Lukas fumbled for his keys when he arrived home. About half an hour after Tate and the nurse were gone, he left school, afraid that he would pump into them. The whole way home, he felt like he had just witnessed something terrible and that he was being followed.

He finally found his keys and quickly entered his apartment. Lukas raced towards his room and threw his bag on the floor before lunging at the door to close it, pressing himself against it. His heart was pounding against his chest, and he could it thumping in his ears.

He waited a moment, almost expecting someone to burst into his apartment to come after him. Then, after a minute, he pulled away and started to pace the length of his room.

"Holy shit," Lukas ran his fingers through his hair. "I can't believe... Fuck." After pacing around the room five times, he looked up and saw Charlie was sitting in the far corner of his bed with the covers around him. "Fuck!" Lukas screamed.

"I'm sorry." Charlie smiled. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"That's okay." Lukas opened the light, causing both of them to wince. "Say something next time."

"Why? Is something wrong?" Charlie asked.

"No! Why?" Lukas said quickly. He tried to sound as normal as possible, but he wasn’t.

"Nothing. You seem... never mind."

Lukas approached the bed and sat down. He looked at Charlie and noticed a dark spot on his face. His expression darkened as he reached for the blanket and pulled it off his head. He could see it as clear a day—a big bruise under his left eye.

"What happened? Did he hit you again?"

"Yeah. The minute I walked in. I guess they didn't believe your story this morning." Lukas wanted to punch something. He should have been more careful. Charlie’s dad was a monster. Anything could set him off. And Charlie was always the target of his rage. "Don't worry. I took a picture already and put it in the album."

Lukas turned to look at his desk. His Polaroid camera was out and a photo album with just one date on it. It was the third one they had made since the first time Lukas had seen the bruises on Charlie’s body. They kept a record of every time it happened with dates and times. Lukas preferred going to the cops and having the man arrested, but Charlie was worried that his mother wouldn’t be cared for without his dad.

It had been nine years since then, and with every photo they added, the hatred and anger inside Lukas grew. He wished he could take Charlie away from them. But he couldn’t. Now he just wanted time to go faster to move out and finally stay with Hiro. The only person besides him who wished for Charlie’s happiness and safety.

Charlie reached for Lukas’s hand and gently squeezed it.

“I’m okay.”

"No, you’re not.” His voice caught in his throat as he suppressed a sudden urge to cry. Lukas wanted to tell him exactly what he thought, but it would be pointless. He wasn’t going to do anything about it. Not now. “Never mind. Where was your mom?"

"In the next room."

"And she didn't do anything when she saw you?" Charlie gave him a look. "You really need to get out of there."

"I know. I will eventually." Charlie pulled his knees toward him. "Do you mind if I sleep here tonight?"

"Of course not. When have I ever refused you?"

"Thanks."

Lukas sighed as he removed his coat. He felt a lot better knowing Charlie would be with him where it was safe. He turned back to ask him if he was hungry when he realized Charlie was observing him.

“What?”

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah.” Lukas nodded. “Don't worry."

"Why did you come back so late? You texted me an hour ago."

Lukas turned white at that moment as he remembered what had happened before he got home. He could still picture it. All the details were as if they were happening all over again in front of him.

He couldn’t possibly tell Charlie what he saw. He wasn’t even sure of what he saw.

"No reason. I was feeling a little light-headed, so I decided to wait before heading out. But I'm okay now."

"Okay. If you say so."

Lukas forced a smile as he got up from the bed and left the room. He headed to the bathroom quickly closed the door behind him. He turned on the shower and leaned up against the wall as he waited for it to warm up.

He knew he must have looked suspicious running off like that, but he couldn't stay. Charlie would keep asking him questions, and all he wanted to do was forget what he saw. Forget the look in Tate’s eyes. And forget the feeling it gave him.