Judging Covers

Chipping

The not fun side

"He did this to you?" Milton narrows his eyes at the ugly purple and blue bruise covering Danny's shoulder blade. It looks severely warped on his skin and it making Milton sick.

Dan just stares at the mirror, his dry eyes gone dim. "Just put the compress on it." He doesn't want to talk about it. He never does.

Milton sighs and unwraps the ice Pad. It's been this way since he can remember. Danny always getting beat for things that are out of his control and Milton always fixes him after.

"Your grades where not low."

Daniels hands grip the porcelain sink so tightly his knuckles match the color. "They weren't perfect either."

Milton sighs, he has it easier that Danny. His dad doesn't give a crap about him. His Mom is the one who brags about his number one position.

But Danny doesn't have a mom, or anyone at home that loves him.

His dad's a bastard and likes his power fueled position. Milton finds him disgusting. But there's nothing he can do about it. Daniel won't report him, because he's the only thing he has left and . . . You're supposed to love your dad.

Even if he's a monster.

"Here," Milton hands Dan Neosporin for his lip. "Don't let it get worse. You'll heal before everyone gets back." He leaves Dan to it and heads back into the room.

He flops on his bunk and glares at the ceiling, debating if he should go home or not this week. Daniel sure as hell isn't. Maybe he should take him with him, Mom doesn't really mind Daniel, she doesn't care enough to mind . . .just so long as Milton's grades are above him.

Dan comes out of the bathroom, bare and wincing, looking for a loose shirt to wear for a while. Milton sits up, his phone buzzes in his nightstand, he reaches for it and flicks the screen on.

Mom texted.

His eyes read her short, demanding message, then he grins.

"What's wrong with you?" Dan asks, slowly, painfully pulling on a tee shirt.

"Hey, how do you feel about coming with me on a little trip this weekend?" Milton asks with a sneaky smile on his well-proportioned face.

Dan gives him a weird look. "Where?"

"Oh, just a little gathering. No big deal."

He usually hates these thing and avoided going to them like the plague but he figures this one is prime for some pay back.

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Decent side

Moooooooom!" I gasp as she nearly barrels me over with three tins of muffins in her arms. Carlos calmly snatches one and sits down, his knees jumping as he chews on a Choco chip muffin.

What's she doing? She's busy? This was supposed to be mother/daughter prime time hang out weekend.

"Sorry honey, I forgot." She sounds exhausted.

"Forgot what?" I reach for a muffin she slaps my hand away and I pout. "Carlos got one!"

"Carlos can have one, you can't." Such an unfair answer.

The little dipstick gives me a grin when I stick out my tongue at him. He continues his muffin. Traitor.

"What'd you forget Mama?" I ask again sitting on the kitchen counter. Maybe I can snag a cookie.