Zane: You haven't updated any of your old stories, yet this one and Malicious Intentions seem to be getting updated a lot.

Syrus: We're not really in those other stories though!

Zane: Speak for yourself. I'm in Mama Mia Meets GX.

DMG808: But this one is getting the most reviews! Plus I have a slightly easier time writing this.

Zane: I don't think that's a good thing.

Syrus: I like this story, though! You're nice to me in it!

DMG808: … You guys are gonna kill me after this chapter…

Zane: I'll wait until I see why. DMG808 Doesn't own anything but our parents and the plot.

Syrus: She also doesn't own the song that this is named after.

DMG808: Please enjoy. Oh, and I wasn't sure how old Aster is, but if he is younger, than he skipped a grade or two. Don't hate me, please!

Chapter 3

Syrus' and my father left us eleven years ago and we haven't heard from or seen him once since he left. But every now and then I have that dream of the day he left and what happened before. I have a memory of him saying goodbye to Syrus and I, but I'm not sure if it's really a memory or just a dream.

I'm fourteen now and Syrus is eleven. I have been protecting him his whole life from our mother, but in protecting him, I get hurt. I don't mind so much, though, because I know Syrus is safe from ever feeling such great pain.

Or so I thought until today. I had been walking to the elementary school to wait for Syrus like I always do when our neighbor and my best friend's mom drove up beside me.

"Are you going to the elementary school, Zane?" Mrs. Rhodes asked me kindly. I felt myself tense up, even though I knew she wasn't like my mother. Atticus Rhodes, my best friend and neighbor, never came to school with bruises he pretended were from his own clumsiness, like I do.

"Yes." I replied to her, trying to be polite.

"Would you like a ride? I was just heading there with Atticus to pick up Alexis. Then I could bring you and Syrus home." She offered. Most days, Atticus and Alexis walked with us, but today their mother had gotten off work early.

"No thank you, Mrs. Rhodes." I said. It's not that I didn't want to get home earlier than usually, I just didn't want to have to explain it to my mother.

"Really, I insist. I'm going by there anyways." She said with a kind smile. I couldn't fight it too much or else she'd suspect something and I want to stay with Syrus. So without another word and a nod of my head, I got in and sat in the seat next to Atticus in the back.

"Are you sure you can't come to the beach with us this weekend?" Atticus asked, me poking my arm were one of my many bruises was.

I winced slightly but replied, "No, I can't, I have to babysit Syrus this weekend." Which wasn't a complete lie because I am watching him, just watching out for him as apposed to over.

"You know, Zane, I worry about you sometimes. You never seem to do anything but stay home most weekends and afternoons. You've never once been over to our house." Mrs. Rhodes had stated, scaring me greatly. What if she looked into it and Syrus and I were split up? I wouldn't be able to protect him anymore.

And that's why I said what I said next. "Oh right, I forgot. I'm supposed to babysit next weekend. I think I actually can go."

Even earlier today, Atticus' and my other friend, Aster Phoenix, had invited both of us the day before to go to his family's beach house for the weekend. He said he was leaving Friday afternoon and today is Thursday.

I don't know what I'm going to do. Syrus will be alone with our mother for about two days. But if I don't go, I know Mrs. Rhodes and maybe even Mr. Phoenix might start asking questions, and I'm not sure if I'd be able to lie for too long.

As soon as Syrus and I get in, I whisper to him, "Go to our room. I'll be there soon, with a snack. Get started on your homework." Like always, he does exactly as I say, no questions asked. There was one time he didn't, but he regretted it. I had told him to wait for me in the room we share and wait for me to bring him his after school snack.

Mother was particularly angry that day, and she had been beating me severely when Syrus came in. I couldn't move, I was in too much pain, but Syrus just ran in fear, luckily. Of course, that made things worse for me, but I was just glad he was safe then.

I walked into the kitchen, going through it to the living room on the other side of the room. My mother is there, sitting on the couch, watching one of her shows. She looks up when I enter, looking disbelievingly me.

"What the hell are you doing home so early?" She asks, already looking angry. How am I going to tell her I'm going away for the weekend?

"Mrs. Rhodes gave Syrus and I a ride home." I state, feeling her anger. It's going to be a long one this time, I can already tell.

She gets up and advances on me. The only time I feel like a little kid again is around her. "She insisted! I couldn't say no."

She raises her hand high and brings it down swiftly across my cheek. "You know better than to accept rides from strangers, you imbecile!" She exclaims. I raise my hand to my cheek, rubbing it slightly.

"Mom, please. I… need to ask you something…" If I'm going to get in trouble, I may as well get in trouble for everything at once.

"A friend asked me and Atticus to go to the beach with he and his father this weekend. I said no, but… Mrs. Rhodes is… getting… suspicious of what… is going on… with me… a-at home." I tell her, looking at the ground, waiting for some form of pain to be set upon me.

"She's getting suspicious? And whose fault would that be?" She asks, glaring at me in intense anger.

"M-mine." I stammer. Why can't I keep my voice strong?

Then the pain begins. Once again I feel a force lash across my cheek, but this time I know it is not her hand. It's that damn belt. "You know what to do, Zane, you've done it enough."

I have done it enough. Every single day she's home, I get beaten. Good days and bad days are the worst. But even worse than that is when I've actually done something.

Like today.

I pull off my jacket and then my shirt, leaving them on the floor at random. It doesn't matter. I have a lot to do in one day, and my own laundry is always last on my to do list. Mother gives me just enough time to take it off so I can rewear it without having it bloodstained. I have too many other things to do rather than washing my clothes, like making dinner for Syrus and I and sometimes even her. I also have to keep up with my school work.

I walk over to the couch, laying across it on my stomach and just wait. I don't have long to wait though, of course. For half an hour it goes on, and I know I'm crying and yelling, but I can't stop myself.

I lay there, breathing heavily, waiting for her to leave. "Zane." She starts before leaving. "I think I'll let you go. To the beach. Syrus and I will have some alone time together."

And then she leaves, and I lay there, crying in fear for my baby brother and pain I am feeling now.

Zane: You're… making me leave… Syrus…

Syrus: Waah! Zane, don't go!

DMG808: I'm sorry, Sy! I'm sorry, but I have to! It's for good story telling.

Zane: I'm going to have to kill you. I hope you know that.

DMG808: Why else would I have told you you're gonna kill me after this chapter?

Zane: You're really pushing it, girl.

DMG808: Waaah, please don't hate me! But do review and please don't flame. I'm going to try and update this again soon, but I also have to work on Malicious Intentions. If anyone has time, please read that one too. I've only had one reviewer for that story so far.

Syrus: … Why do you hate me?

DMG808: I really don't, Sy. I'm sorry Syrus and Syrus fangirls!