Zac sat up abruptly. Shit that hurt. Where was he? He looked around the room, then remembering he was in his own house. The pounding in his head wouldn't let up. He laid back down. On the coffee table was a note, Zac reached over and grabbed it. Looking at it and reading it aloud to himself:

Zac- The reason we left you home is because we didn't think it would be good for you to go to school today. It's friday anyway. We'll pick up your homework and bring something home for your headache. -Dorin

Zac now wondered if this was Dorin's way of saying sorry for last night, or if it was just Dorin's way of getting on Zac's good side before all hell broke lose. Zac was soon to find that the latter of the two was more probable.

What the hell time was it anyway? Zac sat up, despite the throbbing in his scull. 4 ocklock. He had slept all day. He wished he could do that all the time. Kick back with his bottle of boos and not worry about anything anymore. Realistically he knew that would never happen. The chances of him being allowed to get drunk were one in a million in this house hold. He realized how hungry he was. He hadn't really eaten last night, and so his stomach was telling him to feed it. He walked to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, to reaveal nothing of interest, Zac shut the door with a hefty swing. He had to pee now. He rushed to the bathroom, feeling the burning in his bladder. He shut the door gently, so as not to disturb his hearing.

The second Mercy walked in the door she went to the sofa. Zac wasn't there. Must be in his room or something. As Jeremy had been instructed, he walked straight to his room, shutting the door and turning on some music. Dorin stood at the door. Took a deep breath, and prepared himself for the unwanted argument to come.

The toilet flushed and out walked a very sleepy 12 year old. He blinked at the sight of his brother and sister, and then trapesed to the sofa, slipping under the cover and pulling them close up around him. He closed his eyes. He was so tired.

Zac did not sleep for long. The icy cold shower of water from above made him sit up right faster than lightning. Clutching his head to stop the pain, and squinting, Zac looked around to see who had done it. Dorin stood above him with an empty gallon jug in one hand.

"Hey Zac, have a nice sleep? No disturbances?"

Zac laid back down.

"Leave me alone."

"Nope."

Dorin stood above his brother, arms folded across his chest, and a frown on his face.

"Get up now Zac, we have lots to talk about."

Fear ran through Zac. Dorin had never once taken a tone such as that with Zac. Dorin sounded angry, yet, very calm. Zac was afraid for his life. Dorin reached down and stripped the blanket off Zac. Zac's eyes went wide with fear. Mercy decided now was the time to leave. Zac could easily see her leave, and his heart sank as his sister left him with Dorin.

"Now Zac. Get up now."

Zac closed his eyes tight. He wished it was all a dream, and that Dorin would just go away.

Dorin reached down and grabbed one of Zac's arms, pulling him to his feet. Zac's eyes dropped to the floor. Tremors shook Zac's body. He was gripped in fear, fear that Dorin would actually hurt him, Dorin, the brother who had not once raised a hand to anyone. Zac could not stop trembling. Dorin saw the fear. He could see Zac's breathing go faster, he could hear how much more labored it was. Dorin already hated himself.

"Zac, the reason I'm doing this is because were sick of you not listening. Were sick of you not paying attention to us. You should, were your siblings, your blood. You owe us the respect that you've never given. You can't go around like that, and I won't let you throw all that hard work away by drinking, you worked forever to over come that, and I won't let you do it.Do you hear me? Answer me, do you hear me?"

Zac did not respond. Dorin waited and waited for his brother to say something, tell him he understood. He wished like hell Zac would talk. He still didn't respond. Dorin had once swore to himself that he would never raise a hand to anyone, or anything. He felt it was moraly wrong, unjust. This was no different. He didn't want to hit Zac. Unfortunatly, He and Mercy and Jeremy had decided now was the time to start. He had to take a stand and make Zac listen. He shuddered. He was going to hate himself forever.

Dorin's hand made contact with Zac's left cheek hard. Zac did not cry, or sigh, nothing. He just closed his eyes. It had stung, it had stung horribly, but not so bad Zac would cry.

"Yes sir."

Shit. Dorin didn't want Zac looking at him like a damned army drill sergeant. He just wanted respect.

"Zac. You have to know that I didn't do that because I wanted to, but because it was the only way to make you listen to me. Do you understand that?"

Zac looked at his brother now. A scowl forming on his face.

"You lie. You like it, you know you did. You want to hit me again don't you. You're a liar."

It was a punch in the gut. Dorin felt he was very resonable, he was not one to jump to conclusions. But in his house, under the roof he paid for, living with people he cared for and loved, and having one call him a liar was not acceptable. He would not tolerate it.

Dorin hit Zac again. This time, he knew he made contact well enough for Zac to realize he was completely serious, and that he didn't want that attitude right now.

Zac still did not cry. Dorin's means were not to make him cry. Although he knew that one had to hurt like hell. Had to burn. Dorin had never seen Zac cry. Not even when their step father beat him. Not when his friend had died. He hadn't even cried then.

"Dorin. You think you're all high and mighty. Your not. Get out of my face and leave me alone."

Dorin was going to hell. He told himself repeatedly. He knew that after this night, he would lock himself in seclusion and not come out for months, if ever.

Dorin's hand came down hard. It took Zac a couple seconds to realize that with the force of the slap, he had been knocked to the floor, and a few seconds later that it hurt like hell. That was it. In a sense, that was what popped the cork out of a bottle of sudzies. Zac felt the pain creep over his cheek. He laid his pain stricken face in his sleeve and sobbed. Out loud. Sobs that people could hear. The tears flowed, down his face, over his nose, hot tears, angry tears, sad tears. He cried aloud, trembling would not subside. It felt so good to let it all out, and yet, do damn dreadful.

"Shit."

Dorin had said it aloud because he knew he had hurt Zac. He knew that Zac was in dire pain, and he had not meant it to be that way. He reached down and placed a hand on Zac's sweaty trembling back.

"Zac..I.."

His gesture was responded to with angry kicks and flailing arms. Zac lifted his head and screamed with gritted teeth at his brother. How much he hated him, how much he wished he would die. Zac lifted himself to his feet and raced to his room. Screaming as he slammed the door and dropping to the floor. He let it all out. He cried and cried and cried. He made his way to the bed. He didn't bother to take off his shoes, just climbed on the bed and curled up under the covers. Sobbing and crying, shaking, he did it all aloud. He didn't think anyone could hear him, he didn't care, it was still outloud. Now he wished he hadn't said all that to Dorin, wished he could run to him and say how sorry he was, and how much he loved him. Put his arms around him. He needed someone to talk to, to hold on to.

In the living room Mercy sat by her brother Dorin. Silently, tears streamed from his eyes, and dripped onto the tan carpet. He shook uncontrolably, mercy put her arms around him. What a day she thought.

Zac had no idea how long he cried. He did know however his stomach ached from all the sobbing he had done. His throat was parched, his lips dry. He was thirsty ,but he didn't want to go out. He listened, just to hear what all was going on. He had fallen asleep, and his eyes burned still.

"Hey jem, did you order the pizza yet?"

Mercy could be heard from the kitchen. Zac watched through the door way as Jeremy walked from his room and headed down the hall. He then remembered. He had slammed the door. So then who had come here and checked on him?

"Naw, not yet, I thought you did!"

"Uh! Jem! I've been starving!"

"Well gee, sorry!"

Zac felt warm. Extremely comffy. His mouth was so dry. It was like paste inside. He wanted to drink something.

"Is Zac still sleeping?"

Zac stopped to listen.

"I was just in there like 5 minutes ago. He was a little restless. He'll be up soon."

Jeremy could be seen leaning on the counter in the kitchen.

"What about Door, is he still sleeping?"

Zac was shocked to hear that Dorin had gone to bed too.

"Yeah, I think he's out for the night. He was really mad at himself."

Zac wanted to cry again. Even though he must have been out of tears, he wanted to cry. He had made Dorin hurt inside.

He was so thirsty.

"Hey Jem, go check on Zac again, please?!"

"Mey, I just checked on.."

"Jem, please."

Jeremy started walking down the hall. Zac shut his eyes, he had to pretend to be asleep.

Jeremy walked in the door to Zac's room. He walked to Zac and sat on the edge of the bed. He sat in silence for about 30 seconds.

"Zac, you hungry."

Zac was confused. Was Jeremy just testing to see if he was awake?

"Zac, I know your awake."

Guess not. He opened his eyes. They were still puffy and really dryed out.

"You hungry."

Zac shook his head. He paused, then remembered what the whole fight had been about in the living room. He took a deep breath.

"Huh uh. I'm not hungry."

Jeremy knew that Zac's sentence was forced. He knew that Zac would have left it at a head shaking, except for the argument. That had changed things.

"Thirsty?"

Zac remembered how hot and sticky his mouth felt.

"yeah."

"Want me to get you something to drink?"

"Please?"

Jeremy stood up.

"I'll be right back."

Zac listened as Jem went to the kitchen, poured him some orange juice, and breifly talked to Mercy. He could not hear their conversation, but he knew he was the topic.

"Here you go."

Jeremy had brought Zac a full glass, he thanked god.

"Thanks."

"Wanna talk about it."

Zac looked Jeremy in the eyes. A tear trickled down Zac's cheek and then another. He shook his head.

"Huh uh."

Jeremy moved closer to his little brother, putting his arms around him and craddling Zac's small body next to his. Zac cried some more. He was quiet about it, but he could still be heard. It was a sad cry, with more feeling. Jeremy finally felt connected to his brother.

Chapter 7 ~*BACK*~