The next morning, I was woken by a tidal wave of nausea that passed over me. I rolled out of the bed and stumbled out the door down the hall, trying to remember where the bathroom was. I couldn't see anything clearly; my contacts were all screwed up.

I finally stumbled into the bathroom and threw myself against the toilet. I lifted the seat and threw up what I was pretty sure more than just what I ate last night.

When I finished throwing all my insides into the toilet, I heard Jay chuckling by the door.

"You know what a good cure for hang over is? A greasy burger and a side of bacon fat." He laughed.

"I hate you." I mumbled holding my head against the rim of the bowl. The cool porcelain felt good against my skin.

"I know." He said walking over. He gently helped me sit up against the tub and pulled My hair back.

He didn't get very far; I pulled away and started to throw up again. Clearly my body was not happy with me. Jay tried to keep my hair out of my face, but with all the layers, he had a difficult time.

After I finished, he flushed the toilet and helped me up. "That should be it."

"I feel awful." I groaned, leaning against the wall.

"Yea, your first hangover usually is pretty rough." Jay said as he patted my shoulder.

When I looked up, I finally took in how he looked. His hair was wild as usual, but he still had sleep marked all over his face. His eyes we a little glazed over and he had a brand on his cheek. I couldn't make out what it was until I looked at my wrist. He had the imprint of one of the bracelets I had on. His black t-shirt was tucked into his boxers. That's it. That's all he was wearing.

"Um." I pushed my hair out of face. "Do you want to put on some pants?"

He looked down. "No, not really."

"Okay well, I need to get clean up." I walked over to the sink. "Um..."

Jay scratched the back of his head. "Oh yea. I'll go make breakfast or something." He shuffled out of the bathroom.

I laughed to myself as I took out my contacts and left them in a dish with some water then started to wash my face and hair. I decided to just screw everything and take a shower.

I finished and wrapped myself with a towel and put my contacts back in. I shuffled out of the bathroom and knocked on Jay's room to see if he was there. There was no answer so I slipped in and rummaged though his clothing for something I could wear that was not stained with puke.

I found a plain grey t-shirt and surprisingly a pair of his clean boxers that were at the back of the drawer. I looked around his room. I expected it to be covered in pictures of women in bathing suits and motorcycles with piles of clothing everywhere.

It was more bands all over the walls and food and papers all over the floor.

It looked a little more like my room than I thought it would. It was kinda creepy.

I laughed to myself as I put on the clothing and put the towel away.

I headed downstairs. I walked downstairs and Jay was staring off into space while eating his cereal.

"Hey." I smiled and sat across from him.

"Hey-" he looked at me. "Hey."

"Do I get a bowl?" I asked.

"Yea." He pushed another bowl towards me.

I picked the spoon and begin to eat. Jay stayed quiet.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing." He looked down and moved the few pieces of cereal in his bowel around.

"Come on. You can tell me." I touched his arm.

"Usually I eat breakfast on Saturdays alone." He shrugged. "Hell, I usually wake up alone."

"Is your dad never here?" I asked.

"That and..." He swallowed hard. "Usually I wake up and their gone. It scared me when I woke up to you yacking in my bathroom."

"So... Am I intruding?" I pulled back my hand. This kid was extremely confusing.

"No no!" He replied. "It's just... I never thought that I would have someone that came down wearing my clothing and we ate breakfast together. It's just odd and..."

"What?" I prompted.

"I really like it." He shrugged. "This is going to sound so stupid, I feel stupid saying it. But, I liked it. And when you leave, it's going to be empty again. I don't want it to be empty again."

"Jay, I'm not going anywhere." I put my hand back on his arm. "But, if there does come a time where you are alone... It's not bad. You have an opportunity to test out your new women skills."

I didn't know what to say. Yea one day we may go our own ways... But why think about that now?

"I know. I just wish my parents were still here." He sighed and pushed his bowl away. "The house wouldn't be so quiet."

"It's okay." I smiled. "Live in the now. And right now I'm not going anywhere."

He nodded. "Thanks."

I smiled.

"Oh Ellie."

"Yea?"

"No more sucky moments like this anymore okay?"

"Done."

A few hours later, we were playing video games when we heard heavy boots stomp up to the door and burst in.

We both stood up. Jay wrapped his arm around me and held me closely to his side. I swear he was... trembling.

"Jason!" A heavy voice called, slamming the door. "Jason!"

"Yea Dad?" Jay called back.

Dad. Jason. Got it.

"What the hell are you doing-" he slurred as we walked into the door way of the living room where we were.

My hands automatically flew to my chest, considering all I was wearing was a t-shirt and boxers. I crossed my arms and leaned into Jay's embrace.

"What are you doing?" He slurred again.

"Nothing. What's wrong?" Jay gulped.

Jay's dad towered quite a few inches above Jay and even more about me. No matter how this guys’ beer gut and dirty clothing made him look, he was intimidating.

The longer I looked at him, the sooner I saw Jay's resemblance to him. It was all in the eyes.

"Who is this?" Jay's dad yelled.

Oh yea. This guy was drunk. By the way he was slouching against the wall, he was extremely drunk.

The more he yelled, the more my head hurt.

"Is this just another piece of ass you brought home? Why is she still here?" He bellowed.

I could feel tears from in my eyes. I was becoming more and more terrified. My own mother had told me about the way her father had came home most nights drunk out of his mind and would chase her and her siblings around with whatever he could find.

Then I realized something.

Jay was trembling so hard beside me because he was afraid. And I was afraid to know why.

"Go dump her off and come help me with my bags." He called again.

Jay nodded. "Okay." The he mumbled to himself. "You weren't supposed to be home till tomorrow..."

"Jason!" His dad called turned around and headed towards the front door.

"Jay..." I whispered. "Jay, I'm scared."

He turned away and wrapped me in a hug.

"I know, I know." He mumbled into my hair. I buried my face in his shirt. I let the few tears waiting in my eyes fall. The more I watched this, the more I didn't want to go home.

I went upstairs as Jay lugged his father's bags inside. I offered to help, but Jay shook his head and told me to go into his room and stay quiet.

I paced around the room, thinking about what to do. Before I could do too much thinking though, Jay slipped into the room.

"I have to go get him breakfast. But here." He handed me a pile of clothing. "They were my half sister's but she never visits here anymore anyways. I'll take you home soon, I promise."

I gave him a sad smile. I put my hand on the side of his face and trailed my thumb along his cheek bone. He gently leaned into the embrace.

"Are you okay?" I whispered.

He nodded and sniffled slightly. "I'll be at easy when you’re out of here."

"I don't want to leave you alone with him."

"I have lasted the last 4 years with him. I can do this." He nodded.

"Okay." I nodded with him. I kissed his forehead and took the clothing from him.

He left and I shut the door behind him. I quickly changed in to the underwear from yesterday and the clothing from today. I looked in the mirror. The jeans were a little big and the shirt fit a little closer than I was comfortable with. Actually it was so thin and tight, you could see the outline of my belly button and bra. I really don't like that.

I decided to keep Jay's t-shirt on instead and put on my discarded shoes from last night.

When Jay slipped back into the room, when he saw me he smiled and laughed.

"You look adorable." He remarked.

"Thank you." I bowed.

He stared at me for a while more, and then walked towards the window.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"We can't go downstairs. He'll see you." Jay sighed. "His like a vampire. Never loses your sight or looks."

I laughed. "You read the next book I gave you!"

"I made you a promise." He laughed.

"Thank you." I whispered as I walked towards him. I looked out the window and realized that there was a ladder already set up at the edge of the balcony. "How many times have you done this?"

"With someone else? Never." He nodded. "By myself however..."

"Right." I nodded.

A lot of butt grazing and silent screams later, we were on the ground.

"Let's go." He said leading me to the garage.

"Wait, let's go to the park." I suggested.

He started at me. "Okay."

A few minutes later and reckless driving later, we were at the park, sitting under a huge weeping willow.

He laid against the tree, actually wearing pants, legs stretched out in front of him. I sat crossed legged beside him, playing with the grass.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked.

"No." He shook his head.

"Do you want to hit something?" I asked again.

"Yes." He squinted at the sun.

"Should I leave?"

"No."

"Would you like a hug?"

"Yes."

I crawled over to him and curled up beside him. I sat quietly and ran my fingers in his hair and played with the end of his shirt.

Every once in a while I would kiss his ear. After a while, instead of playing with his shirt. Just laced my fingers with his and sat quietly.

"What are you doing?" Jay asked after awhile.

"Trying to comfort you." I frowned.

"No, I meant still here." He shook his head. "This is so weird."

"That a girl wants to spend more than one night with you? Mind blowing, I know." I grinned.

He laughed. "Yea. And after you seen my dad...I wouldn't want to be around me either."

"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere." I smiled.

"Thanks." He squeezed my hand.

"I gotta get home." I said and stood up.

He nodded and we walked back to the motorbike.

When I got in, I walked to the door, then waited for Jay to drive away then opened the door.

Before I could call hello, my mother ran over and clamped her hand over my mouth.

"Your dad is pissed off and if value your life you'll stay quiet." She hissed in my ear.

I nodded and she removed her hand. I tried to sneak past the living room to the stairs, but as I passed by, my dad threw an extension cord and I dropped to the floor as it nearly hit me in the head.

He looked over at me. "And where the hell have you been?"

I didn't dare look up at him.

"Where the hell have you been?" He yelled again and walked over to me. "I feed you and take care you and this is how you treat me? You just don't come home?"

I finally worked up the courage to look up. All I saw, as the stick that hit me in the face.