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The whole day Brian couldn't get his mind off of what he saw that morning. 'Someone had done that to Nick and it looked like belt or cord marks. How could they do that to that sweet kid?' Brian thought. He knew it was done a while ago cause all that was left was scars. Brian's thoughts were interrupted when Kevin started yelling. He was getting fed up with Nick not paying attention.
"Nick wake up! We need to get this done!" Kevin yelled. Nick looked down.
"I'm sorry." He said softly.
"You have been saying that all day Nick! I'm sick of it!" Kevin started to walk towards Nick. Nick saw the anger in Kevin's eyes. He backed up two steps and he felt the wall on his back. He was trapped. Kevin was now in front of him.
Nick's mind started to race. He became confused. He went into shock. He slid to the floor and started shaking.
"I'm sorry. Please don't hit me. I'll be good! I promise! I'm sorry!" Nick sobbed. The other four guys plus some dancers stood shocked and confused. Brian, AJ and Howie walked over to where Kevin and Nick were. Kevin kneeled down and touched Nick's shoulder. Nick reeled back.
"Please don't hurt me sir... please?" Nick pleaded again.
"Nicky, I'm not going to hurt you." Kevin said softly. All his anger was now gone and replaced by pure concern for his new brother. Kevin softly and slowly took Nick's hands away from his face. "Nicky, we won't hurt you." Kevin said again. Nick calmed down. He looked at the four guys in front of him. Brain bent down and took Nick in his arms. Nick finished crying. He knew he was going to have to tell. He couldn't hide it now.
A few minutes later Nick had calmed down enough to where they could talk to him.
"Nicky? What happened?" AJ asked concerned. The four boys looked at a scared Nick.
"I....umm...I.." Nick stammered.
"It is ok Nick you can tell us. We can help." Howie said rubbing Nicks shoulder. Nick took a deep breath and looked at his four band mates and for the first time since before his mom died, Nick felt safe.
"Well...ummm... my stepfatherhitsme." Nick mumbled looking down.
"What Nick?" AJ asked confused. Nick took another deep breath.
"My stepfather hits me." Nick said quietly still looking down. The four boys looked at each other in shock.
"Oh Nick." Kevin said pulling Nick into a hug. "How long has this been going on?"
"Since I was 6." He said softly.
"That's where the marks came from?" Brain asked sadly.
"Yes. From his belt."
"You knew Bri?" Howie asked in shock.
"No but I did see marks on his back this morning. He didn't tell me where they came from though and he didn't want me to tell anyone that he had them." Brain stated. Kevin looked at Nick.
"Nicky, he isn't going to hurt you anymore. We will help you." Kevin said firmly.
"How? I mean I have to go back to him eventually." Nick said scared.
"You will have to press charges against him." Kevin said looking Nick in the eyes. Nick got scared.
"I can't! He will kill me if I did that! He said so!" Nick said panicking.
"No Nicky. He said that to scare you ok? The guys and I will make sure that you are safe and we won't let anything happen to you. I promise." Kevin said and the others agreed. The next day they planed to go to the cops but for now it was time to go to the hotel and sleep.
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