"Where are you?" I asked him immediately after answering the phone, at this point I was already moving away from the kitchen to the hallway.

"Home." Kyle spoke again in that lost tone. I was concentrating on him and leaving the apartment that I didn't realise Sav had took grab hold of my hand to slow me down.

"Stay right there. I'll be there in ten minutes." I told him.

I was reluctant to cut the call but I knew I had to.

"Who was that?" Sav asked me. "What happened? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

I shook my head, desperately trying to free myself from her hold.

"I gotta go. I'm sorry, I'll call or text you later." I promised.

The worried look on her face was going to haunt me until I called or texted her but with a grudging effort she let me go. I was glad at that moment that the kitchen wasn't connected with the living area so I didn't have to pass by it to say my farewells to everyone.

"Just tell the others that I had an emergency." I called out to her before opening the main door and exiting the apartment.

I couldn't think of anything but Kyle at that moment as I dashed down the stairs and practically hauled myself into my car as I reached it.

The fact that this had happened before prepared me for the outcome. In fact, it seemed to be forming a pattern; every three or four months and each time Kyle was unpredictable with the actions he took.

So with that in mind, I stepped on the gas, getting hooted off by angry drivers as I swerved past them to the direction of Kyle's house.

In precisely ten minutes I was pulling over Kyle's father's house, I managed to park behind Kyle's own car—he had managed to buy without the help of that pompous ãss.

I dashed out of my car, locking it briefly before sauntering to the direction of the entrance. Just as I turned around the corner, I stopped suddenly at the heart-wrenching sight before me.

Kyle was sitting on front porch; he had his head between his knees, one hand fisted on his mass of sandy brown hair as the other hand scribbled vigorously on the porch. If you didn't know him, you'd think that he was just mindlessly doodling on the pavement but I knew him. I knew what had happened.

I ran up to him and sat before him. I took hold of his hands and tried to pry his distant eyes away from his thoughts so that he would look at me.

He took one moment to see me and when those lost and broken eyes caught mines, my heart literally felt like breaking.

I did the only think I could think of. I pulled him up and wrapped my arms around him. The fact that his body was stiff as a statue told me how serious it was this time. I tightened my arms around him, pressing my head against his chest until he felt me. He wrapped his arms around me, buried his head between the crook of my neck. I felt his body shaking as a response and I knew I had to get him out of there as soon as possible.

No words where shared between us as I simply broke from the hug, took his hand and dragged him to my car.

Once safely inside, I began cruising away from his house. He sat in the passenger seat with his eyes shut close and his head pressed against the window.

"What did he do this time?" I asked him. His only response to my inquiry was a frown marring his features and the shake of his head.

I wanted to console him, to tell him whatever it was this time; he will get through it like he always did. But I knew these words at this right moment had to be kept to myself. He didn't want to speak because he was battling with himself inside.

I drove in absolute silence for twenty minutes and at every traffic stop I'd look at how he was doing and each time his scowl seemed to deepen. It was difficult to watch because he was scowling at nowhere in particular, and this told me whatever he was thinking, he hated himself for it. He was brooding and I needed to get him out of it.

Once I pulled at my driveway and parked in my spot, I got out, expecting him to be trailing behind. I was about to lock the car when I realised Kyle was still inside. He looked lost in thought as he stared fixated at the windshield.

I walked to the passenger side and opened the door to lean on it.

"Kyle." I touched his shoulder. He flinched and I retreated my hand instantly.

His glaring eyes found my eyes and for a moment he looked like he was searching for something in them. The fact that he looked so lost and desolate made me wonder what that narcissistic bastârd did to him this time.

With hesitant movements I tried touching him again and this time he accepted my touch. "C'mon, Let's go inside." I told him.

His eyes were searching mine, the crystal emeralds searing my own as if looking for consultancy. It was getting quite uncomfortable for me to have him look at me like that. I was feeling things I know I shouldn't have felt because this was Kyle—my best friend—not someone who I should be lusting over. To lust over Kyle wasn't safe, and at this moment I had to put these feelings and thoughts aside because they were selfish. Right now, Kyle needed me to be his friend not one of those swooning girls at school.

When finally he got out of the car, I took his hand and led him to the house.

I announced our arrival as soon as we were inside and this was followed by singing voices at the kitchen. I lead Kyle there.

I found both of my parents busy dancing to music, Teddy was cooking at the stove whilst Kelly chopped some vegetables wiggling her body to the music in the process. The sight would have been welcoming and funny if Kyle wasn't in this situation at the moment.

I looked at him and he had a small expressionless smile as he watched my parents.

I cleared my throat to announce our presences and they both whipped around to face us with their jubilant glee. However, I watched their smiling faces take an nosedive as they saw the sight of Kyle.

Without words spoken, Teddy instantly sprang into emotion as he took off his apron and handed it to me. Kelly turned the radio off instantly, her motherly concerned expression playing in her features as she stared at Kyle.

Like me, my parents knew Kyle's situation. They've known since last year, when they witnessed how that imbecile treated Kyle.

"Can you finish the rest of the cooking, Keya? " Teddy asked me.

I gave him a nod in response as I took the apron from him and draped it on. Teddy went over to the fridge to take two beers out. He then proceeded to nod at Kyle and without words spoken they left the kitchen. I knew my father was taking him outside for a breath of fresh air. It was a ritual, like always when Kyle was in this state.

Kelly was holding me from behind and although we were the same height I leaned back onto her for support.

"What happened?" She asked me in a whisper.

I shrugged. "I guess the usual. He didn't speak when I asked him."

I turned around to face her and that worried look on her face as she stared at me almost released the tears I've been holding all throughout.

"It's getting worse." It's a poignant statement, both her and I know the truth of it.

Kelly took me into a hug, soothing me. "Its going to be fine. Soon he'll be gone to college. He won't ever see that âsshole."

"Mom." I scold at her use of language.

My mother released me, stroking my cheek. She had her lips pressed as if to repress some emotion.

"Right now he needs you the most, Key. I completely respect his decision of not letting us report him but if its getting worse, Key, I'm afraid—"

I shook my head to cut her off. "No, mom. We just have to respect his decision. I will be there for him, I'll try my hardest to distract him off it for a while. We have only two months anyway. He'll be fine."

Kelly sighed, shaking her head as if I didn't understand the whole concept of it. She proceeded to chopping vegetables and I followed her example as I continued where Teddy had left.

We cooked—well, I cooked—for about thirty minutes until everything was ready and at that exact moment when we were preparing the tables. Teddy and Kyle decided to make an appearance. They entered the kitchen laughing merrily and my eyes instantly darted towards Kyle's. He seemed slightly better, save the distant look that was still in his eyes.

My eyes were questioning if he was okay and his response was a small smile and a slight nod of head. I knew that he wasn't. It was still there, that hurt, he bore it in his eyes.

They both sat at the dining table whilst Kelly and I finished setting the food on the table. Once that was done, we all commenced into blessing the food and digging in afterwards.

The conversation was light and somewhat cheery. We all strayed away from the pregnant topic that was brimming in our thoughts. We knew Kyle wouldn't want to hear it, as well as be involved. So we frantically kept the conversation on other things. It was then that I foolishly brought up the party arrangements tomorrow.

"Party? What party?" Teddy already had his frown.

"It's one of our friends, Sav and I are attending it, tomorrow." I told them.

Kyle caught my lie at the friend part and he was giving a snide smirk. I ignored him.

"You didn't tell me about this." Kelly said.

"What sort of party is it?" Teddy began his over protective interrogation. "What time does it finish? What sort of people are these friends of yours?"

"It's a house party, dad. I'm not sure when it finishes, I was gonna stay over at Sav's after it and they're nice people." I defended.

"Is there's going to be drinking?" He asked.

When I didn't reply, he had his breath hitching. I could tell he was in battle with the decision.

"I don't want—"

"She's going, Ted. Remember she's seventeen. What were we doing when we were seventeen?" Kelly cut him off. I knew he was going to say that he didn't want me to go.

The glaring look Teddy gave Kelly when she mentioned about their glory days had Kyle almost snickering in his seat.

I glanced over at him and I knew he was finding our banter entertaining. I was quite glad because it kept his mind off unwanted thoughts.

Teddy sighed. "Okay, but I want you to call when you're going to Sav's house. I will call her parents too to check if you guys made it."

I glared at him, ready to protest but my mother was warning me not to with her small shake of her head. I sighed, it was better this way. I made a mental note to myself to call Sav about these change of plans. I was sure she wouldn't have minded.

"Are you going Kyle?" Kelly asked him.

Kyle's only response was a shrug. "I might."

With that last resort of conversation, dinner was soon over and I was glad that I cooked because it meant I wouldn't do the dishes. Kelly offered to do them and so whilst she was washing, the boys and I went over to the living area to catch up on some TV.

I had no control over the remote and I regretted it as soon as Teddy put on the sports channel. Both of them were engrossed on what was happening. I took my phone and texted Sav about the issue of tomorrow and because I promised that I would.

She agreed with me and her reply was in an excited manner. I knew that she now was planning to deceive her parents so she will end up sleeping over at Ryland's place.

After a while of watching sports, I became bored and announced my leave to the bedroom. I was slightly tired and when they both ignored me, I simply trudged over to my bedroom. I knew Kyle was sleeping over tonight, he will have the spare bedroom right across from mine. There was absolutely no way my parents were going to let him go back there tonight. Not if things were as tense as we imagined them to be. I was still quite curious of what had happened. I had hoped to talk to him about it. I guess he wouldn't until he was finally ready to talk to me.

In my bedroom, I took my laptop and continued where I left off with my project. It was due Monday and I was simply polishing off the some details. I was at this for whole hour and a half before I heard talking voices in the hallway. My parents and Kyle were calling it a night too. The shut of the door opposite from me indicated that Kyle was already given that spare room.

I decided to call it a night too as I switched off my equipment and turned my lamp off. I tied my frizzy hair into a messy bun on top of my head. I put on my long t-shirt and that was the only thing I had on—including my panties— as I went under the covers.

I tried to sleep. I couldn't. My mind was wondering about Kyle. I knew he wouldn't sleep tonight. It will be haunting him. I shifted in my bed contemplating whether to go and check up on him. However, that action was deemed unacceptable by conventions. But Kyle needed me, he needed someone to hold him while he vented out his emotions.

I sat up in my bed and pulled my duvet away. I got out of the bed, moving towards my door. It was there that I stopped, contemplating, deciding what to do.

Just as I was about to open my door, a small quiet knock rapped against it. It was followed by Kyle's small voice.

"Keya?" He whispered. "Are you sleeping?"

As quickly as he spoke I wrenched the door open, and saw him standing before me in the dark.

I let him inside and just as I closed the door, Kyle pulled me into a constricting hug and buried his head in the crook of my neck. Surprised by this, I simply hugged him back, wrapping my arms around his neck and shoulders. We stayed this way for a while.

The fact he kept on on crushing me as hugged me meant that my breathing was restricted. It was after a while that he realised I was struggling.

I laughed it off, "C'mon lets go to bed."

My comment resulted in the suggestive look from him.

"Jeez! Not like that!" I shook my head, punching him for his dirty mind. He smiled and it was that small smile that gave me hope that he will be fine.

We moved towards the bed where we both sat cross legged. The t-shirt I was wearing got pulled up slightly but with awkward adjustments I managed to hide my thighs. I looked up at him at the same time he looked away from my legs. I flushed from his look. I closed my eyes for a few seconds to rid all illicit thoughts so that I can focus on the important issue in this matter.

"What did he do?" I asked him. I took both of his hands in a sincere gesture as possible. Those hands swallowed my own and I thought it ironic how big and manly his hands were, but at the same time they were so fragile and vulnerable.

Kyle was staring hauntingly at our joint hands as well and I could tell that he was going over what had happened before I picked him up.

"Kyle?"

He looked up at my eyes, searching them and lacing them with his intense bright green emeralds.

"What did he do?" I asked him again.

He looked away from my own searching eyes and stared back at our joint hands.

He shrugged, "The usual." He answered me.

I coaxed him to continue and so he did.

"He got drunk, got knows where. He came home to find me watching TV and for a while he sat quietly and watched. Then moments later he was up at my face, took me by the collar and started screaming drunken curses at me." I knew telling me this was hard for him. His body was beginning to shake and he was clenching and unclenching his jaw at every sentence he took.

"What did he say, Kyle?" I squeezed the hands that were holding mines.

He looked up at me and those glazing green orbs pierced my own in the most intense gaze. My lungs at that moment decided to stop functioning.

"He blamed me, Key," His voice broke for a moment and I waited until he regained his composure to explain.

"He blamed me. He said it was my fault that mom and Jase left, he said that I drove them away, he...he said it was because I was a uselessly coward bàstard..." I watched him press his head unto our joint hands, his shaking form made me shake too.

I knew Kyle didn't cry. For the past eight years I've known him, he's never shed tears. He never cried when his mother decided to leave them when he was only but nine. He never cried when his father took into drinking after her departure. He never cried when his father's drunkenness led him to be violent towards his children, especially towards his older brother of six years, Jason, who long left eight years ago because of the same issue. Kyle didn't cry when his father then turned his drunken violence towards him after his brother's departure.

No, Kyle never cried. However, I knew inside he was tearing apart. Inside he bottled up his emotions so that he would let them affect his exterior. It was only rarely that he broke down and showed me his vulnerable self. And it was times like this that my heart went for him because he's suffered more than his fair share of pain in his life.

It was issues with his father that lead him to change his appearance in the first place. Long gone was that sweet nerdish boy with braces when I met him. Now he was replaced by this fierce, bad boyish looking man.

"You don't seriously believe him do you?" I asked trying to find the root of his problem.

He looked up at me with his haunted expression and his silence was enough answer for me to know that he did.

"Kyle!" I shook him to his senses. "He's wrong. It's not your fault, he's just trying to find someone to blame for his own selfish misdemeanors!"

Kyle was glowering at our hands and at the same time he was stroking my knuckles, leaving a burning sensation which I tried not let it affect me.

"What if he's right? What if they left because of me, because of my uselessness in this life. What's the point Key? They never cared enough for me to stay, they left me with him, not caring what happened to me." He was blinking at me, the depth of his emotion searing at my own pain receptors.

"Aw, Ky." I shifted on the bed until I hugged him. It was awkward because he was taller and bigger than me, so in the end we ended up lying face to face on the bed. I stroked his hair because I couldn't help it.

"I don't believe that's true. We don't really know the reason why they left but I strongly suspect its because of that narcissistic áss, not you, Ky." I whispered to him.

His eyes were closed tightly and this told me that he was trying his best to rid the demons that told him otherwise, he was trying his best to believe my words. He stayed this way for long while and I was trying my best to think of something that will distract him from his current predicament.

I remembered the party and meeting Ryland's friends and thought this might be good enough change of subject, a safer subject from this one.

"Guess who I met today," I moved my hand from his hair, took his fisted hand and entangled it with my own.

His eyes slowly opened and at this close proximity, I studied the green ocean pool that drowned me instantly.

"Who?" His voice was hoarse, huskier.

"James, Ryland's friend."

He frowned for a moment. "James as in James Bradley?"

I smile, "I didn't learn his surname but I guess so. He said you saved his life."

For a split second, I watched the change in Kyle's expression as he let out a small chuckle. It made me grin too because it was refreshing to see it after the earlier haunted look he wore.

"He always exaggerates that day. It wasn't like he was dying or anything." He told me, a ghost of a grin appearing in his face.