My eyes opened and I whimpered. I couldn't make much out. I saw a silhouette in what I thought was a doorway but I wasn't sure.
"Papa! He's awake."
A larger silhouette appeared.
"Thank you, Jeremy."
The small silhouette disappeared. Things started to become clearer and I groaned as the sunlight got brighter. It burned my eyes.
"How are you feeling, Jacob?"
I just shook my head.
"You don't talk, do you?"
I shook my head again. He sat me up.
"I'll get you something to eat."
I smiled my thanks. A young boy appeared. He must have been the small silhouette. He had shoulder-length black hair which had been straightened. He had black eye make up on and black lip stick on. He had a promise ring on his right ring finger. I recognized him from the group of boys I had seen upon my arrival.
"I'm Jeremy, but everyone calls me Jinxx."
I smiled shyly.
"You're Jake Radke, right?"
I stared at him. Radke wasn't my surname, Worsnop was. I went to open my mouth and stopped myself. The man came back.
"Jeremy, don't pester him. Go to Ashley's or something."
Jeremy sighed. "Well, almost everyone." He walked out.
"Don't mind him."
I smiled and took the food I was being offered. I guessed this was Dr. Ferguson. I delicately nibbled at the food he had given me. I wondered if he knew his son was engaged. I swallowed. I doubted it. I wondered if Ashley was Jeremy's fiancee.
"Jacob, I need to ask you some questions. Do you think you can answer them?"
I shrugged.
"Who stabbed you?"
I opened my mouth to answer but no words came out. I tried to speak but I couldn't. I noticed Jeremy had come back to the doorway.
"His father did."
Dr. Ferguson turned around. "Jeremy, I said to go."
"I'm helping you, Dad."
He sighed and turned back to me.
"Did he abuse you?"
I nodded. Jeremy sat on the bed and took my hand. I smiled at him, grateful for the support.
"What did he do?"
Jeremy squeezed my hand and I closed my eyes.
"H-He used to b-beat my brother, D-Danny and I, if w-we did something w-wrong, a-anything wrong."
It hurt to speak but I was glad I was.
Dr. Ferguson smiled.
"Right, that's all I need to know, thank you Jacob. Jeremy why don't you stay here and you two get to know each other? You two will be in the same school year when Jacob starts."
He nodded and Dr. Ferguson left. I sat nibbling at the food in front of me. School. More people to beat the hell out of me. Jeremy smiled at me.
"So, what were you like at your old school?"
"I t-took nearly a-all subjects e-except e-English, s-Spanish and g-German because I have my q-qualifications a-already."
He stared at me. "That's awesome! Do you do any other languages?"
I nodded. "T-They started me on I-Italian and C-Chinese and I already t-take F-French and L-Latin."
He smiled. "Woah. Maybe you can help me and the Brides with our languages. We all suck."
I frowned. "B-Brides? You're all e-engageed?"
Jeremy laughed. "No, that's just me and Ashley. Andy is straight and so is CC."
I nodded. "How did h-he propose?"
"He took me to the park where we met for the first time and just popped the question."
I smiled. "R-Romantic."
He nodded. "Yea, it was."
"D-Does your D-Dad know?"
He shook his head. "My dad would kill me, but Ashley's dad knows we are. My Dad just thinks we're dating."
"D-Does anyone else know?"
"The Brides and some of the teachers at school."
I nodded. "C-Cool."
"Do you want me to get the Brides?"
I looked down. They were the only kids I could see myself hanging around with but I doubted I would talk in front of the others.
"S-Sure."
He smiled and walked out the room, grabbing a leather jacket on the way out.