(A/N) If you are triggered by any form of abuse, please skip over this chapter. If you or someone you know is being abused, please call a hotline for help or contact emergency services if necessary. Please stay safe out there.

It was something of a normal day. I sat down in Chemistry with a sigh. Peter sat on one side of me, Jackson sitting on the other soon after. 

Jackson was a quiet kid, someone people never really noticed. He was really smart though, as far as I knew. He talked to me and Peter fine, but he wouldn't talk to many others like he did to us. I smiled as he sat down beside me. He was a grade ahead of me, so chem was the only class we had together. He gave me a small smile back before pulling out his laptop. I glanced, seeing beautiful art. He quickly closed the program and pulled up his notes. I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention, causing him to flinch.

I tipped my head slightly as he turned to me, but decided not to mention it. "I love your art, Jackson."

"Thanks..." he mumbled, blushing a bit, though he kept his gaze turned away from me.

"Is everything okay...?" I asked gently.

"It's fine..." he said softly, trailing off and gripping his pencil.

I glanced to Peter, knowing something was up. While Jackson talked to us fine, he never really admitted his true feelings. Peter and I could both tell when he had something on his mind, but he always made up excuses.

I looked up as the teacher explained some project we had to do. Apparently, we had to make moles for "Mole Day." I sighed and shook my head, listening for my assigned partner. When I heard mine and Jackson's names called together, I looked to him and smiled. He smiled a bit as well, writing something down in his notes. He also pulled up his art program again, this time to a blank page.

After class, I asked Jackson if he wanted to come over after school, but he said he would have to call his dad to find out if it was okay. I nodded and told him to let me know. I caught up with Peter, holding his hand and cuddling into his arm. "I wonder what's wrong with Jackson..."

"I'm not sure, Kate..." Peter replied gently. "Maybe you can ask him later when you work on your project." He squeezed my hand comfortingly.

I nodded in response, then kissed his cheek as I moved to my own class.

------------------------

I threw my backpack over my shoulder and escaped my last class of the day. I went to my locker, but as I opened it, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. Glancing over, I saw Jackson, smiling as I greeted him. "Hey, Jackson."

"Hey... My dad said he wants me home... but... I mean... We'll have to work on the project... Uhm..."

I gently put a hand on his arm, which made his eyes flick to my hand. I took it away, seeing as it seemed to make him nervous. "Well... Can you stay after in the library maybe tomorrow? Or could I come to your house?"

"I... I guess... But... You probably don't want to..."

"Why not?" I asked, concerned.

"I... Don't know... You can come over if you want..."

I tipped my head. "I... Guess? Do you walk?"

"Yeah," he replied, seemingly on edge.

"Jackson, I don't want to make you uncomfortable... Would you rather work on the project a different day? Or when we could stay after school or go to my house?"

"N-No, it's okay..."

"Only if you're sure."

"Mmhm..." he hummed, looking away.

"Jackson, if you're not sure or you're not comfortable, we don't have to do it today, I-"

"No, it's fine," he replied. "Come on, lets just go..."

I was surprised, but nodded and grabbed my stuff. I followed him out of school, then texted my dad that I was heading to a friend's house for a project and would be home later. He lived just a short ways away from the school, about a 15 minute walk in the direction opposite the sanctum. As we walked, silence overtook us. Jackson seemed nervous, but I didn't know any way to reassure him. I kept quiet, taking in the streets and people around us as we walked.

When we did arrive at his house, the first thing I heard was arguing. A frown crossed my face and I looked to Jackson, who let out a sad sigh. He invited me in hesitantly, quickly skittering up the stairs. I followed, wondering why he seemed so terrified.

"Jackson?" I asked, but he shushed me, putting a finger to his lips. I was surprised once again, but kept quiet until we got to his room. It didn't have a door, which I found to be odd. It only had a curtain. I spoke softly, feeling a bit uncomfortable myself. "Jackson, is everything alright?"

"It's fine," he replied quickly, tidying stuff in his room which seemed to have been previously knocked over. I looked around his room, finding art and sketches on the walls. They seemed horrifying to me, dark figures and shadows, creepily smiling at me, along with monstrous creatures. I was intimidated, glancing to Jackson. He didn't make eye contact with me. I heard someone coming up the stairs, Jackson scrambling to clean up more than he had been a moment ago. Finally, he put the last jar of pens back, but accidentally knocked them over again.

I moved to help him, but that's when a man - presumably his dad - came barging past the curtain and into the room. "Jackson! You're such a clutz!"

"I-I'm sorry dad, I'm picking them up now, just-"

"Shut up and get it done. And who is this?"

"M-My friend, Katelyn..."

"Oh yeah? Daughter of Strange?"

I glanced to Jackson confusedly, but his father took a few steps toward me. He was a tall man, even taller than myself. He had a scruffy beard and dark hair. He reeked of alcohol and was holding a beer can in his hand. I took a few steps back, ready to defend myself if need be. My cloak was already moving, even as I wore it as a hoodie. That made me even more nervous, as it had never done anything like that before. This man was dangerous, I knew.

"You think you're all high and mighty with your perfect sob story about your mom and your father being this famous doctor but guess what? You're not special and you never will be. You may be close with Stark, but that doesn't mean you're any better than the rest of us peasants living in the valley. You're just like us, nothing more. In fact, you're a lowlife, scumbag, and worse than any one of us." He spit at me, just barely missing my face as I ducked.

I looked to Jackson with confusion and fear, wondering what his father was talking about and what he had told him. That's when I saw movement and my eyes flicked back to Jackson's father, who had raised his hand above his head.

"No, dad! Wait-" Jackson was cut off by his father's hand making contact with my cheek. I fell to the floor, my cloak shifting back to protect me from further damage as his father kicked at me. However, all he did was stub his toe, as my cloak had shifted into some kind of hard metal.

I stood as he was groaning and complaining about his toe, wiping some blood from my cheek. Tears flowed down my face from the pain, physical and emotional. I also felt for Jackson, who I knew had to go through that every day. I was sure of it when his father had the audacity to hurt me. I conjured shields, more angry that I had ever been. I stood in a defensive stance, letting one shield down to take my phone out. "You're magic!" Jackson's father accused. I simply ignored him.

Dialing 911, I spoke with the operator. "911, what is your emergency?"

"Hello, I'd like to report a suspected abusive person."

"Okay, and are you near this person?"

"Yes, I'm defending someone and keeping the abuser away," I said, moving in front of Jackson. I grabbed a garbage can lid that was on a nearby desk, presumably that he was going to paint on at some point.

"Okay, we have police on the way. Is anybody hurt?"

"There may be a victim downstairs, but I'm not sure."

"Okay, we'll send for paramedics as well. Are you comfortable hanging up until the police arrive?"

"I'll be fine, thank you."

"If you're not, call again."

"I will," I replied, hanging up. "Now, I think you should leave this room."

Jackson's father growled at me. "What makes you think you have the right to boss me around in my own home?!"

I stayed silent, not fueling him.

"Answer me, or I'll force it out of you!"

I grit my teeth and shook my head a bit, ready to conjure a shield behind the trash can lid. I knew I had to keep appearances for the police, but the sirens were way out in the distance now. Jackson's father pulled back his arm and tightened his fist, ready to swing. I dropped the trash can lid and conjured a shield just in time. He hit it, recoiling in pain as he held his hand. I let the shield fall and picked up the trash can lid once more. "I said stay away."

"Witch!"

"Sorceress, actually, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anybody." I glanced to Jackson, asking him the same with my eyes. He gave me a small nod, though his mouth was gaping.

"Demon!"

I rolled my eyes at the older man, the sirens finally arriving. I heard several footsteps coming up the stairs and my cloak shifted into an armband so it was out of my way. As the police came in, they immediately detained Jackson's father. I slowly put down the trash can lid, kneeling beside my friend. I held out a gentle hand to help him up. He took it, trembling. "It's okay... It's over now... You're safe..." I said softly.

Jackson couldn't seem to squeak out any words. Instead, he nodded and tears flowed down his cheeks. He immediately hugged me as soon as we both stood, clinging to me as if he never wanted to let me go. I hugged him back tight, though not too tight, seeing as I didn't want to trigger a reflex. Then, I handed him over to Officer Mercado, who nodded at me. Another officer came over to get a statement from me. I described everything as best I could, then he allowed me to call my father.

"What's up, Kate?"

"Sooooooo..." I said, stuffing my free hand in my pocket as a paramedic cleaned up the wound on my cheek. I winced a bit, but kept talking. "Uhm, you know that one kid Jackson in my chem class?"

"What happened this time?"

I laughed a bit and took a deep breath. "Uhm, well... His father is abusive, hit me, I called the police and paramedics, and now I'm gonna need you to come and get me cause they need to see a legal guardian to let me go."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait back up, he HIT you?!"

"Yeah," I replied. "Across the cheek. It's not bad or anything. They're just giving me a bandage now."

He sighed. "I'm on my way. You did the right thing."

"Thanks, dad," I replied with a small smile.

***

I stayed with Jackson on the curb, holding his hand and comforting him until my father pulled up. His mother had been transported in an ambulance for injuries from his father. We were just waiting for the officers to finish up so that Jackson could go with them for the next steps. I smiled softly at him, standing. "Will I see you in school?"

He stood beside me. "I don't know what's going to happen now... but... Katelyn Strange, you are my favorite person in the world. Thank you," he said, hugging me quickly as my father got out of his car. I smiled and hugged him back one more time as my father approached an officer nearby. He then come over to us and held his hand out for Jackson.

"Dr. Strange," he introduced. "You must be Jackson." Jackson nodded, shaking my father's hand nervously. My father gave him a reassuring smile, then turned to me. He put his hand to my face and I turned my head so he could see my cheek better. He sighed and pulled me into a gentle hug, kissing the top of my head. "Are you alright?"

"I'm alright, dad. I promise." I hugged him back, then moved with him toward the car.

Jackson caught up to me right before I got in. I leaned on the open door, waiting for him to speak. "Kate, I... I just want you to know that your secret is safe with me and... Well..." He pulled out a piece of paper. "Will you write down your address for me? Even if I go somewhere else, I want to send you some of my art... I have some ideas I want to share with you."

I smiled and wrote it down for him, also writing down my number. "Call me anytime, okay?"

He smiled a bit, tears in his eyes. "Thank you..." he whispered, hugging me tightly one last time before we both had to go.

He let me go a moment later and walked to the policeman who was waiting to escort him away. I got into my father's car, sighing and buckling my seatbelt. I waved to Jackson one last tome as we passed by, explaining to my father what had happened.