counting the stars and scars

~chapter 8~

*Vic's POV*
I see the bruises on Kellin's stomach, on his arms, and I don't know what to say. A thousand questions and emotions go through my head. I don't know what to say, but before I can do or say anything, Kellin's bedroom door opens.
"Kellin, wake the fuck-" There's a man standing in the doorway. He has very thin blonde-red hair and big eyes like Kellin's, but his are not kind and sweet at all. The man's are evil and menacing.
"Uhm, Dad..." Kellin stutters, obviously trying not to panic. "This is Victor Fuentes. He's, uh, my friend." He's looking anywhere but at his father's eyes. A piece of me wants to go up and punch him in the face, but the rest of me isn't sure why. He could be a perfectly normal dad.
"Kellin," The evil man stares at me through filtered eyes. His stature and face are calm, but his eyes have fire burning inside them. "You know you should ask me first before you have company over. It's not really a good time right now." He gives a completely fake grin, and it's kind of frightening honestly.
"I- I- I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again." Sir? What son calls his own Dad sir? His father stalks out of the room, teeth clenched, fists balled, and slowly closes the door. Kellin immediately lets out his breath. "Sorry for that, Vic. My dad's just a little... Tired is all." Lie. I don't know Kellin much, but I can tell that's a bold-faced fucking lie. I can't really call him out on it though, that would be just too far.
"Ok." Is all I can say. Once again there are emotions and questions running like a racehorse through my mind.
"You should probably go." He says weakly, standing up and pulling his shirt down, hiding the ugly bruises and cuts from the world, like his stomach looked like a perfectly normal 17 year old's.
"Yeah, that'd probably be best." I agree, knowing Kellin would have to face whatever consequences he had in store for him when I left. "But if you ever... Hey, listen to me." I grab his face and make him look me in the eye "If you ever, EVER, need me, just call. Anytime. I don't care if it's 3am or 3pm, got it?" He just shrugs and I make him actually promise me. With a promise in my hand and a kiss on my lips, I, very hesitatingly, climb back out the window and start driving off to my house.
*** Three Hours Later ***
"Hey, Mom?" I'm standing at the doorway to my parents' room, watching her write in her little notebook she keeps with her wherever she goes.
"What is it, Victor?" She looks up at me, looking even smaller in her big desk chair than she does usually. "Is something wrong, mijo?"
"Well, yes, but, no, I mean, it's complicated." I stammer, still debating whether I should tell her about Kellin yet. What if he gets hurt even worse? Tell her! "Um, I need to tell you something."
"Anything, darling." She pats the space on the bed next to her and I sit there, telling her everything that happened with Kellin's dad, excluding the real story on how I saw the bruises, as calmly as I can. She sits there, her face unfaltering and unreadable, soaking every detail in like a whale taking in krill. When I'm done talking, she takes me hands and looks me straight in the face. "Victor, I'm glad you told me this. You're such a brave young man for telling me. I promise I will do everything possible to help your friend out. Even if la policia have to get involved." I can tell she's shaken by what I suspect Kellin is going through, because her old Latino accent shines through.
"Thank you, Mom." I say, giving her a soft smile. She hugs me and continues to write, while I continue to think about what to do.