Disclaimer: The following story is a work of fiction. The author does not own any of the following names or personalities. The author does not imply that the people mentioned within would act or have acted in the ways depicted. No money has been made from this.

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"Hey, Izzy."

Steven touched my shoulder. I opened my eyes. "What is it?" I blinked a few times, tried to focus on Steven's face. "Fuck."

Steven let his head drop, hiding his black eye from me with a curtain of blonde hair.

"He hit you again, didn't he?"

Steven nodded. "Can I sleep here tonight?"

I sat up and pulled him against me, sighing. "What if he catches us sleeping in the same bed? That'll just make it worse."

Steven hugged me tighter, sniffled. "I'll sleep on the floor, then."

"Yeah." I stroked his arm.

He slumped against me. "Okay."

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