This next chapter will become more dramatic than ever.

Chapter 2: Painful Scars

It was after school, and Jojo, Marcus, Cody and Mike went along with his new friends to the park to sort of get to know each other a little bit. They started playing basketball and most of them were kinda good at it. Jojo asked, "So, what do you guys like to do?"

"Honestly, when I'm at home, I like to sort of play Who-Guitar, write songs, watch a few movies, write some poetry, listen to music and often times, just go out and play sports. I'm not the best athletic person, but I do it just for fun." Jonah said.

"I like to write poetry and songs. Say if I'm mad, upset or just sad about something and I want to let it all out, I turn in my notebook and let the words come loose and I would feel better after that." Cyrus said.

"I like listening to music as well and sometimes, I would take my guitar and do my own thing into it, record it in a microphone near the computer and also let my version of every song be heard. And often times, I would send some videos of me singing on WhoTube." Hawk said.

"I pretty much play sports, just for fun and also write poetry and songs as well." Sam said.

"And I like to write music and songs in which ways people can relate to if there's something going on in my life and just let it out instead of bottling it all in. And I like to go outside to get away from stuff that's completely personal and just be free for once. I like to play video and watch movies and play guitar and stuff like that." Travis said.

"Well, Jojo writes songs as well and sings it everytime." Cody said.

"You do?" asked Jonah.

"Yeah, it's kinda like my escapism to get away from my dad and tell him how I really feel about him and pressuring me to be mayor of Whoville." Jojo said.

"Your dad's pressuring you?"

"Yeah, I don't want to be mayor of Whoville, but if I do tell him, I might end up disappointing him."

"Aren't you liable to risk it anyway?"

"Maybe, but not really. He just doesn't really understand what I want to do in my life."

"I feel the same way with my stepdad. He thinks I can only do sports, but my main passion is music. I tell him that I play sports for fun, but he thinks it's all competition and seriousness and all that crap. If I do tell him..."

Jonah paused for a sec and Jojo wanted to know what and asked, "What will happen?"

Jonah didn't say anything, so he sighed and said, "Well, I'll just say I don't want him disappointed in me and disown me."

Jojo didn't want to believe that, but he's liable to take his word for it and said, only, "Okay, then."

They dribbled the ball around and dunked it in the basket. Cody shouts and said, "Dude, how'd you get so good at it?"

"This is the second thing to take out frustration." Hawk said.

"As well as us." Jonah said.

"You're kidding. When I want to get away from my dad, I sneak out to the old observatory. It's pretty much my haven when I want to be alone or if I want to make my own instruments." Jojo said.

"You make your own instruments?" asked Sam.

"Yep."

"That's cool. Maybe I can see it sometime."

"You should."

Mike throws the ball in the air and slams in the net and holds on to the basket. He looked down and said, "Nothing but net."

"Dude, come on. Quit showing off!" Cody said.

"Whatever!"

Mike lets go and lands back on the ground with his feet and continued playing. All of a sudden, Jonah's watch beeped and it's 3:25 and said, "Hey, guys. We're about to head home."

"Really?" asked Marcus.

"Yeah, we have to get here before our stepdad comes. He basically blows his top when we're somewhere else after school." Sam said.

"Well, what's the big deal about that?" asked Cody.

"Yeah, you have after-school activities and all that. So, you're pretty much liable to stay out later than that." Mike said.

"Yeah, well, you know. My stepdad is not the type of person that can even let us do extraciricullar activities. Anyways, it's really great seeing you guys and meeting you here. Hopefully, you'll show us around here." Travis said.

"Sure, we will."

"See you guys in school tomorrow."

The boys walked out of the park and continued playing. Mike said, "They seem like cool guys."

"Yeah, I know. What do you think, Jojo?" asked Marcus.

Jojo looked at them walking off and Marcus called his name again and he turned around and said, "Yeah, they're cool."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Hey, are you boys playing basketball without us?" asked Misty.

Then, they turned around and saw Misty and Caitlyn coming in the basketball court, with their -face on. Cody chuckled and said, "Right. Like you s could really play basketball."

"Oh, so you think s can't play?"

"That sums it up."

"We'll see about that!" Caitlyn said.

Marcus passed the ball to the s, then Caitlyn dribbles the ball around and the boys try to block her way, but she threw the ball in the air, walked through their knees, caught it and then, slammed the ball down to the basket and held on to the court. Misty cheered for Caitlyn and she said, "Good work!"

"Thanks!" Caitlyn giggled.

All the boys were in a state of shock and all Marcus could say is, "Un-be-lievable."

"And you would believe a can shoot hoops."

And for the big dramatic moment that will turn violent...

Later on, Jonah, Travis, Sam, Cyrus and Hawk went back home and it's mostly empty. Then, they headed towards their rooms hoping that their stepdad won't take out his anger out on the boys. All five of them did their homework for several minutes and most of them were done quicker than the others. All of a sudden, the door slammed open in the living room and a loud voice screamed out like a thousand screams.

"BOYS!"

They can recognize that voice from anywhere and it's their stepdad. They all quietly opened the doors and walked downstairs to the living room, where their stepdad comes in, looking ticked off.

"Y-you wanted s-something, Paul?" asked Jonah, fearfully.

"How long where you all here?" asked Paul?

"We just got here." Travis answered, timidly.

"'We just got here.' Why are you shaking like a leaf towards me? You better show some respect around here!"

"We do show some respect for you." Jonah said, calmly.

Paul grew more ticked off and asked, "Are you smart-mouthing me?"

"No sir."

"Don't lie to me, boy."

"He's telling the truth, I swear." Hawk said, fearfully.

"SUCK IT UP! Be men, for crying out loud!" Paul shouted.

"We're just kids." Sam said, ly.

That drove Paul to his breaking point and it comes a point where the boys are going to disperse to their rooms and Paul chased them and already they can tell that they locked the doors to their rooms. Paul burst in the door and saw Jonah looking scared and shaking uncontrollably. He grabbed Jonah by the arm and punched him in the eye and dragged him across the hallway and threw him down the ground from the stairs and then, he jumped out of the stairs and landed on his arm. Jonah screamed loudly and Paul said, "SHUT UP!"

He grabbed Jonah and pushed him to the wall, very hard. This made the others from upstairs feeling very scared for Jonah. He grabbed Jonah's face and said, "You better show some respect for me, understand?"

"I do show respect for you." he said, silently.

Paul dragged him and pushed him to another wall and then slapped him in the face and also beat him down with a frying pan. Then, Paul was done with Jonah and sees the others in fear and comes upstairs and beats down the rest of them and threw all of them in the walls, scratched him with his fingers, kicked them hard and bashed their heads and also threw them down from the stairs and all of them ended up with scars, bruises, beatings and scratches.

Paul looked at them all and said, "You five despise me. You all need to learn that I am in charge of this household and if you think you're against me, you're wrong."

Travis asked, "What makes you think that?"

"Are you questioning me?"

"No, I'm just asking." he answered, fearfully.

Paul comes back down the stairs and punches Travis' eye real hard and it stings. Paul answered, "That's your answer."

"We're not against you...sorta." Sam said.

"Shut up, stupid! You know something? All of you are useless in life! Why do I ever put up with you all?"

Paul storms off in his room and slammed the door to cool off for a bit. All of them are in total fear of his stepdad and they walked back to their rooms, half-injured and beaten. Jonah felt totally depressed and laid down on his bed and started crying softly. The door opens and it's Travis coming in, seeing Jonah break down in tears.

Jonah turns around and sees Travis on the side of the bed, with tears coming out his face as well. He wiped his eyes for him and gives him a hug and they're both crying softly.

Travis lets go for a second and walks out of his room, leaving Jonah alone, with his guitar and starts strumming a song and humming along with the melody with tears coming out from his eyes. He can tell that he's feels like they're all suffering the abuse because of their stepdad. The only challenge is how long they're gonna pull this brave face with their new friends?

How brutal is that? Stay tuned for more of this amazing story!