I keep my eyes trained on the floor, and taking a step to the side, I walk around her.
Then she calls out, “I hear your mom crawled back to your grandfather to beg for more money.”
“Yeah, my mom works at the bank. She said your mom is broke,” one of her friends joins in.
Pin prickles of shame break out over my skin, and I walk faster to get away from the taunting.
“Once a murdering leech, always a murdering leech, I guess,” Lindy continues. “Ooooh, wait,” she chuckles behind me, “she tried to drown you because you’re so damn morbid, right?” Laughter echoes behind me. “Can’t blame her.”
I dart into the restroom, and when I’m safely in a stall, I stand frozen for a moment, sucking in desperate breaths of air.
They’re just words, Brie.
Yeah? But it still hurts.
COLTON
Instead of picking fights with me, Sully and Michael have turned their focus back on Brie, and it aggravates the ever-loving shit out of me.
I wish she would tell them to back off, but instead, she lets them do whatever they want.
Somehow they caught onto the fact that I’m protective of Brie, and I think they’re back to targeting her to get a reaction from me. It’s either that or they’ve given up with getting me all riled up because I don’t give a fuck. I’m still trying to figure out which it is.
The reason actually doesn’t make a difference because watching Brie take hit after hit only to cower away brings back a shit-ton of memories from the past.
“You fucking idiot! Why are you always in the way?” Dad hollers, and a slap echoes through the house.
Shit.
I shoot up from where I was sitting on the bed, putting on my shoes, and rush out of the room. Brady’s cowering in the bathroom doorway with Dad all up in his face.
“I’m tired of your shit,” Dad rages and delivers another slap to the side of Brady’s head.
I dart between then, pushing my brother into the bathroom. “That’s enough. We’re going to be late for school,” the words rush from me.
Dad’s eyes narrow on me, and a dark frown makes him look murderous as he hisses, “What did you say?”
“Jonah, please,” Mom whimpers from the side.
She reaches a trembling hand out to him, and he shoves her so hard she falls backward. “Don’t fucking ‘Jonah please’ me! It’s because you baby them that I have two gutless cowards for sons.”
When he grabs hold of Mom’s arm, I pull the bathroom door shut behind me so Brady will be safe, and then grab hold of Dad’s shoulder. “Let go of her.”
Dad swings around, and the slap to my ear stuns me for a moment. “Oh, you think you’re man enough to take me on?”
I glance at Mom. “Go to your bedroom.”
There’s a pained look mixing with the fear in her eyes, and she hesitates.
“Go, Mom!” I shout.
Dad lets out a bark of laughter. He shakes his head, a shit-eating grin on his face as he watches Mom do as I say, then he turns his crazed eyes back on me. “Let’s see if you actually have a set of balls on you because right now, I’m sure all I’ll find is a pussy.”
I clench my jaw while holding his gaze.
He lets out another bark of laughter. “See, all talk and no action. You’re a fucking disgrace.” He waves a fist in the air. “All of you are. I fucking bust my ass at the office for this family, and what thanks do I get?” He takes a threatening step closer to me. “Fucking disrespect. That’s what.”
In the past, I used to be scared shitless whenever he was like this, but after growing used to it, I hardly feel any emotion now.
The impassive expression I give Dad turns his face red with rage, and he lunges at me. Grabbing hold of my shirt, he shoves me against the wall while spitting, “Don’t give me that look. You’re nothing but human waste.”
I bite my tongue, not giving him any reaction, and it only enrages him more.
“Colton.” Hearing my name snaps me out of the past, and my eyes shoot up. Mr. Donati gives me a concerned look as he places a hand on my shoulder. He keeps his voice low as he asks, “Are you okay?”
“Yes, sir,” I mutter, shifting uneasily in my chair.
He nods, giving my shoulder a squeeze before he continues with class.
Shit, it’s the first time something like that happened. I’ve never had flashbacks before.
I clear my throat, and picking up a pen, I scribble on a page to keep my hand busy, but when I notice I’m trembling, I shove both my hands under the desk and clasp them tightly together. My heart is still beating like crazy as if it just happened.
That was the first time my father beat me so severely I couldn’t go to school for two weeks. We used meningitis as an excuse.
The bell rings, and while I’m gathering my stuff, Mr. Donati walks to me and places a piece of paper on my desk. “That’s my number. If you need to talk, just call. It doesn’t matter what the time is.”
Taking hold of the paper, I glance up at him.
None of my previous teachers cared. I was more off sick than at school toward the end of last year, and that’s part of the reason I have to repeat my senior year.
I begin to say, “I’m fi –” but Mr. Donati shakes his head.
“You’re not, Colton. I’d like to help but if you can’t talk to me, then go meet with the counselor. You need to talk to someone about what happened.”
I rise to my feet and shrug my bag’s strap over my shoulder. Shoving the paper with his number into the inside pocket of my jacket, I mutter, “Talking won’t change the past.” I walk to the door but then guilt creeps into my chest, and I pause. Glancing back at the teacher, I say, “Mr. Donati.”
“Yes.” His eyes lock on mine.
“Thanks for caring, though.”
Mr. Donati’s lips curve into a compassionate smile before I walk out of the classroom.
After the day from hell, I just want to go home, but I only make it to the lockers when I hear a loud bang, and my eyes dart toward the sound.
Michael has Brie pushed up against the lockers, and not thinking twice, I stalk toward them.
“No,” Brie whimpers while trying to free herself from his hold.
“No?” he sneers. “I thought you needed the money.”
I slide an arm between them and shove Michael away from Brie. Glancing at her, I snap, “Finish up so we can leave.”
I turn my gaze back to Michael, who’s glaring darkly at me. Then a smirk forms on his face. “Oh, brother, you’re really begging for a beating.”
“I’m not your brother.” I take a step closer to him. “Leave her alone.”
“Don’t tell me you’re into the weirdo,” he chuckles.
I give him a look of warning before glancing back to Brie. I wait for her to shut the locker then take hold of her arm. She’s so petite, it feels like I’ll break her bones if I tighten my grip too hard.
The moment we’re out of the building, she pulls her arm free from my hold.
“Seriously?” Michael laughs as he follows behind us. “I didn’t take you for a freak lover. I actually thought you were badass. Such a fucking shame.”