A/N; So I know that things aren't really that interesting yet but trust me things will get better. Hopefully you guys like this.

DISCLAIMER; I do not own the Jonas Brothers, just the orginal characters and the plot.

"Are you crazy? You can't seriously be thinking about actually going back home today?" Ryleigh whispered as we made our way towards the parking lot. School was finally over and now I was dreading the thought of going back home, but I had no other choice. "Rye, I don't have a choice. If I don't go home, he'll probably come looking for me at your house and I would hate to have your neighbors talking. Please, I'll be fine." I pleaded and she hesitantly agreed. I knew that she was just worried about me and I loved her for that.

"By the way, I heard what happened between you and Nick today at lunch." I groaned at the mention of the name. The kid would not leave me alone at all!

"I swear he doesn't know when to stop does he?"

"He was just trying to help Dani. You can't blame him for that can you?" I rolled my eyes at her comment and shook my head. "Actually I can. I never asked for his help in the first place." Ryleigh scoffed and gave me a light push. We reached her car and I got into the passenger seat. She sat down at the driver's side but didn't turn on the car. I gave her a questioning look. She chuckled in response and gave me a small smile.

"Well..." she began and I groaned inwardly knowing this was something I wasn't going to like. "...we're actually waiting for Nick. He has to come over to my house and work on a project we got for Chemistry." Great, just great. As if I really needed to have him near me again. At least in school I could run, here I'm stuck and with him knowing that Ryleigh knew, I'm sure he wouldn't hesitate to ask any more damn questions.

"Hey Rye!" I grimaced at the sound of his voice and Ryleigh definitely noticed. She waved at him as he made his way over to the car and then she leaned closer to me, "Please try and be nice."

He silently got into the back seat and Ryleigh started her car. Most of the car ride was quiet except for the occasional times when Ryleigh started singing along to the words of songs playing. I was glad that it was a silent ride though, it made me calm down a bit and just think things through. Did I really want to go back home? What would be the worst thing he could do if I stayed at Ryleigh's again? I don't think he would drive over to her house and take me home, he knew all too well that her neighbors were nosy and always into people's business. I'm actually pretty surprised that none of our neighbors asked questions. I'm sure you could hear the yelling and things crashing and breaking from my house, then again, my house is sort of isolated I guess. How convenient right? Anyways he wouldn't dare go to Ryleigh's house, right? She knows about what he does to me and is just dying to call the cops on him. The only reason she hasn't done it yet is because I've pleaded her not to so many times. But what would happen if I do go? Probably get an even worse beating than yesterday and I don't think I can handle another one. But maybe I did have a choice.

I must have been lost in my thoughts the whole ride to my place because the next thing I knew, Ryleigh was shaking me slightly. "Dani, are you sure you want to stay here?" her eyes were full of concern and worry. I thought about it for a long moment, looking up at the cream-colored house. Did I really want to stay in that house?

"Don't go." his soft voice made me suddenly turn to look at him. I had forgotten he was there and now looking at him I noticed that his eyes matched Ryleigh's. I felt confused for a second. Why was he so concerned about me, no one other than Ryleigh has ever cared, so why him now? I don't even know him. I shook my head and looked away from both him and Ryleigh, up to the house again. "I'll be fine..."

"No you won't! We all know what your dad would do if you stay in your house tonight so please don't go."

"Nick for the last time, my dad isn't going to do anyth-"

"Could you please stop telling me that!" his sudden outburst left both Ryleigh and me with looks of shock on our faces, but he didn't stop there. "I know your dad beats you. I've known for a while now, I didn't just find out today..."

Did he just say what I think he just said? He knew about my father even before Ryleigh slipped it out. But how? Well duh, not everyone is stupid enough to believe those retarded stories but still how come he suddenly brought it up today? He was probably waiting for me or Ryleigh to somehow prove his thoughts or something and I guess when Ryleigh accidentally let it slip it was what he needed to come out and say that he knew.

I couldn't say anything to that though, it was like I suddenly lost my voice. All I could do was stare at him. Ryleigh however, quickly composed herself and broke the silence. "How did you find out?" I shot her an angry glare and she returned my stare with a heavy sigh. "There's no point in denying it anymore Dani, he knows." she turned to look at Nick, and raised an eyebrow, telling him to answer her.

"Come on Rye, I'm not stupid. You couldn't really expect me to believe all her bogus stories about fights and stuff?" he sighed.

"Look, you can't tell anyone, not even your brothers. It's bad enough that her dad knows that I know, we don't need more people knowing about this, it would just make things worse for her." Ryleigh said and he slowly nodded.

"Why doesn't she just call the cops on him?" Ryleigh shrugged and I scoffed, but neither seemed to notice. "I don't know, I've tried getting her to go to the cops but she refuses saying that it isn't an option. I think she's afraid of what he may do to her..." she trailed off.

"Uh, hello I'm right here you know." They didn't look at me, as if I wasn't even there. Seriously this was all starting to get on my nerves. I sucked in a large amount of air and slowly exhaled. We were still in front of my house and all I had to do was get out of the car and go inside, then they would just leave right? They wouldn't even notice seeing as they were in their own little conversation.

I quickly grabbed my bag and opened the car door. I was surprised that neither of them had tried to stop me from trying to get out. Then I heard it. I was just reaching my front door when I heard a car door open and someone running up to where I was. I felt the person touch my shoulder and I turned around meeting a pair of dark brown eyes. "You're not going to stay here." was all he said before he gripped my arm and tried to get me to go back to the car.

I knew that he didn't mean any harm from it but that one simple action was what made me freak out. "Don't TOUCH me!" I yanked my arm from his grasp and collapsed on the ground. I could feel the tears as they slid down my face. Why couldn't I just say that to my father? It had come out so easily right now so why was it so hard to say it to him?

Because you're too fucking scared of your father that's why.

"Dani, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you..."

I heard another door slam shut and I knew that it was Ryleigh this time. She walked over to me and knelt down beside me, placing her hand around my shoulder cautiously. My body relaxed at her touch, I only tensed up whenever a guy touched me in the slightest way. She rubbed the side of my arm softly and I looked up to look at Nick as she spoke. "She gets freaked out whenever a guy comes close to her. It's alright though, you didn't know." He nodded his head showing that he understood. Ryleigh helped me up and walked me over to her car. I was in no mood to argue about staying anymore, if they didn't want me to stay here then what was the point of fighting it. I would have to deal with what my dad had in store for me anyways but I preferred for it to be later...much later.

/

I've spent the this past week at Rye's house, trying my best not to think about what was waiting for me at home. My father called plenty of times, each time leaving an even more threatening voice message about how I was going to get it as soon as I went home, but never once did I call him back. Though I knew it only made him angrier, I couldn't find it in myself to call him. I knew that if I did call him, that he would just say things that would only make me break down again.

Most of the time, when I was alone in the guest room, I would think back to how my life used to be. My father wasn't the same person he was today, he was caring and strong and reliable, everything a good father should be. But that all disappeared as soon as my mother walked out of our lives. My mother was and always will be a druggie and when she used to go on rants and take things out on me, my father would be there to protect me. He used to be my best friend but now he was the one thing I feared the most. He didn't turn to alcohol or drugs like most people thought he would after my mom left us, but he did take out all of his frustrations on me. It seemed to work out so well fro him. He was still known as one of the best surgeons out there and everyone thought I had rebelled against everything because my mom left us. I still remember the first time he ever hit me; the day my mom left.

"Why would you do this to me?" he asked, his voice angry and sad at the same time.

My mother just laughed at him, "Because I don't love you! I never did, you were just here to give me money so I can get my drugs. Just a financial support for me." She found the look on his face amusing as she let out another laugh. She made a grab for her bags but his voice stopped her just before she reached the door.

"Don't do this..." he pleaded. "Think about Daniela. What would she think if she doesn't see her mother anymore?"

My mom scoffed and looked at me, an evil grin spreading across her face. "I don't give a shit about the little brat. She was nothing more than a mistake to me." Even if I was just five years old, her words hurt me so bad. It felt as if she had taken a knife and just stabbed me right then and there, not caring how much pain she was causing. My eyes started to get wet as I watched her walk out the front door. That would be the last time I saw my mother, and also the last time I would ever see my father.

The second she walked out the door, it was like he had as well. Like someone else had taken over him. He as not the same person that he was just minutes earlier and I could see it in his eyes as he turned to look at me. His eyes were full of hate and he made his way towards me. He was no longer my best friend.


"This is all your fault! Because of you, your mother left. I knew we should have never had you in the first place, before you things were great." he sneered.

"Daddy, why are you being so mean?" Fear began to overtake me as he got closer and closer to me. I backed away but there was only so far I could go before I would back into the wall. I looked around the room and made a run for the stairs but he caught me before I even made it and threw me against the wall. My tears were now beginning to fall and I could feel my body start to hurt from the crash.

"It's all your fault!" was what he kept on repeating.

"I'm sorry da-" he had slapped me across my face before I could finish my sentence. I reached up and touched my cheek, wincing in pain as I stroked where he had just hit me. He's never hit me before. "You're sorry? Hah, well sorry isn't good enough you little runt. You ruined everything and now you're going to pay!" His voice was cold and the look in his eyes were empty.

I tried to run again, but soon learned that it was a mistake when he kicked me down and punched my stomach. I winced and cried, trying to gasp for air but he didn't stop. He continued to hit me until I laid there on the living room floor unconscious...

"Dani..." I looked up to see Nick standing by the door. I had grown to like him as a person though I still had my guard up. He had kept his promise about not saying anything to anyone and I was glad. He came over everyday to work on the project with Ryleigh and I would join them and we would talk a little.

I still wouldn't say anything about my dad though, I tried my best to stay off that subject and anything close to it. I didn't like spending too much time with them though, I always felt him staring at me and I was so sure he was trying to read me, like he could see through me or something.

He had his hands in the front pockets of his black skinny jeans and he just stood there, looking at me. His eyebrows furrowed together as he studied my face.

"Are you crying?" I reached a hand up to my face and sure enough it was wet from tears. I turned away and tried to wipe them away before shaking my head. "No." I could hear him sigh and I looked back at him. He walked closer to me from my place on the floor but still kept his distance from me. He knew that was what I wanted... for him to keep his distance. Yet I couldn't help the feeling of wanting to go and hug him and apologize for yelling at him all those times. I wanted to cry and have him hold me and tell me everything was alright. I've never been close to a guy before and hell I never wanted to get close to one either, but there was something about him that made me want to get close and open up to him. And to be honest, that scared the shit out of me.

"Stop lying, you were crying. Why?" I looked at him, his dark brown eyes were now a light caramel color, and they were very intense. I looked away not being able to keep contact with him.

"I was just thinking..."

"About what?" He was a very curious guy wasn't he?

"...about my dad...and mom and stuff." Dammit! Why the hell did I just say that? I'm supposed to have a guard up, to have a wall between us. I'm not supposed to be telling him about what I was thinking. I mentally kicked myself hard for being so stupid.

"What about them?" I shrugged my shoulders and noticed from the corner of my eye that he had moved closer to me. "Just about the night my mom left. It was the night that he started beating me...I was only five." Shut up!! I groaned out loud and then smacked my forehead when I realized what I had done. Nick's eyes grew wide, I don't think he was expecting me to be so young.

"You've been going through this for eleven years..." it wasn't a question, more like a statement but I still nodded.

There were a few moments of silence and I was beginning to wonder just exactly why he was here in the first place. Didn't he have a project to work on? Before I could even ask him, he opened his mouth and asked the question in which Ryleigh has asked so many times. "Why don't you report him?" There was no way I was telling him, I never even told Ryleigh why. Unfortunately my mouth seemed to be ahead of my brain and before I could stop myself I had ended up blurting out an answer.

"I've lost my mom already..I don't want to lose him too. I know he hurts me but he's the only thing I have left..." my focus moved to the beige carpet, it seemed more interesting now than ever before. Stupid tears were threatening to fall yet again but I held them back. Nick stayed silent for a moment and I guessed that he was thinking of something to say but when I looked up at him he looked as if he was deep in thought, like he was debating on whether to do something or not. The next thing I knew, he had wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to his chest. I would have freaked out again like I had a couple of days earlier but for some reason I didn't.

"No you don't Dani. You have Ryleigh...and me..." he trailed off and that was all it took for the tears to flow. A few sobs escaped my throat and he just held me tighter. In that moment, for the first time in a long while, I felt safe. Why did he have such an effect on me?