“I don’t mind,” I said, running my finger over the comforter distractedly. “I just wish she wouldn’t be pissed about me helping Madison.”
“Bud, your grades come first. Tate’s obviously just lookin’ out for you, and if this Madison girl is gettin’ hit by her dad, that’s adult shit you shouldn’t be takin’ on.”
“No one else will help her.”
“Flash, that’s not true. Her teachers will help her.”
“Well, she doesn’t want to tell them and I’m not a snitch.” I huffed. “Forget it. You don’t understand.”
“I understand more than you think.”
I reached for my phone, but Dad grabbed it before I could. “I’m keepin’ this for a few days.”
“What? Why?”
“Because you’re grounded until you get your grades up.”
“That’s not fucking fair.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Watch your mouth.”
“Why should I?” I snapped. “You swear all the time.”
“Jesus, kid, what the hell’s goin’ on with you?”
I shook my head, dragging my hands through my hair.
“Talk to me, Park.”
“There’s no point.”
“Outside of school, you’re in this house until your grades are up.”
“Whatever,” I said, and Dad left me to wallow for a bit. I flopped onto my back and stared at the ceiling, my life spiraling. Tate was really mad at me, and she never got mad at me. I just hoped I could fix whatever I broke.
I didn’t have much time to sulk, however, because Dad walked back in.
“I don’t want to talk, Dad,” I said.
“I get it, bud, but we’re gonna anyway. Sit up.”
I did as Dad asked, begrudgingly, and Dad sat in my computer chair and leaned forward. “I know who Madison’s dad is.”
“Okay.”
“He makes dirty movies.”
“Yeah,” I said, staring at my hands.
“Is he tryin’ to make Madison do shit she doesn’t want to?”
“How did you know?” I asked, then groaned. “You just figured it out, huh?”
“Yeah, bud, I did. That’s a lot of stress on you, Flash. I can see why you’ve been fallin’ down on your grades. She really needs to tell her teachers.”
“She doesn’t want to tell the teachers because they’ll put her into foster care again. Her mom just got her back and she’s afraid they’ll take her away for good this time.”
“Did she tell her mom what’s been goin’ on?”
