*KYLE*

Shit. Shit. Shit! Why would I tell him Troy was my son! I turned around away from him and squeezed my eyes shut.

“You have a son?” He asked me slowly.

I sighed and nodded. Well I had to keep it up now.

“Yeah, he’s 9.” I said.

I turned around to try and read Zacky’s face. I could see confusion all over it. He was looking me up and down, trying to see if he could find any evidence that I had been pregnant. He shook his head slightly and stood up and walked over to me.

“9? That means you had him when you were..?” He asked.

“16.” I said.

Zacky scratched the top of his head and started pacing. He was obviously having a long and hard discussion in his head. I sighed and picked up my shoes that were on the ground and headed for the door.

“Wait, where are you going?” He asked.

I faced him and shrugged.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to dump all of this on you. I mean, I don’t even know you. I’ll just leave.” I said as I opened the door.

Zacky ran over and closed it.

“No, it’s fine. I want to help you.” He said with a smile.

I raised my eyebrow and crossed my arms over my chest.

“Why?” I asked.

He shrugged and took my hand gently.

“Because you deserve it.” He said. I smiled and he led me back to the couch.

He sighed and nodded.

“Okay, first we’ve gotta get you and Troy out of that house.” He said.

I gulped and looked away. The only problem with that is that my mother technically has custody of him so I can’t just take him.

“Zacky, I can’t leave. I know my mother is a pain but she needs me. And besides where would we go?” I told him.

He thought about for a second and then smiled.

“Here, you would stay here.” He said.

My mouth hung open and I shook my head.

“No, I couldn’t do that Zacky. I mean we hardly know each other. You met me in the strip club for fucks sake!” I shouted at him.

He chuckled and shrugged.

“So what? I just can’t let you and a kid live in a house like that, Kyle. I can’t.” He said seriously.

I sighed and closed my eyes. He was right. That house is no place for a child to be raised in. But could I pull it off?

“So, let’s go get your things.” He said as he stood up.

He took my hands and gently pulled me up.

“Maybe I should go alone.” I said. He shook his head.

“No way. If she tries to hurt you again, I want to be able to protect you.” He said.

I smiled and put my shoes on. We went back down to the parking garage and got into his car. The whole way to my house I prayed that my mother wouldn’t be there. Thankfully, she wasn’t. But I knew we didn’t have much time before she would come back. Zacky parked the car and we got out. He looked around the neighborhood and shook his head. We didn’t exactly live in the greatest part of town.

“How do you sleep here?” He asked me. I shrugged and chuckled.

“With a gun under the bed.” I said as I unlocked the door.

The house reeked of alcohol. Zacky wrinkled his nose and let out a breath.

“Does it always smell like this?” He asked.

I shook my head.

“No, I just didn’t clean up.” I said as I went into the kitchen.

On the floor, the broken glass still laid. You could see tiny droplets of blood on the tiles where I got cut. Zacky came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders.

“I’ll clean this up. Go and get your things.” He said softly.

I nodded and showed him where the broom and dust pan was before going upstairs. I grabbed two suitcases and started throwing my clothes into one. I went to my special hiding place and looked for the shoe box with my money in it. I found the box, but the lid was off of it.

“No.” I said as I looked in it.

“No!” I shouted.

My mother had found it and taken all the money from it. I threw it across the room and slid to the floor. I was so angry. I worked in that shit hole for so long to save up that kind of money and she took it all. And I know she’s gonna waste it all on booze. Zacky came running up the stairs and found me on the floor crying.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” He asked.

I shook my head and started to get up.

“I had some money saved up, but my mother took it all. I don’t have a cent to my name now.” I told him as I finished packing.

He shook his head and came over to me.

“It’s okay. We’ll work something out.” He said with a half smile.

I sighed and zipped up the suitcase and pulled it off the bed and went into Troy’s room. I threw as much as I could in the suitcase and picked up a few of his favorite things and put them in an old book bag. I took a quick look around to make sure I got everything then I went into the hallway. Zacky was looking at the photos we had on the wall.

He was looking at one of me and my dad before he left.

“That’s me and my dad.” I told him. His gaze snapped to me and he took one of the suitcases from my hands.

“Oh, where is he now?” He asked me.

I laughed and headed down the stairs.

“In Arizona with his new family.” I snapped.

I didn’t turn around to see his expression. I really didn’t care. My dad left us when I was five. No big deal. Mom was already a heavy drinker so I can’t blame him for that. I just wish he would’ve taken me with him.

“Shit I forgot to grab my work clothes from the dryer.” I said when we got out to the car.

Zacky shrugged.

“Go get them. I’m in no hurry.” He said. I rolled my eyes.

“Well, the faster we get out of here the better. I’ll just buy something else to wear.” I said.

He nodded and we pulled out of the driveway. I was grateful to not have had to deal with my mother again. We rode back to his place in silence. Once we were in the apartment Zacky led me to one of the bedrooms.

“I’m sorry I only have one extra room. Do you think you and Troy can share for a while?” He asked.

I nodded.

“Yeah, I mean I hope to not be here long.” I said. He shrugged.

“Well, you can stay as long as you like.” He said.

I smiled and walked over to him. I slid my arms around his neck and he put his around my waist.

“Thank you.” I whispered.

“You’re welcome.” He said.

When we pulled apart, I looked at a clock that was by the bed. It was almost time to pick up Troy. What the hell, I should get him early. He’s gonna be confused about what’s going on anyway.

“Hey, can you take me to pick Troy up from school?” I asked him.

He nodded and we drove to the school. As we were approaching it, I started to panic. Troy was going to call me Kyle, not mom. Oh shit! What was I gonna do?!

“Do you want me to come in with you?” He asked.

I shook my head quickly.

“No, no. I’ll go get him.” I said.

I practically ran out of the car and into the building. The secretary gave me a nasty look as I walked in but I just ignored it.

“Hi I’m here to pick up Troy Bower.” I said.

She rolled her eyes and handed me a slip of paper.

“Sign this please.” She said.

I rolled my eyes this time and signed it.

She pulled out her little microphone thing and pressed the button.

“Troy Bower to the office, Troy Bower to the office.” She said in her boring voice.

“Have a seat.” She said with disgust dripping from her words.

I smiled and sat down in a chair and waited for Troy. When he came in, he looked nervous.

“Kyle, what’s wrong?” He asked. I smiled and took his hand.

“Nothing, look we’re gonna be staying with a friend of mine for a while okay?” I told him in a hushed voice.

He looked up at me in confusion and we started walking out of the building.

“Troy, I need you to call me mom while we’re living with my friend okay?” I asked him.

“But, why?” He asked. I sighed and stopped him.

“Troy, you know why.” I said. He sighed and nodded.

“Just trust me, you’ll like him.” I said with a smile.

Troy scoffed and we started walking again. When he saw who was waiting for us in the car, I thought he was going to have a heart attack.