I'm so so so sorry you guys! I feel like the most horrible person in all of history for not updating! School has just gotten really hard all of a sudden and I always have at least one project to finish and... AGGGGHHHH! So anyways, I know this chapter isn't the greatest and to tell the truth, this was kind of a hard one to write. I don't know why, but it just didn't flow right. I promise that the next one will be better though. I already have half of it done because I'm going to update as soon as possible to make up for the long wait for this one. Also, I would like to thank all of my reviewers. You guys make me squeal like the giddy school girl that I am! So, on with the story!
Benny's POV
For a second Smalls and I just stand there staring in shock at Phillips, but then we quickly look him over again. Along with the bruises all over his face, he has some red marks in the shape of handprints which obviously means someone has been slapping him, the cuts on his arms and legs probably came from shattered glass, and his split lip is still bleeding which meant that this happened not too long ago.
When we lift up his shirt slightly we see a dark green bruise starting to form which shows that he was either punched multiple times or someone was sitting on him and holding him down. That was probably also where the bruises on his neck came from. There are also more cuts and scrapes all over his back that are sluggishly oozing blood.
"Oh my gosh." I whisper. "What the heck happened to him?" I can tell Smalls is thinking the same thing but he's too shocked to speak. I make a quick decision and bend down to gather him up into my arms, taking extra care to make sure he's comfortable. Smalls looks surprised at first, but I think he realizes how serious the situation is and instead of protesting, he stands up and follows me silently.
It only takes about 5 minutes to get to my house, but by that time Phillips is shifting uncomfortably in my arms, probably from the way he is slightly bouncing from my fast-paced walking. I gesture for Smalls to go up the steps before me and open the door, and then I step inside my house. My mom is immediately in front of us asking how our day was and chattering happily. That is, until she sees the unconscious and badly beaten boy who is slumped in my arms.
"Oh my goodness! What happened Benny?!" She screams studying all of Phillips cuts and bruises still forming and bleeding.
"W-we don't know. We found him in an alleyway and when we tried to get closer he kind of flinched away and started hyperventilating. He passed out, but he's still in a lot of pain. Can I put him in the guest room?" I ask quietly, trying not to wake Phillips up.
"Of course you can Benny! I'll go get some bandages, antiseptic, and pain medications." She bustles off towards our medicine cabinet to get all of our supplies.
I turn and slowly climb the stairs, gesturing to Smalls to follow me to help me get Phillips situated.
I shift him in my arms slightly when I reach the top of the stairs and open the door to the first door on the left. I shuffle over to the bed and after having Smalls pull back the downy covers, I lay Phillips on it. He shifts a little when I pull the covers over his body, most likely adjusting to the sudden warmth, but otherwise he's still.
"We're gonna have to let the guys know that he's here Smalls…" I mutter, dread coloring my voice.
"They're really not going to like this…" Smalls groans, dropping his head into his hands. Then he sighs and mutters under his breath, "I'll just tell them that something came up and that we won't be able to make it to the Sandlot tomorrow so they should come and see what's up."
"That's probably the best thing to do. Could you go do that now so that we don't just spring it on them tomorrow morning and so that we can just get it over with?" I sigh dejectedly.
"I'd rather not but… Ug, I'll be back as soon as I'm done." He mumbles, head hanging low. He turns and clomps down the stairs, and a couple of seconds later I hear the door open and then swing shut. In the following silence I turn towards the bed and stare at Phillips prone form.
"What have we gotten ourselves into?" I think hopelessly.
Smalls' POV
I can feel my body trembling as I run down the street, staying the light of the streetlamps to help ease my nerves as I run down the street towards Kenny's house, since he's the closest.
As I run I try to visualize everyone's reactions. I know for a fact that they'll all flip out at first, although there's no doubt that Ham will be the worst of the bunch. He'll probably shout and rage and pace and swear until we manage to calm down, and then he'll probably brood and ignore us. Bertram, Squints, Yeah-Yeah, and Kenny won't be as bad, but they'll probably still be pretty mad. Considering they're the youngest, I'm expecting Timmy and Tommy to be pretty calm, although I'm concerned that they'll be freaked out, since they've probably never seen someone as injured as Phillips before.
I'm still pondering about how everyone will react and thinking of possible ways to placate them before they even see Phillips when I realize I've already reached Kenny's house. I slowly climb the steps on his porch and nervously rap my knuckles against the door. He opens if after a few seconds and stares at me quizzically, probably wondering what I'm doing out so late.
"H-hey, Kenny!" I chirp, trying to sound like I'm not about to wet my pants.
"Um… Hi?" He answers slowly, sounding completely confused.
Before he can say anything I speak up. "You're probably wondering what I'm doing here. I just wanted to let you know that something came up with Benny and I and we won't be able to make it to the Sandlot tomorrow, and since we know Ham will probably freak we decided that the whole team should come to his house tomorrow to see why. Okay bye!" I blurt out in one breath, turning to sprint off as soon as I'm done.
Before I can though, Kenny lunges forward and grabs my arm, effectively holding me back. "Wait, Smalls!" He yelps. "I couldn't understand anything you just said! Say it again, slower." I take a deep breath to keep my voice from shaking and then I repeat my words from before. "Basically what I said is that Benny and I can't make it to the Sandlot tomorrow and we decided that in order to keep Ham from freaking out we need the whole team to come to his house tomorrow morning. So can you just tell the other guys tomorrow morning? I really have to get back."
Kenny stares at my for a second, eyes flicking up and down my body, taking in my tense posture and the nervousness in my eyes. Apparently he decided that I'm telling the truth because he nods and assures me, "Sure Smalls… I uh… I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning then."
I nod and dart back down the steps and I'm halfway down the street when I turn back and shout "Thanks!" Kenny just waves and closes the door. Relieved that I didn't completely embarrass myself, I turn and zoom back to Benny's house.
I burst through the door, though I'm careful not to let it crash into the wall behind it, and ascend the stairs. When I open the door to the guest room where Phillips is Benny's head swivels towards me looking surprised.
"Back so soon? I thought it would take a lot longer." He confesses.
"Well… I was too much of a coward to tell the others, especially Ham, so I just asked Kenny to tell everyone to come here tomorrow morning." I admit sheepishly, staring at my feet.
"It's fine Smalls." Benny comforts me. "It doesn't really matter how they all find out. It just matters that they show up in the morning."
"Yeah, I can't wait!" I cheer sarcastically, hiding my unease at having the team find out.
"Listen Smalls, you and I both know that the guys are gonna be mad, and that Phillips hates us, and this could possibly turn out really really badly, but it was absolutely not an option to leave him unconscious in that dirty alleyway where anyone could find him." Benny speaks slowly, making sure that I get what he's trying to say.
"I know Benny." I sigh, ruffling my hair with my hands. "I'm just not sure that telling the others is such a good idea. And don't get me wrong, while I don't like him because of all of the insults, I don't want them- and by them I mean Ham- to hurt him even more."
Benny and I both turn to look at Phillips taking in the bandages wrapped around his waist, chest, arms, legs, and head. He's breathing deeply and his face is relaxed, but he hasn't moved since he was placed on the bed.
"I don't think Ham would hurt him…" Benny slowly admits. "He may not like Phillips, but he's not heartless. He'll probably be more mad at us anyways." He assures me, though I notice that there's a hint of concern in his voice, as if he's not completely convinced that what he's saying is true. I sigh and my shoulders slump. Everything is just so overwhelming right now.
"I really need to get home Benny." I confess, not making any move to walk away. "My mom is probably already going to chew me out for being late." Benny nods and waves distractedly without ever turning his gaze away from Phillips. I wander across the street, because what's a few more minutes when you're over an hour and a half late, and enter my house. My prediction is correct and I spend the next ten minutes being yelled at by my mom and being asked if I knew how worried she had been. Finally though, I was allowed to go upstairs and get ready for bed. After getting my pajamas on and brushing my teeth and hop into bed. After all, the sooner I fall asleep, the sooner I can wake up and get the confrontation over with.
Well, for better or for worse, there it is! Like I said at the top, I don't particularly like this one, but be sure to tell me what you think! And in the words of the most amazing teacher in the world (Mrs. Devivo) Love love, kiss kiss, hug hug, smooch smooch. And if anybody feels the urge to PM me, I will gladly talk, for I have no friends. I will be expecting your call... Signing off, TearsofPain.