Caleb ran out into the street from The apartment building. He was never going back. It was obvious that he wasn't wanted. Caleb could hear someone calling after him.

Caleb wandered around the streets of the city. He wanted to be anywhere but where his brother was.

Caleb lived with his 21 year old brother because his parents died. They had passed away almost four years ago when Caleb was eleven.

He walked until he came up to a fountain. It was a beauty. He remembered when he and his brother would chase each other around that fountain when they were younger; when their parents were still living.

He heard a car pull up. Caleb didn't think that they would bother him. He sat on the edge till he saw people walking towards him. Caleb stood." What do you what?"

" oh nothing much, just going around beating little boys who should be in bed." The one in the front sneered.

Caleb's blood boiled but he took a step backwards." I ain't no little boy."

" well then. Ain't you feisty."

" I might be, but why don't you and your thick headed goons leave me alone."

" well they might be thick headed but I'm not, but you seem real sure that you aren't either." The same boy smirked thinking he was going to have the last word.

" you are just as thick headed and as much as an --- as they are." Caleb spoke as confidently as anyone could who was being surrounded by people who could hurt him.

The lead boy took a step towards Caleb." I-if you d-don't leave me a-alone I'll... I'll call the police."

" aw whatever." The boy said. He stepped closer till their shoes touched. Caleb flinched.

The taller boy grabbed Caleb by the front of his shirt and dragged him to the fountain. The boy's buddies helped him push Caleb against the cement of the fountain. His buddies back off and jeered. " Come on Dan, drown him."

Danny grinned and lifted him up and laid his back on the too of the wall. Caleb kicked his legs violently to prevent being drowned. Danny lent him backwards towards the water.

Caleb felt the cool water soak his hair. He started to panic. He didn't want to die yet. Danny wouldn't really drown him, would he? What would Jordan think?

Caleb didn't have time to think up an answer because Danny dunked his head underwater and held it there. Caleb struggled against him. Caleb was running out of oxygen. His chest burned.

Danny yanked him out but pushed him under again. He only had time to breath in. Caleb jerked his head around trying to get out of the water.

When ever Danny brought him up out of the water he made as much noise as possible. Not that anyone would ever hear him.

At one point he almost pushed Danny off of himself but Danny's buddies decided it was time for them to step in.

They pulled him out of the water and forced him under again. He started to get tired. His vision started blacking out.

The last think Caleb saw was someone pulling Danny and his buddies away from himself and leaving him there floating. He closed his eyes and allowed the water to flow in.

------------------------------------------

Creak. Whoosh. Creak. Whoosh. It sounded like the fan back at his and his brother, Jordan's one-room apartment;But it couldn't be because Caleb had drowned. He reasoned with himself. He was dead.

A weight lay over his back. It didn't hurt but it prevented Caleb from sitting up. Caleb's chest ached and the weight on his back certainly didn't help.

He tried to turn over but the weight on his back tightened and pulled him closer to the wall. Wait- it wasn't a wall. It was a person.

" Caleb?" A familiar, tired voice spoke.

He was alive and he was back at their apartment. Caleb was so relieved that he wasn't dead and that it seemed as though Jordan did want and need him. His eyes leaked tears. He tried to stop them but they kept on coming. A sob tore through his throat.

The weight on his back that he now identified as an arm lifted. Caleb felt himself being turned over gently." Ssshhhh. Ssssshhhh. Everything's alright. You're not hurt too badly."

Caleb opened his eyes blearily." I'm sor..."

" no Caleb, don't. It's not your fault; it's mine. I should never have said that." Jordan had Caleb's back laid across his legs and his head rested against his chest." I- I don't know what I would've done if I had lost you too."

" what happened?" Caleb gasped. His breath was short and his lungs still ached.

" ssshhhh. I'll tell as long as you promise to stop talking and you'll go right to sleep after I'm done."Jordan stroked back Caleb's hair.

Caleb nodded.

" I waited in here thinking you would be right back but after ten minutes you weren't I chased after you. When I was nearing the park I heard yells and shouts so I followed them. When I saw what they were doing to you and I didn't think. All I did was kick their butts some and send them home.

" when they left I pulled you out of the fountain. You were as cold as ice and you weren't breathing. I was scared. Scared that you were gone because I said something I shouldn't have." Jordan was close to tears but they never fell." I pushed the water out of your lungs and carried you home."

Caleb's eyes were already drifting closed. He was exhausted. Jordan laid him down on the bed again and laid next to him. Jordan protectedly draped his arm over Caleb. It was wrapped tightly yet not too tightly." Not ever again, will I lose you." He whispered. Then they were asleep.