When I checked the time again, it was almost four, and I was beginning to worry about my siblings. Usually, it only takes Evelyn ten minutes to walk back from EastLand’s junior high, but Eric wasn’t there, either. I knew that Mom was picking Emmanuel up from elementary school, which is why I wasn’t as worried, but it still bothered me. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHSBZjHKPr 維尼
After another three minutes, I just decided to text Evelyn. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqLtqWFdO3 維尼
Me:8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbo4Qhyd7d 維尼
Evelyn, where are you? 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡiz31BwXinw 維尼
In less than a few minutes, she responded.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkTBaGCyTh 維尼
Evelyn G.:8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxZu7QMKq3 維尼
Think Mom and Dad would be mad if I spent some time at a friends house?8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdmnMMqLpH 維尼
I’d be back before dinner ended. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxlgqHLs3a 維尼
Me:8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdlDstQWsK 維尼
Depends...who is the gender of this friend, do I know them, and what’s their full name?8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdtvYOIoEy 維尼
Evelyn G.:8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSV3VVsNmI 維尼
Jesus...when did I get a third parent?8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxD6Tj0SDo 維尼
Me:8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoUfb4VWQK 維尼
Answer the questions, then you’re off the hook. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD59kMwGwL 維尼
Evelyn G.:8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85tW4m6xkQ 維尼
You’re ridiculous. 412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioQlXEWqZu
8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKlz1CSthy 維尼
Her name is Harmoni R. Cross, and she’s fifteen. The two of us have math, science, and lunch together (plus she’s on the volleyball team). You may know her half brother, Yael Cross. Harmoni doesn’t do anything bad, though.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dQN8V1utI 維尼
Yael Cross? If he actually did go to EastLand, he wasn't in sports. I knew all the football, basketball, track, soccer, and baseball team, but his name didn’t ring any bells. I’d heard the name being announced during an assembly for second place (I was first, and Dad bragged about it the whole way home) but it wasn’t someone I knew.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUBNvf5DsB 維尼
Then again, Evelyn was trustworthy. She’d never done anything bad before, and when she did, she never actually got caught. And last month she had gone to a party that had alcohol at it, and she came back sober. She’d never been suspended, and always did what Mom and Dad told her to do. But I did just the same thing, though half of my life is an entire lie - because I don’t even deserve the treatment I get. I’ve lied to Mom and Dad more than I should’ve, and I’m hiding who I actually like from them. My parents knew nothing about who their real son is, they just know what everybody else expects from me - perfection. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SMlqOZMuV 維尼
And that's why I couldn’t let Evelyn do anything. Though I think it’s better that she asked, if Evelyn is caught doing anything bad, our parents will question the ⟴ out of us, and I can’t have that. It was selfish, sure. But nobody’s perfect. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBDDgHr4H5 維尼
Me:8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLswRsKf3F 維尼
Probably not the best idea. I’m not the adult in the house, anyways.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTZD6x6WAG 維尼
Evelyn G.: 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNUoLh9njQ 維尼
I knew that you never trusted me.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5obYZW2Ng4 維尼
I rolled my eyes and left my sister’s message on read. I knew that you never trusted me. That’s a lie, and she knows it. I trusted her more than I trusted Eric, which is why I came out to her first. I waited a few seconds and then checked my phone again. Eric hadn’t texted back, and he hadn’t even read the text. What was he doing?8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9mmKYhDOQ 維尼
Pressing the call button, I put my phone against my ear and waited. It’d been a while since school ended, and he had no reason not to be driving us home right now. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBNddWG0XM 維尼
After a few rings, he finally answered.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡAafhGq0el8 維尼
“Hello?” he whispered.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FLpzh5Zxd 維尼
“We need to get home before Mom and Dad get all of us grounded,” I said. “Just so you know, curfew is at 5:00 for you.” It was dumb how our curfews worked. Evelyn could stay out until 9:45, I could stay out until about 10:30, and Eric was only allowed out until 5:30 (unless he had a pretty good excuse. He got in some deep trouble at a party, so Dad’s going hard on him). 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡQng0CEbfP2 維尼
Eric sighed annoyingly before he whispered into the phone again. “Kinda busy, man,” he said. “Tell Mom and Dad I’m...studying at the library.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfJ6Y2jYmG
“Because that’s believable,” I said sarcastically.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jHPOikDXb 維尼
“Bye, Ezra.” 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXM1nW7zLp 維尼
I would’ve said bye back, but he’d already hung up. I was actually thankful that things hadn’t changed ever since I told Eric. He still was annoyed with me all the time, and I was thankful that nothing has changed between the two of us. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpB0Gnipbj 維尼
Evelyn showed up five or ten minutes later, her arms crossed over her chest. She looked angry, especially at me - but it wasn’t completely my fault.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6XPJuYi0r 維尼
“We gotta go,” I said, pulling my keys out of my jean pocket. I was the only one who had another key to Eric’s car, and it was because of situations like this. Also because Eric doesn’t like sharing anything. “Mom and Dad will be asking where we are.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dXS3yEZzI
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVfUFYTl8t
8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAi5HkVZo7 維尼
“Then come up with an excuse,” Evelyn said, opening the car door. “I’m sure Delcan taught you all about those.” I hesitated for a moment before getting into the car. There was no reason to argue over something that probably was true in the first place.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkvHTL558X 維尼
The entire car ride, neither of us said a word to each other. It was only weird because Evelyn was always cheerful, and now she was acting like Emmanuel when he doesn’t get his way. I don’t get how not going over to a friend’s house bothers her that much. I’m used to Dad saying no. “Study,” he’ll say. Or, “You need to practice your throws, Ace. Try harder. No friend’s house.” 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡow1L1uqPxh 維尼
When we finally reached our house, Emmanuel burst out the door, running to me with all of his power. As he wrapped his arms around me, Evelyn slammed the car door shut, and stormed inside, ignoring Emmanuel. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXYElqionZ 維尼
“Where were you two?” my younger brother asked, pulling away from me. “And where is Eric?” 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0frI3TENc 維尼
I shrugged. “No worries,” I said. “We’re here now.” Emmanuel pouted his lip but didn’t say anything to me until I was about to walk into the front door. And then, in a small whisper, he talked back like Eric does to our parents.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhe6XRmpxl 維尼
“I have three siblings, not two,” Emmanuel said. But he kept his voice quiet enough to where he didn’t think I heard him. I smiled and shook my head, then walked inside. In the living room, Evelyn was sitting on the couch, scrolling through her social media accounts. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡONU9EtVWrC 維尼
She must’ve noticed my presence because she turned around and looked for the TV remote. “Where’s Eric?” she asked, her voice sounding dull as she turned on the TV.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2GaVgXEAt 維尼
“Detention, I think,” I said. Evelynn looked at me then, and she immediately smiled. We were both thinking the same thing. Just like Eric. After giving her a friendly “smile” back, I continued talking. “Hey, think you could cover for me after dinner? I have something important to do.”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7lqvlqWFy 維尼
She raised her eyebrow, this time. “For..?”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Xvg5h7vsz 維尼
It wasn’t my business to explain it to her. If Callie wanted my sister to know, she would’ve told her herself. “It’s just something really important,” I said. “I just need you to cover for me for two hours. Can you do that?”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQqFfp6E8u 維尼
Evelyn sat up, her smirk seeming like it was a challenge. “And if I say no?”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYT1RwtevH 維尼
“You wouldn’t.”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZCcx06Asu 維尼
“Try me,” she challenged.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpLfbZ3LCR 維尼
I straightened my back. “This is actually important, Evelyn,” I said. And it was because I hated breaking promises. “This isn’t just a little hang out - it matters.”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡWarY4r7Evj 維尼
She rolled her eyes, obviously caring less. “Convince Mom and Dad to let you go, not me.” She stood up then, and left the room, leaving the TV on some weird drama show. Brat, I thought to myself. Turning off the TV, I looked around the house for my parents.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡazEclKX5lQ 維尼
It wasn’t shocking that they weren’t together.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAL8YK8pa6 維尼
Mom was sitting in the backyard, reading a book that’s title was covered. I moved to her slowly. What could I even say? I sat down next to her as she looked over to me. Because she was that type of mom, she gave me a kind smile, and I smiled back to her. Gosh, this was so hard.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwUVWUBQ03 維尼
“Hi sweetheart,” she said. “What is it?”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFb0LhXDSh 維尼
I thought of a lie quicker than I expected, and the words came out of my mouth just as fast. “Haven asked me if I wanted to come over for dinner, and I already said yes. I hope that’s okay with you.” She sat up almost instantly when she heard the words Haven and dinner rolled into one sentence. But I knew she couldn’t give me permission, and her answer already came into my head before she said it.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuxb6M58uS 維尼
“Just ask your dad first, honey,” she said. I nodded, and then waited for her to tell me where dad was. She caught onto my face and smiled. “Upstairs, in our room. Just knock, and if he isn’t opening it, then he’s asleep. Long day at work.” She patted my leg, and I nodded.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSNFBbt71g 維尼
“So if he doesn’t open the door..?” I asked.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTQr63wtvJ 維尼
Mom shrugged, her dirty blonde hair bouncing off her shoulder. “Then I’ll tell him at dinner. Want me to save anything for you?”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yeRTbGAjP 維尼
“Whatever I like,” I said, giving her my kindest smile. Mom laughed, and then allowed me to leave. As I walked up the stairs, I was praying that Dad would be asleep. If he was, it wouldn’t be so hard to lie to him. I knocked on the door as softly as I could, and when there was no response, I let out a breath of fresh air. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOUFLkqKWW 維尼
But I had to be quiet walking out because Dad could hear basically anything. I left the hallway quietly and came back outside the back door. I had made some type of promise to Mom, and I hated breaking it. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCYdY5hTxS 維尼
“I’m leaving,” I called out her. She didn’t turn around but seemed like she heard me. I just needed to grab one more thing out of my room before I left, and then I’d make up some excuse to my parents for why I’m not at dinner. I still had a load of homework to complete, too, but it wasn’t as hard as last semester. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8ttupUjaI 維尼
When I entered my room, it was more than a surprise to see Emmanuel in my room. He wasn’t on my computer or anything, but he was reading an old book series that I still had from 7th grade. His dirty blonde hair stayed on one side of his face, and his eyes were drawn to the page. Emmanuel wasn’t a typical reader (he has a short attention span) but the minute he noticed my presence, he closed the book and smiled to me.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2kpDrEpz4 維尼
Even though he’s only ten, and even though he hardly understands things as I do, I sometimes worry about Emmanuel treating me differently if he knew. I mean, no, he doesn’t even understand most about other communities (or rights, because Mom and Dad never want him to learn about “other cultures”) but I’m sure he knew things from school.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNPabYLzzU 維尼
There aren’t many schools that will tell you a lot about the LGBT community, but whatever he does know, it hasn’t been good news. On top of that, Emmanuel has been taught to agree with everything that Dad wants him to, and I don’t know what his reaction would be if he knew who West Young really is.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeZ67h1U8V 維尼
“Whatcha doing?” I asked him.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡwR9GJQsTeg 維尼
Emmanuel jumped up from my bed and wrapped me in another hug. He was still clingy, but it wasn’t like I knew how to fix that. Though I knew it was time for me to get tougher on my younger brother, I hugged him back the best I could.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaKlXFGT4J 維尼
“How was school today?” I asked.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSxw4iDtaD 維尼
Emmanuel pulled off of me and gave me a smile. “I met someone new today,” he said, his voice sounding full of cheer. Usually, when Emmanuel was all goofy smiles (which isn’t often) he likes someone. But Evelyn is always first to know before me.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlwTCfUB4Q 維尼
“Okay?” I asked him. I did care, honestly. But he needed to understand that even though I care about his life (sometimes), I can’t always sit down and have a conversation with him about everything.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgb8FnPRlN 維尼
Emmanuel showed a sign of annoyance, but then he shook his head. “Her name is Sam,” he told me. “She isn’t like any girl I’ve ever met before, Zi. She’s kind, and funny, and nice, but she hates when people say her full name. But she’s cool.” I nodded to him. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99pYTCPJco 維尼
At least he wasn’t ashamed of who he liked.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AZmzxLVUz 維尼
“Do you like her?” I asked him. Though I knew the answer, it was funny to see his cheeks turn red.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfoyyI14Sj 維尼
“Maybe,” he muttered. Then, it was like he got an idea, and he perked up. “Imma ask her to be my girlfriend.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokw8SLxqIj
I’m, I thought to myself. But then his words actually replayed in my head, and I realized how dumb of an idea that would be.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡICyql8aDVQ 維尼
“Don’t think that’s the best idea, Manny. Maybe try becoming friends, see if you like her, then ask her out. You don’t wanna come on too strong.” I said. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsZ8xmu3vK 維尼
Emmanuel glared at me like Evelyn would when I mentioned she shouldn’t date yet. “Don’t tell me what to do,” he said. His voice wasn’t angry or anything, but it was like he was trying to act how Eric and Evelyn did when they began arguments.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aWEvcP7SP 維尼
I shrugged. “Don’t blame me when you’re single.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuH54hhj53d
8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiQ5UfNUq0 維尼
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLh5byTSLM
Emmanuel bit back a smile, and then pushed past me as he left my room. In the process, he hit my stomach lightly and then slammed the door behind him. I chucked to myself because Emmanuel isn’t like that. It’s natural in my family to feel the need to fit in, and Emmanuel feels out of place because he never gets in fights with any of his older siblings. I heard Dad talking about it one night to Mom (not really talking, more like clamorous arguing) about how Emmanuel never fights like how Eric, Evelyn, and I do.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZKDwXR58v 維尼
I just never cared. Because the fewer siblings on my back, the better. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oijZlUjpu 維尼
⟴⬉⥦⥦⥦⬈⟴8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡke0QhPMUfm 維尼
When I arrived at Delcan’s house, I sent him a quick text, and then thought about how this would happen. I probably knew less about the entire Callie thing than their own parents did, so I don’t understand why they’d want to ask me about it. On top of that, if Delcan wasn’t a fan of the idea at all, I don’t know how it happened. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡATjnM1WHcY 維尼
But whatever the case was, I’m already in the driveway, so there’s no turning back. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlGi5MuMzo 維尼
Once I’d knocked on the door, both Mr. and Mrs. Heslop seemed to have greeted me. Delcan’s mom looked like she’d been on the computer all day, with her hair in a messy bun and an outfit that my sister wears when she’s lazy (typically, it’s Evelyn’s Saturday outfit. Or, her outfit on days she’s not allowed to play sports) but Mr. Heslop seemed like he’d just gotten home from work moments before I came here. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Er46Y4lme 維尼
I gave both of them a kind smile and kept my posture nice. If there were going to let me in, they were taking their time with it. To be honest, I wasn’t even sure what there was to even say - but I knew that there’d be no chance for stuttering, or any “I don’t know” answers. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEkYlq609L 維尼
“Come in, Ezra,” Mrs. Heslop said, his voice sounding dull. Delcan’s dad slightly had an accent, but I only hear it when he speaks Spanish (which is the same with Delcan). Mr. Heslop didn’t seem to like me at all, and I wondered if this would be how my Dad would treat Delcan and I being together.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwM8BmoKJZ 維尼
Or, it could be a lot worse.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBvENYkei6 維尼
I sat down at the dining table, where both Delcan and Callie were sitting. Callie didn’t even look up from her phone when I got situated, but Delcan did for a second, and then his amber eyes moved back down to the screen. When Mr. and Mrs. Heslop came back to the dining table, both of them sat down, and then looked at their children.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN1ulY2IGp 維尼
“Teléfonos arriba. Ahora,” he told them. And just like that, both Delcan and Callie put their phones away, sighing at the same time.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvQUF7wcMY 維尼
Callie crossed her arms over her chest, and she looked nervous. I’ve never even seen the look her eyes had, but just like her brother, she was always trying to pretend that everything was okay. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZmnQfWYQD 維尼
“Okay, Ezra,” Mrs. Heslop said to me. “Just tell us what you know, and then you can leave.” I knew she wasn’t trying to, but the way everybody was looking at me, it felt like some type of cop show or something. Like, where somebody is accused, and the cop is saying things that aren’t even true. It was how I felt right now. I’m sure that no matter what I said, there would still be another load of questions for me to answer.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGEq74YFIi 維尼
But all I needed to do was be truthful.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4HyZlQBHD 維尼
“All I know is what Callie had told Delcan about a month ago,” I said. Callie looked over to her brother, while Delcan kept his eyes on his parents' faces. “Other than that, I know nothing else.”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgXnziMsoF 維尼
Mr. Heslop nodded slowly. “Lo sé-sorry. I know, Ezra. But there’s something that neither of them will say, and we were thinking that maybe you would know. And since you spend a lot of time around here-”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyO0iM0aQJN
8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4rgdxkt7U 維尼
412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcON1EGxHs
“A lot,” Callie muttered under her breath. Delcan hit her with his elbow, and she bit back a yelp. Mrs. Heslop glared at Callie, but her look was enough for no words to even be exchanged. Slouching, Callie stopped.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A3BzZ2kzy 維尼
Mr. Heslop seemed like he was about to laugh, but I kept a straight face, and made sure I didn’t look at Delcan. “But if the two of them have told you something,” Mr. Heslop continued. “We need you to tell us now.” 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jwhOJAUqC 維尼
And then I knew what this was about. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡARf9Htc6ZU 維尼
He wanted me to sell them out.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3itsQp4Ci 維尼
He wanted me to tell him some type of secret about the whole Callie situation where I would not only be ratting out Delcan, but also his sister. That was pretty cold. But Delcan didn’t talk to me for a straight month after that, and I saw no reason why I would know any information about it. And on top of that, I couldn’t say anything, because I had no idea what Delcan and Callie had told their parents.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡcImRGfFFOv 維尼
“I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about,” I said, trying to make it seem like I’m confused. Both Mr. and Mrs. Heslop nodded before Mrs. Heslop looked over to Delcan, who seems a bit annoyed with what I said.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxqujX8hOQ 維尼
“Go on,” Mrs. Heslop said, looking at her son. “Say what you told us this morning.”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8sQNKpjWg 維尼
Delcan looked at me, and our eyes met. It wasn’t until I actually noticed that there were brown specks in his eyes that I realized he was nervous. We both looked at each other for another few seconds, and then he looked back over to his mom, while I looked down at the hand-crafted wooden table. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w6oSdw5tr 維尼
“Alright,” he said. “So Callie made a false report to the police in order to get her arrested, but she did it because of the fact that she was getting drugged, and these men in a gang were-” he paused for a moment, and I knew that he suddenly did care about what happened. Clearly, he didn’t want to say what happened to Callie, but his parents seemed to understand as he skipped that word, and kept talking. “Another person in the group told her how she could possibly get out if she made a fake call to the police, which got her arrested for her actions. She was arrested, and let out a few weeks later.” 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEauJlFbpi 維尼
Now I understood what the lie was. Mr. and Mrs. Heslop wanted me to tell them how Callie would’ve gotten out of jail so fast. But I wouldn’t tell the truth, because it wasn’t fair for me to say any of that.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5L5bQ9WxR 維尼
“What we want to know is how Callie really got out,” Mrs. Heslop said. She patted her Delcan’s shoulder as he sighed. “I love you, Delcan, but I don’t believe that remark for a second. A false report would’ve been a lot longer than that.” Once Mrs. Heslop had finished, I looked over to Callie, who had her head down.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87mv7gv2id 維尼
“I don’t know anything about that,” I lied. It’s odd that lying becomes easier the more and more you do it. “The only thing I knew was about the gang, and the drugs, and Callie calling for a false report.” Delcan looked at me the entire time I talked, which Callie would look up sometimes, but never made actual eye contact.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaBZ2LXlzD 維尼
For a moment, there was silence. And then, Mr. Heslop cleared his throat.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LCkKzz3zg 維尼
“Are you sure, Ezra?” he asked me, his eyebrows raised. He was intimidating, of course, but I’d faced people so much worse than Mr. Heslop. And he never seemed to get mad at Delcan, no matter what he did.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKJsPm6A5l 維尼
“Yes,” I said. And that kind of was the truth because I hadn’t learned about any bailing out until Delan told me about it during passing period today. “And I don’t know the name of the people in the group either.” 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡXisFCJaYAj 維尼
Mr. Heslop simply nodded and stood up from the dining table. He left the room and went up the stairs. The three of us that were left all looked at each other, but there seemed to be no words between any of us. After some time, Mrs. Heslop stood up to come after her husband. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsfFHAB9q8 維尼
But she stopped and turned to me. “Don’t take this personally, Erra,” she said, giving me a kind smile. “I’m sure your father would be the same if it was a situation with Evelyn.” And with that, she left the room.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Y6yOYQCIu 維尼
Though, what she told me, in the end, wasn’t true, at all. There were these guys in 8th grade that harassed my sister when she was in 7th, and my dad did nothing to stop any of it. He actually told Evelyn that she was a beautiful girl, and she honestly had no reason to even do good in school, because in a matter of time, she’ll have a husband who will buy her whatever she wants.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWijeEFQiX 維尼
Yeah.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXUw5g1vZT 維尼
My dad doesn’t give a crap.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MPMoUloMK 維尼
“Well,” Callie said, standing up. “That was horrible.”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUskMcOjjG 維尼
“Your face is worse,” Delcan said.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHebFjMYIh 維尼
Callie looked over to her brother, and then messed up his hair. He instantly went from chill to angry really quick, and almost turned around fast enough to slap his sister. But she pulled away just in time, laughing. “Too slow, Delcan. That’s why you’re second place.”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtKzyA579i
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“Says the girl who’s never even had a boyfriend!” Delcan called out as Callie walked up the stairs. But as she was walking back up, she turned around and looked at her brother.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡMP76Ge6mFS 維尼
“Él no cuenta como un verdadero novio,” she said in Spanish. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAoVZb3gWu 維尼
And this is when I realized the pattern between their arguments. It was always in Spanish, so I never knew what they were saying. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0KEsbiRjE 維尼
“Could you-”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3S418tuzqa
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412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqEKH7Ru4f
“Why didn’t you just tell them?” Delcan asked, making sure I wouldn’t have a clue about what they said. I hesitated for a moment before I understood what he meant.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡMP6QLuIvw5 維尼
“I didn’t think y-you actually wanted me to,” I stuttered. “I thought you didn’t want them to know. Plus, you told me you took money out of your dad’s wallet.” 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4nG1IDTTB 維尼
Delcan rolled his eyes. “He hates me enough as it is right now,” Delcan said. He didn’t collaborate on that, instead, he just half continued. “And until somebody else tells him the truth, I’m under house arrest.” 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1btmxelpB 維尼
I raised my eyebrows. “House arrest? Dang, next level.”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcZ6UPRaiV 維尼
He nodded. “Yeah,” he said, rolling his eyes. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxSkLvmqcV 維尼
“I should probably go,” I said. The entire conversation between Delcan, Callie, and his parents was just odd enough as it is, and being around Delcan alone just made me feel so much more awkward. As I stood up, I felt Delcan’s hand wrap around my arm.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXP0iEJrf6 維尼
“Wait,” he said. I turned around and looked at him. “I need your...help with something.”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwYPilHy4v 維尼
“And what would that be?”412Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp26FxQzCM
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Delcan pulled out a binder, which had papers shoved in it. Clearly, he was a bit behind on work. He looked up at me, his eyes sort of desperate. “It doesn’t make any sense,” he said, giving me one of the worksheets. It was from normal science, which I didn’t take, but I still knew it wasn’t hard at all.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fb7La6Obv 維尼
To show that I was smart, I laughed. “It’s the same at Oakwood, right?”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLX0oUIw8J 維尼
Delcan shrugged. “Yeah...but I need help,” he said. “And someone who actually understands it, not my sister.”8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWi4EI7GAV 維尼
“Your sister is pretty smart,” I guessed.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbQ169lqVr 維尼
“Oh come on, Ezra,” Delcan said. “I want you to stay, please.” I smiled and finally gave in. Sitting down next to Delcan, I moved closer to help him understand molecules. 8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iYhDEutVb 維尼
Me:8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64qCfJavwA 維尼
Hey Dad. I got caught up at the library studying, and might not be home until 9:30. I’ll work hard when I get home, though. Won’t be past curfew.8964 copyright protection408ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRinnezL36 維尼
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