Extrovert & Introvert (Natepat)

Chapter 1

(Nate's POV)(Trigger warning)

As soon as the kids left my room and I heard the front door close, my father went over to the window and closed the curtains. He then strode over to me, I couldn't help but shrink into a bar in a corner. My father ended up punching my and my head hit the wall. He didn't stop until I was covered in blood. Not his blood...but mine. He then left my room and I got out my phone and started to text my friend Mark.

NateWantsToBattle: Mark

NateWantsToBattle: Are you home alone?

NateWantsToBattle: If so, I'm coming over.

With every text I sent, blood smudged on my phone. I didn't bother wiping it off knowing that more blood would just get onto the screen.

Markimoo: Yeah I'm home alone wh..

I didn't bother reading the rest of the text. I put on a sweater and I got my phone charger then ran out of my room and past my parents, then out of the house. I was aware that the boy - I think he said his name was Mat - had seen me, but I didn't care. I ran until I got to Mark's street, then slowed to a walk because his house was near the top of the street. I went to the door and knocked on it, keeping my head down so no one saw my face. I heard shuffling behind the door then it opened. I walked past Mark and stood with my back to him. I heard him close the door and that's when I took off my hood and turned around. Mark was one of the few people that knew about what my parents did. He was really the only person that I trusted enough to tell. 

He took my hand and brought me to his bathroom. He got out his first aid kit and started to clean the blood off of me and cleaned the parts that had opened from past times when it happened. When he was gone I took out my phone and cleaned the screen. When I was done I felt my start stinging and I looked up at Mark.

"I don't know what to do anymore Mark...I try my best for them and no matter what I do it's not good enough..I just don't know how much longer I can go on like this..." I said quietly enough for Mark to just barely hear me, I looked down at the floor while saying all that. I didn't want to see Mark's reaction. I hated seeing him upset or concerned about me, but he was the only person I knew I could talk to.

(End of triggering events)

I felt him pull me into a hug and that's when I started crying. He was one of the few people who cared, one of the few people I could count on. I hated putting him in this situation, but he always said that he never minds. I used to not believe him, but he's always been there for me. Even before he knew.

Mark let go and got out his phone. I knew what he was doing. He was calling the police. Not like the police helped much. When my mom went to jail my dad became more abusive...I can't imagine what'll happen if my dad goes to jail. Not only that but the people that we just met would think we're just repeat criminals..I don't blame them though.

Mark got off the phone and took me to the living room and had me sit on the couch. His dog saw me and jumped on the couch and started to nuzzle me a bit before licking me. Mark put in a movie for us to watch. Near the middle of the movie Mark's phone started going off. He picked it up and went to another room. He came back a few minutes later and sat down next to me. "Nate. I know how you feel around people you haven't met before. So I'm letting you know now that one of my other friends is coming over because their parents think it'd be safer." Mark said. I nodded then put my hood back on when I heard a car pull up outside. Mark got up and went to the door after someone knocked. He let them in, I looked over to see the boy from across my street. I looked down at the floor and my breathing was a little panicked. Chica noticed and she whimpered slightly then nuzzled me a bit. My breathing started to slow and regulate after a couple of minutes. Someone sat next to me and I glanced over to see if it was. I was glad to see that it was him and moved closer to him. I kept my head down so that Mat couldn't see how beaten up I was. My phone started ringing and I looked at it and froze. It was my mom. Mark must have noticed because he tried to take my phone from me. I tightened my grip on my phone so that he couldn't take it. I then threw it at the wall as hard as I could. I brought my knees up to my chest and tears started stinging my eyes again.