Chapter Fourteen
Flynn didn’t know whatto expect with the special reform school, but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Due to work, he wasn't able to drop Ace off on the first day there, but he made sure he could pick him up from Twin Rivers that afternoon. Other than the uniform and the smaller classes, Ace seemed to be fine with it.
“There’s less drama there. I kind of like it.”
“Wanting to be there isn’t the goal,” Flynn said as he pulled out of the parking lot. “You’re not supposed to enjoy it.”
“I didn’t enjoy it, bruh. My friends aren’t there; my brothers aren’t there. It just wasn’t, you know, as bad as I pictured it.”
“So you’re going to do your time with your head down and get back to the high school where you belong as soon as possible?”
Ducking his head, Ace turned to look out the window. “Yeah.”
“Then I’m proud of you.”
“Damn, bruh, there’s nothing to be proud of. Fuck, man.”
Rolling his eyes at his brother’s language, Flynn said, “Well, I disagree. Want a haircut? I’m getting one.”
All he got in response was a shrug, so he figured it was as good a way to spend time together as any. The place was dirt-cheap, so it wouldn’t hurt him to pay for both of them.
Ace didn’t talk much while they were there, so Flynn knew something else was up. He waited until they got back in the car to talk about it more.
“What’s really going on?”
Glaring at Flynn and then back out the window, Ace said, “It’s bullshit they popped me after one thing, bruh.”
“Your school has a zero-tolerance policy, Ace. And for fuck’s sake, you’re only fourteen. Why should anyone forgive you without punishment?”
“Bruh.”
“Good answer. Very articulate.” Flynn barely managed to suppress a sigh as he turned a corner.
“I feel like a dumbass, bruh. It was such a small thing, bruh, and now all the kids back at my school think I’m some badass. I never asked for that kind of attention, bruh. Like, damn, bruh.”
Flynn’s eye twitched at the number ofbruhsAce managed to fit into such a short string of conversation. “Okay, but you know better than to break a rule and think there won’t be any consequences.”
“Like our parents?”
Fuck, but that stung. He was right; they’d all struggled with the way their parents got away with shit on a regular basis. “That’s not up to me, unfortunately. You know they’ve been in and out of jail, so they’re obviously facing consequences.”
“They’re back out, though, bruh. Just like always.”
“Is that what this is really about?” Parking in the driveway of Mercy House, Flynn left the car idling and turned to face his brother. “You’re mad at your parents?”
“I don't know.”
Since he wouldn't face him, Flynn could only guess he was spot on. “Listen, this isn’t the first time we’ve talked about this. We choose to do better.”
