It was hard for Becky to keep Spike's secret. Everybody kept asking her what was wrong with him when he went to school and was limping or when he was in too much pain to do football practice.
"I don't know what is wrong with him," said Becky when they asked.
About a few months into their new friendship Becky was getting sick of keeping the secret. She felt so guilty when he went to school and he was hurt, she felt like it was her fault.
"Spike, I can not keep doing this," said Becky at football practice one day.
"You promised," said Spike sounding irritated.
"Yeah, but I think promises like this is suppose to be broken when the person I promised it to is getting hurt. Plus, it is better than broken bones"
Spike laughed at this and he would have laughed, but his side hurt too much. All he did was nod which put a smile on her face. 'Why do the smallest things make her smile?' Spike thought puzzled. 'Wait, this is Becky. Why do I care?'
"See you later," said Spike when he saw his father's car pull up.
"Yeah, see you"
Becky waited for her father on the bench where she and Spike were sitting a while before. She felt helpless. 'I wonder what Spike is doing right now' thought Becky.
Spike sat in his room doing his homework and listening to his favorite band on the radio. He suddenly heard a large thud coming from outside the bedroom door. 'Not again' thought Spike closing his eyes as hard as he could. He heard his father come in and slam his fist hard on the desk he was sitting at.
"I thought I told you to bring home dinner tonight?" said his father.
"I couldn't…I had…practice," said Spike. "Remember, you picked me up?"
Spike hated when his dad got drunk. He was a mean drunk and took all his anger and frustration on him. Also, it was the only time that Spike felt very vulnerable.
"I will go get it now," said Spike quickly as he rushed out of the door.
Spike thought that he made it, but behind him his father wasn't going to let him. His father grabbed his arm hard and pulled him down to the floor. When he was on the floor his father started kicking him hard in the side.
All Spike wanted was for it to stop and when it did he was relieved. It wasn't until he tried to get up did he feel the pain. Even though he was in a lot of pain he knew he had to leave the house.
Spike only could get to the park before he had to stop. He didn't know what to do, so he did the only thing he could. He called Becky.
"Becky, can you please meet me in the park?" asked Spike.
"Yeah, are you alright? You sound…not like yourself"
"Just meet me here. Please, don't ask questions"
"I will be right there," said Becky sounding concerned.
When Becky got there she saw Spike sitting on a swing. She walked very quietly so she wouldn't startle him. Even with that when she put her hand on his shoulder he flinched. He had been doing that a lot lately. Every time someone did something suddenly around him, he flinched. It wasn't only her that noticed it, it was also his teachers.
"Are you ok?" asked Becky.
"I can't go back there," sobbed Spike.
"It's ok. I will ask dad if you can spend the night tonight"
"Won't he ask questions?"
"No, he is cool"
Spike tried to get up, but couldn't. Even with Becky helping him to her house it still took them twice as long than normal.
Spike was relieved that Becky was right about her father not asking any questions. Becky just made him a bed on the couch and that was that. Her dad and stepmother treated him just like he was one of the family, even though they had their differences over the years. Junior was the only person who acted weird about him being there, but Spike didn't mind.
It was so peaceful in the house that he fell asleep quickly. Spike didn't have his normal nightmares with him waking up drenched in sweat and shaking. It was the first time that he could remember that he had a nice dream and wasn't worried what the next day would bring.