“Please, please, p-please,” I rambled.
“I think he’s going to faint,” Ty cried.
“M-m-m hhhhan ….” Face numb, I couldn’t tell him my hands had spasmed so badly they were trying to break bones.
One second, I couldn’t piece together what was happening around me, and the next, someone pushed my head between my knees. I didn’t know who was behind me, holding me in place. Mom forced her small hands into mine, prying them open, massaging the tension as someone else, maybe Dad, rubbed the knots in my muscles.
A paper bag was shoved over my nose and mouth. At first, it only added to the panic. Each breath I took wasn’t enough. The bag stuck to my mouth, like breathing through a pillow. I squirmed, not ready to suffocate but unable to get anything to work.
Inch by tortuously slow, painful inch, my body wore itself out, and I relaxed, leaving only a dull ache in my stiff muscles.
It wasn’t the first time I’d hyperventilated, but knowing what was happening never stopped how scary it all seemed in the moment. Or made me stop from barreling right toward it.
“Nice and slow, Jack,” Mom cooed near my ear. “There we go. Slow breaths. Hold it in, now let it out.”
When everything settled and I could lift my head again, I locked eyes with Dad, then Mom and Ty. My family surrounded me, and I broke into sobs again. Cal had no one. Cal made me leave to protect me from his dad, from whatever shit was being forced onto him, but who would protect him?
Mom circled me with her arms and shushed me as I cried harder against her shoulder.
“What happened?” Dad asked.
“I dunno. He mentioned Cal, but that’s all I got,” Ty said.
“Jack.”
I cracked my eyes open, but my vision was too blurry.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
I managed a slight shake of my head.
“Is Cal hurt?” Dad asked.
And because I didn’t know, my tears renewed.
“Honey, we need you to calm down enough to answer, okay?” Mom said. “I’ve got you, and we can stay right here all night, but we need to know what happened.”
“C-Cal.” I hiccupped, then tried again. “Cal’s dad.” I breathed in and out. “Cal’s dad was yelling at him.” I glanced at Ty and whispered, “Sasha.” He knew all about what happened at school today—everyone did.
“Was his dad angry?” Mom asked.
I nodded. “Cal was crying.”
“Oh, honey.”
“I left him there alone,” I screamed and sobbed. “His dad was so mad.” I buried my face into Mom, as much in pain as in guilt.
“You did the right thing, Jack,” Dad said.
“Did I?” I snapped a glare in his direction and immediately felt like shit. Hate for myself filled me and spewed out of my pores. “I left him all alone.” What sort of boyfriend was I? A coward? “He didn’t do anything. He didn’t hurt her. She stabbed him!”
“What?” Mom gasped.
“That girl is nuts,” Ty said when our parents glanced at him.
“This Sasha, she hurt Cal?” Mom asked.
I nodded again. “I should’ve stayed and helped. I can’t believe I left him.”
