Author's Note: okay guys i'm having a really bad day. im talking THE WORST, but reading your reviews actually made me smile. i love you all for not flaming when this cleary deserves flames.

Spinner came to pick me up. I slid my sleeve down and got in.

"What happened?" he asked as he pulled away.

"Nothing," I lied.

"Something had to have happened," he insisted. "Otherwise, why would you want to leave?"

"I'm just not ready to be back at school without JT,"

He nodded. "I understand,"

We pulled up into the driveway of his apartment. I followed him up the stairs and through the door. He threw his bag down and collapsed on the couch.

"C'mon, Jules, I know you," he nodded towards me, still standing in the doorway. "I know when something's wrong,"

"I got into a fight with Peter Stone,"

"What? Did he hit you? What happened?" he asked without giving me room to answer.

"I was just really mad at him,"

"Why?" he hedged off the couch. "What'd he do?"

"He..." I took a deep breath. Maybe it was time to tell Spinner what really happened. Maybe he would feel the same way I felt and leave it alone. Maybe he would finally cry. Maybe he would just pretend not to hear me.

"Peter found me and JT that night. He found us, but he wouldnt call for help,"

His face closed in shock. "Peter...found you and JT?"

I could see it. I could see the emotion he had been trying to hid. He stood up and walked to his desk, shuffling through the drawers. "Peter needs someone to teach him a lesson,"

Spinner pulled out a pocketknife out of his bag.

"Spinner, what the hell?" I asked.

"Maybe no one should help Peter,"

"Spin, no, you'll hurt Peter,"

"Do you think I care?"

"Spinner, give me the knife," I reached for it since he hadnt opened it yet. "Spinner, come on...quit being so stupid!"

I should have known what the words would mean. I should have let him kill Peter. I should have kept my mouth shut.

Spinner turned and backhanded me...hard. I stumbled back, shocked at what he did.

My lip went numb for a second, then it burned. I reached up to touch my lip. My finger was red.

"Julia, I'm so-"

I ran out the door before he could finish.

.

.

.

I ran to The Dot without stopping. Nobody from school would be there yet. One customer was there and the workers.

I walked in, covering my lip, and made my way to the bathroom. I leaned over the sink and cried. My lip was still bleeding.

I yanked a paper towel out of the despencer and blotted my lip. Once it stopped bleeding, I walked back out.

Eli was sitting at one of the tables. Confused, I walked over and sat across from him. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

"What happened to your lip?"

"Answer my question first," I covered my lip with my hand.

"I asked to go to the bathroom and. I drove to your house, but Spinner said you left so I can here to get a coffee, then I was going to leave,"

"Oh."

"So, what happened to your lip?"

"I bit it," I lied.

Spinner walked into The Dot. "Julia, there you are. Hey, c'mere," he gentley tugged on my elbow.

I got up and followed him to the front of The Dot.

"Julia, I'm so sorry," he touched my lip.

I slapped his hand away. "Dont worry about it. One time thing, right?"

"Absoluetly. I cant believe I did that. I'm so sorry,"

"Forget about it. I'll be home later. Bye, Spin," I waved and walked back to Eli. Spinner left once I reached the table.

"Spinner is hitting you, isnt he?"

"What? No, of course not," I insisted. "I told you: I bit my lip,"

"You lied. Quit pretending. If Spinner is hitting you, you have to tell someone,"

"I cant," I whispered.

Eli took my hands. "Dont let him keep hitting you. If you dont make him stop, he wont,"

"He got mad one time. Eli, he's my brother. He helps me and loves me and he's sorry. Let it go,"

"I'm not saying you have to call the National Guard. I'm just saying you need to keep a distance for a little while. Let him calm down about JT, and then you can see him again,"

I shook my head. "No," I whispered. "I'd have no where to go,"

"Stay with your parents,"

I bit my tongue. Last time I spoke the truth, I got a busted lip. I know Eli would never do that. But I never thought Spinner would either...

"Eli," I said slowly, measuring his reaction. "Spinner is all I have,"

"What do you mean?"

I inhaled and exhaled. And again. One more time. Eli sat patiently and waited.

"When JT died..." Another deep breath. "My dad killed the guy that killed JT. He went to jail. And my mom..." One more deep breath. "My mom killed herself,"

Eli came around the table and held me as I cried. "Why didnt you ever tell me?"

"I didnt know how to process it. But Spinner - he's all I have,"

"Julia, if all you have left is hitting you, you need to tell someone. You wont be safe,"

"Not yet," I argued. "If he hits me again, I'll tell someone. I promise,"

"Okay,"

Author's note: blah blah blah. blah. Just for the record, I do not believe Spinner would ever do that. so yeah. :/