Family Friend

Chapter 17

-Next Day-

I hadn't been able to sleep, which is the reason for my sigh as I saw the clock read 5:03 a.m. Deciding I was done trying to get at least an hour of sleep, I slipped out of my covers, and grabbed my sweatpants nearby. Stepping into them, I threw my hair in a messy bun and left to go down to the kitchen.

"Yes well-" the sudden sentence stopped once I stepped foot into the kitchen. Looking towards them, both Mr. and Mrs. Tuan sat there, mugs in hand. "Morning Marce, did you sleep well?"

"Oh uh, yes," I nodded, smiling in hopes to not show the obvious lie. Grabbing a water from the fridge, I sat down on a barstool at the island. "Do... You mind if I tell you now? If I don't, I don't think I'll have the courage to later." Earning nods from both of them, I tried to relax myself as I took uneven breaths.

"Okay, well about 3 years ago, I was dating this guy named Dylan," I began, not looking either of them in the eye. "This was in the summer between 8th and 9th grade, so we would always try and spend time together. He lived in a nearby neighborhood by the school we would both be going to, which made seeing each other easy.

"School started up again, and since he was a sophomore while I was a freshman, he showed me around the school, and his friends. They were a bunch of guys and girls, and didn't seem to bad personality wise. But, on the outside, they looked extremely intimidating. A few people from middle school that I knew for years were too nervous at times to approach me when I was with them.

"Everything was all good and fine, but then Dylan wasn't able to hangout as much anymore. I just figured it was his family, they were always busy and needing help at their jobs and he would often help. But then the only time we saw each other was in hallways at school, and even then he wasn't able to come up to me, he was too deep in conversation with his friends, or another group I didn't know.

"During this time my friends, when they went to the park nearby, they'd tell me they'd see Dylan and his gang. Now originally I thought that his gang were all his friends, but then he'd tell me to stop talking to him and to just stay away. I got curious and went to the park with my friends, only to see Dylan and his gang.

"You wouldn't really be able to tell much unless you payed close attention. Their were hidden gestures, looks, everything was secretive around them. One day, I decided to walk up closer to them, not to him but closer. My friends thought I was insane, but I was just curious.

"Of course, everyone around him started noticing me. They didn't think much of it at first, but one person realized that Dylan would always make motions at me, and shoo me off. I had left after everyone had noticed, and he just gave me this look of 'you are going to pay.'

"A while passed, and I still hadn't heard anything from him. It was last year, maybe a month after the park incident when his parents called. They asked me to come to the hospital with them, where I had found out that his gang had beat him.

"Dylan, he wanted to play soccer professionally, and he loved it. But, he had done something a few years before I met him and broke his knee badly, so his knee was already messed up. Well, hearing about me dating Dylan, they grew agitated. The thing in the gang was no relationships, because they couldn't trust anyone other than who was in the gang.

"He had to get beat up if he didn't follow the rules. When they were punishing him, they stepped on his bad knee, hard. It broke like a twig, and he found out he couldn't play soccer anymore. Also, we'd found out he had been taking different types of drugs, and was completely wasted on arrival to the hospital.

"Normally you'd blame the person responsible, which I thought he was going to do. However, when I was in the room alone, he started cursing at me, blaming me for everything, said he'd get his revenge.

"He got out of the hospital and rehab about 4 months ago. By then we had moved to an apartment closer to downtown, and even though it was stupid, we hoped he wouldn't find us. Then, I started getting letters in the mail from him. I found out he was still doing drugs, drinking, and no matter what his parents couldn't stop him.

"Then, one day, I was at work in the mall nearby, when he walked in. I knew he saw me and recognized me just from the aura he gave off, but nothing happened. I was closing that day, so it was nearing 11 when I was leaving, and going to my car, when I was jumped. I was lucky enough people were arriving for a new movie that was out that night, but I was still hospitalized.

"Then, I came here. That's the full story of why I'm here and not there," I concluded. Only a few minutes had passed, however the clock now read 5:47 a.m., meaning over a half hour has. Anxiously looking up, I looked between both of them, their faces stoic.

"That's... A lot to take in Marce," Mr. Tuan finally spoke. "But that doesn't change anything."

"Is everything back home okay though?" Glancing over to see a slightly worried Mrs. Tuan, I sighed whith a shrug.

"I would like to say it was," I responded. "My... My parents are being hospitalized. By what I heard, the cops think they know where he is, but they're not sure. That's why I'm hoping Ren and I will be able to become trainees because if he finds me, I don't want anything to happen to you guys."

"I understand," placing a comforting hand on my shoulder as she stood up, Mrs. Tuan smiled softly. "Well, you can still tell Grace right?" With a nod, I was sent to go get ready, as we would be meeting up for lunch before going to the park.

-----

"Thats the entire story," I finished explaining to Marks older sister. She carefully listened, nodding every once in a while to show she was listening as her parents played with the girls. "I'm sorry, I never meant for any of this to happen and I felt it was necessary to tell you guys everything in case I become a trainee."

"Have you told Mark yet?" She questioned, sipping on her tea she had bought.

"No," I sighed, mixing the caramel of my coffee again. "I feel like this is something to do in person instead of over text or call. I didn't want to tell him just yet because I didn't know how he'd react."

"That's understandable," she nodded thoughtfully before turning and smiling towards me. "Thank you for telling me though, considering we only met a few days ago."

"Of course, you're part of Marks family," I grinned.

-----

The sun had set, and we had returned home, along with Grace, Leila and Kylie and they would be staying the night. Of course, I decided to ask Grace if she had time tomorrow to drop me off somewhere, which she quickly agreed. Luckily Mr. Tuan would be home early from work tomorrow, and we'd be able to leave around 1. Reason being, I would be getting my first tattoo that I've been planning since I was around 14.

"Hey Ren," I started once she picked her phone up. "So, I have an appointment tomorrow at 1:30 at a tattoo parlor. Grace is taking me, would you like to come?"

"Of course!" She agreed quickly, and we soon began talking until my alarm said 1:28 a.m.

"Look, I'm going to go, be ready by 1:15ish," I said. With her quick response, I hung up and plugged my phone in before going to bed.