Page 111 of I Wish You All the Best

This isn’t happening, this cannot be happening. “No, no, no, that’s not what I said!” Where did he even pull that from?

“We met up the other day and discussed him coming to stay with us once he’s done here. That way he can properly pursue a college education.” Dad keeps talking.

Hannah starts to laugh. “You met with them? After what they did?”

I have to wrestle my way out of Nathan’s grip, and it’s not until he’s let go that I realize he was basically the only reason I was still standing upright. “Hannah, please stop. I swear to you, I’m not going back there.” I stumble, nearly falling to the tile. “I never said I’d go back there.”

“Ben.” Dad actually looks surprised. “You said you’d come home after graduation.”

“They aren’t going anywhere,” Hannah says.

“Listen here, you little bitch—” Dad almost raises his hand. I can see the twitch of his wrist, stopping himself when he remembers we’re in public. He never hit Hannah. Never.

At least, as far as I knew …

But maybe he’s at his limit with both of us. Maybe this is proof enough. He’ll never change, neither of them will.

“I wasn’t serious.” I raise my voice without meaning to. “I said what I thought would get you off my back.”

“We thought that you’d be a little more understanding.” Dad’s getting louder with every word.

And suddenly, I’m hyperaware of everyone gathered around us. Like this is some kind of fucking fight in the hallway.

Mrs. Liu’s just standing there, staring at me, her face full of pity. Meleika and Sophie found Nathan, and all three of them look like they’re ready to actually brawl or something. Hell, Sophie’s even got her heels in her hands, ready to go. Stephanie’s staring at the disaster in front of her, alongside every other North Wake student here. Their parents, and friends.

Everyone.

“I …” I feel myself start to shake, and I can’t stop it.

I can’t stop it. Any of it. I can’t make them leave, I can’t make Hannah calm down, I can’t do anything.

“Ben.” Nathan’s voice is so distant. His hands on my shoulders, they’re almost enough to tip me back over the edge.

“I can’t do this.”

“Ben?” Concern washes over Hannah’s face, the anger gone in an instant. “Ben, come on, let’s get you home.”

“No. I’m not going anywhere with you.” I shake my head and turn to look at Nathan. “Can we leave?”

“Yeah …” he says after a second. “Sure, come on.” Nathan’s grip tightens, and he leads me around the corner. Right to the door.

“Ben!” someone shouts. I don’t know who, and really, I don’t care.

I let Nathan lead me to his car. It’s in its normal spot in the student parking lot. Before I can crawl into the passenger seat, I hear the click of heels behind me on the pavement.

“Benjamin!”

Mom. And Dad’s right behind her.

“Stop right now, young man!” Dad shouts.

“Leave me alone,” I try to say, but when Mom grabs my wrist, I can’t help but seize up.

“Ben, we’re sorry. We just wanted to support you … to prove to you—” Mom’s stammering, and I realize she’s actually scared.

Maybe because for the first time in a while, she isn’t getting what she wants from me. And for a second, I see the woman I loved. The woman who might still love me. “Just come home, okay? We can talk this through. We’ll go meet with that doctor, and maybe he can help you through some of these things.”

Her nails quietly dig into my skin.