Jeffrey sits in the backseat of their 1992 Station-wagon.

He stares out the window. The events of the day swimming in his head, The words of Matt's conversation, His untold-secret until today of their mother's passing rolling around in bold black letters in his mind "Jeffrey is sick Gilbert, He is burning up. I'm taking him to the hospital. It'll be fine, don't you worry none. she was driving when she hit a icy patch on the road, She spun and crashed in this ditch. she wasn't wearing a seat-belt, She died. Dad probably blames you in a way.. for her death." Jeff looks over to his father, Gilbert was focused on the road, He didn't even notice his son's eyes welling up with tears, Tears that Jeff couldn't hold back. Jeff just kept hearing those words over and over in his head, Like darts to a dart board, Every-time Jeff would try to force them towards the back of his mind, They'd make their way to the front, In a blood-splattering manner, They'd just crash to the surface, Leaving Jeff in despair. Was it really my fault?, Did I really kill my mother, It was me who had forced her out in that weather, I'm the reason she got in that car, I'm the reason she drove on that road, I'm the reason...why ...my ...mother...is...DEAD. He felt like pulling his hair out. He felt like screaming. He felt like dieing.

Gilbert stops at a red-light, Jeff was wiping his tears off his face with his shirt-sleeve.

Gilbert turns on the radio, Still unaware of his son and the tears that would have been flooding the back-seat if they could.

Jeff was good at crying silently, He had years of practice. His dad hated hearing crying. He hated seeing any kind of emotion thinks Jeff, He hates me and I can understand why, If I was never born, He'd be his old self, He'd have his wife still. Hell, I wish I had never been born, My life is hell anyhow.

10 minutes had passed and Jeff was finally done with the tears, Gilbert hadn't noticed a thing, Like when ever does he notice that I need someone to talk too. I need love, But he just doesn't care, He doesn't care about me thinks Jeff.

"...When are we gonna go home?." Jeff asks softly

Gilbert looks in the car-mirror, He see's Jeff red-eyed and his nose was running.

"You alright Jeffrey?." Gilbert asks.

Jeff looks up "Yes, Sir."

With that Gilbert shrugs his concern off and starts focusing on driving again.

Jeff looks down at his lap, His shirt was wet from the many tears that he had shed.

He was embarrassed on how emotional he was being. "I'm being such a big baby, Get your-self under control Hardy. What's wrong with me?." Jeff whispers.

Gilbert comes in the apartment first, Jeff comes in later with tonight's dinner, Mickey D's.

Gilbert hadn't felt like cooking so He stopped in the drive-through and ordered two double cheese-burger meals.

Jeff sets the bag down on the counter.

"I'm gonna go make a call real quick." Gilbert announces as he takes the phone in his room for privacy.

"Gonna call that women Dad?." Jeff whispers as Gilbert shuts his door, Jeff's words unheard.

"Guess so." Jeff replies to his-self.

After dinner, Jeff heads to be by himself and the only real place for that to happen is go to his bed-room but he didn't feel like going in there, There was nothing for him to do in there and he still had the off-chance that his father would come in and begin telling him of something that he wanted done for him, Like taking out the trash or for him to turn down the music because he was trying to watch the television and couldn't hear it. Jeff decided to go ahead and take the trash out just in case Gilbert mentioned it later on.

Jeffrey sets the trash-bag beside the full dumpster.

While I'm out here, I could head on over to "the spot", I haven't been over there in a week or so. I wonder what the guys have been up to, Nothing good I bet. Thinks Jeff. He would just have to remember to keep checking his watch, He didn't want to stay over there too late and have to come back home and deal with his upset father and probably deal with a beating on-top of that.

"Jeff, Man." Micheal shouts as he gets up off the ground to greet Jeff with a handshake.

"Man, Where you been?, We haven't seen you outside of school in like forever." Chad stats.

Jeff smiles "Yeah, Just been busing hanging out with my brother." Jeff replies.

"That's cool." Jay Jay says.

"So Matthew's back from collage?." Chad asks.

"He was but...He left this morning." Jeff whispers

Chad lowers his gaze "That sucks man, I know how tight you and him used to be."

Jeff feels insulted "We're STILL tight man." Jeff shouts

Chad puts his arms up "Chill man, I didn't mean nothing by it."

Jay Jay and Micheal just stand there staring back at one another.

"...So... are you upset that he's left again?." Jay Jay asks

Jeff rolls his eyes "I don't wanna talk about it."

"Okay."

Micheal hits Jay in the shoulder

"So Jeff you wanna go to the theaters with us, We're all gonna go see that new horror flick that's out." Chad says

"Nah, I can't, I'll get in trouble with my old man." Jeff stats.

"Oh come on, It'll take us two hours, Not even that to get through watching it." Chad complains

"How are we even gonna get in there to watch it, It's a horror movie, You have to be eighteen to watch those Chad, In case you don't know it, We're only sixteen man." Jeff replies.

Chad rolls his eyes as the other guys laugh "He told you man." Micheal teases.

Chad punches him directly in the chest "Ouch" Micheal yelps.

"I've gotta a friend, He can get us in... duh." Chad stats

Jay Jay smiles "Cool, Let's go."

Jeff wouldn't mind going and if they can get in there for free, Why not take it.

"Alright, I'll go but if I get in trouble, Yall are in trouble with me got it."

"What are you gonna do shrimp." Chad whispers, A scowl on his face, His chest was all puffed out like He was up for a fight right now just for the heck of it. Just to show everyone how manly he is.

"I'm just saying, It'll be yalls fault, And I'll figure something to do to you." Jeff whispers.

"... Like what Jeff..." Chad walks up to Jeff "You gonna suck my dick or something?." Chad whispers, He sticks his tongue out in Jeffery's face, Wiggling it around before putting it back in his mouth.

"Your sick" Jeff replies back in disgust as he moves away.

"You know you want me." Chad jokes

Chad sees his friend and heads on over there, Giving us a sign to follow.

He sneaks us in through the back, We had to crawl on the theater's floor, As a precautionary,Until we got to ours seats, Right up in the front row, When we were sitting, We had to make sure we sat low in our chairs so no-one saw us after-all, We weren't legally able to watch this movie, Anyone could see that we were underage, If someone who worked here saw us, They'd ask us for ids and then it would be it, The movie over with, At-least for us. In-less we happened to have someone we could pay off. There was quite a few teenagers who worked here, I'm sure they wouldn't care who was sneaking in here just to watch a movie. After-all they were teenagers too and I'm sure they weren't incident of this either. Who hasn't sneaked in a movie theater at-least once in their lifetime.

"What movie is this." Jeff whispers

"Teresa's tattoo." Chad whispers back

"This isn't a horror man." Jeff complains.

"Only you would complain about a movie with a hot girl in a leather suit man." Micheal whispers

"I'm out of here, I don't wanna watch this, It looks stupid." Jeff replies as he gets up out of his seat.

Chad grabs his arm "What's your problem, Your gonna get us caught and it won't be our fault, It'll be yours." Chad says as he pulls Jeff back down in the seat.

Jeff pulls his arm back "Don't touch me." Jeff shouts as he stands up.

"Hey kid!." Someone shouts

"Damn it Jeff. Let's get outta here." Chad yells as he runs to the exit door.

"Hey you kids, Get back here, Your not supposed to be in here." Another theater worker shouts as he chases after the boys.

Once outside, Chad grabs Jeff's shirt collar "Damn you kid, I should punish you like your daddy does."

Jeff grits his teeth "You better let go of me."

"What are you gonna do shrimp?." Chad says

Jeff throws his arm back and punches Chad straight in the jaw.

Chad was a little surprised by the cheap-shot, Jeff never stood up for his-self before.

"Your gonna regret that punk." Chad grins a wicked smile

Jeff swallows spit and puts his fists up, He had wanted to run but Micheal and Jay-Jay was blocking the only way away and the only way out of the alley. Micheal was smiling and Jay-Jay was cheering on Chad, Like some pack of dogs cheering on their leader to bring home their day's dinner. It was insane, Jeff couldn't believe that he was even friends with them.

"Are you gonna take another shot at me shrimp?." Chad shouts. Jeff would if he had too, He may not stand up to his father but he damn sure wasn't gonna let this loser pull him around back and forth like some puppet, He was gonna show them that he wasn't just something to use. He was a person who had feelings, Emotions and he was gonna prove to them that he could fight, He wasn't some spineless, beaten-up dog. He had a backbone and he may have been scared but he was gonna defend his-self against Chad, He wasn't gonna allow him to beat him, Not like his dad does.

Chad rushes up to Jeff, He hits him in the jaw "A little pay-back punk." Chad sneers.

Jeff punches back, This time he hits Chad in the shoulder, Chad retaliates with a left hook, Hitting Jeff in the nose.

Jeff falls down and Chad starts kicking him in the stomach. Jeff starts covering up, He could feel his nose bleeding and after a few blows to his stomach and chest, His upper body began hurting too. He tried to be strong and hold in his tears. Finally Chad stops his assault and neals down to Jeffrey. "I told you, You ain't gonna do anything." Chad spits down at Jeff and the gang walks off. Leaving Jeff to regret ever trying to stand up to Chad, His best-friend or he was supposed to be but I guess not anymore. Damn straight he ain't your best-friend, He ain't nothing,He never has been, None of them have been true friends, True friends don't beat the hell out of you and then leave you in some alley to defend for yourself. They weren't my friends, I have no friends, I only have myself. Jeff thinks out-loud.

"Hey, Are you okay kid."

Jeff looks up, His eye was bleeding too, He didn't even know he had gotten punched there, Must have happened when I was trying to cover up thinks Jeff. Chad had some swift kicks, There was no-way that Jeff could cover the blows to all of them.

"Kid, Are you okay?." The man shouts again, Getting closer to Jeffery's beaten and sore body.

Jeff looks over to the direction of the man, He was a mere shadowed figure up ahead near the end of the alley.

Jeff had gotten scared, Why does this man care if I'm okay. Jeff forces his sore body up and off the cement.

"I'm okay man, Leave me ALONE!." Jeff yells as he scrambles to catch his balance.

"What those guys do to you?." The man asks

Jeff stumbles hitting the brick wall "Nothing man, DON'T YOU COME ANY CLOSER MAN."

The man stays put, It looked like he had his hands out.

Jeff eyes the man, He wasn't gonna trust him, No-way can you trust anybody.

"Why don't you let me help you kid." The man whispers.

"Yeah right, You just wanna hurt me, You STAY BACK, YOU HEAR ME, STAY BACK." Jeff shouts.

"Sure kid, I'll stay back, Sure." The man replies.

"Good, You do that." Jeff whispers as he again tries to balance, Why can't I walk Jeff whispers.

"Those kids beat you up pretty good, Didn't they?." The man stats.

Jeff coughs

"I won't hurt you kid, I promise." says the man.

"Yeah right, You just leave me alone." Jeff yells as he tries to control his nerves, His hands were shaking, His heart pounding in his chest, He figured he was having a panic attack.

"Look kid, Why not you tell me your phone number, There's a phone-booth right around the corner, I could call your parents."

"No!." Jeff answers back "I'm not letting you have my phone number and your not gonna rape me!." Jeff shouts.

The man shakes his head "I would never do something like that."

"Yeah well, How would I know that, I don't know you. Your a stranger and there's alot of sick people out here in the world." Jeff replies.

"That's true. Alright well, If you don't' want any help I guess I'll leave you alone." The man stats.

"I don't..." Jeff coughs.

"...Okay." The man whispers as he heads out the alley.

Jeff stumbles to the block, His head was killing him awell as other parts of his body.

"Man Chad you sure can fight." Jeff speaks out-loud.

"So Chad's the one who beat you up." someone whispers from a few feet away.

Jeff stops in mid-step, His face showing signs of fright, "What are you doing here again, I told you to leave me alone." Jeff says as he balls his hands up into fists. Ready for another beating if need be.

"I'm not gonna hurt you kid, I just wanna back sure your okay.."

"I told you already, I'm fine." Jeff turns around.

The man wasn't there any-longer "Hey where did you go?." Jeff whispers.

The man was once again in the front entrance of the alley-way, And yet again out-casted in shadows. Jeff was unable to see him, Just his figure but that was all.

" I thought you didn't want me around. So why'd you ask where I went, Like you wanted me to still be around." The man asks

"What, I DON'T want you around, I was just trying to figure out how you disappeared so fast." Jeff shouted.

" I didn't disappear, I just moved over here." The man replies with a drawl to his voice, It sounded like he was making fun of Jeff, At-least it did to Jeff.

"Well, Ain't you real smart." Jeff aggravatingly whispered.

"I didn't say I was smart, I just told you what I did."

Jeff stands there, He wanted the man to get out of the shadows, He wanted to see him. Why won't he come out where I can see him. Does he think I'm gonna go to him, He's crazy if he thinks that, I know what will happen. He'll snatch me up and put me in his car that's waiting there in the dark, The engine running quietly for a quick get-a-way. I know how those people work.

"... Why are you always standing where I can't see you, You got something to hide?." Jeff asks.

"...um ... How's your nose kid?." The man asks, Totally ignoring Jeff's question.

Jeff swipes his nose, And sure enough it was still bleeding "Sore and bloody." Jeff answers.

"... Yeah.." The man whispers.

"Why am I standing here, Talking to you?." Jeff demands.

"I don't know, Maybe you just want someone to talk too." The man whispers.

"What are you some shrink." Jeff asks rather rudely.

The man in the shadows actually gets a chuckle out of this "No, I'm not a doctor."

Jeff couldn't help but be intrigued by this mysterious man, Maybe that's what he wants Jeff. Jeff thinks.

The man didn't chuckle like a girl, His chuckle wasn't even really that, It was rough, Raw, Deep, Much like his voice, It sent shivers down Jeff's spinal cord.

"...So you got a car around here? or do you just walk everywhere, Waiting to find some child in help or distress?." Jeff asks Just trying to make conversation. He didn't know why, But he wanted to know more about this man.

"Are you a child? I would have thought you'd say something rather different then that." The man replies.

"Well, I guess your right, I wouldn't normally call myself a child." Jeff admits.

" I have a bike, Just around the corner from here. Near that phone-booth I told you about earlier."

"You have a bike?." Jeff laughs.

The man smiles "Yeah... I have a bike."

Jeff shakes his head "Well I guess I can't ask for that ride home then." He laughs

"Actually... It's a motorcycle, Not a bicycle as you probably thought." The man says

Jeff fiddles with his pants, His palms were sweaty.

"Well, That's cool." Jeff whispers.

"Would you like that ride home then?." The man asks

Jeff thinks about it, He really was scared to accept, After all he didn't know this man, He didn't even know what the man looked like, But He was so sore, He didn't want to have to walk all the way home.

The man checks his watch, He taps it a few times.

"If you wanna, You'll have to decide rather quickly, I've got an appointment." The man says.

"...Um...Yea..yeah.. okay..Sure..Why not." Jeff stutters.

The man chuckles again, Not like a girl or women would chuckle, No, It was so different from that. Jeff couldn't get that sound out of his mind.

"So you wanna walk with me over to the bike or..." The man steps out of the darkness, He stands outcasted in the light and Jeff almost loses his breath.

"...What..." Jeff whispers as he swipes his hands on his pants-legs, They were soaked with perspiration.

"I said do you wanna walk over to where the bike is or just stand here and I'll swing by and pick you up." The man says as he steps up closer to Jeff.

"What's your name anyway kid?." The man asks

Jeff looks a-once-over at the large man "Your huge mister." Jeff whispers.

"Well, You have manners, How about that." The man pulls out his hand "My name's Mark, Not mister, Though I do appreciate the respect."

"... Jeffrey." Jeff whispers as he places his hand in Mark's, His hand was so big, Everything about him was big.

"So you ready or are you gonna keep standing there and stare?." Mark asks.

Jeff and Mark walk side by side, Jeff couldn't help but watch the man walk, His stride was tough, He had a attitude as if to say you'd better not start nothing with me, I won't start nothing back kind of walk, Jeff watched him move in those jeans he was wearing, They hugged tightly around his large frame, He wore a black plain t-shirt with a black vest on-top of that and black steel-toed boots to Jeff's guess, He also had a black/white bandanna on and dark black sunglasses. His hair was dark black from what little Jeff could see, But he had facial hair on his chin that was a strawberry red. Jeff wished that he would take off his shades so he could see what kind of eye-color he had. I bet blue Jeff thinks.

Jeff and Mark get to the bike, Around the corner right alongside the phone booth like Mark said.

"So were you live kid anyways?."

As soon as Jeff gave directions to his place, It was time to get on. Jeff watches closely as the man pulls his long leg around the bike, He grabs the bike's handles and Jeff watches as the man lifts up his body so to get comfy, He looks at Jeff "I don't have a helmet for you, So your gonna have to hold on rather tight okay kid. I don't want nothing happening to you." Mark whispers with a smile.

Jeff needs to spit but he didn't want too, Not in-front of Mark, He might find it disgusting, And Jeff didn't want to gross the man out. He liked him. Oddly enough, He really liked him. He just doesn't know why, He felt things he didn't understand. Feelings that just all-of-a-sudden appeared when he showed his-self. His beautiful self.. Wait a minute, I didn't just think of him as being beautiful did I?. No way, I couldn't have.

"Have you changed your mind kid?"

"... What.." Jeff asks confused

"You haven't got on, Are you scared of motorcycles?." Mark asks not teasingly but just asking out of concern.

"...No.. Um.. Sorry, Just caught up in my thoughts." Jeff apologies.

"It's alright, Let's just hurry up, Remember I've got somewhere to be." Mark reminds.

"...Sure... I wont' take up too much of your time." Jeff's nerves were going crazy.

He steps up towards the bike, He was about to get on but then stops.

"I'm not gonna hurt you." Mark whispers.

"... I know." Jeff whispers.

Mark raises his eyebrow "..You do huh, I thought I was someone who was gonna rape you?." Mark questions.

"... I was wrong okay, In-less your gonna take me to your place instead of mine, Which then I guess I was right after all." Laughs Jeff.

Mark smiles "Well, I'm not planning on it kid, Like I said I'm not like that. ... Do you want me to get off so you can get on?." Mark asks.

Jeff looks down, His face a bright red "..Thanks.. That might help."

Mark does get off "Hop on." He says

Jeff carefully brings his leg around the bike and as Mark said "hops on".

Mark quickly gets back on the bike and starts the engine "Alright now, You've gotta wrap your arms around my waist, Don't worry, I won't go as fast as I usually do." Mark snickers.

"... Oh really, Funny dude." Jeff stats with a roll of his eyes.

Jeff wraps his arms around the man's body, Jeff couldn't help but feel a little awkward about the whole thing.

He was after-all practically hugging this man. But when they got to his house, Jeff was a little disappointed that he had to let go.

"Well looks like I wasn't a rapist after all." Mark jokes.

Jeff smiles "..Yep... Looks like it."

"You live here?" Mark asks.

"...Yeah." Jeff answers as he fixes his shirt that had gotten stretched up by the drive... and the hugging Mark's waist bit Jeff thinks.

Jeff stands there, Not wanting him to leave, He liked him ALOT. Even-though they just meet.

"So where do you live Mark?." Jeff asks.

"Oh... I live around here, Well... Not around here but near-by." Mark says

"...Oh...How near-by?" Jeff asks, He knew he was pushing it, The man didn't want to tell him.

As soon as Mark was gonna say something Jeff hears his father's shouts.

"Jeffery, Where the hell you been boy?." His father demands.

"I was just out." Jeff replies as he turns to face his dad.

Mark had taken up looking at his gas gauge.

"You should have been home hours ago, I was worried." Gilbert admits.

"YOU WEREN'T WORRIED ABOUT ME, YOU HATE ME, YOU THINK I WAS THE REASON MOM DIED, YOU BLAME ME." Jeff shouts, Letting out everything that he was feeling earlier in the day.

Gilbert slaps Jeff.

Mark looks up, His eyes showing anger. He doesn't want to get involved though, It wasn't his place too, Not his family.

When Gilbert grabs Jeff by the shirt, Pulling him over to the apartment building. Mark lowers his head, He starts to turn on the engine, He sits there letting the engine warm up, He looks up to gaze over at Jeff, Gilbert was still clinging on to his shirt, Littarly dragging him to the building, Jeff looked back, And Mark looked into Jeff's eyes, He was scared. Mark still didn't want to get in the way after-all he had quite a few beatings from his old man, But that was different, That was back in the day, Now-a-days no kid should have to be dealing with that, It's abuse. Thinks Mark.

Just as he thinks that, Gilbert slaps Jeff again for trying to move his hand off of his shoulder. Jeff falls down on the dirt, He was crying rather loudly now, Mark could hear him. He wasn't gonna stand for it not any longer. Mark gets off his bike.

"Hey, Let go of him." Mark shouts as he walks over to Gilbert.

"Mind your own business. I'm happy that you brought my son home but this doesn't concern you any-longer so leave. This is between my son and me." Gilbert stats.

Mark helps Jeff up "Not anymore it ain't."

TBC

So how's that for an introduction? :)

Infection13: Yeah, He sure does have no part of his mother's death, He was just a baby but grief can make you blame people, Even when they had no real blame. Thanks for reviewing! :)

Slashdlite: Yep, I agree with you, Thank you for reviewing :)

Faye-Faye-the-dream-faye: Nice to have a new reader, Thanks :) I hope Mark's appearance was a good one to read.

Birdym: Okay, I'm sorry it was boring, Hopefully this one was more entertaining?. :) Thanks for the reviews!.

Ladykale1985: Glad that you do, Thanks for the review and for reading, Hopefully you like this new chapter too.

Lita4life: Thanks, Glad that you like, Hopefully you will continue to like it, Thanks so much for reviewing.

I wanna say hi to everyone esp to the new readers, thanks for being interested, I hope I keep that interest of yours and I hope I haven't lost anyone from being late at updated, My muse just wasn't there for awhile. I'm happy to have written a new chapter and I'm looking forward to what you all think of the story's progression. :)

Don't forget to review please, It lets me know how I'm doing. That's all hope you enjoy the new chapter! =D