Author's Note: Since you guys want me to continue I will. Just a warning, it can only go downhill from here :/

When I woke up, KC was still sleeping next to me. Last night, KC and I became friends. More than just friends. We became just like brother and sister. I felt closer to him than I did anyone, besides Eli. We took on each other's sorrow and pain and accepted it. KC understood me.

I looked at KC, sleeping next to me, dried tears around his eyes. I reached up and wiped my dry tears away.

KC was in the group home because when he was eight, his dad died and his mom turned to drugs. One day she got high and locked KC in a closet for three days. His mom died and nobody found KC for another day. He'd been in a group home for the past ten years and he didnt think he'd ever get out.

My phone rang and KC's eyes snapped open. "Crap," he scrambled out of bed and ran out of the room.

I answered my phone. "Hello?"

"Hey," Eli said. "How was your first night,"

"Better than I expected,"

"That's great! When do you want me to pick you up?"

"Now," I answered.

"Okay, I'll be there in ten minutes,"

I hung up and got out of bed. KC sure left in a hurry. I wondered why. I walked out of my room and into his. He was lying in bed, still awake.

"KC, what's wrong?" I asked.

He shook his head and spoke low. "Guys and girls cant room together. If we would have gotten caught, we'd be in so much trouble,"

"I'm sorry. I didnt know that,"

"It's okay. So who was on the phone?"

"Eli,"

"Oh yeah, I forgot you had a boyfriend. What did he want so early?"

"Uh, it's Tuesday," I reminded him. "He's picking me up for school,"

"It's Tuesday?" he got up. "Crap. Hey, can we not tell anyone-"

I cut him off. "I completely undertand. Can we not tell anyone I'm here?"

"Sure." he nodded. "Now, I gotta go run to school,"

"You wanna ride?" I offered. Eli wouldnt mind.

"But I thought you didnt want anyone to know you're in a group home,"

"Eli already knows,"

"Oh. Well, okay. Thanks,"

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I got ready for school in silence. We met up downstairs and walked outside. Eli pulled up to the curb and we got in. We all managed to fit in the bench-seat of Eli's hearse.

"So, KC, what's up?" Eli asked.

"Nothing. How are you?"

"Fine,"

We sat in an awkward silence for a few minutes. When we pulled up to the school, we were still silent. KC got out and held the door open for me. The walk to the front of the school was awkward as well. Eli opened the door for me and we all walked in. The bell rang.

"Uhm," I stammered. "Bye, KC, I'll see you later, okay?" I reached up to give him a tight up and he hugged me back, just as tightly.

After he left, Eli finally spoke. "So after one night, you guys are that close?"

I nodded. "He's been through a lot, too. He's helping me through it,"

"Isnt it weird, though? Being at school with him?"

"Not really," I thought more about it. I didnt really know how to explain it. Me and KC became so close in one night because of what we shared. Someone I barely knew has been through as much as I have, and it was nice to know I wasnt alone.

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After class, I went in one direction and Eli went in a another.

Fitz came up to me in the hall. "So...sending big brothe to jail? Real nice,"

I stopped walking.

"You got a lot of nerve, ya know? So he smacked you around a bit. Big deal," he nugded me a bit. "What, you gonna send me to jail, now, too?"

"Fitz, please leave me alone,"

"You're crazy. I bet Spinner didnt even hit you. I bet you were looking for attention,"

"Now I know why I broke up with you," I said in an attempt to hurt him.

"Oh, boo-hoo. Not like I ever got some from you,"

"Shut up, Fitz!"

"Ooo, scary," he mocked.

I shook my head and went to walk away. Fitz grabbed my arm. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Get away from me," The bell had rung and it was just the two of us in the hallway. I was terrified.

"Or what?" he challenged. "I just wanna know why you're lying and putting Spinner in jail,"

"I'm not lying,"

He pushed me against the locker. "Really? Well, let me show you what a real bruise looks like," he pulled his arm back and balled it into a fist. I closed my eyes and turned my head away.

"Get your hands off of her!" KC's voice echoed in the hall.

Fitz let go of me and looked up at KC. I ran away from Fitz. I ran straight into the bathroom and threw up in the toilet. I broke down in sobs. Fitz was right. I was hurting Spinner. It wasnt even that bad. I would have been okay. Spinner would have stopped. I kept sobbing as I reached into my bag for my razor.

I sliced my skin open, my sobs dying down as I focused on that pain. I couldnt think of Spinner or Fitz right now because my skin was being torn apart by the razor. It hurt. It hurt really bad...but not as bad as my thoughts.

KC told me he'd finally stopped cutting. I dont think I could. Not just yet. Not when everything was so wrong. I sat in the batroom, holding toilet paper to my wrist to get it to stop bleeding until the bell rang. As I walked through the hall, I looked for Eli. He was at his locker.

"Eli," I grabbed him and spun him around. "That's it. I'm done. I'm dropping the charges. It's over,"

"What? No, you cant do that!"

"Well, I am,"

"Julia, no," he argued.

"God, why are you so hung up on this?"

"Because. Year after year, I watched my father beat my mom and I was a kid - I couldnt do anything. But I wont do that know,"

"What if Spinner never hit me?" I whispered, desperate for him to let it go. I wouldnt not ruin Spinner's life. He's the one that made sure I still had one after JT died.

"What are you talking about? I watched him throw you down!"

"I threw myself down. It was all a cry for attention. I was upset that everyone was talking about JT and I got jealous,"

"I dont believe that," Eli argued.

"You dont know Spinner,"

KC walked up to us. "What's going on?"

"Julia's dropping the charges against Spinner,"

KC's eyes flashed to my face. "What?"

"She said he never hit her,"

"Ahh, I see. May I?" KC slipped his arm under my elbow.

Eli nodded in permission, like I couldnt speak for myself. KC pulled me over to a couple lockers down. "Look, I know it's hard sending a family memeber to jail. You just cant think about the good memories,"

"But it's so hard!" I wailed, latching onto him and sobbing into his shoulder.

He held me tight against him. "I know. Spinner has been your protecting big brother forever, but you cant stop what he did,"

"I dont want to ruin his life," I whispered, brokenly.

"I know. I know it's hard. Dont let anyone get to you, though. I want you to answer me one thing," When I didnt respond, he continued. "How many of those cuts are because of Spinner?"

I knew what cuts he was talking about. "Three," I answered.

"I want you to think of those three cuts, everytime you think of Spinner,"

I nodded and kept crying against his shoulder.

"You're gonna be okay," he promised. He pulled me over to a near bench and sat me down. Eli came over and sat on the other side of me.

"Is she okay?" Eli asked.

I nodded. "Eli, I just wanted to let you know: I love you,"

"I love you, too,"

We sat on the bench until the bell rang. I stood up and wiped away my tears. I decided in that moment, that there would be no more cuts to my wrist. As long as I had Eli and KC, I would be okay.

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The two months in the group home was really rough. I finally stopping cutting. Eli and I had a stronger realtionship once I told him about it. I didnt tell him until I stopped. He didnt have the same reaction as KC did, when I showed him my wrist, but he understood and made me promise to never do it again. KC had become my new brother and best friend. He was helping me with the non-cutting pact. He wouldnt let me do it.

A week after I turned eighteen, I packed up my things and moved into Eli's apartmend.

I still hadnt testified against Spinner yet. I tried not to worry about it. I would deal with it when I had to. I was a new person.

"There," I set down my last box in Eli's living room.

"You didnt have as much stuff as I thought," Eli laughed.

"I was only supposed to bring the essentials to the group home,"

"You glad to be out of there?"

"More glad that I'm moving in here," I walked over and wrapped my arms around his neck. His hands found my waist and he kissed me. His mouth was eager agaisnt mine and I couldnt breathe of a minute.

"Eli," I breathed.

His mouth followed the line of my jaw to my neck. I forgot was I was about to say. I forgot everything. "I love you," I whispered.

His breath tickled my neck. "I love you more,"

All of my five senses were active. I could see Eli's pale body pressed tightly against mine. I could smell Eli's sweet scent and inhaling it was intoxicating. I could taste Eli's mouth and skin on my tongue. I could hear his - and mine - ragged breathing and our heartbeats beating against each others. And I could feel his body curving with mine. I could feel his hands holding me close to him. I could feel his lips and tongue against my skin and it made me shiver.

I gave over to my five senses.

Author's note: so im starting to like this a little more than i thought. I know its a little longer. sorry. review for the next chapter (Julia testifies)