Page 52 of Hilarina and the Ogre

Trenton’s mouth was going wonkier, trying to keep himself from crying even harder. “I want it too.”

“Then there’s nothing else to say. You can start by planning what we’re going to do for the break. And it better include lots of nasty stuff. I still haven’t given up on you taking my virginity, you know.”

Trenton pushed his face into his neck. “You were really cool back there.”

“Slander! I’ve never been cool a day in my life.”

“You were. It was kind of hot. I think I might have fallen for you.”

“You fell for my killer poetry, remember?”

“And your dancing.”

“That too.”

Hilary waited for Trenton to put his seat belt on, and then carefully eased the Shitheap back to life. Once he had the car in drive, he pulled Trenton’s head back to his shoulder. “Let’s go home.”

The parents didn’t show much surprise at the news of Trenton moving in.

“I thought you had already,” Albert said, holding the door open while they carried in the bags. “Did you two go bathing in sewage today?”

When they heard the story, Annette was so appalled she needed some deep breaths before she could unlock her jaw enough to speak. “Divide and conquer. Albert, you head to the school.”

Hilary was afraid to ask. “And where are you going?”

“Where do you think? Give me the address.”

As soon as Trenton understood, he was up and blocking the door. “You can’t.”

Annette set a hand to his chest. “I know you like to handle things on your own, but this situation clearly warrants adult intervention. Step aside.”

“No.” Trenton was white and looking a little too much like he had back in the car. “Please.”

Hilary pushed himself between them, unable to bear it. “Mom, don’t.”

“This can’t be allowed to fester any longer. That woman is clearly—”

“Not today.” He could see the pulse pounding in Trenton’s neck. He knew if he pressed his head over that chest, he’d be able to hear it. “Just not today.”

His mother backed down. “Fine. But we’re going to talk about this. And when we do, I expect you to help me bring Trenton around.”

“Am I still going to the school?” Albert asked. He already had his jacket on.

Trenton was unsure. They looked at each other. Hilary flashed his father a thumbs up. “Give ‘em hell from us, dad.”

Annette showed no mercy with the clippers. She used them bare, with no guard, and shaved Trenton to the scalp. It ought to have been a somber occasion, but it was fun to shave him, and weird to run his hand across barely existent stubble.

Annette gave the skin a good-natured slap. “Nice looking head you got there.”

It really was a nice shape. Like being bald had been its destiny. “I feel like you could be a supervillain,” Hilary mused. “One of those smart ones who makes more convincing arguments than the hero.”

Trenton didn’t ask for a mirror, content with the response. “As long as you like it.”

They did a baking soda and vinegar bath that smelled rancid, but that was also fun, somehow. There was a feeling of catharsis and of starting over that was making Hilary a little giddy. It made him nervous about coming off as insensitive. After all, Trenton had a batshit mother who handed out pictures of his dead sister and called him a murderer at every opportunity. But Trenton seemed stable. Once they were in bed and lying beside each other in the dark, the topic rose again.

“I’m just glad I’m an adult now,” Trenton said. “I was always a little nervous that I’d be put in foster care.”

“You don’t think that might have been better?”