NEVER THE SAME: chapter one

POV: Jack Brewer

I wonder where the guys are... I thought as I walked down the alleyway. They said they'd meet me here. I had gotten their texts, each telling me thy'd be here at exactly 10:30pm. Why so late? No idea. I looked at my watch it was 10:49. I sighed and leaned back against the wall. I saw a shadow on the wall. I straitened and looked down the alley both ways. I didn't see anyone. Thanks guys, this is a really great place to tell me to wait so late at night! I inwardly cursed my friends as I kept hearing frightening sounds. But I wasn't frightened. I was Jack Brewer, I had a black belt in karate, I would be fine.

I glanced at my watch again. 11:30. I tapped my foot impatiently. Come on guys... I'm not saying I was scared, I was just...I heard another sound. Cautious. I bit my lip, leaning against the wall again and staring up at the stars barely visible in the gap created between the two buildings. In the moments- though few- my mind was captivated by the stars, someone had sneaked up on me. I didn't know what hit me.

POV: Jack Brewer (five and a half hours later)

I moaned, waking. I was in pain, and I was cold. I tried to move, tried to let myself know I was alive. I blinked open my eyes. They felt crusty. The world was blurry and dark.

When I finally regained my vision, I realized I was fully naked and my hands were bound tightly. I struggled against the ropes. I panted, weak.

How had this happened to me? Not just anyone could sneak up on me... not just anyone. I sat up, trying to figure out where I was. It looked like the same alleyway I had been in... when was that?

I looked around and saw my clothes piled on the ground, they were dirty and ripped. I managed to get the ropes off and dress myself. My shirt was a total mess, it was ripped down the front, with holes in the arms and other places. My jeans had rips in them too, and I couldn't even replace my underwear, it was ripped down the side and would no longer stay on.

I fumbled with my watch, which had been with my clothes. I put it on and pushed the button. 5:00am. It read. I let my arms drop. What time had it been when i last checked my watch? 11:30pm.

"Five an a half hours..." I murmured. What could have happened in those five and a half hours? Any number of things. I swallowed hard when one thing in particular kept playing in my mind. Vague memories of half-consciousness came to me. I recoiled in horror when my memory played back relentlessly. I had been raped!

POV: Rudy Gillespie

"Rudy, I present you with this...*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* ...award for your skills in martial... *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* ... thank you for being you." I leaned my head down and accepted the medal, and the huge golden trophy presented to me by my... *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* ..."stop knocking, Rudy"... no, that wasn't right? Bobby Wasabi was supposed to say '"I couldn't have done it without you Rudy.'" Not *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.* ... yeah, that.

I was rudely awaken from my amazing dream. I grumbled and threw the covers aside. I looked at the clock. it was 5:30am Who could it possibly be? I quickly dressed. *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*Came the same, persistent knocking. "I'm coming!" I yelled, running down the stairs. I opened the door, my eyes drooping. My eyes widened when I saw Jack standing there unsteadily, looking ready to collapse. 'Jack!" I cried, grabbing the boy and ushering him inside.

"What's the matter?" I asked, knowing he would never come over at this hour, looking the way he did unless it were an emergency. I made him sit down. He leaned back, closing his eyes. I turned a light on. He looked even worse under the dim light of my lamp. His face was bruised and cut, his shirt was torn down the front and he wasn't wearing any shoes. He was a complete mess.

"Jack, what happened to you?" I asked again. He forced his eyes open, and they rested on me, very unfocused. I swallowed. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. He closed his eyes again without replying. I stood and came over to him, feeling his head. It was hot. He felt sick. I knew right now, his mother was in another state, so naturally, if something were wrong, he would have come here.

I carefully picked him up, and he didn't protest, which was not a good sign. Instead, his head hung limply over my arm. I grabbed the keys to my car and walked out onto the porch. I unlocked the car and gently placed jack in the back seat. 'Hold on Jack." I told him before closing the door.

POV: Rudy Gillespie (twenty minutes later)

I pulled into the hospital and parked the car. I jumped out and ran to get jack. He was laying over the seats, his eyes half-closed, staring at nothing. 'Hold on Jack, just hold on." I told him, pulling him out and carrying him. "He needs immediate medical attention." I told the lady at the front desk. "Name?" She asked. "Jackson Brewer." I told her. "One moment." She was probably pulling up his files.

I bit my lip. shifting my weight, glad Jack didn't weigh much. Some nurses came out with a bed on wheels. I carefully laid him down. They immediately rolled him back. I stared after him, still chewing nervously on my lower lip. I looked at the front-desk lady. She smiled and I stared back at her, not smiling. I sighed. I guess I'd have to wait.

(A/N: okay, I know it's not that great, but I'd still like to know what you think! Please leave a review so I know you care? thanks!)