AJ arrived at Michelle’s house and rang the bell. When no one answered he started feeling a little apprehensive. Where was she? He reached up and got the key from the bad that was attached to the side of the roof. He opened the front door and peered in cautiously.

“Michelle?”

“Who’s there?” he heard someone call faintly from upstairs.

He started up the stairs. Michelle’s bedroom door was open and she was sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Michelle!”

“AJ! What are you doing here?”

“I came to talk to you. I didn’t mean to...”

She turned to him. He gasped. Her cheek was bruised and she had a cut on the side of her head. He walked towards her, but she stepped back.

“AJ...get out of here.”

He looked at her, puzzeled. “What? But I only came to...”

She walked over to him. “It’s not that. Just go, ok? And tell Nick to stay away from here.”

“Michelle...why are you so afraid?”

She was about to answer, when someone yelled her name. “Oh god! AJ...stay in here, and don’t come out!”

AJ started protesting, but she just walked out of the room. AJ slipped out of the room and followed her into the basement.

Why’s she going down there?

“Michelle...today, we are going to learn something about obiedience. I say, you do.”

She shook her head at him. “No.”

“You know what happened yesterday.”

She backed away from him. He picked up a base-ball bat that was lying on the table. He swung at her. It smashed against her ribs. She slumped to the floor in pain. AJ felt anger surge through him. He rushed out and grabbed the bat. He hit her brother, making him yell in pain.

“Yeah, that’ll teach you!”

Her brother gave them an angry look. Then he smiled at Michelle maliously. “I’ll see you later, Michelle.”

As soon as he left she started to cry. AJ knelt down. He helped her to her feet. “OK?”

She didn’t answer him. He rubbed her back, soothingly. He was surprised when she gave a yelp of pain.

“Michelle?”

“AJ...he’ll come back...you better go.”

“I’m not leaving without you!”

She walked past him. “Too bad. You are going to get out of my house.”

He grabbed her arm. She gasped in pain. AJ was surprised to see tears in her eyes. “Michelle!”

“AJ...I.” her head started to swim. She passed out. AJ caught her. Gently, he lifted her upstairs and laid her on the couch. He found a small towel and wet it, placing it on her forehead. She moved, wincing in pain. Her eyelids fluttered open.

“AJ?”

“Yeah, Michelle. It’s ok.” He hugged her. She pulled away. “What?” he asked, hurt.

She swallowed. “It hurts.”

“What does?”

“Everywhere.” She replied almost inaudibly.

“Ok...where does it hurt the most?”

“My ribs...” tears started to fall down her cheeks.

AJ stared at her. “Let me see.”

She shook her head. “No...I’ll be alright. You should go before he gets back.”

“I told you before...I’m not leaving without you.”

Slowly Michelle got to her feet. “Just go. You said what you needed to say yesterday.”

AJ got up and stood in front of her. “No. I wasn’t thinking yesterday. I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. “OK.”

She started walking again. AJ reached out and stopped her.

“Would you just listen to me?” he yelled. He regretted it instantly.

A look of fear came over her face. “Are you going to hit me?”

He stared at her in disbelief. “What?”

“Are you?”

“How can you even ask me that?”

She started walking again. Suddenly she stopped and held onto AJ for support.

“Michelle?” AJ asked, worried.

She leaned against him, trying to ease the pain in her ribs.

He swung her into his arms and carried her upstairs. He carefully laid her on the bed and sat next to her.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She looked away. “He said he’d kill me.”

He wiped her tears away with his thumb. “And you listened to him?”

“AJ! Wouldn’t you have? Plus, even if he did kill me, do you think anyone would notice I was gone? Not until dad gets back.”

“I’d notice.”

She shook her head. “No you wouldn’t. You’re too busy.” She winced in pain.

AJ slowly lifted up her shirt. Her ribs were black and blue, and looked very sore. He also noticed her flat, smooth stomach. Unconciously, he started stroking her stomach with the back of his hand.

She stared up at him. Slowly, he lowered his face and kissed her gently on the lips. She kissed him back, then quickly pushed him away. She looked at him with tears running down her cheeks. “Don’t.”

He stared at her surprised. “What?”

“You were with Calista yesterday, and I was with Nick...”

“I know.” He said looking at the ground.

“Then...we can’t...no...we shouldn’t do this. What are we thinking?”

“Michelle...let me take you back to my house. Mom can take care of you.”

She started to say no, but then AJ looked at her. “You can’t stay here.”

She looked into his dark eyes. “Alright.”

~Meanwhile~

“So, Nick...what did you want?”

“I wanted to apologize for what I said last night and for hanging up on you. It was wrong, and I shouldn’t have done it.”

Calista looked at him. “Yeah, well I’m sorry too.”

Nick grinned and hugged her. “Friends?”

She hugged him back. “Friends.”

They pulled away, and stared at each other. Ever so slowly, their lips touched. They both jumped.

“Nick! What the hell was that???”

“It wasn’t just me!”

Calista sighed. Shit! What the hell am I doing?

Nick groaned, inwardly. ‘I have a girlfriend. I shouldn’t be kissing her...she’s my best friend...but it felt so right...what am I thinking?