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When Virna introduced Tom, Shawn was pissed. He didn’t want a new father figure in his life. Especially not a creep like him. Okay, maybe Shawn was being overdramatic. Tom wasn’t some perv, but he definitely was an asshole.
Tom did everything he was supposed to do, he paid the bills and put food on the table. More than Chet ever did. They did have one thing in common. They both drank. Except Chet was a happy drunk, and Tom was a mean drunk.
Countless nights Shawn would be woken up by Tom to smashing things, and screaming at his mother. Shawn
Virna needed the support. She couldn’t do it all on her own since Chet died. He had nothing to his name. Shawn offered to get a job, but that wasn’t going to be enough. She needed someone who could work full time. And someone who wasn’t a high school student.
. Things got much worse when Shawn and Virna moved into Tom’s place. It wasn’t big or magnificent in any way. It was a one story house with two bedrooms, and a fenced in backyard. More than Shawn ever had in his short existence.
If Shawn stayed out of Tom’s way, Tom would stay out of his way.
Tom got more controlling as time went on. After work Virna would typically hang out with some of her coworker friends at the bar. Shawn didn’t know what the big deal was. They were all women. What the fuck did Tom care?
Scene it hurt Tom’s fragile ego, Virna agreed to come straight home after her shift ended. Tom even made sure to pick her up.
One day Shawn was helping Virna put away groceries and couldn’t keep quiet about it anymore. “Mom, aren’t you upset he won’t let you see your friends anymore?” he asked.
“I can’t complain. I finally have the house I always wanted,” Virna said.
Shawn bit his lip. “I guess, but don’t you think Tom’s getting too controlling?”
“No man wants his woman hanging around a bar,” Virna argued.
“He goes to the bar almost every night,” Shawn reminded her.
Virna rubbed her temples exhausted by the back and forth. “It’s just different, baby. You’ll understand when you’re older.”
Shawn hoped he didn’t.
Life went on as normal. Shawn went to school, and hung out with Cory. Then Tom and Virna announced they were officially tying the knot. Shawn’s heart dropped into his stomach. This was the last thing he wanted to hear.
Their situation wasn’t good back at the trailer park, but come on. Did his mom really want to marry a man who screams and degrades her over the littlest things?
But what could he do? He was just a kid who’s opinion wasn’t worth much.
Well, except for one person.
One day, Jon asked about it after class.
“How do you feel about your mom getting married?”
“Oh, I'm just over the moon about it,” Shawn remarked sarcastically.
“So, I take you’re not happy about the whole thing?”
“He's a dick,” Shawn said without thinking. “Sorry.”
Jon chuckled. “If that’s how you feel. You’re allowed.”
“I don’t know why she puts up with him. She’d never put up with dad if he pulled the same things Tom did,” Shawn remarked.
Jon leaned forward now very interested. “What things?”
“Nothing, they just argue a lot, that’s all I meant.”
“Well, okay. If you ever need to talk I’m here,” Jon offered.
Shawn rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. See ya later, Tuner.”
Months after the wedding things got worse. Tom made Virna quit her job. Virna said it wasn’t a big deal. That she’d finally get her chance to be a homemaker. To Shawn, that made to sense at all. He was fifteen not five. He didn’t need his Mommy to cook and do all his chores for him. Besides, Shawn spent most of his time at Cory’s house.
“Would you stop being so negative,” Virna snapped. “With me being home all the time, I actually have time to get things done.”
“Like what?” Shawn asked.
“Oh, I don’t know.” She put a hand on her hip. “Clean, cook, do all the laundry.”
“Do you hear yourself? Why can’t that asshole do his own laundry?”
“Shawn Patrick Hunter!” Virna gasped. “Don’t use that kind of language. Especially not about your stepfather.”
“Here we go again. Since when have you cared if I cursed? It wasn’t like that with dad.”
“Well, I’m not married to your father anymore, now am I? Thank God for that.”
“It’s more than that. You're not you anymore.”
“Nobody ever is once they get married.” Virna stated.
“Tom is. He hasn’t changed one bit. Why is he allowed to be his old self and not you?”
Virna sighed. “Baby, I’ve already gone over this with, and I’m not gonna repeat myself. Mind your business let the adults make the decisions.”
“Adult,” he corrected her. “Adults, would imply you make the decisions along with Tom, and we both know that isn’t true.”
Virna tightened her lips, her face went flaming red. Shawn wouldn’t be surprised if steam came out of her ears next, and didn’t want to be in the same room if that happened.
So he bolted before she could explode on him.
Shawn was in his room doing his homework, until he heard a loud crash and his mom crying. Shawn clenched his jaw and slammed his text book shut.
It wasn’t a pretty sight. Tom was standing over Virna yelling while she was picking up the pieces of a broken lamp that Tom smashed.
“Can you explain to me why the fuck you still have this?” He held a photo album in his hand. Shawn knew which one it was.
Virna wiped her eyes. “I didn’t mean to bring it. It was in the same box with the other photo albums.”
Against his better judgment Shawn stepped in.
“Would you chill out, she hasn’t looked at that thing in years.”
Tom stopped and stared. “What did you say to me?”
“Shawn, go back to your room,” Virna ordered him.
Shawn gulped. Tom was a big guy who could probably kill him in just one punch, but it was his mom. He had to defend her. “I said you need to chill out. You’re overreacting.”
Tom walked up to Shawn and shoved him against the wall, making a loud thud. Virna ran to stop her husband, which led her to be pushed to the floor. “You don’t come into my house and tell me how to act. I pay the bills. I give you a roof over your head. You’ll show me respect. Do you understand me?”
“Yes.”
“Yes sir,” Tom said.
“Yes sir,” Shawn parroted.
Tom released him, “Clean this up,” he said to Virna, and stormed out of the room.
“Are you okay?” Virna asked now that it was safe.
“I’m fine.” Shawn glared in Tom’s direction.
Virna stroked his cheek. “Why don’t you go back to your room and finish up your homework?”
They didn’t talk about it at dinner. It was like it never happened. Shawn confided in Cory about the incident, Cory even offered to let Shawn stay with him. Shawn said no. He’d be more happy to get the hell away from Tom. But Shawn was afraid to be away from home that long. He knew Tom would go too far one day.
Tom had Virna’s hair in his fist and then he did the unthinkable. He hit her.
Shawn’s nostrils flared and clenched his fist. “Get your fucking hands off of her.”
“Shawn,” Virna cried. “Stay out of it.”
Shawn ignored her pleas. He ran up to Tom and shoved him away from his mother. Tom then grabbed Shawn by the collar of his shirt and threw him out of the way which led to Shawn banging his head against the counter top.
black dots clouded his vision as he fell to the kitchen floor.
Virna gasped and kneeled. “Shawn, baby, are you alright?”
“I don’t need this shit, Virna. I swear I don’t.” He slammed the door shut.
Shawn moaned in pain. His fingers felt something wet. Shawn knew it was blood.
“It’s okay. It’s just a cut,” Virna said.
It was more than just a cut. Shawn had a huge bruise on the left side of his face. He held a frozen bag of peas against his face.
“Maybe you should stay home for a few days,” Virna suggested.
“It’s gonna take more than a few days, mom,” Shawn said.
“Oh, Shawn, why did you have to get yourself involved?”
Shawn put down the bag and glared. “Are you kidding me?”
“That wasn’t your fight.”
“It wasn’t yours either. Mom, you can’t stay with him. You have to leave.”
“I can’t.”
“Why hell not?” Shawn fired back.
“We’ll have nowhere to go. And I can’t live in some shelter. I just can’t.”
“He could kill you, you know. Or me. Don't you care?”
“He wouldn’t go that far.”
“What do you call this?” Shawn pointed to his face.
“I know, I know. But if you just stay out of Tom’s way, this won’t happen again. I promise.”
“I wish Dad was still here,” Shawn whispered.
Shawn looked at himself in the mirror. The bruise got worse overnight. Shawn thought about how he’d hide it. But then thought to himself why should he hide it? If Virna wanted to protect Tom, so be it. But Shawn didn’t give two shits about exposing who Tom is behind closed doors.
Shawn was going to walk out the front door not caring who saw. Let Tom face the consequences of his actions.
When he was in the living room, Virna and Tom were sitting and watching Tv. They haven't noticed him yet. When he turned the knob to the front door Tom spoke up.
“You’re not going to school today,” Tom said from the couch.
“What are you talking about?”
“I called the school and told them you had the flu, and that you’ll be out this week.”
Shawn balled his hands into fist. You got to be fucking kidding. “You don’t want my teachers seeing your handiwork?”
“Shawn,” Virna scolded.
“No, mom,” Shawn snapped. “Why should I have to protect him?
“Put your backpack down, you’re not going.” Tom said in a deadly serious voice.
He knew he wasn’t going to win this one.
Shawn’s nostrils flared. “Whatever.” He stomped to his room and slammed the door shut.
It wasn’t fucking fair.
When nighttime came Shawn knew Virna would be in bed, and Tom would be out at the bar. It was the perfect time to sneak out.
Shawn picked up the phone and dialed the Matthews house. SHawn’s leg bounced up and down. Please let Cory pick up.
“Hello?” It was Eric.
Damn it, Shawn cursed to himself.
“Who is this?”
Shawn sighed. “Eric, it’s me. Is Cory home?”
Thankfully Eric didn’t ask any questions. He was probably too concerned about some girl at school to ask why Shawn was calling late.
“Shawn?” It was Cory
“Hey,” Shawn replied.
“I thought you were out sick all week. You sound fine.”
“I am. Can you meet me somewhere private? I need to talk to you.” Shawn hoped Cory could hear the desperation in his tone.
“Why can’t you come to my house?” Cory asks.
Shawn rubbed his face. “Look man, I’m not even supposed to be out of the house.”
There was a long pause.
“Okay, tell me where to meet you.”
Shawn told him the location and waited.
When Cory arrived Shawn could already see the worry lines on his forehead.
“Woah, what happened.” Cory reached to touch the bruised flesh, Shawn swatted his hand away.
“Don’t touch it.”
“Sorry. It just shocked me,” Cory explained.
Shawn didn’t say anything.
“How’d you’d get it?” Cory asked.
“It was a special gift from my new Daddy,” Shawn’s tone was bitter.
Cory’s mouth fell open. “He hit you?”
“Not exactly. He was beating up on my mom and I got in the way,” Shawn explained. “He shoved me and I hit the counter.”
“That’s why you weren’t at school?”
Shawn bit his lip. “Yeah.’
“You can’t go back there,” Cory said.
“I have to Cor. My mom’s there.”
Cory flung his arms widely. “So what? Shawn, he’s dangerous.”
“I know, and that’s why I can’t leave. I can’t leave my mom with him.”
“Well, can’t she call the cops?”
Shawn snorted. “Not gonna happen.”
“Well, we have to do something.” Cory started to sound panicky.
Shawn shook his head. “I know. But I don’t know how to make her leave. She loves him.”
“You’re staying at my house tonight.”
“I can’t do that. Besides what will we tell Eric? Lord knows he won’t keep his mouth shut.”
“Shawn if you didn’t want help then why did you ask me here?”
Shawn looked and Cory then the ground. “I don’t know. I guess I just needed someone to talk to.”
Cory bit the inside of his cheek. “You know something, Shawnie? You can be a real pain in the ass sometimes.’
Shawn smirked. “Thanks for the compliment.’
Cory straightened his posture. “No, I’m serious. You show up here all beaten black and blue, and you still refuse any kind of help. One day it’s going to bite you in the ass.’
Shawn laughed. “I think it already has.”
“It’s not funny,” Cory’s voice lowered.
Shawn threw his hands up. “Of course it’s not. But if I don’t laugh I might cry. And you know I don’t do well with feelings.”
“Maybe you should start practicing with showing those feelings, Shawn.”
“Are you gonna narc on me?” Shawn asked.
“I don’t know,” Cory answered. “It’s a bad bruise Shawn. It’s not just a black eye. It’s half your face.”
“It doesn’t hurt that bad,” Shawn lied.
“Not the point,” Cory said.
“I know.”
“I don’t want to make your life harder.”
“Then don’t. Keep your mouth shut,” Shawn told him.
Cory pressed his lips together. “Okay, fine. You win. For now. But I will go to Mr. Turner next
Time.”
“There won’t be a next time,” Shawn said.
Cory raised an eyebrow.
“There won’t.” Shawn responded with more confidence.
“Why do I feel I’m going to regret this?”
“Because you’re Cory,” Shawn replied playfully.
“Yeah, I’m Cory. The friend who will possibly let you get treated as a punching bag because I can’t say no to you.”
Shawn couldn’t make any arguments there.
Over the course of the next month things were fine-ish. Tom was still a controlling drunk. But since the kitchen counter incident Shawn hasn’t had any more run-ins with the man.
Like the good friend that he is, Cory had stuck to his word. Shawn knew he would. But he could tell it was killing him. When Shawn came back to school the following week Cory kept asking if he was okay.
Cory still worries, but it's less now. But it still screwed Shawn in the end Jon was observant and could see Cory’s behavior towards Shawn. He almost asked Shawn if everything was alright. Almost. No, instead of asking Shawn to his face, Jon called home. And guess who answered the phone.
It was Tom.
And Tom was fucking furious.
Okay, so back when Shawn lived in Pink Flamingo Trailer park, the English teacher wouldn’t be so stupid to call home. But now that Shawn lived in a house with a married Mother, and step Father then maybe he thought it would be safe to do so. Wrong. How wrong he was.
When Shawn came through the front door he could smell the tension in the room. Virna was sitting quietly at the table not meeting his eye. And Tom had a scowl on his face directed towards the teen boy.
Shawn knew he was in for it.
Tom got up from his chair and cornered Shawn. “What did you tell your teacher?”
“Wha- um- Nothing. I swear I didn’t tell him anything.”
Tom huffed. “You must have. Your English teacher Mr. Tuner called and said you seemed off lately. He wanted to know if everything was alright at home.”
Shawn’s mouth went dry. “I don’t know why he’d say that. I’ve been acting normal.”
“Obviously not enough for him to be calling my house,” Tom growled.
“I don’t know what you want to say,” Shawn replied.
“I want you to tell that teacher of yours to mind his business and not call my house anymore.”
The fear left Shawn’s body for a moment. “It’s not my fault. If you weren’t such an asshole all the time then maybe-” Shawn couldn’t even finish his sentence. A sharp smack sent him to the floor. Blood poured from his nose.
“You just can’t keep that smart mouth to yourself can you?” It chilled Shawn to hear how calm Tom’s voice was.
“Get up,” Tom demanded. He kicked Shawn’s leg.
Virna finally stepped in. Tom,” she said in a timid voice. “Let me talk to him.”
“You better talk some sense into him, Virna. I swear to God, I won’t put up with this much longer.”
Shawn and Virna were in the bathroom. Virna held a cloth up to Shawn’s bloody nose.
“Why do you have to do that?” She wiped off the blood with a cold wet rag.
“Do what? Defend myself?” His voice sounds nasally
“No, I mean instigate him. You’re never going to win,” Virna said.
“I’m not trying to win, mom.”
“Then what are you trying to do?”
“He came after me. I didn’t say anything to any teacher. Tom’s just crazy.”
“Don’t say that about your step father,” Virna scolded.
“Like he doesn’t deserve it? He hit me for no reason.”
“You called him an asshole,” Virna rebutted.
“Because he is one,” Shawn said as matter of factly.
“Shawn-”
“It’s the truth mom. It’s never going to get better. Everyday something new sets him off. I’m sick of walking on eggshells around him.”
“You don’t make it easy,” she told him.
“Of course you’re taking his side. Why should I be surprised?” Shawn said bitterly. “Can I just be alone? I can take care of this without your help.”
Tom backhanding Shawn happened on a Friday. By Monday it was as if nothing ever happened. No staying home from school this time.
Shawn hoped the school day would go smoothly. But of course, he wasn’t that lucky.
Jon stopped Shawn after class. “Hunter, you got a minute?”
Shawn groaned. Great, just what he needed. “Yeah, Turner?”
“I called home on Friday.”
“Yeah, I figured,” Shawn grumbled.
“Your step father answered. He said everything was fine, but-”
“But you didn’t believe him.” Shawn answered for him.
“Well, I just want to hear it from you,” Jon said.
“Would you let it go if I said yes?”
Jon folded his arms. “That depends, are you telling the truth?”
“Don’t make me lie to you Tuner. You’re probably the only teacher where I feel slight remorse if I lie. Do you know how hard that is?”
“Then don’t lie to me. Just be honest.”
Shawn wanted to lie so badly. But the way Jon was staring him down made it impossible.
Shawn let out a deep breath and answered.
“No, things aren’t okay at all,” Shawn confessed.
“Are you having a hard time getting along with Tom? Is it about Chet?”
“It’s more than that,” Shawn said. “He’s scary. Like I don’t know what will make him explode next. And he drinks.”
Jon’s face became serious. This wasn’t what he was expecting. “Shawn, I’m going to ask you a question and I want you to answer honestly. Has Tom ever gotten violent with you, or your mother?”
Shawn's eyes fell to the floor. He hands balled into fist desperately trying to keep it together.
“Shawn?” Jon repeated.
Shawn didn’t look up. He just nodded.
Jon cursed under his breath. Shawn wondered if it was from anger or guilt or both.
“What are you going to do?” Shawn asked in a quiet voice.
“I think you know, kid.”
“Do you have to?”
“I’m a mandated reporter,” Jon said. “I don’t have a choice.”
“Will my mom get into trouble? She didn’t do anything wrong.”
“She enabled it,” Jon told him. “But that’s up to the courts.”
“I don’t want anything bad to happen to her. I just want Tom to leave us alone,” Shawn said.
“I know, kid, I know.” His tone was soft and understanding. “But your mother has to be the one who makes that decision.”
Shawn’s lower lip trembled. “What if she doesn’t leave him?”
Jon got up and gently placed his hands on Shawn’s shoulders. “We’ll deal with it. You and me. I’m not gonna let him hurt you anymore.”
Something wet fell down Shawn’s cheek. Shit he was crying. Those damn feelings Cory told him to work on came full force.
Jon held Shawn in a thigh embrace. “You’re gonna get through this. I swear.”