"I need to be better," Alex said desperately, wishing Michael could understand. Except he hadn't just stood there when Alex's father had confronted him. He'd fought back and stood up for both himself and Alex. And Alex needed to be able to return the favor. He needed to be able to protect Michael when it came down to it. Especially now that he knew.

"I need to be better for you. Stronger for you."

"I'm...I'm..." He was such a coward that he couldn't even say the word and sometimes he wondered if his father didn't have a point about how pathetic he was. He could stand up to his bully, but only because he'd known that bully before he was such an asshole.

He didn't stand a chance against his father.

"You can't fight all my battles, Michael. I don't want you to."