head with a giggle.

"So this is what brothers do for their sisters?" She asked. Simon shrugged.

"So, are you okay?" He asked again, shuffling his feet. Ronnie remembered meeting Chad's father and how uncomfortable it had felt, but Ronnie had refused to allow herself to think about it anymore. It was over now.

"I'm okay Simon. I was just thinking about some stuff." Ronnie said as she clutched her binder tightly.

"Like what?" Simon asked. Ronnie rolled her eyes.

"Simon Camden, you are so nosy." She said with a laugh.

"I just want to make sure you're okay." Simon admitted seriously. Ronnie smiled.

"Thanks Simon. I'm okay. I'll let you know if that changes." She turned to her classroom. "I'll see you after school."

Chad Delano arrived late for homeroom, running through the classroom door quickly, almost tripping over his own feet.

"Chad, I hope you have a late slip." Ms. Frente said as she put her hands on her hips. Chad reached into his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper, handing it over to his teacher. He panted as he made his way to his desk. He sat down and stared straight ahead, avoiding Ronnie's eyes. Ronnie couldn't take her eyes off him, because on his left cheek was a puffy, purple bruise the size of a baseball!

"Chad." Ronnie whispered. Chad closed his eyes and pretended he didn't hear her.

"Chad." Ronnie said again, a little louder.

"Veronica, that's enough! I'd like to start the lesson now." Ms. Frente snapped as she stared hard at Ronnie. Ronnie sunk back in her seat and didn't say a word. She could only stare at her best friend, desperate for answers, for the rest of the period.

"Chad, wait up. Chad!" Ronnie chased her best friend out of the classroom at the end of the period. He had left the room without a word, and without waiting for Ronnie like he usually did.

"Chad stop!" Ronnie put her hand on Chad's shoulder as she finally caught up with him. Chad stopped and hesitated for a moment before he turned around to face his friend.

"Chad what is going on with you?" Ronnie asked with sad eyes. "Why are you trying to stay away from me?" Chad rolled his eyes and turned his face.

"I knew you'd ask questions." He said coldly.

"I'm supposed to ask questions, Chad, I'm your best friend. At least, that's what I thought." Ronnie replied sadly. Chad immediately felt guilty as he looked into the misty eyes of Ronnie, who was always so emotional.

"Don't cry Ron, of course I'm your best friend." Chad said, sounding like himself again. Ronnie looked at him with crossed arms.

"What's with the bruise?" She asked, as if she hadn't heard him.

"It's nothing Ron; it's just a bruise." Chad said, turning to leave.

"It's not nothing Chad!" Ronnie screamed loudly to his back. The passing crowd in the hallway stopped and so many eyes were staring at her. Chad turned and stared hard at her, obviously shocked by her outburst. She was always so quiet; never wanting to draw too much attention to herself. Ronnie felt her face feel hot as she looked at all the people staring. She saw Lucy's face in the crowd; she had that familiar look of worry. Ronnie sighed and grabbed Chad's arm, pulling him away from the crowd. She pulled him over to her locker.

"What happened?" Ronnie whispered once they were out of earshot from the rest of the crowd. Chad sighed.

"I told you it's nothing Ron." He said as he averted his gaze. Ronnie was getting frustrated, and upset as memories of her own past came to her, causing her to remember all the lies she had to tell about her bruises.

"Chad, you know I was abused growing up. I know what it's like, and you can't tell me that bruise was accidental. It looks like somebody…punched you." She said, hoping Chad wouldn't get angry or upset.

"Ronnie…"

"Did your dad do it?"

"Ronnie, don't."

"Did your dad do it?" Ronnie raised her voice slightly above her whisper. Chad was quiet, as he stared into Ronnie's inquisitive, caring eyes. Ronnie saw pain in his eyes, almost hidden, but there.

"Chad, you can tell me. Does your dad hit you?" Ronnie asked quietly. Chad hesitated as he looked at his best friend. He saw that she genuinely cared for him, and wanted him to trust her.

"Look Ronnie, you can't tell anyone, okay? Anyone!" Chad hissed in a low whisper; fear was written all over his face. A look she was all too familiar with. Ronnie could feel her heart beating faster, as she shook her head disbelievingly.

"Are you telling me your father hits you?" She asked again, as though she needed to be sure. Chad sighed and was acting nervously, as he continuously shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Yeah, but look, I make him mad. It's my problem, so I have to deal with it." He said as he never looked Ronnie in the eye. Ronnie felt his pain so intimately, it hurt her.

"Chad, what he's doing is wrong." Ronnie said, feeling tears in her eyes as she remembered all the horrible things her parents did to her.

"Don't get upset Ron. I'll be fine. Listen you cannot tell anyone."

"But Chad, maybe-"

"Promise me Ronnie." Chad put his hands on Ronnie's shoulders and stared hard at her with desperate blue eyes. Ronnie didn't know what to say.

"You care about me, don't you Ron?" Chad asked. Ronnie felt a tear roll down her cheek.

"With my whole heart." She answered simply.

"Then promise me, this stays between us." Chad waited and finally Ronnie nodded, without thinking. She regretted it immediately as Chad breathed a sigh of relief, hugging her tightly.

"Thanks Ron, you're the best." He checked his watch. "We'd better get to class before we're late. I don't want to be late twice." Chad left Ronnie standing there with tears in her eyes as she watched him walking down the hall. She sighed to herself. What have I done?