That night I didn't find out anything more than that everything was fine for the moment and that Alice had come back to the Newtons for the time being. Bobbie refused to give us any more information and told us that I could talk to Alice in the morning.

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"Alice, seriously what happened last night" I asked as we sat on the front porch of the Newtons. I saw her eyes tear up. I leaned over, to hug her, but she winced. I wasn't expecting that, I immediately pulled away.

She gave me a weak smile and lifted her sleeves to explain her pain. She was covered with cuts and bruises. I felt my eyes tear up along with hers. I wanted to be strong for her so I tried to hold them back.

"You see my mom wanted to borrow money from me, probably to go get some booze or drugs" she started "And I wouldn't let her because I don't have that kind of money and she never pays me back."

I knew Alice's financial problems, she loved to shop which didn't help her, but everything she had she paid for by herself. And at that time, that is what I thought her reason was for staying with the Newtons over summer, for her to make some money, but little did I know.

I gave her an encouraging smile and she continued, "She became angry and ran out, slamming the door behind her. Of course forgetting about me and Cynthia, so I made us dinner and we went to bed. At about three in the morning she came home, with no surprise, drunk and she…she ---" Alice couldn't continue, she put her face in her hand and bawled.

I put my arm around her and tried to sooth her the best I could. And after about fifteen or twenty minutes she gave me a weak smile and continued.

"You see she has never been the nicest when drunk, but if she is angry on top of that, you don't want to get in her way." I grimaced at the thought of it. "I heard my door open, but I pretended that I was asleep, hoping that she would just go to bed herself, but she had a different idea. I felt a hard slap on my face and then she was on top of me…" Alice began sobbing again, but she didn't have to finish. I knew what had happened, her mom beat her.

I pulled my best friend into a tight embrace, I never wanted to let go of her, I wanted to sit there and protect her forever. It didn't madder that I was almost three years younger than her and everything at the moment was complete backwards. All I wanted to be the strong one and protect her. I didn't want to ever have to worry about Alice being alone with her mother again.

Alice is very petite; she isn't even five feet tall and weighs less than ninety pounds. There isn't much to her and it wouldn't take much to hurt her.

I couldn't hold in my tears in any longer. They poured out of me like a waterfall.

I have no idea how long we sat, both crying, hugging and soothing each other, but I knew that I would never let her go back, ever.

As we sat there, one question kept popping up in my brain. I didn't feel it was appropriate to ask at the moment, but I needed to know the answer, so as our crying slowly subsided, I slowly looked up at her and whispered, "Alice, there is just one thing on my mind you don't have to answer it if you don't want to. Ok?" She gave me a quick nod and I continued, "Is this the reason you came here this summer, to get away from her?"

I looked her straight in the eye and I could tell that debating weather to tell me or not and after what seemed like hours she mumbled a quiet, "Yes".

She turned her head to look at the pavement and continued, "Cynthia has been taken away and can only visit one weekend a month"

She turned to look at me again and I just stared back, I didn't know what to say or do so I just sat there, staring. But it didn't take long for her to continue to tell me more, "This summer Cynthia went to live with some relatives, she informed them of what has been going on. So they are now letting her stay with them, but they don't want me" She cried.

I could tell that this was hard for her to explain to me and I wanted to tell her she didn't have to continue, but before I could say anything, she put her hand in front of my mouth and said, "No, I want to get this out".

I was amazing how we could do that, read each others thoughts or finish each others sentences.

This strange little connection usually made us burst into laughter, but this was not the time for laughter.

"Bella, please help me" She started, and I knew what she meant, it was just I didn't know how to at that time. It's not like I could just pick her up, support her, figure everything out and make it ok. Even if that's what I really wanted, I mean come on, I was only twelve.

That day we didn't do a lot of talking. We mostly sat around crying and comforting each other. I was glad to have my friend back, the only problem was I didn't know how long this would last.

But I did know one thing; together we would find a way. I didn't know what it was yet, although I knew we would find it and she would never have to go back, at least as long as I could help it.