That summer

Chapter 12: beatings and reassurances

"Oh gran" Nina said.

"But I'm okay now, I should've be out before your birthday. Don't worry." Gran said.

Nina smiled a small smile.

"Now go, live your life. You have nothing to lose" gran said.

Nina smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Goodbye gran" she said.

"Bye Nina" she replied.

Nina left the hospital feeling empty and needing the warm pair of open arms that came with Fabian.

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~20 minutes earlier~

Feeling frankly bored and wanting to help out Fabian did his own Landry and cleaned up his portion of the house. Pleased at himself he went outside to retrieve the mail. He opened up the mailbox and took out the mail and closed it. He turned around and saw a tall boy standing in front of him. He had red hair that flowed in the same ways fabians did only the ends of his hair were somewhat curly. He had light freckles and a very lean appearance. He was shooken and his back hit the mailbox hard.

"Yes?" He asked patiently.

"Where is Nina?" He asked.

"Erm-running some errands." Fabian simply said. He remembered the boy as josh, the neighbor who loved Nina.

"Don't lie to me!" Josh exclaimed pushing Fabian into the side of the mailbox.

"Look man I don't want any trouble!" Fabian said frightened.

"Of corse you do, your hanging around my Nina. No one does that!" He said his green eyes filling with fierce anger.

"Hey look, josh! Get over it. You have too. Nina's mine and we're extremely happy together." Fabian protested.

"How do you know my name?" He asked.

Fabian disregarded the question and tried to escape his grasp.

"Please just let me go!" Fabian exclaimed.

Suddenly josh threw a punch at him and started to hit him rapidly. One minute later josh stepped back from the unconscious Fabian who's mouth was bleeding.

"That's what you get bub!" He exclaimed. He kicked him one last time before leaving him.

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~5 minutes later~ Nina pulled up in the driveway and dried a tear. She smiled to make herself seem happy for Fabian. She turned to get the mail and saw that none was there. She glanced down and saw the shadow of something against the mailbox.

"Fabian!" She exclaimed.

Quickly and anxiously she knelt beside him and shook him.

"Fabian wake up!" She yelled.

She kept shaking him and gingerly wiped away the blood coming from his busted lip. "Oh Fabian who would do something like this" Nina mumbled. She looked up finally realizing. "Josh! You little Arse!" She cradled his head to her chest and cried silently. With all her strength she lifted him up and took him back into the newly cleaned house.