Chapter Ten: Breaking

Craig

I took all my medication for that stupid STD and it thankfully worked. I waited until I was all clear to bitch Ashley out; something I did in the privacy of the alley behind the school. She actually tried to get me to go back to the ravine with her. I walked away, glad that I wasn't as ignorant as she was. And now I'm finally free!

My last day of being grounded was Tuesday night. On Wednesday I had to help Alex and the rest of the Equality club plan for a day of silence they were holding. They were going all out—making and handing out fliers and t-shirts—and I had to find a company to make the shirts for a good price. Then on Thursday night, I actually sat down and did all my homework. Emma came over to study, and we stayed at the kitchen table upon Emma's request—not my parents'. She invited me over to her house for dinner the next night.

My last class on Friday went by way too slow. I ran out of the school and headed straight home—I'd been walking to and from school for awhile now because it gave me some time to think—and I didn't have to wait for Alex because she was getting a ride with Ellie (and they were making a pit stop anyway).

I was only a few blocks from the school when I heard someone driving up behind me. I turned around and saw Sean. I waved as he pulled up to the sidewalk. He got out and walked towards me.

"Hey Sean," I said. But the look on his face wasn't friendly at all. He came at me and shoved me so hard that I fell. "What the hell is your problem?" I yelled.

"You gave her Chlamydia?" he yelled right back. I stood up and got in his face.

"WHAT?"

"You gave my girlfriend a fucking STD. That's not fucking cool," he shouted.

"What the hell are you talking about? She gave it to ME!" I screamed.

"That's bullshit Craig! Ashley slept around but she was always safe. She didn't have anything!"

"You keep telling yourself that," I spat. "But we all know the real truth."

That earned me a punch in the face. I couldn't see out of my right eye but at least he didn't break my nose. Instead of punching him back, I just turned around and walked away. I knew it would piss him off more than anything; he wanted a fight.

I also knew he wouldn't just let me walk away. I felt his hands on my back as he pushed me to the ground. I just lay there and let him jump on me, punching me repeatedly. I didn't do anything at all besides lie there. I was paying myself back for not helping Alex that day she got beat up.

"Hey!" I heard someone yell. "Stop!"

By then my eyes were closed and I felt like I was going to pass out. I felt someone pull Sean off of me but I didn't know who it was. I didn't hear anything they were saying to each other, but eventually I did hear a car speeding away.

"It's safe to open your eyes," whoever it was said from above me. I opened my left eye—since I couldn't open the other one—and looked up. I saw Jay standing there. He extended his hand and helped me up.

"Thanks," I muttered before I kept walking. I only got a few steps before I almost fell down again.

"Hey man, you okay?" he asked me.

"I'm fine." I leaned against a tree for support.

"Come on, I'll help you get home," he said, grabbing my arm.

"I said I'm fine!" I snapped, pulling away from him.

"Okay, so you don't like to be touched. How about I walk next to you in case you pass out. Is that okay with you?" he asked, stepping back a little.

"Whatever," I grumbled. I hated the fact that Jay helped me. I wanted Sean to just beat the shit out of me so I'd know what it felt like to be Alex that day; and Emma the day she was almost…

"So why was Sean trying to kill you?" he asked me suddenly.

"That's not really any of your business," I said. "Why did you even help me?" I asked.

"That's not really any of your business," he told me. I had to laugh at that.

"You're full of shit, you know that?"

"So are you."

We walked all the way home in an awkward silence and went our separate ways when I got to my steps.

"Hey Jay!" I called after him across the street.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

He grinned and walked away down the sidewalk. I think I just made a real friend.

Jay

"So you actually have another friend besides me now?" Paige asked. I'd visited her at work a few hours after I found Craig getting his ass kicked.

"Very funny Paige. And you still only have one friend," I shot back.

"I don't care. One really great friend is a lot better than a million shitty ones," she said, smirking.

"I still feel shitty for not inviting you bowling the other night," I told her. "Emma didn't even want me to go. She asked me as a last resort to make even teams."

"It's okay. Bowling and I don't really mix anyway. Besides, I know you'll make it up to me. Is Emma still pissed at you for telling Craig?"

"Yep. She forgave him and she's dating him but she can't forgive me? Girls really suck sometimes."

"Yeah, so do boys."

"Whatever," I said, rolling my eyes. "You want to stay over tonight? My mom said she didn't mind. Of course, she doesn't really make decisions like that anyway."

"That sounds better than sitting around with Steve," she admitted. "I'll take that offer. Can you bring me by my house to get some stuff after I'm done here?"

"Sure. Call me when you're ready to go."

I invited Paige to stay over my house as much as I could. Steve, her stepfather, was a real jerk and I knew she hated being around him. I felt really bad for her. She used to have everything she could ever want. Of course, that was way back in middle school. It was only about three years ago, but a lot can change in three years.

Paige lived with both of her parents. They were great people; they always looked out for her and gave her everything she needed. Her dad was a cop and her mom was a teacher. But during the summer after seventh grade, her dad was shot and killed on duty.

Paige and I were best friends back then too. She and her mom took his death really badly. Her mom stopped going to work and started going to bars. Paige locked herself up in her room most of the time and wouldn't even talk to me. I finally got her to talk to someone about it, and she slowly got better. She accepted the fact that he wasn't coming back, but he loved her and he would always look out for her.

Unfortunately, her mother didn't take it so well. She did eventually get a new teaching job, but she still went to the bar every night. The year we started high school, she met Steve, and they got married two months later. Ever since then, he's made Paige's life hell, but she still hangs in there. And my mom loves her, so it's much better if she just stays at my house.

While I waited for Paige to get out of work, I decided to go to The Dot. Since I'd turned sixteen a few weeks before, I'd been looking for a job but hadn't found a decent enough one. I figured I'd try to be a waiter or a cook. When I got there, I walked up to the register where that redhead Ellie was standing.

"Loser alert," I heard someone comment from the nearest table. I didn't have to look to know it was Manny, but I just ignored her.

"Do you have any applications?" I asked Ellie.

"Looking for a job?" she asked. I nodded my head and shoved my hands in my pockets. "Well, good because my boss has been complaining for the past few weeks that we need a new dishwasher. I know it's not that glamorous, but it pays pretty well," she said.

"I'll take whatever you can give me." I wasn't exactly looking forward to washing dishes, but a job was a job.

"Good, put him back there with the rest of the scum. I definitely don't want druggies serving me food," I heard Manny say.

I turned and glared at her but I didn't say anything. I knew about people like her. She just wanted me to react, to yell at her, or even run at the table, just so she could prove a point. I knew I didn't do drugs and that was enough for me.

"Don't mind her, she's on her period," Ellie whispered, grinning. "Here," she handed me an application. "Just find me when you're done and I'll get it to the boss."

"Thanks," I said, taking it from her. I grabbed a pen from the cup by the register and sat down to fill it out. Ellie walked over to Manny's table and sat down with her.

"I'm on break," she announced.

"It's about time. You would've been sooner if that loser hadn't held you up," Manny commented.

"Manny, give it a rest. I'll kill you if you scare off prospective employees; and so will my boss," Ellie said.

I smiled to myself as I filled out the paper in front of me. Manny started gossiping about some other subject and left me in peace for the rest of the time that I was there.

Alex

"What the hell happened to you?" I asked Craig when he stumbled into my room.

"Sean beat the crap out of me," he said. He had two black eyes and little cuts on one of his cheeks. "He had a ring on," he explained, pointing to the cuts.

"Anything broken? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"I may have brain damage, but I probably wouldn't know," he said, wincing as he sat down on my bed. "Okay, so maybe I sprained an ankle when I fell. But I'll survive."

"Why did he even go after you?"

"He's under the impression that I gave his girlfriend an STD."

"You want me to clear things up? Or kick his ass?" I asked him.

"No. I just want to be done with this. But could you call Emma and tell her I can't make it tonight? I really don't want her to see me like this."

"If you're going to cancel on her, then you can call. But I suggest you go. She's not gonna care what you look like. Stop acting like a girl."

"I will when you stop acting like a boy. You're not my brother so you don't have to beat people up for me," he said. I laughed and put an arm around his shoulders.

"Just go to dinner and stop worrying about what people think. And get out of my room because I have to get ready."

"Another date with Ellie?" he asked. Before I could say anything, he cut me off. "Don't try to deny it again. I know you're dating her, and I won't tell anyone. I just never thought you'd go for a closeted person."

"It's fun sneaking around, trust me. Besides, I'm not going to deny feelings just because people don't know she likes girls too. It's not like we make out in public," I said.

"Good point. Safe sex Alex, remember that."

"Gee thanks. From the poster boy himself," I joked.

"Just get ready for your date," he told me, giving me a quick hug before leaving the room.

"So, we've been dating for about a month now…" I whispered. We were eating dinner at a nice restaurant.

"Yes, we have. How very perceptive you Alex," she said, smiling.

"So…I was wondering if…you'd want to be my girlfriend." I finally had the courage to ask her, although the look on her face wasn't so promising.

"Well…" she trailed off. She looked around to make sure no one we knew was there, then reached across the table and took my hand in hers. "I really love spending time with you. But I'm not sure if I'm ready to take that kind of step."

I slowly pulled my hand away and leaned back in my chair.

"I'm sorry Alex. But no one knows about me. And I don't want to have to make you sneak around just to be with me. We already do that, but I don't want to make you do that even more. It's like you'd have to go back into the closet, ya know?" she asked.

"I don't care where I have to go. I just want to be with you. Really be with you. I'll sneak around forever; I don't care," I said. I tried to make it seem like I wasn't begging, but it was pretty hard.

"I just need more time," she said.

Paige

Jay picked me up when I called him and we stopped by my house to get my stuff. I prayed that Steve wouldn't be home, but sure enough, I could hear the TV as soon as we walked in the door. I told Jay to stay in the car so we could make a quick getaway; but I also didn't want him to be in there if Steve was. It was just so embarrassing.

I managed to sneak through the living room without him noticing. It wasn't too hard; he usually passed out before I got home from work, which was why I picked late hours. I got up to my room and started to pack a bag.

"Where are you going you little bitch?"

I whirled around and there he was, standing in my doorway. He had a cigarette resting in his lips and a beer bottle in one of his hands.

"I'm staying at Jay's," I snapped. I turned around and kept shoving things in my bag. It wasn't long before I felt a hand on my butt. "Leave me alone asshole!" I yelled. When I turned to face him again, he blew smoke in my face.

"Don't call me names Paige. Your mother would not like to hear that," he said with a smile on his face.

"Oh right, you can call me a bitch but I can't call you an asshole. Just shut the hell up Steve and go drink yourself to death."

"Paige, Paige, Paige. You know how horny you make me when you get angry," he said, grinning and leaning towards me.

"Get away from me!" I screamed. I tried to push him off but he was on me anyway, pressing his lips onto mine. I pulled away as much as I could, but he knocked me down onto the bed. His beer was gone—probably turned upside down on my carpet—and his cigarette dangling in his hand.

"Paige, you know you want me. Just like your mom does."

He held my arms down and started to kiss me again. When he shifted his weight, I brought my knee up into his groin. He groaned and held a hand to it, freeing one of my arms. The moment he looked back to me, I pulled my arm back and let it fly forward, connecting with his nose. He yelled and stumbled back. As soon as the rest of my body was free, I stood up and grabbed my bag.

Steve was doubled over, one hand to his crotch and the other to his nose. I saw blood dripping off his face.

"Do me a favor," I whispered in his ear. "Don't get too much blood on the carpet. And if you do, make sure you clean it up."

He tried to swing at me but I easily dodged him and ran straight out to the car.

"It's about time!" Jay called. I got in as fast as I could. My hand hurt like hell but I hadn't realized it until we were speeding away. "What the hell happened to your hand?"

"I think I just broke Steve's nose!" I yelled over the music.

"I hope you didn't break your hand in the process," Jay answered, turning the music off. I shrugged my shoulders and grinned.

A/N: Let me know what you think of the different POVs.