Joe was thankful that night that Gary hadn't ordered him back downstairs while he was drunk, he managed to get away with a beating which was much worse when he was drunk. He hated the man with a passion, how he could stay at home all day drinking while his wife goes to work and earns money for the three of them he didn't know. Joe wondered behind the back of the school where the smoking shelters were seeing that nobody was there, this is where he would usually meet his friends before they head into the school together but he did hear someone following him. When he turned around her saw Demi, he rolled his eyes knowing that she didn't smoke. He reached the smoking shelter lighting up a cigarette as Demi approached him.
"Why is it not a surprise that you smoke?" Demi questioned looking up at her wafting the smoke away when he blew it in her face.
"What do you want form me?" Joe questioned back looking down at her.
"I want to help you, I know your being abused by your step father and I want to help you get through it, you shouldn't have to do it alone." Demi insisted but wasn't surprised when he denied her help, she would have done the same just a couple of months ago.
"I don't need any help because nothing is happening in my life, I love my step father." Even though Demi had only just met Joe in the last couple of days she knew that he was lying, it was the look on his face and the look in his eyes.
"How did you get those bruises on your chest and the black eye then?"
"A fight I've told you, look I don't do well with knew people so I'd rather stick with the people I know." Joe took another drag of the cigarette.
"You still playing that fight game? I know what you're going through Joe but I won't tell anyone, you need to admit it to yourself before you tell anyone. I'll be here for you if you ever want to talk to anyone, I won't judge you." She explained herself before walking away from him. Joe sighed watching her walk away letting his cigarette burn away.
"Where were you this morning?" Willa questioned as Demi sat down next to her in their first lesson, Nick was the other side of her reading clearly wanting to get the book revised for the test they have today. Demi smiled at her bringing out her books and pencil case from her bag zipping it up making sure it was out the way.
"I just had to speak to some teachers." Demi stated watching as Joe entered the room his eyes on hers as hers were back on him until he went out of view sitting at the back of the class. She sighed looking forward again but then at Willa as she stared at her.
"What were those looks for?" She questioned.
"Nothing." Demi answered beginning to noodle down on her notepad waiting for class to start. The teacher was at the front at his desk waiting for everyone to arrive before he started or at least until the second bell sounded signalling to him that whoever else came was late.
"I'd stay away from Joe if you can, he's nothing but trouble." Willa whispered to her not wanting her best friend's cousin to hear him.
"I'm not planning to be anything to him and I don't think he's that bad. He just clearly has some problems that he needs to prioritise and get sorted." Demi shrugged her shoulders gently, she knew what was going on with Joe even if he didn't admit it to himself or anyone else. She wanted to help him through it all, be a friend that he can talk to it about because she's the only one who knows about his secret.
"No he's like that because he's a jerk." Nick mumbled putting his book down.
"I don't think you give him much of a chance, I'm sure there is a Joe in there that you'll love." Demi stated but they all paid attention to the teacher when the second bell rung and he began teaching. Joe was soon sent out his lesson for disruption.
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