Hey everyone, I appreciate the kind words this time. It means a lot. I didn't mean to lash out in the last A/N, I get heated pretty quickly. Anyway, please don't ever hesitate to tell me if you have thought or ideas for the story, and if you feel like it's embarrassing for everyone to see, PM me, I have a strict no-judgment policy, promise! Anyway, I know I'm mean with the updates, but like I said writer's block and school is REALLY picking up! Review, favorite, follow, alert, PM, whatever!

She whispered "…Dylan…"

Hayley POV

Oh my god. The words tasted like poison as they came from my mouth, rolling off my tongue in a slimy, disgusting way. Alex ran out, but I didn't hear any doors slam, so it didn't sound like she left. Currently I'm curled in my mother's arms, in the fetal position, on the floor, in my room; sobbing hysterically; fresh boughs of the hysteria at the realization began to settle about what had happened, how, and who. Alex will never forgive me; I told her biggest secret, even after I promised to keep it. My mom continued to rake her fingernails over my back, snapping me into reality once again.

"Shhh honey, Shhh, you did the right thing. Shhh, we're all gonna make it through this. Shhh, you're okay." I didn't feel okay, I didn't feel safe, and I didn't feel as though I could handle this. I wanted to know exactly what was going through mom and Alex's heads; I wanted to know how they felt. I wanted to know how his was going to be fixed. Her voice interrupted my thoughts once again.

"I'm going to go find Alex alright?" she asked me, trying to keep her voice calm and steady. It didn't work though; I could hear her tears, thick in the back of her throat, wrenching their way into sight.

Alex POV

Numb. This is what I feel. Is it a feeling? Numb? Is it possible to feel numb? I know the answer now…yes. I could hear her crying, but not their conversation. Under the desk in the office, I hear the click of my mother's heels on the wood stairs. Slowly but surely they begin to scope out my hiding spot. My breathing becomes ragged as the footsteps draw closer and closer, and before I know it, I am watching the feet in front of me, on the other side of the chair. All at once, they face me, and step back, magically pulling the chair with them. I whisper my plea silently, but with all the desperation in the world.

"No" I say quietly. As soon as my barrier is out of the way, my mom's knees come into sight and then her face, red with unshed tears. "Alex, honey" she says desperately, "Please, please come out. I'm not mad, there's nothing to be ashamed of, and I just want to help. That's all I've ever wanted to do."

Her outstretched hand entices me to take it, but I am still too numb, I am still too tired, and I am still too paralyzed. She drops her hand, and he head, staring at the floor, and I can see her trying to contain a shudder, a hysterical one, but it doesn't work as well as she thought it would. I still know that she's crying. She puts her hands out behind her and gets on the floor in front of me, sitting there, watching me. Scooting closer, I can feel myself tensing, getting ready to either flee somehow, or to cower further under the desk. Holding out her arms, she brings me into her, holding my head to her chest, my body to hers, and her chin on top of my head, hushing my now sobbing frame.

"Shhh, Alex, honey, its okay, everything's alright. Mom-mommy's got you. Momma's got you. You're okay, he can't hurt you anymore. Shhh" she repeated, making my crying hysterical. I allow myself to melt; into her arms, I just melt, letting everything go. The phone rings, and my eyes meet my mom's with a look of horror, and she mirrors my look, only because she's surprised to see it on my face.

"Shhh, its okay" she tells me, smoothing my hair and pressing my head back down to her chest.

"Haley!" she yells

"Can you grab that?" there is a rustling from upstairs, and I can hear her talking into the phone. Her voice… I-it's raspy, l-like she's been crying.

"Hello? Hi Aunt Gloria…Alex? She went there? Yeah, she's here…my mom? Downstairs with Alex…sure, I'll bring her the phone…yeah…" she thumps down the stairs in silence and pauses outside the door.

"Gloria? I love you… I wanted you to know that…yeah I know…here she is…bye" she hands the phone to mom and catches my gaze. I stare into her eyes, only slightly puffy and red from her crying; the hold so much. I can see that she is tired, sad, alone, frightened… and I can see that she feels betrayed.

"Yeah Gloria" mom says.

"Yes, I have her…yes she is fine… yeah, Gloria….I know. No, I don't really think they're in the mood to talk…I get it, I'm sure she'd like to, but we're under the desk right now so…yeah, I guess you could call it that…look, thanks for checking in but I have to go…yeah, I love you too, Gloria…see you soon…bye." She hangs up the phone and looks up at Hayley, whose face says 'hysterical' all over it and holds out her, other arm. With a look of relief, Hayley plunges to the floor, taking a spot right up against me in our mother's hold.

***Time jump…Claire goes out for some…necessary items, and it's just the girls, talking***

Alex POV

"When was the first time?" she asks me, and I look up at her in horror. We're sitting on the couch, not really watching to television that' on. I pause, unsure that I want to talk right now, but I do.

"Prom" I tell her, watching her face and emotions very closely to watch what hits a nerve. But then I figure, anything will it is still…or was her boyfriend that did this to me.

"Since then?" I can't understand why we're having this conversation, but I guess anyone would want to know. I ponder my response…

"Yes" I tell her. I watch her take a deep breath in, her entire upper body moving with her chest. She nods, and then there is silence.

"How many times?" she chokes…

"6" I say, also choking, ready to either stop or throw up in a heartbeat.

"When was the last" I freeze, unsure of what to say. The last time he was in our house, in our room, in my bed, while she was asleep. She peeks up at me through her hair, then head one when she sees fresh tears appear in my eyes. She then begins to cry as well, mimicking me…

"When?" she asks, almost unable to spit the word out, as it is laced with tears and sorrow, choked and thick.

"Please!" she pleads, wanting so badly to help.

"Roughly a week ago" I tell her, and I am watching her do the math, realization dawning on her, washing over her like a tidal wave.

"At night… the night before you found the rag…" her entire body coughs when the sounds wrenches up her throat.

There is a knock at the door; immediately followed by the doorbell; then ponding; and a voice.

"Open the fucking door you slut! I told you what would happen if you told!" a pause.

"OPEN THE FUSCKING DOOR BITCH!"

"Please no" were the only two words I could sleep before the door flew open and crashed into wall behind it.

Hope you liked it. Let me know what you thought. Sorry for the late update, school, life, everything. Love you all. Review, PM, ideas? Critiques?