Through The Eyes

* 7 *

Jen's wet face was buried into her arms as she sat on the floor of the treehouse her, Nick, Cy, and Thomas built together in fourth grade; when their friendship had gone from best friends, to the part they were all considered family.

Jen was a transfer student in the second grade where she met the best friends Nick and Cy. They invited her to eat with them at their lunch table. She had normally been a quiet kid, and she has moved from different homes and schools, so it was really hard to make friends. But Jen soon broke out of her shy shell and became fun and more talkative, and closer they all became.

But she also had to remind herself that Cy and Nick were true, real friends. She had to remind herself that they loved her for her. But it was a little difficult, she just wasn't fully used to feeling wanted.

At home was the abusive adopted family she had, with her fake mom and fake dad and fake brother; who treated her like nothing. The seventh family since she was dropped off in an orphanage when she was just a baby. They were both physically and mentally abusive, and though she didn't like saying it, she hated them but they were the only people she had. And they were the reason so many things bothered her, and so many things hurt so much, but she always hid it under vaults in her mind. She felt alone, but the only time she ever felt wanted was when she was with Cy and Nick.

Footsteps creaked up the stairs of the treehouse and brought Jen out of her thoughts. She wiped her tears and nose with her long-sleeved red shirt, and placed her chin on her crossed arms. A figure peered in the door frame (A/N: yes the treehouse had side stairs to enter the tree part) and to Jen's surprise, it was Skylar. She knocked on the wall to the small room. "Jen? May I come in?" Skylar asked as she took a step forward exposing the rest of herself in the faint light. A plush brown blanket was in her hands.

Jen sniffled, "Sure." She loosened the grip on her knees but still had her arms wrapped around them.

Skylar walked over to Jen and placed the blanket around Jen's shoulders, wrapping her in warmth. "So...Cy and Nick said you were going through something. Are you okay?"

Skylar wrapped an arm around Jen's shoulders as she sat down beside her. "They said you had some stuff going on. They said you acted all stiff. Do you want to talk about it–to me at least?" She asked thoughtfully, pulling a strand of hair out of Jen's face behind her ear.

"I don't know." Jen whispered truthfully. She didn't know if she should–could–tell Skylar anything about what was going on at home, and how things are for her. She took a deep breath.

"I don't know," she repeated. Jen had never really opened up to anyone before.

"It's okay if you don't," Skylar ran a hand over the black and red locks of Jen's head. "I'm only hear to listen. And I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to." Skylar said with a serious, soft voice.

Jen hesitated, then sighed. "Well, you know I'm adopted, right?" She asked Skylar, starting slow.

Skylar shook her head. "No," she placed thoughtful eyes on Jen, listening.

"Well I am, and it's the seventh family I've been in, since I was a baby." Jen breathed.

Jen started explaining, but the part Skylar had tensed at more of her abusive life was when she talked about the things her father did when he was drunk.

"...and my dad is a drunk, and he gets more..." Jen gulped and shivered, showing she remembers the dark pain,  and she tried to hold back the tears swelling up in her eyes. "He gets more abusive, and like most drunks, he doesn't think. He used to beat me when he got drunk. He even hits my mom too. And my brother laughs and I want to hurt him for it." Jen squeezed the blanket under her balled up fists. "But one day he almost went too far and he almost..." Jen cut off and tears fell out like rain. She didn't even want to think about it.

Skylar squeezed Jen closer and shushed her, running her hand on Jen's back, telling her it's going to be alright.

"Jen it's okay, you don't have to say it. I think I have a clue. But you're with me now. It's okay I'm here now, just let it out." Skylar sat there until Jen caught her breath once again.

"Thank you, Skylar. Your more of a mother to me than anyone else." She brought her face out of Skylar's neck area where she wept and she dried her tears. "It's just my so-called 'family' is horrible, but I have nowhere else to go. And they are the reason I got so many issues; anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and others..." she trailed off.

"But the worst fear that my step-dad ever gave me was–" Jen choked on her words and she felt like she couldn't say anything else.

"Jen it's okay you don't have to say–"

Jen cut in crying. "I'm afraid of boys!" Jen felt stupid for saying it but it was true she hated men, boys, she would even gag at the thought of a boy. "My step-dad gave me the fear of guys and men. Every freaking one of them."

Skylar looked away, staring into space, her expression was full of anger, distress, murder, and many other rageful things. Who ever this guy was she wanted to track him down and literally tear him apart for hurting this poor girl.

"Every one?" Skylar asked, thinking about Nick and Thomas.

Jen looked at her, "Nick is like my real brother and I learned to like him. But sometimes he does get me irritated," she chuckled slightly. "And Thomas... he is the closest thing to a real dad." She looked away and brought her knees back up again burying her head back into her arms. "I know it's stupid that I-"

"Of course not." She turned her face to Jen, her expression going soft of sadness and guilt, and sorrow. "It's not stupid, it's just you and you are you, you can't be shameful for who you really are. I...just can't believe that that has happened to you." She hugged Jen, close.

"You never told anybody this?" Skylar asked Jen, concerned.

"No," Jen said through her arms and hair. "You're the only one I've ever told. I didn't want to say anything to Nick and Cy because I was afraid they'll–"

"Now stop there!" Skylar cut in, "Nick and Cy will always love you. They will never look at you any different, okay, Jenevieve. They love you. I love you. Thomas loves you, and we are your family and we all love you for you; even with your silly, awkward, dumb, and all your lovable flaws, we will all still love you for you. No matter what. Trust me we all have our flaws." Skylar stated, saying truthfully to Jen, hugging her as she let out a few more tears, but with happiness.

Jen looked up, tears stinging her eyes, "I know."

* * * * * *

Well, well, well. This got interesting. Hope you liked it. Luv ya guys.

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