When Lines Blur

Chapter Three

"Okay..." Adrian replied. Maddox walked over to his backpack and picked it up.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow at school."

"Do you need someone to walk with you?" Lucas asked.

"I'm not a baby guys. I'll be okay. Have fun y'all," Maddox said. He threw his backpack over his shoulders and left the house. It was a decently long walk home for him. He lived on the opposite side of town from his friends. Something he commonly felt guilty about. He was so well off, he had a father that gave him plenty of money, sure that money came at a cost, but he was able to get anything he wanted. He didn't have to do any budgeting. He did though. His father didn't just hand him the money. Maddox had to, as his father said "work for it", and the work wasn't pleasant. 

Maddox walked across the town, the sunset illuminating his face with shades of orange. 'It'll be winter soon,' Maddox thought to himself as he looked towards the setting sun. He kept walking. He soon made it to the rich side of town. All the houses were the same, and boring. White houses shaped like boxes with big windows. In the light of the setting sun, the neighborhood nearly looked dystopian. Maddox eventually made it to the white box he called home, and unlocked the door. 

The inside was trashed, but when 10 to 12 drunk 30 year old men are in one place, that place is usually trashed. Maddox sighed and set his backpack down by the front door. He then began to clean, throwing out crushed cigarette packs and rinsing out beer bottles to later be taken in for recycling. He put on some music as he worked, his favorite band Dream Theater mostly. He worked for a solid hour, it was dark outside now. He was setting down the final beer bottle when he heard a knock at the door.

Thoroughly confused on who would be showing up at his home this late, Maddox walked over to the door and looked through the window, who he saw was nothing close to what he expected. 

Maddox swung the door open, "Austin?" Austin was shaking, tears running down his face. Austin's left face had a bright red mark on it, and his tears had washed away makeup along his neck revealing dark bruises, five circular bruises. "Oh my god, what's wrong??"

Austin looked around, he was terrified. "Can I come in?" He asked, his voice hoarse and quiet. Maddox practically drug Austin into his home. There was barely a moment for Maddox to think before Austin was clinging to him and sobbing. "I didn't know where else to go!" 

Maddox stood completely shocked for a moment before he carefully raised his left hand to smooth out Austin's hair some. "Shh, it's okay Austin. It's okay." Maddox carefully wrapped his other arm around Austin, holding him securely. "What's wrong? Can you tell me?"

"I saw you get home. He won't look for me here," Austin cried into Maddox's shirt. Maddox stood quietly for a moment, soothing Austin. Trying to help him calm down. It eventually worked. "Sorry," Austin sniffled, "I shouldn't bother you."

"No, it's okay. But, now I'm worried. What's going on?" Maddox asked.

Austin was quiet before looking at Maddox, "promise to me you won't tell anyone. Not my friends. Not your friends. No one but us knows."

Maddox bit his lip, if it was serious he would want to tell, but he wouldn't want to hurt Austin. But he wouldn't know unless he promised not to tell. "I promise. It'll be our secret Austin." 

"Okay," Austin whispered softly. Maddox could feel him shaking and moved to sit Austin down on the couch. 

"Take your time."

"It's my dad," Austin began, "he isn't too kind. Well, maybe that's... maybe that's an understatement. My dad abuses me..."

"Why not tell someone, like a teacher or the police?" Maddox asked.

"Are you crazy? They won't believe me! My dad is a respected business owner Maddox, he owns most of the hardware stores in a fifty mile radius. People will think it's a publicity stunt."

Maddox sighed, "I suppose that's true... Why come here though? Why not run to Shawn's or Ryan's?"

"None of them know anything about it... I don't want them knowing."

"They're your friends Austin, they should know more than I should."

"Have you seen what they do to the kids who bully me?" Austin asked, "Micheal says you all only hurt people but will put someone in the hospital if they talk ill of me. Can you imagine what he would do to my dad?"

"Yeah, I guess that's true," Maddox said. Austin could tell, Maddox seemed far off. 

"You understand, you understand me not wanting him hurt over this... Maddox?" Austin didn't want to ask, he didn't want to truly know if Maddox was being hurt. 

"It's not like he is home often," Maddox said softly, "It's partially my choice as well though. I mean, he says I have to earn my allowance but I-"

Austin cut him off, "What does he do to you?" 

"Something no adult should do to a minor, let alone someone in their own bloodline," Maddox said quietly, like it was a secret. 

"I'm sorry you have to deal with that... I mean, a few hits and choking is nothing compared t-"

"Let's not compare apples to apples," Maddox said gently, "both of our situations sucks."

"I wish I had talked to you sooner," Austin mumbled, "it's nice to have someone who understands."

"I wish you had too... I'll be honest Austin, I've wanted to talk to you for a while. Something about you seemed familiar to me, maybe it was the trauma... I didn't due to Micheal and Ryan, god those two hate us."

"Yeah," Austin said, he gently leaned against Maddox, "We should be friends."

"You got a phone?"

"Yeah. Obviously."

"Let me put my number in there, then we can talk whenever."

"What about your friends," Austin asked, "I know they are protective."

Maddox smiled, "they are, but they don't have access to my phone. If we talk it'll be safe." Austin carefully opened his phone and handed it to Maddox. Maddox added his contact into Austin's phone. "Now we can talk."

"Is your dad gunna be home tonight?" Austin asked.

"Nope, he was home last night for a party. I had just finished cleaning up when you knocked," Maddox answered.

"Do you think," Austin paused, "Do you think I could stay the night?"

"Of course," Maddox replied, "Do you walk to school with anyone?"

"No. And I leave everything there, I can't be bothered to carry it home."

"Fair enough. We can walk together then," Maddox replied.

"Okay," Austin said. His head was slowly falling onto Maddox's shoulder. 

"Come on, let's get to bed. You need the rest."