I shook my head, feeling angry at all the people who failed him. “It’s so unfair.”
“Right. I already covered that. They don’t care if they don’t have to look at the person losing.”
“But what about college for you and all that?”
“I probably can’t get in with a criminal record. I’ve heard I might be able to have that stuff erased from my record, but I have no idea how. It’s not like I can afford a lawyer to talk to anyone about it. If I could afford college, I’d love it. I love school and I’m really good at it—the academic part, anyway. The people part sucks. At least back there. I never want to go back.”
The hollow tone of his voice was a sledgehammer to my heart. “If you could go anywhere, where would you go?”
His eyes clouded, brimming with an air of adventure. “I’ve heard Vermont is nice.” He tipped his head toward me. “So, your turn to tell me about your issues.”
I narrowed my eyes, seeing how trivial my little high school drama had been compared to his life. There was no way I could even bring it up. “I don’t have any issues like that.”
“You said you get bullied at school. How come?”
“I can’t—”
“It’s only fair.”
I flashed my gaze heavenward—this would sound so lame after his confession—but I gave in. “I’m chubby. So, you know, fun to pick on.”
His brow plummeted from my anticlimactic answer. “That’s it?”
“I told you it was lame.”
He looked away, but not before I spotted a scowl lace on his face. He murmured to himself, but I could make out what he said. “You’re clueless to not see through that deal. You aren’t chubby in the way you’d get confused with a Tellytubby. Give it another year or two, and those dumb girls will have to admit they were jealous.”
“You think it’s funny that I get picked on for my weight?”
“No,” he quickly chimed back. “They are dumb because there is nothing wrong with your body. You’re beautiful.” I searched his eyes, wanting to confirm what he’d just said, and when we finally latched, they were brighter than I’d ever seen them.
Heat rushed across my face. I had never been so thankful I was sitting in the dark. I bit down on my lower lip before whispering, “I’d better get back upstairs.”
“I’ll see you in the morning,” he whispered as I tiptoed out the way I’d come.
The next morning, I was harshly awakened by the sound of the front door slamming. My heart immediately tightened into a hardened shell.
Dad was home.
That was not good.
I quickly dressed and scurried downstairs. Before I made it to the bottom step, I let out a gasp. A police car in my driveway. I grabbed my throat, feeling it close in. “Dad!” I called out in absolute disbelief he could do something so cruel. I fled down the last step, frantically searching for Graham. He was right where the logistical side of my brain knew he’d be. Standing outside next to the cop with his head fixed to the ground.
“Dad,” I grumbled. “What did you do?”
Dad peered over at me, his lips curved down, void of empathy. “Honey, Graham can’t stay here. If you continue on this path of hanging out with him, he's only going to ruin you.”
“Ruin me?” My voice squeaked out, and I fled forward, grabbed his arm, and pleaded, “Dad, don’t make this about me. You didn’t even ask me.”
“It’s over.” He waved his hands in front of him, as if he was clearing the air of smoke. “He’s gone.”
My heart pumped even harder with panic. My parents had failed him too. They were like everyone else who preferred not to look. My gaze jerked to my mom, who stood in the corner. When her eyes regarded mine, I saw tears. “Mom, this isn’t fair.”
She nodded in agreement but didn’t mouth a word.
My feet moved without me willing them out the front door, crossing the side lawn in a few long steps, until I stood next to the cop. Graham was headed back inside the house. I trapped his brown beady eyes. “Where are you taking him?”
“He’s going to a boys’ ranch.” The cop offered me a gentle smile, and then shockingly, he said, “Would you like a moment to say goodbye?”
