Heal my Heart

Chapter 7 - Luke

"I have to do something. There must be something I can do... Gosh, I don't know, Grizz is usually the smart one, not me ! What should I do?"

Luke couldn't get any sleep that night. Grizz seemed more at ease but Luke wasn't able to calm down for the whole night. He was so full of rage and yet so sad his best friend had to go through all that. He had to think of something, there was no way he was letting Grizz go back to this sick asshole. He thought about telling the police but then he remembered that if the boy was separated from his father, he would just be taken away to a freaking perverted foster family. He'd seen enough TV series to know that foster care was full of creepy old women and perverse men. "Well, is it better here ? Not so sure..."

Luke's thoughts were interrupted by a waking Grizz. He slowly opened his eyes to see Luke seated in front of his bed, looking probably even more terrible than he was.

"Luke ? Are you okay? You don't look so good..." asked Grizz, half yawning.

"Well, I didn't get much sleep last night, but don't worry about me, how are you feeling?"

"To be honest, I feel like crap. Could use some more sleep but I really should go home to take my meds."

"No. You're not going." snapped Luke.

"Excuse me? Dude, what are you talking about?" Grizz asked, really surprised by his friend's bossy side.

"You're not going home. Your father's still there." said Luke, sulking.

"I know he's still there, where else would he be? Look, I really appreciate you coming for me last night, but I really should..."

"I'm not letting you see him on your own ! It's out of question. Either I'm coming with you, either you let me go to your house to get your medication."

"Luke..."

"And as you're not really in any condition to go running all around town, then the second option it is." Luke said, getting up and heading to the door.

"Luke." Grizz tried.

"You can shower while I'm gone if you want, the towels are in the..."

"Luke !" Having finally caught his attention, Grizz tried to understand his friend's reaction. "What the hell are you talking about, man? I have to go home, I can't just run away like that and never return. I'm sorry you had to see me like that yesterday and thank you for taking care of me but I really should go home before my dad sees I'm gone and begins to worry."

A laugh escaped Luke's mouth. When he turned back to Grizz, he had a strange expression on his face.

"Anything funny, dude?" asked Grizz, intrigued.

"You are, Grizz. Ridiculously funny ! Are you really thinking about not worrying your dad right now ?! Are you fucking serious, man?!"

"What...?"

"He hits you, Grizz ! Your bastard of a father beats the shit out of you and you're here wondering about him worrying over you ?! Who the fuck are you kidding, dude ?! He doesn't give a shit about you ! Don't think I've not seen all the bruises and burns you got on you back, Grizz ! You can't go on like that, pretending everything is fine !" Luke shouted out.

"I..." he didn't know what to say. Those words hurt. But he knew it was the truth and that his friend was just worried about him.

"Don't you dare say I'm wrong, cause you know I'm not. Ever since your mother died he's been out of control ! I understand that you don't want to lose him too but you can't stay in this situation, always wondering if tonight's gonna be a movie or a beating. You have to get out of there ! You can stay at my house if you want, I could talk to my parents about your father and..."

"No !" yelled Grizz. "You absolutely can't tell them anything ! I know you despise my father and that you're worried about me but I still love him and I don't wanna have to go. Do you think I enjoy being in this shitty situation ?! Well, great news, Luke, I hate it ! It makes me sick and I hate being a burden to you, but what choice do I have ?! I prefer getting beaten up from time to time than having to go away from you, from the guys, away from my mother, to a fucking foster family."

"Well, do what you want then, Grizz ! But don't call me, next time your sick father uses you as a punching-ball ! You know, I've always been there for you ! But I don't care anymore ! I, at least, have a family that's still alive and that loves and wants me !" Luke screamed.

"..." Grizz was at a loss of words. He just stared at Luke, tearful wide eyes looking at his friend. He couldn't believe what Luke had just said, how hurt he felt right now. His best friend, confident and personal hero was also rejecting him. How did it come to that...?

Seing his friend's eyes wide in shock, Luke reflected on what he had just said. "What the fuck did I just say...? Did I really tell him that ?"

"Grizz...I'm so..."

"No. It's fine, Luke. At least now I know how you feel. Sorry to have bothered you and your living family." Grizz said coldly.

And with that, he grabbed his stuff and took his leave. Luke was still processing what had just happened, how badly he must have hurt his best friend. He heard the door slam.

Grizz couldn't think, he was just feeling this huge pain in his chest. He never thought words only could hurt so much. Crying on his way home, he didn't care that his fragile heart was roughly beating through his chest and when he finally made it home, went straight to his room. He didn't even think of his father, his head was full of Luke's hurtful words. He took his meds and curled up on his bed.

The door half-opened and Logan's features came into view. With a threatening calm he said.

"Dare to explain to me who this Sam kid is and what are those dance lessons he was talking about, Gareth ?"