Be Somewhere

“What the fuck is going on?” Lily snapped at the two. The girl turned and stared at Lily for a few seconds before she shook her head and started to cry. Brad didn't even take a breathe; he just kept sobbing through the questions that were thrown at him.

“You guys, seriously,” Tucker said, “what's going on?” A light came on in the house and Morgan whipped his head up and squinted; trying to see through the blinds. Crashes and curse words were starting to fly out through the night air which only increased the confusion. There was the sound of glasses breaking and the light turned off again. Ricky walked out of the house; still seething and visibly shaking with the rage he was trying to contain.

“Looks like we're spending the night at my house after all, kids.” Lily took a quick glance at him and her face paled.

“Ricky... you're bleeding!” He muttered a response. She was almost positive that he had said 'usually', but she couldn't be sure. “Ricky, what's going on here?” He licked the blood from his lip and spat it on the road. She glared at him as he didn't respond. “I want an explanation, the whole point of this video is to get to know you guys, so what the fuck is going on here?” Ricky turned to Brad who was still crying, but was managing to nod.

“You guys have to promise to keep your traps shut until you hand this tape in, got it?” They all nodded in unison and he sighed again. “I saw that the lights were off and I know how Brad's dad is... I told you guys to wait in case I was overreacting... which I wasn't.”

“That doesn't explain why Brad and his little friend are bawling their bloody eyes out.”

“Brad and Naomi are bawling their bloody eyes out because of what was going on... I can't even say it... I just... Brad you have to explain it when you've calmed down... I'm just too disgusted with him to even... I just can't.” Brad nodded again before taking a deep breathe.

“M-my d-d-dad ha-has a l-l-li-little pr-problem... its n-not his fau-fault... th-there i-isn't an-any help
a-a-available f-for him.” Ricky's eyes narrowed.

“Of course its his fault, who else's would it be? And if he can't help the fucking problem then he shouldn't be living with a teenage boy, now should he?” The tears started to fall from Brad's eyes again and Ricky winced in regret. “I'm sorry, it's not your fault,” Ricky pulled Brad into a hug and a deep frown found itself being the dominant feature on his face, “Shush, it's okay. it's okay.” Brad took some deep breaths and pulled away.

“My dad's been having sex with me for about nine years... he stopped a few months ago... but started again about two weeks ago...” Tucker's expression was fear mingled with disgust. The eyes of all three were wide, it never occurred to them that something like this happened, and it especially never occurred to them that it happened to someone they knew. They just stood there staring with dumbstruck expressions and it started to get on Ricky's nerves

“What are you staring at? Have you honestly never heard of this stuff before?”

“We've heard of it, but Ricky, none of us thought that it happened in a town like ours, its just... wrong,” Lily answered cautiously.

“Here's some news for you, small towns are a thousand times worse for shit like this. My dad did it to me until I pressed charges, so wipe that look off your guys' faces, we aren't freaks because of this shit, we don't choose it, it just happens. Get the fuck over it.”

With that he draped his arm around Brad's shoulder and began the walk back to his house. The rest of them followed in silence. In near silence anyway, Naomi was still crying softly. Ricky looked up at his house and bit his lip, all the lights were still on.

“You live in that house?” Ricky nodded at the shock in Morgan's tone. He dressed in ripped clothing and looked like he had just walked to school after a quick fight in the junk yard. His demeanor didn't exactly scream 'upper class'. He tried his best to smile but it turned sour on his lips. Even if there were over 50 rooms in his house, he still couldn't hide in them.

He slid the key into the lock and cringed at the smell of whiskey. The door creaked and he inhaled sharply, only to let his breath out when no screaming ensued. He pushed the door open fully and stepped in slowly. he half turned back for a second and put his finger to his lips; they needed to be dead silent otherwise they would just be dead.

He held them back before he tip-toed into the kitchen; only to hold his breath when he found Richard glaring at him. He was seated at the table with a bottle of beer in hand and several empty ones in front of him. Ricky breathed out slowly and suppressed the fight or flight response in his stomach.

“I have some people here, they're going to be spending the night.”

“Who are they?” Richard slurred softly.

“Brad, and some people for a project in social studies.” Richard nodded at this and Ricky made a hasty retreat from the room. He beckoned for them to follow him upstairs and they obliged without question. He sighed and fell onto his bed, turning his head slightly so he could glance at the clock. It was 10:30 at night and he couldn't help but feel exhausted.

“We should get some sleep you guys, it's been a long day.”

Ricky told the others to phone their parents and make arrangements if they needed to. Everyone swore that it had all been taken care of beforehand and he nodded. He pulled out blankets and spare pillows before shutting the lights off for the night. Everyone lay in a pile on the floor and their breathing was just starting to even out when there was a faint whisper.

“Ricky,” Bard asked, “was he drunk? Richard, I mean.” Ricky swallowed before nodding his head. It took him a few moments to realize that the room was pitch black.

“Yeah, he was.” Ricky heard Brad's slow shaky sigh.

“I'm sorry,” he yawned.

“Yeah,” Ricky muttered; barely audible, “Me too.” His eyes had adjusted to the dark and he could see that his best friend had shut his eyes. The only eyes that had a look of any type of consciousness were Lily's. She smiled weakly at him, and he couldn't help but turn away.