A/N: Three chapters left, everyone!

I DO NOT OWN THE VAMPIRE DIARIES OR THE CHARACTERS.

Chapter Nine:

I've been dragging my feet at school, all day. It's been two weeks since I started staying with Jeremy. My parents got back into town yesterday and last night was my first night home. I got home after my mom had already passed out and my dad had left for whatever whore he was occupying himself with. I didn't run into any problems, but I just have a feeling that was the calm before the storm.

There's some Founder's Ball that I have to attend tonight and I just have a feeling deep in my gut that something is going to go wrong. I'm stuck at my parents' until tomorrow night. Mason just signed a lease on an apartment in town, but my father's insisting. Go fucking figure.

Matt came over early and we got ready for the ball together. I know that his family isn't as well off and I don't mind letting him borrow clothes. God knows he hates dressing up in suits just as much as I do.

"What's up with you and Jeremy?" Matt asked me, as he fixed his tie. I looked over at him in surprise.

"What do you mean?" I countered. He gave me a look that said, 'Come-on-man-I-know-you-don't-play-dumb-with-me-I'm-your-best-friend-I-know-exactly-how-much-of-a-dick-your-dad-is-too-but-I-don't-push-it-because-I-know-that-you-wouldn't-talk-about-it-with-me-even-if-your-life-depended-on-it.'

"You guys never got along until a few weeks ago. I'm not complaining, but what's up with that?" He reworded his question, so I would have no choice, but to answer it.

"He came up to me one day in school and he basically said that he was over the beef that was between us because of Vicki. I dunno, man. We put it behind us and started hanging out. It's weird that we actually have things in common, but we do." I told him as much of the truth, as I could, so he wouldn't call my bullshit. Matt can normally tell when I'm holding things back. He's always been good at that. Between his mom and my parents, we both got dealt the shit end of things. It's why we became friends in the first place.

"Dude, I get it. I just wish you two would have pulled your heads out of your asses sooner and figured it out. He's a good guy." Matt admitted. He looked like he didn't know whether to really believe me or not, but he didn't push it anymore.

"What can I say? I'm a slow learner." I shrugged. Matt laughed.

"Who are you telling?"

The night started smoothly enough. That went downhill really fast, when my father kept shooting back drink, after drink. I wasn't the only one who had noticed. A few of the people on Founder's Council had suggested that he lay off the booze and he politely told them to go fuck themselves as blandly as he could, while keeping up his 'perfect' appearance.

I had gotten a few minutes alone with Jeremy, but I couldn't risk anymore than that. He was hanging out with Matt. Mason and I were on damage control. My dad wasn't having any of that.

He hates being told what to do and the Council members really set him off. He switched from champagne to bourbon. That just means that when he gets mean, he'll be vicious.

"Tyler, my son, may I have a word with you in the study?" He asked me, in deceivingly warm tone. I forced a smile and nodded.

"Sure thing, Dad," I agreed. I let him lead me into the study and shut the door behind us. As soon as the door was closed, the smile slid from his face. He poured and downed a glass of whiskey, before he turned his attention to me.

"What the fuck were they thinking?! No one tells me what to do! I'm the mayor, goddamn it!" He seethed. I stood still and didn't make a sound. Maybe if I don't encourage him, he'll ease off and he won't snap on me. "And you couldn't even be bothered to stand up for old man! That's how little you think of me! Isn't it?! What?! Are you ashamed?! I've given you everything, Tyler! Everything! Is it too much that I ask for some gratitude and some fucking respect?! I'm your father! I deserve it!" He growled.

I was on the floor and pain seeped through the side of my face, before I realized he hit me. I grit my together and pushed myself off of the floor.

"I do respect you." I lied in a calm voice. My father didn't look fazed.

"Don't fucking lie to me, boy. Maybe it's time that you got reminded of your place here! You're nothing! Do you understand me?! Nothing!" He yelled, before hitting me in my gut. I grimaced and doubled over. "You're such a fucking disappointment! You'll never be a man, Tyler!"

The hits kept coming. I tried to brace myself, but you can never really be ready to be attacked like this. I fell to the floor and cringed at his feet. I stiffened, when I saw his belt come off. He held in his hands like a whip. I got to my feet and bolted for the door. I refuse to hit my father. I won't sink to his level, but I'm not going to stand here and let him beat me to a pulp.

"Don't you fucking dare! You won't make a scene in front of our guests! If you try to embarrass me, I will end your pathetic excuse of a life. Am I clear?!" He screamed. White, hot pain spread across my back, as he lashed out at me with his belt. I cried out. I couldn't help it. "Quiet, boy!" He snarled. The blows kept coming and I couldn't silence myself. My knees buckled and I fell into the door. It shook, but stayed shut. "Stupid excuse of a man," he breathed. The door flew open and I saw Matt. He looked pissed off and terrified.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" He yelled. He pushed my dad away from me and tried to help me to my feet, but dad charged at us and sent us both flying to the floor.

"This doesn't concern you!" He yelled.

"Hey, what are you yelling about?" Mason asked, as he came walking up with Jeremy. They came running over and tried to pull my dad off of us. Dad went crazy and started hitting everything within arm's length. Mason restrained my dad and Jeremy helped me and Matt up.

"We need to get you two to a hospital." Jeremy said. He looked shaken.

"I'm fine. It's not that bad." I lied. The adrenaline was wearing off and I was feeling everything. It feels like I was put through a wood chipper.

"No, you're not." Matt and Jeremy said in unison.

"That's right, Son. Go off with your little boyfriend. You're not as sneaky as you think you are. I saw you kissing the Gilbert boy. My son, the fag… nothing more than a shitty disappointment." My father growled.

"The only disappointment here is you, Dick." Mason shot at him. "You're not touching him again. Do you understand me?! Your ass is going to jail." He put him in a headlock. "Matt, go get Sheriff Forbes, so she can throw his sorry ass in jail."

"I'll be right back."