Midnight

Flaws

I gotten use to Midnight being in my bed. He kinda just made his own place in it, like the time as a kid when I first met Julie she made her way into my life and I would never want him or her to leave.

I woke up first and seeing Midnight sleep gave me the thought that he didn't sleep much at home. I laid there playing with the streak of hair on his head.

He never really shared much about his mom and I wouldn't want him talking about his dad either. He mumbles and slowly flutters his eyes open "Good morning" I whisper, he smiles and mumbles a morning "You hungry Midnight?" he nods and gets up, I open my door and lead Midnight to the kitchen. "Alright we have um pop tarts, do you do you like pop tarts" he nods and I toss him the breakfast pastry and retreat back to my room. I look out the window and notice that my moms car is gone "So looks like were home alone" he smiles and quickly goes to shock "Whats today" he mumbles with a mouth full. I pick up my phone and check the date "Uh Saturday" he drops his breakfast before quickly scurrying out "I gotta go" I look unsurely as he begins to climb out the window "Why don't you just use the door" he laughs a little "Whats a door?" I giggle and point towards down stairs. He waves his hand "Doors are to mainstream" with that he jumps out the window and Im left alone to let my mind curiously wonder about why he had to leave. I glance out my window to see Midnights black trench coat flapping in the wind as he runs.

I feel a small smile creep onto my face as I get those feelings, the feelings I can't show him, the feelings I want him to feel the same about. Best friends don't sleep in each others beds, friends don't kiss, friends don't almost have sex, friends don't do whatever were doing but thats the label that we put on ourselves. Realizing that Im alone I turn on the radio and began to lis- ten as the sounds of Panic! At The Disco fill the house, I made the bed and found myself smelling the pillow that Midnight had laid his head on and noticed it had small blood stains from where he had a busted lip. I close my eyes and try hard to push the thoughts of last night away, he was being brave and trying to protect me and thats something Im forever grateful for, it could have been Jason Stephens or Scotty Caesar or even BATMAN himself but it wasn't Jason, the guy I spent years and years to try and notice me, It wasn't Scotty, the guy who chose to dance with me when no one else would and BATMAN didn't get the bat symbol in the sky. Be- cause Midnight, the guy who everyone calls a freak, the guy who did everything and used every fighting ounce in his body to keep those slimy evil dirtbags from ever touching me.

I pause the music when I hear the door swing open and hear
my mom call my name. "Jessie, are you and um...Midnight home?" "Im upstairs" I hear the clicking sound of my moms heels up the stairs "Hi honey, wheres you friend?" "He had to leave" she gives me a half smile and looks around my room, "Well since your not hanging out with Midnight today, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out with your mom" I giggle and nod my head. Me and my mom were close so hanging out with her was always a good time for me. She wasn't like dad who judged everything and anyone who wasn't like him, she was more laid back and more excepting.

I get in the car and watch as she locks the door, and puts her hair up into a pony tail. "Alright Jess, where would you like to go, Shopping? a movie? pizza?" I giggle "Why not all three?" she smiles and starts the car "Okay we'll how about we go shopping, get pizza and rent a movie?" I nod my head and we back out of the driveway. I watch as we drive by Midnights house and I smile at the thoughts that my mind imagined of him. Shopping with my mom was always fun, there never was a dull moment. It's like she turned into a teenager again and honestly it made me happy to see her happy.

It was dark when we pulled in the drive way so of course it scared us to see Midnight standing on our porch. I got out of the car only to be greeted by Midnight's quick embrace. "Hey Mid" he smiles "Where've you been?" I smile when my mom walks up "Oh with my mom" she smiles "Hey there Midnight, We've been missing you around" his cheeks begin to heat up he grabs our bags and walks inside. "Mrs Jackson I was wanting to know if I could take Jessica to the fair" she smiles and sets the pizza down. "I don't see why not" he smiles and hugs her. But only I knew mom, I could hear the sad- ness after we just rented a movie and got pizza. "Actually Mid, I wanna stay here with my mom tonight" his smile quickly fades and he nods "Oh, okay" my mom tried to hide her smile but I knew she was like a jealous girl that just got her way. "Midnight, sweetie...would you like to stay with us and watch the new purge movie with us" he shakes his head "Actually I need to go do something I just re- membered" I give him a questioning look and watched as he left the room.

Me and my mom fell asleep on the couch, I woke up with a crick in my neck and a blanket thrown over me. I check my phone and seen that it was twelve, I put on my shoes and walked down to Midnight's. I wasn't scared of his dad anymore so I had a boost of confidence while I was walking. I knock on the door and waited for an answer.

Midnight's dad answered and suddenly my confidence drained out. "Midnight's in the basement, I'll have Collin lead you to him" his words sounded harsh but I kept reminding myself I wasn't here for him.

I stepped inside and smelt the stench of alcohol. I heard footsteps as I seen a boy who looked like Mid- night stand in front of me "Hi, Jessica. Im Collin" I smile and watch as he leads me down to where Midnight was. he didn't go down the stairs, instead he just opened the door and closed it once I reached the bottom. I heard loud music and i creeped over the corner to see Midnight angrily painting. I made my presence know as I walked closer, he looks over to me and I automatically seen the damage done.

Midnight's dad had beat him and left him down in the basement. Midnights eyes began to water "What are you doing here" I looked at him sympathetically, trying to find a way to say something "Are you okay" he laughs a little, like a ma- niac "Okay?....OKAY!!, HELL JESS IM FINE!" his voice was loud and I watched as he took his art brush and painted really furiously on his canvas. I began to get really scared. This was a part of Midnight I didn't like, "Midnight, you need to calm down" he breathes heavily "I need to calm down?" I nod and that psychotic laugh escapes his lips again "Well Jessica, I think you need to lighten up" he laughs harder and begins to throw things and screaming. I felt tears run down my face and heard him curse at god "WHY DID YOU TAKE HER FROM ME!" he was talking about his mom and I couldn't bare to see him in pain "SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE TO HELP ME!" his voice was giving out and more tears ran down my face "MIDNIGHT STOP IT YOUR SCARING ME" he looks at me with a tear stained face and drops to his knees before falling down to the ground "Im-Im so sorry Jess" he pulled his knees to his chest and began to rock himself back and forth. I slowly walked over to him and wrapped my arms around him. "Shhh its okay" he cried harder and then it hit me. Midnights mom stopped the abuse and he needs me more than ever. We laid in dead silence in the floor. While he slept with his head in my lap I began to write, something soft and sympathetic for Midnight.

I wasn't his mom but I hopped this would be good enough to calm his fears
"Midnight. I hope this makes you feel better"

Flaws are like a wall the keeps use from loving With each flaw we make is like another brick we lay Only to make us keep reaching and reaching
Until we realize that our life is wasting away
On the death bed you lay harshly breathing
Till the very last day

I folded up the paper and put it on his side table, kissed his forehead and laid him to rest on the ground in hopes he'd be better tomorrow. "I promise I'll always be here for you" I whispered and walked away.