thanks so much for the reviews!!!!!! please keep them cumming!! hee hee heres another chapter, brewed up speacial. thanks to ben and the hubby (ben the beta and hubby for the back rub!! heehee) -Naima CHAPTER 26 Justin’s POV The doctor FINALLY comes over to tell us something, after Debbie almost made the nurse at the front desk piss herself in fear. Apparently his situation doesn’t look too good. He ripped some cartilage tendon thingy in his knee and needs surgery. They said he might not ever be able to play soccer again. When the doctor said that I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. I know that Brian could put up with any pain and would work his ass of in rehab if there was a even slight chance of him ever playing again but I really don’t want this to lower his hopes. Soccer is his fucking life. I know it sounds pathetic but he made it that way. I really hope the doctor doesn’t tell him the last bit of information, but of course Brian’s going to ask. The doctor politely excuses himself and our little group again resolves to shuffle our feet and twiddle our thumbs. I can tell Debbie’s about to say something when none other than Lady Antichrist herself walks into the waiting room. “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Kinney? I’m Cynthia, you must have heard of me, I’m Brian’s girlfriend.” Both his parent stare back in confusion and then their eyes flicker to me, gauging my reaction. I huff a silent laugh and go over the chairs and sit down, watching this debacle from afar. Mrs. Kinney is the first one to respond and clears her throat “Hello Cynthia, Brian told us about you, how nice of you to come. Is the game over?” Cynthia’s fake smile falls, “Yea… we lost.” Aw fuck, Brian’s gunna kill himself. “Oh that’s too bad, um are you driving back tonight?” Mr. Kinney wakes from his stupor, hoping to get rid of her, probably so he can ask me what the hell is going on. “Yea, my ride’s waiting at the Starbucks across the street. How’s Brian?” Funny you should ask bitchface…. “Not too well, he’s going to need surgery on his knee.” Debbie pipes up, unable to contain herself any longer. “Oh, how unfortunate… and who are you?” “Debbie Novotney, second mother.” “Oh, well I should get going, tell Brian I hope he feels better.” Cynthia begs for an exit, I’m shocked and pleased that she didn’t ask to see Brian. “Yea, bye!” Debbie barks, obviously unwelcoming the stranger. I smirk, but my face soon falls as the group turns back to me, demanding an explanation. “Sunshine? What was that all about?” Debbie’s tone has softened considerably, I sigh, I guess I should just get on with it. “Brian’s not out at school. He thinks he needs a girlfriend to keep himself out of the rumor mill.” His mother looks shocked, “Oh, you knew about this?” “Well its usually not shoved in my face, but yea, I knew.” I’m so tired and cranky, I really don’t want to take it out on this poor woman but I can’t help the tone of my voice. “Oh, well that explains things I guess.” Brian’s mom tries to rationalize and gives me a small sympathetic smile. I return one with less effort. Deb raises an eyebrow and I know she’ll rip Brian a new asshole for Cynthia when she sees him, that makes me feel a bit better. The doctor interrupts my daydream by announcing we can go see Brian. His parents go first, leaving me and Debbie with the monkey child who is currently sleeping on a row of the waiting room chairs. To avoid silence I go into the hospital gift shop and buy a gray sweatshirt with a tiger on it, very first grade, I know, but I’m freezing in the wet one I’m wearing, and I don’t particularly want to take it off in front of Deb. Debbie’s POV I know what that little shit is doing, trying to get on a new sweatshirt without me seeing what a mess is neck and arms are. My mothering instincts are on full blast right now, but they aren’t helping me think of a way to get my newest baby out of his wretched home, I know from personal experience going to a social worker won’t help. Me and Vic got out of our personal hell hole when we were 18 because we weren’t minors…WAIT! He’s a senior, he must be turning 18 soon, He can leave without his asshole father having a say! But where will he go? I’ve got a spare room! Yes! This will work and Justin will be so happy! So I just have to find out when his birthday is. Justin’s POV Mission accomplished, now I’m getting warm. Debbie is all smiles when I walk over, I wonder what’s going on…. She loses the smile and gets serious as I approach and motions for me to sit down next to her. “You know, for such a smart kid, you do a pretty shitty job of covering that up.” She points a big red fingernail to by neck, fuck. I gulp, shit. “Cover what up?” Thank god my voice didn’t crack, I sound so fucking pathetic. “Jesus Justin, I know the signs, I was there at the hospital remember?” I nod slowly, no denying it now I guess, fucking hell. “When’s your 18th birthday?” I know exactly, I’ve been counting down the days since I was 10. “In two weeks.” “Great, until then, you can come and live with me.” I huff a laugh, I’ve heard those words before, “No thanks.” “What, are you going to wait until the asshole kills you? Cuz it looks like he came pretty close last time.” Thanks for the reminder. “I was going to move out on my 18th birthday anyway, I have enough money for a small apartment, then a dorm.” I try to explain to her the plan that has been set since Molly first thought of it. “He won’t even notice you, 2 weeks? You can come to my house! It’s not like I don’t have the room!” “You don’t know him!” I push myself off the chair, Christ I need a commercial break from this episode of As My Stomach Churns. “Yea I do.” Deb surprises me by grabbing my wrist, pinching an old bruise, I curse myself for flinching. “I grew up in a shitty home too, from the looks of it, not as bad, but it was abusive, none the less. That’s what this is, abuse.” I sigh and look down, I’m aware thanks. “This has to stop, you want to stay there?” I shake my head at the obvious. “That’s what I thought. You won’t be putting me out if that’s what your thinking, you can do some chores around the house if you feel you need to.” God, I can’t help but be reminded of the social worker at school. “Justin, Molly, you two have put up with this enough. It has to stop, I can help, Let me help you.” Yea, big help she was. I still can’t believe he fucking killed her. Molly’s silent tears and soundless screams still wake me up at night. Craig didn’t even have to use his police friend, he just fucking torched the house with her in it. Removed everything valuable to him, and lit it up. Insurance payoff and a clear conscience for the old bastard. And the woman who birthed us just fucking stood and stared, drunk out of her mind, I’m surprised she could even stand up. That night, when the police were questioning me I could feel the heat, not just of our incinerated house, but of the deathly stare Craig was giving me, mouthing threats behind the men’s backs I lost all hope in God and religion. What “blessed Lord” would let that shit happen. It wasn’t a test or punishment, it was a demonstration of the pure unadulterated hatred the universe has for me. I guess I should be used to it by now. Jesus I hate it all so much, there’s nothing I wouldn’t give to have her and Brian safe forever. I flinch again when Debbie touches my back, waking me from my internal rant. Her heavily made up eyes question me, “Fine.” I spit “I’ll move in with you.” I leave it at that and go into the bathroom and splash some water on my face. I stare back at my reflection, why do I get to get out when Molly doesn’t? I have no answer but the rip myself a paper towel and leave the antiseptic smelling bathroom. God I hate hospitals. When I come back out into the waiting room Brian’s parents are back and say I can go see Brian.