Note: This story is dedicated to all children who get abused by their parents/ Step-parents. Also those who have been abandoned, I’m sorry to all of you that are. Warning! May contain Adult language. Past things and thoughts are in Italics. –Alkvingiel

"I have something to tell you Ryan," Rebecca started looking away.

"You know you can always tell me anything, my love," Ryan replied taking her hand.

"I… I… have Cancer," Rebecca stated and tears ran down her cheeks.

"Oh, Becky. I’m so sorry," Ryan told her as he took her in his arms.

"Please… don’t. I don’t want to hurt you more than I will," Rebecca pleaded.

"Nothing could keep me from getting closer to you," Ryan said wiping away her tears.

"Oh Ryan…" Rebecca whispered as she snuggled closer to his chest. Ryan’s flashback of 2 years before ended seeing the time by her side he’d spent with her in the hospital. Tears filled his eyes as he stared at her grave. The week before he’d been at her bedside as her life left her body. He had watched helplessly, unable to lift her pain or his own as her last words came out before the heart monitors started ringing. "I’ll always love you, Ryan," She had said before her eyes closed for the last time. Slowly he kneeled down and placed a single red rose on the fresh dirt. He stood up straight and turned to walk home. "I’ll be waiting," A soft whisper rang out but Ryan’s mind was on Rebecca, his Becky. She had been his and He had been hers, his heart still belonged to her but she wasn’t there anymore. She would never kiss his lips or laugh at his jokes again. He was alone, now and forever. Sure her stepbrother Alexis would be there for him but it wasn’t the same. The last time he’d felt this kind of pain was when his father had abandoned him…

"Why don’t you get a new girlfriend?" Alexis asked as he bought a flower for Stacy.

"Because every girl I have a relationship with dies, you know that," Ryan answered, "Rebecca and I had been friends all our life and a year after we got together she died."

"Whatever happened to that girl… uh, Linda?" Alexis questioned as they walked home.

"I never told you?" Ryan asked.

"No, all I know is you was real happy when I left at the beginning of the summer and when I came back the end you was real depressed," Alexis explained.

"Sometimes life hurts too much to talk about, and my life is a whole book of those times. So let’s just not talk about it; plain and simple she died. Just like Rebecca," Ryan replied as he walked up to his house and left Alexis alone.

"Ryan? Is that you?" Stacy asked from the kitchen.

"Yeah, it’s me mom. Alexis says hi and he bought you this flower on the way home from school," Ryan told her as he walked in a grabbed a coke from the icebox.

"You tell him I said thanks for the beautiful flower, and you’re gonna have to fend for yourself tomorrow night," Stacy explained taking her tea off the stove.

"Why? You got a new date?" Ryan asked.

"Yes, his name is Stan Ivers. We’ve been meeting in the afternoon after I got off work but this will be our first date. And hopefully this time, this match will work out," Stacy said with a smile.

"Why do you want to find somebody so bad? It’s not like we need anybody; mom my job is doing us just fine," Ryan complained.

"It’s just, Ryan your 17 and your in school, you don’t need to be the supporter of our family. You have your life to live, and you can’t do that between school and work," Stacy explained.

"Whatever mom, but I want you to know I won’t have anyone but me supporting our family. Now I have 30 minutes before I have to go to work, I’ll be in my room if you need me," Ryan replied and headed upstairs to his room. Stacy watched him go and wished she hadn’t said anything about him working.

Ryan sat down at his desk and opened his journal. "Boy I haven’t written in this thing for awhile, the last entry is after my second date with Linda. I didn’t write about her death. Well now I have to…" Ryan thought. (Ryan’s entry looked like this)

9- 28- 01

Today Alexis asked about Linda. I couldn’t tell him anything but that she had died. It happened last summer, just before we got out of school. Alexis had band practice and I decided to walk home by myself. It was pouring down rain and I didn’t have a umbrella, I wouldn’t have used even if I had had one. It had only been 6 months since Becky had died and I was still sad over losing her so I really didn’t care about the rain. I was about halfway home when she… ran into me. I had seen her around school before; her name was Linda Sharp. She was every original and you could tell by her looks. She had brown hair with blue streaks. And she always wore the anti style. I bent down to help her pick up her books and didn’t say anything while she kept saying she was sorry. Then as we stood in the rain and I handed her, her books she suddenly stopped talking and stared at me. I didn’t understand why but I gave her a small smile that day. And then gave her my phone number so I could replace anything that had been ruined. I gave her my jacket to keep the rain off her. And for some reason she kept calling me and after awhile she asked me out. It took me 3 months to say yes, but she was persistent! And then I saved for 2 weeks to take her to the best restaurant in downtown Atlanta. It was at one of the highest buildings. We ate on the every top floor; it had floor to ceiling windows. The plates were trimmed in gold. Linda looked gorgeous that night in her sliver dress. I’ll never forget that smile of hers… after we ate, she suggested we dance. And of course we did. Oh, we danced until midnight and then we went home. It happened to her was just a couple of weeks after that. She was going to get us tickets for a concert. I had asked her not to go because I had a bad feeling but she said I was silly and went anyway. 3 hours later her mother called me crying. "Linda has been in a car accident Ryan… and… and she didn’t make it," That’s what her mother told me. I dropped the phone to the floor and clutched my chest. The pain soaring through my heart was almost unbearable. It was after Linda’s funeral that I made a decision, I would never let any woman into my life again. No one but my own mother, I just don’t think I could take it if I lost another person close to me. - Ryan

Ryan then closed his journal and put on his pirate outfit. "Why these little kids like this so much, I’ll never know." Ryan thought as he eyed himself. He picked up his hat and sword and went down stairs. "See ya later mom! I should be home by 1 at the latest!" Ryan yelled grabbing his keys.

"Ryan? Have you talked to your boss about changing your hours?" Stacy asked.

"No, mom I’ve looked at the schedule and there’s no room to trade off with anybody. So I’ll just have to go with it, now I have to get going; goodnight," Ryan told her as he kissed her and left. Ryan went to work then at 4:30 not to come back until 12:30. Ryan drove to the back parking lot of Peg-leg Pete’s, where the employees parked and finished putting on his costume. He went into the seafood place and checked in. Ryan severed 6 families with 1-4 year olds, 8 families with 5-9 years olds, and 12 with 10 and older. In the middle of his shift Ryan got a weird feeling. He looked toward the door and saw a young woman of maybe 16 walk in with a young girl of 6. She and the little girl sat in his section and were still looking at the menu when he walked up. "Ahare! Me maties! My name is Ryan and I’ll be your sever tonight. What can I get you to drink?" Ryan asked.

"I’ll have a coke and my little cousin will have…" But the girl didn’t get to finish.

"Juice!" The 6-year-old shouted.

"Okay kiddo, that’s 1 juice and 1 coke. Anything to eat?" Ryan questioned.

"She’ll have the fried fish and fries, and I’ll have the same," The older girl answered smiling at him. Ryan blushed a little, he had never seen anyone this beautiful besides Rebecca. The older girl had black hair and green eyes; there was an accent to her voice that sounded Japanese. While their food was being cooked Ryan served other people and over heard her conversation with the little girl.

"So… your not gonna baby-sit me any more?" The little one asked.

"No, but I’ll come by and see you right after school okay? I have to go to the big school; Heaven High," The older girl explained.

"But! I’ll miss you too much Reiko!" The little one cried.

"It’s all right, little one," Ryan said walking up with their food.

"Excuse me?" The girl asked.

"See little one I go to Heaven High, and since your taking this news so good here’s a big lollypop for ya. Hey! Would you like to see a magic trick?" Ryan asked setting their food down. The little one picked up a fry and started crewing on it, after a few seconds she nodded. "Okay, now I will turn this bird into a pretty flower for you okay?" Ryan asked. Again the little girl nodded. Ryan made a dove appear in his hands and then right before their eyes he held it up and made it change into a rose. Ryan smiled as he handed her the flower seeing her smile. "And if your cousin over here needs any help she can always come to me, is that okay with you?" Ryan questioned.

"Sure! You’re a good guy! My cousin is safe with you!" She squealed. Ryan smiled at her and then gave a small one at Reiko.

"Psse! Psse! Ryan!" Came a whisper. Ryan looked up to see his supervisor standing there motioning for him to hurry up.

"Opps! Sorry ladies but I have to go it’s almost time for the show!" Ryan replied as he got up a jogged off.

After 5 minutes the lights dimmed and the curtain was pulled back. A young woman walked out on stage and started to speak. "Welcome everyone! Tonight our show will honor those who fought so many years ago in Japan. The Samurai; tonight performers aren’t really Samurai but warriors who fight to save the mortal realm from destruction by a evil demon. Ryan Simmons will play Ryo Sanada, Chase Black will play Sage Date, Leo Shore will play Cye Mouri, Kento Rei Fung will be played by Joe Bass, and last but not least Rowen Hasabi will be played by Adrian Shaw. Now! On with the show!" The woman shouted and she walked off stage. Reiko looked at the character rolls on a sheet Ryan must have left. There were four more main people; Anubis- Gabriel, Dais- Trent, Sekhmet- Christian, Cale- Vic. She watched as the curtains opened all the way and Ryan ran out on the stage.

"Guys! Over here!" He yelled.

"Ryo! What is it?" The others yelled.

"The fog wall begins here, Mea said that Talpa’s castle is protected by an invisible wall," Ryan said. Reiko watched the play but mainly her eyes stayed on Ryan. He had blonde hair and the dreamiest blue eyes. But she had noticed something when he had smiled at her; Ryan hadn’t really meant that smile. There was a pain and fear behind his eyes and the smile was so sad. The play was terrific; Ryan and the others were really into their parts. At the end everyone clapped until their hands were sore. Ryan and the others bowed and smiled, all except Ryan he just bowed. Soon after he came by to give them their check.

"What time is it?" Ryan asked quietly.

"8:15 p.m.," Reiko answered.

"Man… long night ahead," Ryan said taking her money and then he started to leave but Reiko stopped him.

"What time do you get off?" Reiko asked.

"12:30," Ryan replied.

"But tomorrow we have school," Reiko told him worry in her voice.

"I know, sometimes it’s hard but I have to work to keep my mom and me in our house. See ya," Ryan told her and he walked off. Reiko wondered for awhile but then left carrying her tried little cousin.

The next morning Reiko had just gotten her schedule and had started to walk down the hall when she saw Ryan and another boy. She walked up with a smile. "Hi Ryan!" Reiko said. The other boy looked at her shocked. Ryan hardly looked up.

"Oh, hi Reiko. Listen the friendly private that severed you and your cousin last night is only my job. Here at school everyone just leaves me alone, so let’s just spare the hurt and not become friends. Alexis will help you with any questions," Ryan explained quietly and then after shutting his locker he walked off. The other boy, Alexis looked at her and then ran after Ryan. By the end of first period Reiko had made 5 friends. At lunch they all sat together and she asked them about Ryan.

"He’s the coolest guy in school; every girl wants to date him. But no one knows anything about him. He only hangs out with one guy, Alexis. 3 years ago he dated Alexis’s stepsister, and they were very happy. Everyone was sure they would get married right out of high school. But then their world together was shattered. Rebecca went to the doctor because she had gotten a cold and still had it a mouth later. Turns out she had cancer and after a year of fighting she just couldn’t anymore. Ryan was totally crushed when she died. He stayed by her side the whole time, and was holding her hand when she left him," Chantal explained.

"He’s such a romantic," Isabel sighed.

"And what, after Rebecca died he didn’t date anymore?" Reiko asked, ignoring Isabel’s comment.

"Not for a whole year! But when he did date again it was only 1 girl. Linda Sharp, she had to be the most original person this school has ever seen. Somehow they were attracted to each other and so they dated. Then the unthinkable happened Linda was going out to get them concert tickets and a drunk driver hit her car. Again Ryan lost his most cherished loved one and now he’s afraid to date anyone because he’s afraid they’d die," Leah replied.

"Do you know why he has to work? He severed my little cousin and me last night at Peg-Leg Pete’s. And just before we left he said that he had to work because if he didn’t they wouldn’t be able to keep their house," Reiko questioned.

"Ryan’s mom is the best, she would do anything for him but her low-income job doesn’t pay shit. So he works and Peg-Leg Pete pays him a lot cause he works so hard and puts in so much over time. Ryan’s dad was the dream dad anyone could wish for. But when Ryan was 8, his dad just got up and left. Ryan hasn’t heard from him since," Brook told her. Reiko looked and listened to them amazed.

"How long have you guys known Ryan? You sure seem to know a lot about him?" Reiko asked.

"Well, we’ve gone to school with him since the 3rd grade and helped him get through all those bad times. But he doesn’t open up to us anymore. He sure could use a real good friend… Reiko! Why don’t you try and get close to him? Talk to Alexis and maybe… just maybe he will open up to you," Isabel suggested.

"Maybe your right, I think I will," Reiko said and then the bell rang and they ran their separate ways.

Reiko was very surprised to find that Alexis was in her next class and so when a seat opened beside him she took it. For the next 5 weeks they talked and became friends. Then on the 6th week of their friendship she decided to ask about Ryan. Alexis was reluctant to talk about him but after some tempting Alexis told her about Ryan. Slowly she started coming around when Alexis was with Ryan and over the next 8 months Ryan slowly opened up little by little to her. Ryan and Reiko were put into a 2-person group for their English project. It was the first time Ryan had asked her to come over. Reiko told him that she would meet him 5 minutes after school let out. Ryan was waiting for her right outside the front door. They walked to Ryan’s house and went in.

"Mom! I’m home!" Ryan yelled putting his keys down on the table.

"Hi honey!" Stacy yelled back from her room.

"Hey ya tiger! How’s it going?" Stan asked walking in from the kitchen. Ryan tensed and Reiko noticed but didn’t say anything.

"Fine, everything’s fine. Let’s go Reiko, we have that project to finish," Ryan said and he started to walked back to his room.

"Ryan, aren’t you going to tell me who this young lady is?" Stan asked.

"I thought you heard me, I said her name was Reiko and we have a project to finish," Ryan replied. Reiko quietly slipped by Stan and followed Ryan up to his room.

"Who is that Ryan?" Reiko asked after he’d closed his door.

"Oh that’s just Stan Ivers, mom’s latest fling," Ryan replied.

"I take it that you don’t like this guy, you sure weren’t just nice to him back there," Reiko said sitting on his bed.

"Mom’s been going out with him for about 2 months now, and he’s trying to play my dad. He’s moving in on my space and it’s starting to rile me," Ryan replied getting the project out of his closet.

They had to build a model of a scene from the book they had been assigned. Reiko and Ryan’s book was real awesome it was called, The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton. "So what scene are we going to do?" Reiko asked. She would do the writing and Ryan was going to build the model.

"I was thinking the scene where Dally gets shot or the one where Johnny was beaten," Ryan told her.

"Both sound like excellent choices but, what would the look like?" Reiko asked.

"Well… I have a few sketches of the scenes but I don’t know if you would like them," Ryan replied handing her the drawings. Reiko looked at them.

"Ryan! These drawings are amazing! How did you draw these? Not a single detail is missing?!" Reiko exclaimed.

"They could be better. Now, which one do you think we should use?" Ryan questioned.

"I think the one where Dally is shot, it seems most dramatic," Reiko explained.

"All right then give me 10 minutes and I’ll have the people finished," Ryan said and he left the main room. Reiko watched as Ryan opened a small door in his wall and then climbed inside. 10 minutes later he came back with a box. Ryan sat the box beside her and then sat back down on the floor. Reiko opened the box to find painted wood cravings of the characters for the project. Just the same as his drawings no details were left out. Dally’s face had the same look of grim triumph as he fell from the police gunshots, described in the book.

"How long did it take you to make these?" Reiko asked lying them all but Johnny on his bed.

"2 maybe 3 days, hand me my charcoal pencil," Ryan replied. Reiko handed him the black pencil and he started drawing.

"What do you want to do after you grow up Ryan? I mean for a job once you’re out of school?" Reiko questioned as she started to write the report.

"I don’t know, I’ve never thought about myself. I’m always putting my mom, Alexis and now you before my wants for myself. I mean I have a responibleily to my mom, I have to take care of her. And Alexis needs my help… I don’t know what he needs me for but I feel I need to be here for him. And you I just have a gut feeling that someday you’ll need me to," Ryan explained not looked up at her.

"Oh Ryan… you care so much for others. Someday we will all take care of you in return. But with your talent in drawing, you should be a artist. Beginners don’t make that much but once people know you. You will be able to take care of your mom forever," Reiko said, her heart ached as she felt the pain in his voice.

"Somebody else once told my mom that. He stood in front of her, their family and friends and he said "Until Death Do Us Part" well my mom didn’t die 8 years ago but my dad is gone. He left us without really saying goodbye…" Ryan whispered. Reiko looked up from her paper to see a single painful tear roll down Ryan’s cheek. Reiko got up and kneeled down beside him. Slowly as not to frighten him she put her arms around Ryan, Ryan collapsed onto her shoulder and cried himself to sleep. Reiko just sat there holding him for a good hour before she gently laid him on the floor. She got the cover off his bed and covered him with it.

The next day when she caught up with Ryan as he walked to school.

"Hey Ryan! I finished the report! Did you finish the model?" Reiko asked.

"Yeah, sorry I broke down and then fell asleep on you. I’ve had to work the 10 to 3 shift for the past week, and I haven’t gotten much sleep. Will you not tell Alexis about this? He doesn’t need to know everything." Ryan explained.

"Not a problem, listen I have to go to the doctor this afternoon so I won’t be in English. Don’t forget to bring our model tomorrow," Reiko told him. Ryan stopped dead in his tracks.

"You’re not sick are you?" Ryan asked, there was a bit of panic in his voice. Reiko turned to him and laughed.

"No silly! I meant to say that my cousin has the appointment but my mom has to work so I’m stuck taking her," Reiko laughed. Ryan let out a sigh of relief. She didn’t really notice at the time how much he was relieved. That afternoon after school was out Ryan went home to find Stan yelling at his mom.

"Mom? What’s going on?" Ryan asked setting his stuff by the door.

"Nothing, just a little disagreement. Isn’t that right dear?" Stan asked pulling Stacy up off the couch ruffly by her arm.

"Ouch, uh… that’s right Ryan. Just go on up to your room," Stacy pleaded.

"Let go of my mom," Ryan stated. Stan looked at him shocked. "Can you not hear? I said let go of my mom." Stan pushed Stacy to the floor. Stan charged up to Ryan and punched him in the eye then after he’d fallen to the ground Stan kicked him twice. Then after he’d given Ryan a bad look Stan left. Stacy sat there in shock for moment and then she let out a sob. Ryan did his best to crawl over to her. He barely had the strength, when Stan had kicked him it had broken his arm. "Mom? Are you okay?" Ryan asked.

"Oh Ryan, I’m so sorry. Are you all right?" Stacy asked. Just after she asked that Ryan collapsed to the floor. Stacy rushed him to the doctor that night; Ryan was barely aware of what was going on around him. Ryan came around enough after the doctor gave him some painkiller that the doctor could ask him some questions.

"How did you break this arm, son?" The doctor asked. Ryan looked at his mom and when she didn’t look at him, Ryan knew what he had to do.

"I was coming in from chill’en with my friends, and I forgot about the small table there and I tripped over it," Ryan explained. Stacy looked up; she was touched that Ryan would cover for Stan. She knew he hated him but he wanted her to be happy. The doctor gave Ryan some sleeping pills so he could sleep through the night. The pills didn’t kick in until they were almost home; he had barely made it up to his bed when Ryan remembered the project.

"Mom… Reiko and… I… had a project… it’s due… tomorrow, how will I get it there?" Ryan asked sleepily.

"I’ll take it to school for you, hopefully that sweet girl can do the project herself. I’m not sending you to school because the doctor said you should rest for a couple of days. Now go to sleep honey, and thanks for covering for Stan he was just in a bad mood today," Stacy explained. Ryan didn’t answer; he was already in a deep sleep.

Stacy kept her word and took the project to Ryan’s English class. No one noticed that Ryan wasn’t at school that day except Alexis at first. Reiko got up to present their project in English and Ryan wasn’t there. "I’m sorry Miss Jackson, Ryan isn’t here today. His mother brought in the model for your project this morning. She didn’t tell me why he wasn’t going to be here. But I can’t wait for you to present. If you can verify that Ryan did part of the project I will give him his full credit," The English teacher explained.

"Well Mrs. Blake, Ryan built this model and constructed the figures. We spilt the jobs, so it would be even. I got to write the report and he built the model," Reiko confirmed. And so she presented their project and got the best grade in the class. After school let out Reiko and Alexis ran all the way to Ryan’s house. Alexis rang the doorbell and waited for someone to answer. After a couple of minutes Stacy opened the door.

"Oh! Hello Alexis and Reiko. Please do come in, but be quiet. Ryan is asleep," Stacy told them as she held the door open for them.

"It’s nice to see you to, but we came to find out why Ryan wasn’t in school today?" Alexis questioned.

"Oh, when Ryan came in last night he forgot about the little end table and tripped over it, he broke his arm from the fall and the doctor told him that he should rest for a couple of days," Stacy explained.

"Mom? Did someone come in?" Ryan asked coming down the stairs.

"Ryan the doctor told you to stay in bed. If you move around, your arm will never heal," Stacy replied standing.

"I just wanted to make sure you’re all right, uh…" Ryan groaned leaning against the wall.

"I’ll be just fine now go back to bed then Alexis and Reiko can come up and see you. Don’t stay long you two, I want him to rest," Stacy explained and she went into the kitchen to fix them all some of her famous chili. Ryan, Alexis and Reiko all went up to his room. Ryan lay down on his bed, he was very tried.

"You don’t look so good," Alexis complemented.

"Thanks. I feel like shit, this broken arm sucks," Ryan told him with a small laugh.

"We got the highest grade in class for our Outsiders model. And since I told the teacher that you built the model she gave you full credit," Reiko explained.

"Sorry I wasn’t there to help. I feel really bad about that. But while I was out today I remembered that it was your birthday tomorrow, so as a early birthday present here you are," Ryan told her as he handing her a picture of a beautiful dock, beach and sunset.

"Ryan… I can’t take this. It’s too beautiful. You should keep it and send it to a publishing company. You could make a lot from your drawings," Reiko replied trying to hand it back to him.

"No it’s yours. You don’t understand, if I join a publishing company it won’t be fun any more. I draw because it gives me pleasure, not to make money. I will only sell them if worse comes to worse," Ryan explained. Reiko took the drawing silently still wishing he would take it back.

Ryan was back in school 2 days later and quickly made up for all the work he had missed. But with Stan coming back 1 month later Ryan missed another 2 days with a broken ankle. Alexis started to get a bad feeling 1-week later when Ryan came to school with a black eye. Reiko had band practice that afternoon so she wasn’t going to walk home with them. "Ryan what’s going on? 1st you have a broken arm then a broken ankle and now this black eye. Where are you getting all these injury’s at?" Alexis demanded to know.

"I told you how I got them," Ryan answered.

"Ryan Simmons! Don’t give me that damn bull shit! In all the years I’ve known you, you haven’t gotten injured once. And ever since Rebecca’s death you’ve almost told me everything!" Alexis paused seeing the pain and hurt in Ryan’s eyes.

"Now! Tell me what’s going on!" Alexis yelled pushing Ryan up against the wall of a small alley. Ryan looked searchingly into Alexis’s green eyes hoping there would be some mercy there, but there was none; only the demanding look of tell me now or I kick your ass.

"Alexis… please, I promised I wouldn’t tell…" Ryan pleaded. Alexis pushed him harder up against the wall.

"Now!" Alexis demanded again.

"Stan…" Ryan whispered.

"What do you mean Stan?" Alexis asked putting him down.

"You wanted to know where I got these from. Well, I just told you," Ryan replied.

"Ryan? Does Stan beat you and Stacy?" Alexis asked. Ryan leaned up against the alley wall and then slowly slid down the wall to where he was sitting.

"He doesn’t beat mom, just me because I get in his way. I’m ruining his plans of making mom find my dad and live off him. Neither of us want that, we just want to be left alone," Ryan explained.

"Ryan you know this isn’t right. Why don’t you tell the police or somebody? Alexis questioned.

"Mom still wants him, she thinks he can change but the main reason is that Stan told her that if she broke up with him, that… that she would never see me again. God… Alexis I’m so scared. I have to be strong for my mom but there’s no one there to be strong for me. Rebecca… she was the one who made me a strong person. And by remembering her I’ve stayed strong. But it’s getting harder, oh Alexis. I just don’t know what to do now," Ryan said and then he cried. Alexis sat down beside his friend and pulled him close. They sat there for 5 minutes while Ryan cried and Alexis tried to help by saying positive things but nothing seemed to work.

"I need someone to be here for me. Reiko, she said someday someone would help me. But I have no clue who that person is but I wish they would come," Ryan said after his tears stopped.

"Ryan you just said the person who is here for you. You haven’t been in school enough now to hear the talk people have been spreading about you. But every time Reiko heard them saying something mean about you she kicked their asses into the ground. You know I think she has a bit of a crush on you. Every time I say something about you she blushes," Alexis explained with a chuckle.

"What? No she can’t like me… she’ll end up like Rebecca and Linda. I don’t want that. Listen Alexis I have to go but I’ll see you tonight if Stan is at my house," Ryan told him as he stood.

"I’ll have the bandages ready," Alexis replied and he watched Ryan leave. Later that night about 1 am, Ryan climbed through Alexis’s window. Stan had given him a bloody nose and sprang his left wrist. "Ryan this can’t go on much longer, I don’t know how much more you can take. I know you haven’t come to me yet but Ryan you just can’t keep taking this guy’s shit," Alexis whispered wrapping Ryan’s wrist in a bandage.

"I was thinking about what you said this afternoon, and I was thinking about asking Reiko if she wants to be more than friends. But I’m not really going to ask her out. But if she asks me then I will," Ryan replied in a whisper.

"That’s great you two really would look good together," Alexis smiled at him as him climbed back out his window. The next morning Reiko found a note in her locker. It looked like this;

Reiko,

I know we haven’t known each other for long but I have very strong feelings for you. I’m not saying that I want to go out with you but I want to. I’m just sacred that something will happen to you, just like the others. So if you want to ask me I won’t say no. To give me your answer just look down the hall to the right.

Love,

Ryan

Reiko read the letter over to see if it was true and when she had, Reiko looked down the hall and to the right. Ryan stood there glancing around nervously. Reiko put the note in her pocket, got her books and walked towards Ryan. "Hi Ryan," She said.

"Hi Reiko, listen if you don’t feel the same way then I’m sorry," Ryan told her quietly.

"No Ryan, I care for you in the same way. I was just wondering when you were going to say something or write something. So Ryan; will you go out with me?" Reiko asked. Ryan looked down and then looked back up and had a huge smile on his face.

"Of course! I’ll do anything for you Reiko!" Ryan yelled and he picked her up. Reiko was surprised when Ryan put his hands under her arms and picked her up. No one had ever done that before. Reiko dropped her books as she laughed and blushed. Ryan started swinging her around as he laughed and smiled. The kids in the hall stopped and watched them. Brook came walked up when she heard Ryan yell that he would go out with Reiko.

"It’s about time he has some happiness," Brook thought as she smiled.

"Ryan put me down, everyone is staring," Reiko said through her giggles. Ryan looked around and slowly put her down.

"Sorry everybody, I just got excited," Ryan laughed, then he and Reiko walked to class hand in hand. For 2 days they were happy as could be, Ryan and Reiko were the talk of the school. With the prom coming up everyone was talking about who the king, queen, princes and princesses would be. According to Brook and the other girls; Ryan was to be king; Reiko was going to be queen. The princes would be; Alexis, Jamie, and Brad. The princess’s votes so far; Brook, Isabel, and Leah. Between each class Ryan and Reiko met up and kissed then he walked her to class. On the second day of their relationship Reiko found 12 red and white roses in her locker. She took them and showed them to Brook.

"What did I tell you? Isn’t Ryan the biggest romantic?" Brook asked putting on some lip-gloss.

"I never expected this… but I love it," Reiko answered with a laugh. They started to walk down the hall still talking when Ryan came up behind her.

"Ah! It is my lady! It is my love! It is the fair Reiko!" Ryan quoted Shakespeare only changing the names. Both girls turned around surprised by this.

"Hey love, listen I have to head straight home this afternoon for work. So I’ll see you tomorrow, I would call you but I don’t get off until 12. See ya!" Ryan explained giving her a kiss then running off. At midnight Ryan drove home tired but happy, when he walked in Stacy was on the sofa crying. Ryan could hear Stan mumbling something upstairs.

"Mom? What’s going on?" Ryan asked.

"Why didn’t you tell me Ryan? Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to go to school in England?" Stacy asked as her tears fell harder.

"What? I don’t want to go to school in England. I’m finally getting my life together here why would I want to do that?" Ryan questioned.

"Stan said that you told him that’s what you wanted to do," Stacy replied.

"I’ll be right back," Ryan told her as he got up and jogged upstairs. Stan was putting all of Ryan’s stuff in boxes and setting them outside his room.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Ryan demanded to know.

"You’re going to school in England starting Monday," Stan replied.

"No. I’m not going to school in England. Never!" Ryan stated.

"Okay that’s it! You’ve defied me for the last time!" Stan yelled pushing Ryan back. Ryan punched Stan in his stomach. Stan groaned but pushed back. Their fight went on for a good 5 minutes then Stan saw the stairs behind Ryan. Stan pushed Ryan once more and Ryan lost his balance.

Stacy was still sitting on the couch crying when she heard a loud crash. She jumped up and ran into the hallway. Ryan, her son lay motionless on the floor at the foot of the stairs. And Stan stood at the top looking down; his face had a frightened look to it. Stacy grabbed into her jeans pocket and pulled out a gun. "Stay where you are you son of a bitch," Stacy commanded as she pointed the gun at him and reached for the phone. Stacy dialed 911.

"Hello, you have reached 911. What is your emergency?" The operator asked.

"My boyfriend has just pushed my son down the stairs and he’s not moving. Please I need some help. Ryan won’t wake up. I’m keeping my boyfriend here with a gun, please hurry," Stacy explained then she gave them her address and within a few minutes the cops and ambulance were there. The cops arrested Stan and took him to jail; he would be kept there until his trial. The EMT’s put Ryan on a stretcher very slowly and then took him to the hospital. Stacy waited 4 hours before the doctor came out and told her something.

"I’m sorry to tell you this Ms. Simmons but Ryan is in a coma and if he ever wakes up he might be paralyzed from the waist down. I’m sorry this had to happen because he looks like such a promising young man," The doctor explained.

"Oh, my poor Ryan! If he dies, what will I do?" Stacy asked. She went and sat by Ryan’s side for another 2 hours hoping just hoping Ryan would wake up. But if anything he looked worse. She dug 50 cents out of her pocket and called Alexis.

"Um… Good morning? This is Alexis, Who’s calling?" Alexis asked sleepily.

"Uh… morning Alexis, it’s Stacy. And I… uh…" Stacy paused.

"What is it? Did something happen between you and Stan? Is Ryan okay?" Alexis asked.

"Yes something did happen. Stan pushed Ryan down the stairs," Stacy told him.

"God! Is Ryan okay?" Alexis almost screamed, he was fully awake now.

"Oh, Alexis. I’m at the hospital, Ryan is in a coma and the doctor isn’t being every positive. Please come I need someone here with me," Stacy said and he could hear her crying.

"Okay I’ll be down in just a minute. I just need to go to school and tell them what’s going on," Alexis explained.

"Thank you Alexis," Stacy said quietly and then she hung up.

Alexis ran as fast as he could to school and told them about Ryan and that he and Reiko wouldn’t be in school today. Then after he had the excuses he ran out into the hall to find Reiko. He found her by her locker with all the girls around her. "Reiko!" Alexis yelled. Reiko looked up and greeted him with a smile.

"Alexis hello, have you seen Ryan this morning?" Reiko asked.

"I haven’t yet but me and you are going to see him now. Let’s go I have our excuses," Alexis told her.

"Wait a minute, where are we going?" Reiko questioned. Alexis glanced around and then whispered in her ear what had happened.

"Oh my God! Let’s go! I’ll see you guys later!" Reiko yelled to Brook and the girls as she and Alexis ran out of school. "When I get my hands on that Stan, ohh… I’ll ring his neck!" Reiko screamed as they ran to the town hospital. Stacy stood when he saw Alexis and Reiko run in. They walked up to her.

"Thank you for coming," She said as tears slid down her cheeks.

"How is Ryan?" Reiko asked.

"Follow me," Stacy told them as she walked through some doors back to the ICU. She had explained to the doctor that Alexis and Reiko were the closest to family he had besides herself so he gave special permission that they could come back to see him. Alexis and Reiko followed her quietly until she stopped and looked in a window.

"Oh… Ryan…" Alexis whispered looking through the window. Reiko’s breath caught as she looked through the window. Ryan lay there on the bed with an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose. A nurse was in the room writing down the readings of the heart monitor. She looked up and saw them; she motioned for them to enter the room. Stacy went in first followed by Reiko then Alexis.

"Evening Mrs. Simmons. He has improved by 3 points. When they brought him in I wasn’t sure if he would make it this long but now that I see who you have brought with you I can understand why," She told them with a smile.

"Thank you Clara. This is Alexis, Ryan’s best friend. And this is Reiko, Ryan’s girlfriend," Mrs. Simmons explained.

"It’s nice to meet you. I’m sorry you have to see your friend like this," Clara told them as she left so they could have a few minutes alone.

Reiko walked up to his bed as tears came to her eyes. She bent over and kissed him. There was no response from Ryan. Tears rolled down her cheeks and Alexis pulled her away slowly. "Mrs. Simmons where’s the bastard that did this to him?" Reiko asked.

"The police have him and he will be tried for child abuse in the 3rd degree. It seems he been tried for the same thing 3 years ago. Stan has been married before, and has 2 kids. They were both sent away to grandparents homes only to be given back after Stan was gone," Stacy explained.

"What did the doctor say?" Reiko asked.

"He said that Ryan might… might never wake up," Stacy whispered.

"It’s all my fault," Alexis said quietly.

"What?" Stay questioned.

"It’s my fault," Alexis repeated.

"Oh no dear… please don’t think that… there was no way you could have known," Stacy told him.

"I knew Stacy. I’ve known for months. I made Ryan tell me what was going on after he got a black eye. I knew and didn’t tell anyone! It’s all my fault!" Alexis cried.

"No… this never would have happened if I hadn’t ever said yes to Stan," Stacy replied. They hardly slept that night as Ryan hovered between life and death.

Ryan slowly opened his eyes only to be blinded by bright white and blue white, he closed his eyes again waiting for them to adjust. When he opened his eyes again there was girl standing there with a smile on her young face. "Becky?" Ryan whispered.

"Hello Ryan. Wow…you sure have grown in the last 4 years. And you’re cuter than before. I’ve missed you so much. Have you thought about me?" She asked.

"Everyday Becky. You’re the one I’ll always love. Alexis and I became really close after you died but it wasn’t the same as having you there. A year after you died I was walking home in the rain slowly. It was like most of my days, I had been thinking of nothing but you. I wasn’t watching where I was going when I bumped into this other girl. Her name was Linda and at first we were just friends. Then we went to boyfriend and girlfriend but 5 months later she was killed. After that I couldn’t take it anymore, I couldn’t take to lose someone else I loved so I pushed all the girls, all my friends and everyone else away. Alexis was the only one who stayed by me and I thank him for it or I might not be here now," Ryan explained.

"I know. I’ve been watching over you. Linda and I became quick friends after her accident. We had one true thing in common, we both loved and love you with all of our hearts. But Ryan…you have people back home that love you to. Your mom, yes she’s made some bad decisions but she thought they were for the best. Alexis, he’s your best friend and would do anything for you, right now he’s asleep but even in sleep he’s tortured because he thinks it’s all his fault that your in this shape. If only he’d told the police or someone this could have been prevented. That is what he’s thinking. And then your new girl this Reiko, she loves you the same way Linda and I did only she can be there for you. Ryan you can’t stay here. To many people need you there, go back and make them happy. Linda and I will see you in the end," Becca told him. Ryan held out his hand as she got further and further away but then she was gone.

"No! Rebecca!" He screamed. Ryan bolted up his breathing coming out in quick gasps and he looked around wondering what had happened, that was when he felt it and looked down. Reiko was asleep her head resting on the bed right beside him, her hand held tightly onto his. Ryan smiled rubbing his thumb down the side of her cheek until she awoke. Reiko blinked a couple of times then looked up to meet Ryan’s eyes.

"Ryan! You’re awake! Oh thank God!" She whispered hugging him and tears fell from her eyes.

"Shh…please don’t cry. Yes I’m back and for good this time. I got a talking to and now I’m going to make everything right again. No one is ever going to hurt me or anyone I love again. I love you Reiko," The doctor came in a few minutes later surprised to find Ryan awake, after checking him over the doctor left murmuring something about it being a miracle. A few months later Stan was sent to jail for life. No one had been there on his behalf except his lawyer and everyone had cheered when the judge made his sentence.

"It’s over Ryan! It’s really over!" Reiko cried.

"She’s right. The abuse is over," Ryan thought hugging her. He left someone staring at him but when he turned there was no one there. Smiling Ryan took Reiko’s hand and led her out of the courtroom, he felt as if a large weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Looking at Reiko who smiled before leaning up to kiss him. "Yes the abuse is truly over."

By that last part that the abuse was truly over, for those of you who didn’t figure out what he was talking about. Ryan means that the cruse had been lifted off of him. He and Reiko could be happy together.

Hope that helps!

Alkvingiel