In the player's eyes *ON HOLD*

Jackson Walker

I hate going home, in fact I dread it. I find any excuse to come home late, sometimes it gets so awful I don't even come home. When it's warm outside I find myself a bench to sleep. When the weather's not really in my favour I sleep in my car.

I have a late night job, so that way I can go on dates with a different girl each day at the same hour. Anything's better than being home. Which to my uttermost dismay I am headed to right now.

.............

I arrived at the font door, stood in front of it and sighed, maybe tonight will be a good night, I thought. I opened the front door and quietly stepped inside; I don't need to be noticed right now. Then, I heard it, the yelling. I tried to go through the kitchen as quietly as possible and rush to my room. Suddenly, I stepped on something, I tried to rush away; too late, they saw me

"Care to tell us why you're late again, you idiotic mistake," said my birth giver slurring her words, great she's drunk again.

"I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget, clean this place up and meet me in my office, you won't want to be late again once I'm done with you," said my sperm donor, let me guess, he's high again.

I quickly dashed to my room, locked the door and got my razor blade out. As I slashed through my skin with it I was overcome with relief. I then pulled out a photo album and went through it. As I looked through the pictures tears started running down my face, especially when I came to one specific picture.

That was back when my parents were genuine good people. When they actually cared; then when I was twelve, suddenly all that changed. It was hard for me, a twelve year old child to process them changing like that overnight. My parent's had a faithful relationship till that night. The night they changed.

My mom turned to alcohol for comfort, while my dad turned to women and drugs. Eventually, they both developed an addiction, it got so bad to the point where I think the last time I've seen them sober was five years ago. That's not even the worst part.

That happened when they started taking their frustration out on me. I became their personal punching bag. That was also around the time I started self-harming as a way to relieve myself of all the frustration.

I quickly climbed down the window, got to my car and drove away before my sperm donor noticed I was gone. I wasn't about to stick around and get a beating. Not when I could get away from it.

No one knows what I go through at home, I like to keep to myself about my struggles. Not like any of them would understand anyway.

..................

I drove as far away from home as I could, I drove to a library; it's the one place I feel safe in, and it's also another way of relief. When I needed relief I usually searched for a razor blade, or a book, the razor blade was the first one I found most of the time.

Today I chose to find a book, it helps me get away from my life for a few hours.

I stayed at the library until closing time. I went back to my car and drove around for a while; not going anywhere, just driving in circles. I did that for a few hours 'til I felt my eyelids get heavy. I pulled up behind the school and slept in the back of my car.

......................

I woke up and looked at my phone, shit I have half an hour to get ready. I don't know if it'll be enough. I hurried to the boys locker room and took a shower. I changed into the spare clothes I had in my car and hurried to dry my hair. When I was done I looked at my phone, I made it with five minutes to spare.

I walked to my locker and got my stuff ready for first period. I heard someone walk up next to me, I didn't think much of it until I heard their voice. It as a beautiful voice, one that I would recognize anywhere.

"I'll meet up with you guys after class, I have to get my stuff," she told her friends. Then she smiled, damn she has a beautiful smile. I was so engrossed in my thoughts I didn't hear her call my name. Finally she yelled "JACKSON!!!" in my ear.

"What?" I asked.

"I asked why you were staring?" she said.

"I wasn't." I answered back.

"You were!" she said.

"I'm so done with this conversation," I shot back.

Just then the bell rang so I hurried over to class.

....................

Raven's POV:

This whole week Jackson kept trying to get me to go out with him. Which caused me to keep to myself even more. I know most girls would jump at the opportunity to go out with him, keyword: most girls, I'm not most girls and I don't want to open up to someone who's just gonna leave me.

I want someone who actually cares, someone that doesn't like me only for the way I look, or, even worse, someone that is only with me for the sole and unique purpose that is sex.

I've been hurt enough and it's going to take a lot for me to open up. I need someone that proves what they say, not just once but every day.

The only people that have ever been able to do that so far are; my twin, who has been there for me every single day of my life since the womb and Ella and Crys who have proven to me every single day since I met them that they have my back. Those are the only people I don't keep at an arm's length.

I learned that keeping people at an arm's length makes it hurt less when they go.

You've now learned a little bit more about Jackson and know more about his backstory. You also know more about Raven and how she doesn't want to get hurt again, but the questions still remain. Who is that little girl in Jackson's picture? What happened to her? Why did his parents change overnight? What happened to Raven and what is the cause of her trust issues?

So many questions and so little answers, I guess you just have to wait to find out.