Julia nervously approached Eli, she had never been this awkward before but then again he was the first guy she had really ever had a crush on. They had just agreed to be friends so she was worried maybe that's all he really wanted and trying for something more would ruin things. All her thoighrs were interrupted when he noticed her. "Hey did you finish that history project?" he asked, just trying to make casual conversation, she couldn't help but panic slightly this wasn't how it played out in her head she was supposed to start the conversation.

"Oh...Yeah...It was tough though" she said trying not to appear as caught off guard even though she was. "The teachers have really been piling on the work lately which is why I was thinking we could do something this weekend? You know just let loose and have fun" she was already really embarrassed and the conversation hadn't even ended yet.

"Yeah sure what did you have in mind?" instantly she panicked she didn't even think he'd say yes so she hadn't thought that far ahead.

"Just meet me at our usual spot on Friday" was all she said before walking off, she was trying to play it cool and it was definitely working. Eli was already really looking forward to it.

Friday rolled around quickly and the whole day at school the only thing the two could think of was being alone together after school. Julia went home to get changed into better clothes and fix her hair and makeup, things that never really bothered her too much before, usually she'd just throw on some eyeliner and be done with it but this time she found herself really wanting to impress. Of course at the same time she didn't want to go too overboard with it. She let down her long black hair, clipping back one side and letting the rest fall around her shoulders naturally. She picked her favourite ripped jeans which of course were black, 99% of her wardrobe was. Then she picked out a casual black t-shirt with a choker and to top it all off she wore her best leather jacket and her favourite biker boots. As for the makeup she went with a simple smokey eye look, nothing too over the top but definitely more than usual.

When she was finally satisfied that she looked okay she grabbed her backpack and went downstairs to steal some of her stepmom's alcohol. She decided maybe if they got drunk together she'd be brave enough to actually admit how she felt. "What do you think you're doing?!" she heard her stepmom yell just as she was putting another bottle into het backpack.

"Nothing" she said quickly even though she knew she had been caught. Her stepmom approached and grabbed the bag from her, opening it fully to reveal the bottles.

She slapped her hard "stealing from me now?! Is that it?!' she yelled, Julia quickly backed away the look in her stepmom's eyes scared her a little. "I always knew you were a delinquent but I didn't think you'd be that stupid" she hit her again, much harder this time. Once she started she couldn't seem to stop herself Julia stumbled and fell, by now her nose was a bloody mess and she could feel her eye throbbing painfully. This wasn't the first time she had been hit but it had never been this bad before, when she was on the floor her stepmom started kicking het over and over. She could taste the metallic taste of blood in her mouth, her head felt heavy until finally it stopped. She used all her strength to push herself up and she limped back to her room. Her clothes were now covered in blood and bruises were already forming all over her face and body. She changed clothes which was already making her late, she removed the makeup she had on and ended up just using makeup to cover up the bruises instead. She let her hair down fully and just brushed it so it looked at least semi decent, then she left.

Eli had been waiting for over an hour and half now and decided she must have changed her mind. He felt stupid for feeling hurt and disappointed but he just couldn't help it. He waited just a few minutes more but as the first droplets of rain began to fall he knew he couldn't wait any longer. He began walking home Julia could see him but she was still a bit away. "Eli wait!" she called after him as she ran towards him. He turned around and saw her running right to him, he had a sense of relief knowing she hadn't just decided to stand him up. "Sorry I'm late" she said breathlessly. "Stuff happened"

"It's okay I'm sure you can make it up to me" he smiled a little.

"I know I can" she said and before she could talk herself out of it she kissed him and he kissed back without hesitation. The rain began to pour down heavily but in that moment neither of them cared. As then parted Eli noticed something, the heavy rain had washed away most of Julia's makeup revealing the bruises. He gently traced over a bruise on her cheek with his thumb being careful not to hurt her.

"Who did this to you?" he asked but she didn't answer instead she backed away and then ran home, as quickly as she had gotten to him she had left him. He stood alone in the rain for a moment trying to process everything. That was his first real kiss and the moment was ruined by whoever Julia was trying to protect, he was determined to find out the truth.

The next day he called to her house she went to close the door in his face but he stopped her. "Julia please let me help you. If someone is hurting you then they need to be stopped"

"We kissed, it doesn't make you my boyfriend, we hardly know each other we're barely even friends so stop acting like you know me and like you have the right to be worried"

"It's not about that. Someone's hitting you it doesn't matter what we are or what we aren't it's not right. Just let me help you"

"I'm not your charity case. Go bother someone else" She slammed the door before he could stop her this time. She leaned against the door before sliding to the floor and just letting herself cry.

Eli went home, he felt so conflicted and worried that it made him feel sick. Cece had noticed he was a little off when he got home. "You're home early" she said as he entered the kitchen.

"Mom can I ask you something?" she knew it was going to be a serious conversation because he rarely called her mom.

"Yeah of course" she sat down at the table and gestured for him to sit beside her so he did. "What's on your mind?"

"If you knew someone was getting abused what would you do?"

"Well...I don't know... It depends on the situation"

"Let's say you were in high school and it was a friend of yours"

"Well I'd talk to them, try to support them as best I could and I'd tell an adult. Someone I trust" she explained and he simply nodded. "What's all this about anyway? Is something going on?"

"No it's just a thing for social studies" he lied.

"Well if that ever happened to any of your friends they'd be more than welcome to stay" she said because she had a feeling he was lying. He just nodded and quickly left, it was obvious something was going on but she decided she wouldn't push him to talk. It usually worked best just letting him come to her. Eli texted Julia to apologise and they agreed to meet up. He decided there wasn't much he could do right now to help so he wanted her to have at least one good person in her life.