Mother: Alanna, we need to talk (begins to cry) about Christian.
Me: Mom? What's wrong? (sits on couch.)
Mother: (joins Alanna on the couch) Your brother has done something terrible...
Me: What is it, Mom?
Mother: Well, the other day at Ryan's house...

Five minutes later...
(Alanna covers her face. Bowing her head, she cries. Mother takes hold of Alanna, and cries too.)
---------------
(Alanna listens from upstairs.)
Father: Is this a way of showing me that you don't need to go to military school?!
Christian: No, Dad! I am working! Just taking a frickin' break! Chill!
Father: Christi--
Christian: Why don't you just--
Father: Stop it! Stop it! I don't want to hear about this! I don't want to talk to you!
Christian: Dad!
Father: Do your fucking work, Christian!
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(Alanna listens through a wall)
Mother: (crying) I don't want to send him to a military school..
Step Dad: It will be okay, Barb. Don't worry. It's what's best for him.
Mother: It wasn't natural, Mike! Do you think he'll be a... (cries harder)
Step Dad: (hesitates) It will be okay, honey.. I promise..
--------------

A week and a half later...

Matt: I heard what your brother did and I'm killing him.
Me: How do you know?
Matt: It spreads fast.
Me: But.. I didn't tell anyone.. No one in my family did.. I don't understand..
Matt: But the victim did.
Me: ...
Matt: I'm going to beat the shit out of him if I ever see him around.
Me: No, please, Matt. I know it's horrible.. But you haven't heard Christian's side of the story.
Matt: That's bullshit and you know it!
Me: Matt, no it's not.. Please hear him out. He's got this obsession to be "cool". He can't say no to his friends. He didn't want to.
Matt: That's bullshit!!
Me: Matt, you don't understand! Please.. My brother may be a jerk, but he doesn't understand! He gives into peer pressure too easily! The victim's older brother, Ryan, told him to!
Matt: ...
Me: Matt...
Matt: What?
Me: Please.. I know. I was sad, pissed, angry and crying when my mother told me. This is more hard for me to accept than you. This is my baby brother... It doesn't help with you being mad...
Matt: I'm backing off.
Me: I'm sorry.
Matt: Don't be.. I hope things get better.
Me: Me too.. Matt? Will my brother be..a.. God, I can't say it.. You know what I mean...
Matt: ..I think so. He's in deep shit.
Me: How.. How many people know?
Matt: I'm not sure, but it's out.
Me: Who told you?
Matt: My sister.
Me: Oh, no... Please, don't tell anyone.
Matt: I won't. Try and relax.
Me: How can I? My brother might be a...
Matt: No, he is it. Can't get worse.
Me: I'm scared...
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If you can guess what this means, congrats. I just needed to get this out....