"Did everything go well?"

The question isn't unexpected, but I still lurch back in the comfortable couch to show otherwise. "Yes, we've decided to be. . .more truthful with each other."

"Do you think that will help you both?"

"Yeah," I snort. "We hid everything with lies. So this is the next most logical step."

Alondra smiles, a wry, thin smile. "I'm glad to hear that, Logan. We will be moving onto the topic of your father, are you alright with that?" I grunt as a response, nodding. As much as I wanted to avoid talking about the man that brought us here, both me and my brother had already decided to help in whatever way possible. She starts, "Describe your father to me."

There was no need to think about a response, "He was a good guy when I was young, made sure to play with me and my brother, didn't yell even when he got drunk, wasn't aggressive at all. All that lovely stuff. It wasn't until my first grade where everything changed, I was six - I think. I don't really remember the specifics, I just remember coming home and hearing all kinds of yelling. From my mom, my dad, and Kyle - who had been placed in his playpen and was just wailing." I sink into the cushion, frowning. "I don't. . .I mean, I think I know what caused it, but I'm not too sure."

The therapist hums in encouragement, "I think that was when dad found out that mom was cheating on him."

"That must have introduced a big change in your life. How did that affect your life?"

"Well, for one, we hardly saw our mom from that point on. I didn't find out she was having an affair until I entered high school, so all throughout elementary and middle school I just thought she was at work. That's what we were told. Mm, my dad's behavior obviously changed as well. More aggressive, new outbursts and he seemed to hate me and my brother."

She hummed in front of me, wrist flicking against her lap. "Can you elaborate on that last bit for me?"

I hum, tilting my head back to rest my head against the back of the seat. "It's hard to explain, he just seemed more distant. But because our mom never took us with her, he always had to deal with us. It was a lose-lose situation, so whenever he got drunk he'd yell profanities at us. Call us useless, worthless, and throw things at us. It wasn't until me and Kyle were in high school that those acts started escalating to real fights."

My eyes swing over to the door that divides me and the therapist from Tripp and my brother. Alondra notices, eyes flickering down to my hands that are circling around my wrist, not inflicting any damage but applying pressure. "Would you like me to call one of them in?"

A sharp exhale, "No, I'm fine. Thank you."

"Then let us continue," Alondra says, "Let me know if, at any time, you need me to stop."

✩

"Kai," I growled out, as threatening as possible. "You've got to be kidding me, this is why you got such a bad score last time! There is no way you don't know who this is."

"I told you-" Kai began, sitting across from me on the living room carpeted floor. Pillows under our bums and our textbooks and notebooks open in front of us on the wooden table. Kyle's voice traveled lightly through the hallways, often laughing as he talked with his boyfriend in the guest room. And Tripp's eyes land on us every once in a while from his own corner of the table, "I did not fail! Those were tears of joy! And I'm sorry I don't know who Plato is!"

"It's easier to admit that you fucking suck at school, I don't know why this is such a big deal for you." I grunt, thanking God when a knock to the door stops our bickering. I stand before anyone can say anything, pulling the door open. I blink, looking down to meet Liam's gaze. Like the last time, he's wearing pastel clothes, wearing light blue jeans with a striped white and blue shirt, his black hair pulled back with numerous pink and blue pins. "Hi, Liam right?"

He nods, "Yeah! Hi- uh-"

"Logan." I supply.

"Logan!" He giggles, "Nice to officially meet you. Uhm, is Tripp here? We're supposed to work on our midterm today. . .if that's okay."

I step aside, letting him in. "Yeah, come on in. I'm studying with a classmate as well." He only hums as a response and I follow after him, sitting next to Tripp as Liam sits next to Kai in front of us. I quickly introduce Kai, watching them exchange awkward glances and a handshake.

With a roll of my eyes I call attention to myself with a tap to the table, "Do you guys want to order something," I turn to Tripp teasingly, an idea coming to mind. "Or should I cook something?"

As expected, Tripp let's out a loud burst of air between a snort and a laugh, wrapping his arm around my waist to tug me into his side. "As lovely as that sounds, I don't think anyone here wants to die."

"Wrong," Kai spoke up abruptly. "I would very much like to die."

I glare at him, not liking the comment despite being used to dark humor. "I am going to punch you."

His eyebrows raise, "Is that your way of showing affection?"

I ignore him, taking out my phone and handing it to Kai so he and Liam can choose a place to order from. As they do I lean against Tripp more, my hand finding his on my waist and tracing the lines on his skin. He flips his hand, showing me his palm, I smile, sliding my hand against his and locking them together. Tripp shifts behind me, leaning over to press his lips against the back of my head.

It made my skin burn and tingle at the simple act of affection.

"Alright lovebirds, time to separate." A huff escapes me at the comment, but we do as told, going to our respective corners and focusing on the task at hand.

I choose to ignore Liam's lingering gaze on me as he slides my phone back across the table between us.

✩

Three knocks to the front door stops us in our daze of studying. I groan, letting my head fall with a heavy thud onto the table in front of me, Kai snickers, Liam giggles and Tripp, the most responsible out of us it seems, gets up to receive the food.

"Kai," I mumble, smoldering my forehead against the cool surface. "Can you get my brother from the guest room?"

"Sure," A pause. ". . .Where is he?"

"Follow the cackling hyena laughter, you'll find him." He snorts but his fading steps let me know that he is following the simple instructions. A few feet away from me, I hear Tripp talking with the delivery girl and as I peer up from the table I see Liam stretching against the couch behind him, his striped shirt rising over his abdomen.

What the — I squint, noticing the distinct markings of purple, blue and yellow on his skin, skin colored foundation splotched on top as though someone tried covering the bruises. A shroud of panic bubbles in my stomach at the prospect of someone beating Liam up that badly.

It ends all too quickly as he stops stretching with an exhausted sigh, but the limited time gives me enough initiative to crawl over to him. I stop when I'm right in front of him and Liam's eyes widen as he meets my gaze.

"What's wrong-"

"Who beat you?" Silence seemed to engulf us as the question leaves my mouth. In a second, Liam's head snaps down to his abdomen noting how the edge still rises up, revealing a piece of bruised skin. His hands fly down to the hem, tugging it down.

"What's. . .going on?" Tripp's voice rings behind me, holding the contents of our dinner in a bag. My eyes don't stray from Liam's, not wanting to risk. . . what exactly? Him running away? It isn't his job to tell me what's going on in his life. But, it would be wrong. Wouldn't it? To ignore someone who looks like they are in desperate need of help?

The memory of the boy in my dream comes back, flashing through my mind in an instant and guilt boils in my stomach. It would be wrong. . .to ignore something like this.

I don't answer Tripp, "It's something I was hoping to talk with you later." Liam informs and his eyes swing over to me, pleading as I hear my brother and Kai's footsteps travel down the hallway.

I let out a sigh, leaning back on the soles of my feet, "We'll talk about it later."