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“Thank you.”
I open my eyes. Frown. “For what? I didn’t?—”
“You did though. You always have.” She shrugs, smiling, and it’s a wet, shaky thing. “I’m so glad he has you as a friend.” Her voice breaks, hitching with a restrained sob.
My throat and eyes are on fire. All I can say, my voice rough, is, “You don’t have to thank me for that. That’s not?—”
“I know. You know what I mean.”
“It’s not out of pity,” I utter carefully, just to make sure it’s out there.
She quickly shakes her head, and reaches over with her good hand, clasping my good one. “I know, Mason. You don’t have to convince me. You two…you’ve always been close. Sometimes closer than I think even you and I are.”
I huff a quiet laugh at that, about to disagree—she’s my girlfriend after all; she’s supposed to be the closest person I have—but we’re interrupted by a door opening, and Principal McIntyre waving us in.
“Showtime,” Izzy whispers.
I’m jerked back to the present once more when Ray makes an unexpected right at the intersection, leading us under the bridge, rather than parallel to it.
“Dad?” Izzy says.
“Mason’s going home.”
I sit up straight, the seatbelt keeping me back in my seat. “But, Ra?—”
Our gazes meet in the mirror. “You both are grounded. I spoke with your mom on the way to the school. She agreed. You two can survive a week without seeing each other.”
A week…
“But Dad?—”
“No buts Isobel. You both are lucky you didn’t break your hands. What were you thinking?”
I look down at my knuckles which are already twice the size they normally are, bruises already forming. I didn’t break skin though.
Lucky.
Jeremy wasn’t so lucky.
“We were thinking that Ethan and Clay needed their skulls bashed in.”
“Isobel!”
“What?” Izzy explodes, whirling toward the driver’s seat. I can just make out her profile, and the long brown hair swinging with her movements. “You didn’t see what they did.”
Ray’s eyes fall shut for a beat, before refocusing on the road ahead. His fists tighten around the steering wheel. “I did though. I saw the picture.”
An ache spears through my chest.
Jeremy…
“And his face?”
Ray’s jaw works. “Not in person. Mom sent me a picture. I showed the principal, and they printed a copy for evidence should we decide to press charges.”
I perk up at that. “Charges?”
Ray’s gaze flickers to mine. “Ethan’s going to be expelled regardless. That’s already been decided.” He blows out a breath and refocuses on the road ahead. “He was already on his third warning, apparently. The picture combined with Clay’s cooperation?—”
