-PREVIEW-

"Mr. Hotchner?"

Aaron stopped thinking about Haley's kindness—his medicine—and looked up to see Mrs. Gillansy leaning over his desk. All the other students had heads down and pencils scribbling in focused math. He alone sat twitching and tapping his pencil and squirming against the pain he couldn't hide.

His teacher lowered her voice. "Is everything alright?"

"Sorry?"

"Are you okay? Do you need help?"

For a minute, he sat speechless. Was it because of the crescent-shaped bruise from a belt buckle on his forearm, the arm he hadn't covered well enough with a sleeve? Was it because of the tear in his shirt just below the shoulder, where he could still feel the lash? Or was it his overall pale and listless composure that day that gave away his secret? What would she do now that she knew?

-END OF PREVIEW-

Following a few requests for a continuation, I have begun to write a sequel to this story. It will focus on Hotch and Haley's developing friendship during high school, along with larger scale circumstances and situations that help shape their futures. It might turn out to last much longer than this story, and take longer to complete. I am accepting ideas for consideration - if there is anything you want to see happen or any theories you have on Hotch's past or any special details you want included, feel free to message me or post a review. I am trying to write a bit of what everybody wants to read, and your contributions can help me achieve that.

Thank you all.

Oh, and from now on, I will be referring to my stories as WMBTMAL and WFPH. Hope that makes things easier (I know, I'm not good at short, simple titles).

-LetTheLightShine

NOTE: This sequel is called "Curtain Call" and is going to be about a couple dozen chapters long. Thanks for reading.