Rhett and Link: Buies Creek

Trauma

Eagerly, the boy dragged his friend through the front door of his home. A small whimper could be heard from the younger boy, causing the other to turn around.

"What?" he asked, looking impatient.

"Nothing." Link answered, shrugging off the pain.

Happily oblivious, Rhett pulled his friend along.

Entering his home, he looked at Link for approval. The boy looked in awe for some reason that Rhett did not know.

"Come on, Link! We can look at my room!" And they were off again.

The two bounded up the stairs, Link seeming more comfortable now that he was with his friend.

Rhett breifly labeled each door to a room as they passed them, too fast for anybody to consider. Arriving at his room, they walked in, where Dianne was laying out Link's sleeping bag. She looked up at the two, smiling.

"Why don't you two head outside while I finish setting up for Link?" she offered.

"Okay!" Rhett nearly shouted, causing Link to crack the slightest of smiles.

Dianne laughed at her son's enthusiasm, giving a cautious glance to Link all the while.

Rhett led Link out, leaving Dianne to herself.

She knew about Link's eye. She didn't even have to have Cole tell her. It was obvious enough. She didn't want to bring it up, though, fearing it would make Link uncomfortable.

After finishing up in Rhett's room, she headed downstairs to finish up dinner. Her husband would be home any minute, now.

She looked out the screen door, giving her view of the two friends giggling like crazy as they hopped and pranced around the creek. Rhett especially. He looked absolutely ecstatic to have Link over. Dianne knew her son was exceptionally social, always having friends over, rudely inviting himself over to other to other's homes. But with Link, she sensed some sort of extra spark, as if she knew this friendship would mean more, be more.

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Soon, dinner was ready, so Dianne called in the two boys, asking them to wash up. As they hurried up the stairs, the front door opened, revealing Richard, looking exhausted and angry.

Dianne rushed toward him to take his briefcase and give him a kiss. This seemed to lighten his mood in the slightest bit. Quickly, Dianne mentioned, "Rhett has a friend over. He's a little-"
She was cut off by Cole hurrying downstairs, shouting a hello to his father before rushing into another room, followed by Rhett, looking infuriated.

"Boys!" She hollered at them, immediately ceasing their antics.

"Sorry Mama, but Cole was teasing me about a girl," Rhett apologized.

Dianne sighed and turned to her other son who shrugged as he sat down. Rolling her eyes, she decided to let it go. She went back to giving her husband her attention, forgetting what she was even to say.

She was abruptly reminded when she noticed Richard's eyes narrow on the staircase. She turned her head to meet the sight of Link shuffling down the stairs, looking absolutely terrified of the man she was hugging. The poor boy probably didn't know what to think of a real father.

"Oh, dear," she muttered, "Richard, sweetie, this is Link. Link this is Rhett's dad, Richard."

Now, Richard was a relatively nice guy who had a good sense of humor, and of course he loved to mess with the boys' friends whenever he could just for a few laughs. He was completely unaware of Link's situation, of course.

"Mr. McLaughlin, to you boy," he bellowed, sternly. This earned a groan from his sons, most likely from embarrassment. This only encouraged him.

He was about to say some other trite remark, but his wife cut him off, announcing dinner was getting cold. She had given a wary glance to Link, who Richard hadn't noticed was frozen in place, shoulders tense and knuckles white from his tight grip on the railing. After a few moments, though, he shuffled nervously down each step.

They each took their normal places around the table, leaving an empty chair from the garage for Link, which was stationed at the edge of the table next to Rhett. Dianne sat across from her husband, next to Link, both at the table's heads, and Cole sat across from Rhett. The meal prepared was spaghetti and meatballs along with a tall glass of milk for each of them. Link looked a little sick.

The family had skipped prayer, the men confused to why, but completely servile to Dianne's demanding expression. The food was passed around, quieter than usual. Link took a miniscule amount of the pasta. His eyes were glued in fear to Richard, fortunately unnoticed for the time being.

Eventually, conversation was no longer avoidable, and Dianne spoke first, to her husband.

"How was work, sweetie?"

Richard groaned in annoyance. Her question evoked some pent up anger. "Awful. Some professors in the English department are going on strike for who the hell knows why. So now they're threatening to lower the salaries. I didn't even do a damn thing!" He pounded the table, making them all jump.

Link began to tremble. His hands shook so much he dropped his fork on the floor. But with Dianne trying to calm her husband and Cole being absolutely engrossed in his meal, only Rhett noticed.

He gave a frightened glance to Link whose breathing grew more labored, still too quiet for anyone else to hear. Especially with Richard near shouting about his work.

"Those damn bastards! Selfish sons of bitches!" He obviously forgot a guest was present.

"Baby!" She pleaded. Now Rhett was getting scared of his father. He clung to Link's shuddering arm.

"Those no-good pieces of shit..."

The insult's familiarity triggered Link. His breaths were loud, now, drawing everyone's attention. Trembling limbs struggled to cling to the chair; eyes were locked on his plate, tears falling rapidly down his face.

The scene of the shouting man and pleading woman were all to familiar. He recalled the traumatic experience he had encountered just about every night for the past five years. It was as if he could not escape it. The cursing. The crying. He pictured Jimmy striking his face once more, another layer of hope gone.

The family stared in shock for a moment while the boy shook. Dianne, unsure, reached out gently to the mess of tears.

A wail erupted from his throat. "No! Please, stop! Don't hit me. I'm sorry, it was an accident!"

She jumped back frightened. "Honey, I won't hurt you. It's alright."

He covered his face with his hands as if attempting to block a punch. "I-I'm sorry. Just, p-please don't hurt my mom, Jimmy."

His screeches had died down to sobs, lower in pitch but still as chilling as before.

Link's face was buried in his arms, now, still shuddering violent tremors throughout his body.

Another screech burned through the tense atmosphere, this one sounding almost like he was saying 'stop'. He bawled and screamed relentlessly, now. Each one louder and more shattering than the last.

No one could even get near him without him shaking and screaming more than ever. So no one did a thing.

Maybe they should have, though. After a few minutes, he stopped. And wouldn't move again.

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Sorry for never updating and this chapter kinda sucks :(:(:(:(:(
And I have no excuse for this behavior. I am taking full responsibility for my failure. But I won't have to if no one is reading this, which I'm sure I've lost any readers x) I also gave u a cliffhanger which is totally uncalled for. I'm sorrrrry
Ok bye ♥