Zane: Back for more torture, are we?

DMG808: No! I mean, yes. I mean, not on purpose…

Syrus: *cries* What are you going to do to me?

Zane: Shush, Syrus. DMG808, I'm going to kill you if you hurt Syrus, just warning you now.

DMG808: It's angst, of course someone's gonna get hurt!

Zane: … You have a really dark look on life, don't you?

DMG808: Nooo.

Syrus: Just start already!

Zane: 0.0 Sy?

Syrus: I just wanna get this over with…

DMG808: Okay.

Chapter 9

Three months after the start of school, I am sitting in first period, waiting for it too start, though I notice Atticus isn't here. I take out a pen and notebook for the class, Dr. Crowler's to be exact.

"Zaaane!!!" Atticus' overly loud voice yell across the school. I grown to myself, wondering what he's yelling about this early. Then again, it is Atticus.

"Zane, are you okay? I just heard from Alexis ad my mom… But, hey, things should get better now, and he's going to be okay." Atticus, though he knows I'm not the touchy-feely type, hugs me, throwing the final surprise into the mix. What is he talking about?

"Um, Atticus, obviously I'm fine, though I don't know from what, and I have no idea what you're talking about. Who's going to be fine and what's going to be okay now?" I ask him, pushing him away from myself. All I need is a yaoi fangirl attack.

"… You mean you… don't know?" Atticus asks me, obviously in total shock. Now he's scaring me a bit. Atticus hardly ever gets truly worried about, well, anything.

"What don't I know, Atticus? Tell me, damn it!" I snap at him, losing my patience and stretching my nerves to their limits.

"Class is about to start! Everyone take you're seats! Zane Truesdale! Chancellor Sheppard wants to see you right after class!" Dr. Crowler calls out to the entire class. I give Atticus a sidelong glance and he looks genuinely worried, almost sad.

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After class let out, I make my way down to Chancellor Sheppard's office with Atticus by my side. He insisted on coming with me, saying he knew what Chancellor Sheppard had to say. I tried to ask him what he was talking about earlier, but he stayed silent for once, when I need to know most what he has to say.

When we got to the office, I knock on the door, more nervous than I had been since I got her. I have no idea what is going on right now and it's killing me not to know.

"Who is it?" Chancellor Sheppard calls out to us. I recognize his voice from the welcome ceremony.

"Zane Truesdale. Dr. Crowler told me I was to come here, sir." I reply to him through the door.

"And Atticus Rhodes. For, you know, moral support for my buddy." Atticus says with one of his normal wide grins that are oh so commonly on his face.

"Yes, yes, come in both of you." Chancellor Sheppard says.

We both enter to see a large desk with a large, bald man sitting behind it. His eyebrows are furrowed together and he has a look of deep sorrow on his face. That scares me even more than before, though I don't let it show.

"Please sit down, Zane and Atticus." He says, motioning to the two chairs across from him and we both sit down. "These are personal matters, Zane, are you sure you want your friend here?" He asks me.

I look to Atticus and he shrugs. Of course, now he asks like it doesn't matter. "It's okay. Atticus is my best friend."

"Okay, Zane. These are terrible times, Zane, terrible times. I don't know how much you know about your mother, but the police believe that she has been… abusing… your… younger brother, Syrus." He says to me, looking truly pained to have to tell me this.

The blood leaves my entire face as I go swiftly pale. What happened to Syrus? And how does the Chancellor know about it?

"What… What happened?" I ask him, my voice trembling. What am I going to do if he's not okay?

"Zane, your mother nearly… well, she nearly beat him to death. The authorities believe that she used a belt. Apparently, there was a lot of dried blood, and they are analyzing it now to see if it matches your brothers. I have to ask, as it is very important. Did you know this was going on?" He looks at me intensely, and I tense up completely. Should I tell him? Is it safe to tell him?

"Is Syrus… is he okay? Is he way from our mother?" I ask in reply. If he tell me both are true, maybe it will finally be time to tell someone, an adult.

"He is going to be alright and your mother is in jail." Sheppard answers truthfully as far as I can tell. But is it okay is still the question. What if it can't be proved?

"Zane, I think its time you tell." Atticus cuts in, looking as serious as he had before. I look at him, wide eyed. He knew, didn't he?

"Did you know?" I ask him.

"I just found out this morning." He answers, looking sad.

I jump at him, grabbing the front of his shirt as both of us fall to the ground, me on top and him underneath. He doesn't look at me. "How could you?! How could you not tell me?!" I yell, shaking him fiercely. What is wrong with me? Why am I attacking my best friend? Tears, for the second time since I had been here, start falling down my cheeks, and I let go of Atticus.

"Zane! Please, stop that at once!" Chancellor Sheppard exclaims, pulling me off of Atticus. Atticus gets up, tear stains obvious on the front of his shirt, and he comes to me, putting a hand on my shoulder where both of Chancellor Sheppard's are.

"Atticus, I'm sorry. So sorry." I say, shaking with my silent tears.

Zane: WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO SYRUS?!?!?!?!

DMG808: Waahh, I'm sorry! But you'll have to wait like everyone else to find out.

Syrus: It's really bad if people actually know.

DMG808: I'm sorry to say, but the end of this story is coming near.

Zane: Alleluia.

Syrus: Not a bad thing for us.

DMG808: I know, I know. I am sorry, you two. Anyways please review and until next time!