*McKinley's POV*

The cut on my eyebrow gradually healed along with the bruises under my clothing. Each time my father had come too close, I'd place my hand over the pocket containing the figurine Heath had given me as protection. My father's eyes would darken and he'd frown before replacing it with a distant smile.

Wariness took its form in the way my lips constantly turned down in a frown at his unusual behavior. I'd unconsciously make a grab for the figurine each time he was home, shock replacing the fear when he hadn't remotely even brushed so much as a finger on me.

I started to believe that the figurine Heath had given me had more to do with my father's sudden change than I could possibly know.

Despite the serious connotation denoted with the figurine, a whisper of a smile lifted the corners of my lips as I held the object in the palm of my hand where I sat in my bedroom.

Much true to the duty of the figurine wearing a black cape, the Batman toy staring back at me acted as my hero to protect me from the bad guy who was my own father.

Heath's haunted blue eyes floated across my vision as I clenched my fist tightly around the small Batman. I still did not know much about him; only that his father had been suicidal at the very same age, but he was now deceased.

I couldn't be sure if his father had committed suicide after Heath's birth or if he had died due to other unfortunate circumstances, but I had a strong feeling that no matter the answer, it played a role in Heath's depression.

I wondered if the advice my mother offered to him as his therapist was any help to him. My mother refused to tell me much about Heath, but I knew it was because she didn't know much about him, herself.

Tucking the Batman in my pocket, I determinedly convinced myself that I would discover the reason for the way Heath's eyes lacked warmth and affection, and as to why he flinched at the slightest human contact.

Jarring me out of my reverie, the cellphone in my pocket rang, begging for me to answer.

"Hey, Mason," I greeted my best friend who immediately got to talking the instant I'd finished the sentence. It was as if she'd entirely forgotten about my outburst in school as I'd yelled at her to leave me alone.

"Kin! How could you not tell me?"

I was forced to bring the phone off my ear for a second as my eardrum momentarily rang in pain from Mason's booming voice. After I recovered, I wondered, "Tell you what?"

An indecipherable noise on her side that suspiciously sounded like a snort of disbelief echoed through the phone before she scoffed, "As if you don't know. Apparently, a few curious students saw you leave school early with my cousin yesterday."

Utterly confused, I failed to process her words as my mind raced to catch up. Typically, the sole reason Mason would call would be to question me about the chemistry homework or if I would send her the answers. Never has she called over an event similar to this, stumping me as to why I couldn't seem to understand.

"Your cousin? I don't know who..." I trailed off, suddenly coming to terms with who she meant. The only other person I dared to let inside my walls was Heath Foster. We'd also ditched school the previous day together when he'd given me the Batman figurine after I confessed my darkest secret to him. Mason couldn't possibly mean...

"Heath Foster? I'm honestly in shock that you were able to break through that guy. His mouth is always turned down in a constant scowl that not even I could turn upside down," Mason babbled, but I wasn't hearing much of it.

I was astounded. I had never made the connection that Mason was related to Heath. I could only imagine her eager hazel eyes on the other end of the phone awaiting my response as she twirled her long auburn hair around a finger.

I stuttered, "I-I, uh I'm not sure-"

Interrupting me, Mason squealed in full-blown excitement, "I can't believe you're dating my cousin! That means we'll be related someday!"

Mason jumped to conclusions faster than I was shunned from all my friends after my freak out in class. "Mason, wait," I tried to clear the murky fog, "Heath and I aren't dating. I had no idea he was your cousin."

Mason sighed, knowing it was too good to be true. It would have been a miracle for me to have made another friend. Yet, the Batman in my pocket made it seem like Heath was a friend to me no matter that he hadn't opened up to me just yet.

"Kin? Can I ask you something?"

The change in her tone made me pause. Hesitantly, I nodded even though she couldn't see and mumbled, "Of course."

"Are you..." she stopped before starting over. "Do you think Heath is suicidal?"

I was most certain the first question had been for me. Before I could reply, Mason hurriedly continued.

"His mother is trying all that she can do, being a single mother and all. I know that his father was suicidal and I think that Heath is, too. I hate to pin this on you, but I've never heard him speak to anyone before yesterday when you two decided to leave together. Can you get him to trust you and maybe tell you how he feels?"

I knew my answer before I'd said it. I'd known the answer far before Mason had even given a voice to the favored question.

"Yes, I will do that."

"Oh, thank you so much. He refuses to even look at me, and my father is worried since Heath is his brother's only child. He feels responsible for Heath after Uncle Logan died."

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I am soooo sorry for the infrequent updates. I've been swamped in school work lately, applying for colleges and scholarships, etc. Senior year is very stressful! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this short update. :)

Any guesses as to who Mason's father is? ;)