The pain ran through his head, and with pounding he placed it down on the desk. The cool smooth surface of the desk, kinda melted some of the pain away. He heard someone talking behind him, 'she stopped them again?' he thought to himself. 'Why does someone care?' he added to himself. Due to all the abuse in his past, Trace had no self-esteem what so ever. The class bell rang, second period, six more to go, and a long day it still was. He stood at the door and when Kila walked by he looked up at her. "T-thanks.." He said softly.

Self defense was something he never knew, he just figured out how to dull the blows and move on. His father started in on him every night, Trace was being blamed for the situation that he was in. If he didn't find Trace smoking his wife would still be around. Trace knew the real thing, his father was a bad alcoholic . "Y-you don't have to watch over me.. Dont want y-you in the same boat as m-me" He finally made out as some of the students filed out into the hall