Seth and I walk home together. After we talked on the beach with Matt for ages, it was getting dark.
"Seth, are things really bad at home that you wish they weren't your family?" I ask curiously.
"Yeah. He hits me Will, so hard and he hits mum, then mum yells at me. Look at this" he says, then lifts up his shirt to reveal a purple black, bruises stomach.
It's nothing like I've seen before. He must still be in agony walking.
"Oh my gosh, Seth. You have to tell the cops about this" I insist.
"I can't, Will. They'll take me away and, I do hate my family. I do. I want to be taken away from them. But, I don't want to leave you and Matt. You guys are my best friends" he explains.
"I love you Seth, you know that right? And I'm here, if you need anything? You can always talk to me and count on me" I tell him.
"I know, you too Will" he smiles.
I hug him tightly, but then pull back remembering his stomach. We walk inside and I see my brothers in the living room.
"I'll meet you in my room" I smile to Seth.
He nods and goes upstairs.
"Will, I like Seth but tonight's probably not the best night for you too have a mate over. Case will be home soon" Brax explains.
"His dad hit him. He beat the fricken crap outta him. I'm his friend and he's mine so I want to help him. Can he, please, please stay the night?"
Brax looks at me sadly.
"Of course, he can't stay for as long as he wants" Brax nods.
I smile at him thankfully.
"Thank you Brax"
I go up stairs and Seth is on my bed. I go and jump on it, laying down next to him.
"Are your brothers cool with me here?"
"Yeah, of course" I nod.
"Sick, what do you wanna do?" Seth asks.
"Listen to music?" I suggest.
He nods. I grab my phone and earphones. I lay back on the bed and put one ear phone in my ear, the others in his. I play the music.
"When does Casey get home?" Seth asks.
"Soon. He'll probably be in a shit mood" I note.
"Can't blame him, he's been in a cell for the past five hours for hitting a guy who deserved it" Seth scoffs.
"I wanna help. With you and your family. I'm going to find a way to help you get away from them. From your dads physical abuse and your mums verbal abuse. It's been happening for too long and it has got to a point where it's so bad. I should've helped you the very first time he hit you" I admit, feeling guilty.
"Will, the first time my dad hit me, was with a bat when I was thirteen. The first time my mother called me 'a pathetic, stupid, worthless piece of fuck' was two days after that. I'm use to it. Sometimes, we just have to accept that life doesn't always go our way" he sighs.
"Stop it! Stop accepting that this is how your life is! I'm trying to help you so let me help you god damn it!" I yell.
"Will, chill out. What's your problem?"
"My problem? Seth, your my best friend and your parents are hurting you! I need to tell the cops" I explain.
"If you do that Will, I will never forgive you! They would take me away from you and Matt! I would be all alone!" Seth shouts, now both of us standing up, the bed between us.
"Seth, you need to stand up for yourself! These people, they are hurting you! Can't you see that? They're hurting you!" I yell.
"Yeah? No fucking shit! I'm going home Will" Seth scoffs and leaves the house.
I grab a pillow and throw it at the wall.
"What the hell happened?" Brax asks, standing at the door.
"Just go! Leave! I want to be alone!" I yell.
He backs away and closes the door. I then fall on my bed, put my music on and fade everything out. I shouldn't have yelled at him. I just want to help him. That's all I want to do. I close my eyes and soon enough, I fall asleep.
I wake up and go for a surf. I could go to school today, but I don't want to. It's Friday anyways so who cares. The water clears my mind as it hits my skin. I feel the salt water go through my veins as I surf each wave, a clear mind. I walk on to the beach and see Matt and Seth walking towards me. As I get closer, I see that Seth has a huge, busted lip and a bad bruise on his cheek. I rush to him and wrap my arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"Seth, please, just stay at my place tonight" I beg.
"Yeah, I think that would be for the best" he nods agreeing.
"Guys, I gotta go, Ellie needs me" Matt sighs.
"It's fine. Matt, thanks for cleaning me up and straightening me out . You're a great friend" Seth says.
"Anytime mate" Matt nods, hugs Seth and then walks off.
"Wanna sit?" I motion to the sand.
Seth nods and we both take a seat on the sand, looking out to the waves.
"I'm feel like what my mother calls me, Will. It. It sort of scares me. I feel so much sadness and, and I can't stop it" Seth admits, the sound of his voice, cracking.
"Seth, you are not any of those things. You are beautiful, kind, caring, generous, selfless, strong and smart. You are everything I want to be" I declare.
"Will, you are the most amazing person, I have ever met in my life. And, I wish I could surf like you" he chuckles and I laugh.
"Promise me you will never forget how much I love you?" I plead.
"I'll never forget. Please don't forget how amazing you are and how much I love you"
"I won't. Seth, thank you for always helping me" I smile.
"That's what friends are for" he shrugs.
"Hey guys!" I hear Matt call.
He comes over and sits next to Seth.
"Matt, you're smart and you can chose to not be failing all your classes. So choose not to" I demand.
"Will, it's not as easy as you're saying-"
"I'm a Braxton Matt and I can do it. So, so can you. I'm going to help you! We can study today!" I suggest excited.
"Says the girl who's ditching right now at this very moment" Matt laughs and so does Seth.
"Laughs the two boys, who are also ditching right now at this very moment" I smirk.
They stop laughing, realising it's true. Then we all just laugh with each other. Seth then leaves, saying he needs to go home so he won't get in trouble.
"Do you reckon he's going to be okay?" Matt asks me, a shake in his voice.
"What do you think?"
"I asked you"
"I think he will be okay. We will help him" I explain.
"Sometimes, help isn't enough" Matt sighs upset.
"What are you saying? What do you think? Do you think he'll be okay?" I question, looking at him, straight into his eyes.
"Honestly...no" he confesses.