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“That family has had all the chances they’re going to get,” he sneers. “Do you really think a boy like that would be interested in you? He just sees you as a conquest. Something to laugh about with his friends. I know how their minds work, those boys. You’re not the kind of girl he wants. It’s all a joke to him.”

I want to press my hand to the ache in my chest. He’s saying every last thing I worried about on my own, telling me the truth that I didn’t want to see. It hurts because he’s probably right. It also hurts because my father shouldn’t be trying to wound me the way he is, even if what he says is true.

“It’s not like that,” I rasp, a regrettable wobble to my voice. “I just...I don’t have a lot of friends here, Dad.”

“Yes, and he’s never going to be one of them. You’re grounded for all of break.”

“Grounded?” I repeat. “What does that even mean? I don’t go anywhere.”

“No parties. No Christmas market this weekend.”

There’s a tight knot in my chest, growing tighter by the second. “I’ve spent weeks doing the extra chores you required in order to go, and now you’re going to make me cancel on the only friends I have here because I spoke to a boy at school?”

“No, I’m going to make you cancel plans because I see that you’re not making good decisions for yourself. If you can’t keep yourself safe, it becomes my duty to do it for you.”

“If you were actually worried about my safety, you’d be at least a little upset that I got pulled into the locker room,” I rasp. “This has nothing to do with safety.”

I get up and walk out of the office, grab my backpack without a word to anyone, and turn toward the stairs. Hope and Faith both watch, wide-eyed. I’m not sure they’ve ever seen me get in trouble before.

“We’re about to eat,” my mother says.

I’m not sitting at the table with them tonight. I’m just not. “I’m not hungry.”

“You’ll sit at the table with us whether you’re hungry or not,” my father says, walking into the room.

In my entire life, I’ve never really challenged him. Tonight, though, he has pushed me too far. “Or what?” I ask. “You’ll ground me? You’ll pull me away from home in my last year of school? You’ll make me put off college for two years? What could you possibly do that you haven’t already done?”

My father’s jaw locks, but my mother places a warning hand on his arm before he can reply. I turn to continue up the stairs. I guess I won this round, but I also think I just took a step toward becoming Mary Joyce.

But even if Mary Joyce wound up dead, I’d still rather be her than Ann.

ME

You told my father I’m surrounded by bad influences?

ANN

I’m shining a bright light for you to find your way. One day you’ll appreciate it.

Kappy would tell her to go suck a dick. I’d like to tell her to suck two.

Ann can keep her light for herself.

I bike to school in the morning, my father’s words still ringing in my ears.

He just sees you as a conquest. Something to laugh about with his friends.

When Ford enters the room in English, I keep my gaze on my desk, pretending I don’t see him, though he’s pretty much all I’ve thought about for the past day. I jump up the moment class ends, without even waiting for Kappy, but he catches me. I thought he wouldn’t be bold enough to be seen speaking to me in the halls. Apparently, I was wrong.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

All the air leaves my chest in a long exhale. “Mrs. V told my dad we were talking. I can’t be seen with you.”

His arm reaches out to hold me in place. “What? Why?”

“Please,” I beg, pulling away from him, looking around wildly. “I’m already grounded. I worked for weeks to get to go to the Christmas market, and now I’m not allowed. If my dad hears anything more, he’ll probably just pull me out of school entirely.”

“Would he do that?” Ford asks. “Would he legitimately just not let you finish high school over something this small?”