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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5otjQSlLV1
After another three minutes, I just decided to text Evelyn. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkSsnL2XKL
Me:copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vzIBBEjrr
Evelyn, where are you? copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wPyPGrbrm
In less than a few minutes, she responded.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiG5L3QN1A
Evelyn G.:copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡz968SHKw1b
Think Mom and Dad would be mad if I spent some time at a friends house?copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6HNFxu6JV
I’d be back before dinner ended. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWea1ZdRMf
Me:copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmpyuhgfOh
Depends...who is the gender of this friend, do I know them, and what’s their full name?copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMn8A3G4ap
Evelyn G.:copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDmeNne1f1
Jesus...when did I get a third parent?copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHnGgRYw7M
Me:copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyycH8focp
Answer the questions, then you’re off the hook. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc3aqQxFSM
Evelyn G.:copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9u3PLVNi2
You’re ridiculous. 38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrhLhDjwt8
copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6A8iihyGt
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuG1E7RcMJ
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsTuvIfrwx
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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6E4fXmwv3
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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0txGucNloA
Me:copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5o2YSyH7Ze
Probably not the best idea. I’m not the adult in the house, anyways.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtkkxAhU7M
Evelyn G.: copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7fvNJHB56
I knew that you never trusted me.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbueamMRuM
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?copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5afquN1LI8
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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGfNc3xUFD
After a few rings, he finally answered.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QOv4YSRQn
“Hello?” he whispered.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWxUn2IoNq
“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). copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm7MajPHeu
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.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqugWlSd6QV
“Because that’s believable,” I said sarcastically.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfl9Lq8DiY
“Bye, Ezra.” copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WVzQiByGp
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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdL7ZVrPDF
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYUF7G5gkn
“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.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eXZPXs2hL
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUydbjvPC1j
copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡflkaUasvJ9
“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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJmGQlBhbf
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.” copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡWudRalxfBS
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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQdX188tDS
“Where were you two?” my younger brother asked, pulling away from me. “And where is Eric?” copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyBZfrlQJw
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6G1jxbE5rg
“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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡX47b28jaCX
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fvEeK6ABQ
“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.”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hw814kG9L
She raised her eyebrow, this time. “For..?”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7Q3iSbC3N
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?”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡz634LiPSSr
Evelyn sat up, her smirk seeming like it was a challenge. “And if I say no?”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡI09e8aitRs
“You wouldn’t.”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNz5RSY3u1
“Try me,” she challenged.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡR38U8UcYM4
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.”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡpv4zJdK2HB
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWo41fXZis
It wasn’t shocking that they weren’t together.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19va4E5gCS
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2nqB7El9l
“Hi sweetheart,” she said. “What is it?”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEhlJjBGiU
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8k4Ev8jAoV
“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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKYPaAWOW6
“So if he doesn’t open the door..?” I asked.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SKqeuJPa2
Mom shrugged, her dirty blonde hair bouncing off her shoulder. “Then I’ll tell him at dinner. Want me to save anything for you?”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjnOXSWgsl
“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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡcU5bKfLH3H
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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdAyEO2nEd
“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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡqowNduGaL8
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX3B8OQUvU
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj8cRM1UaG
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A5Eoi84sT
“Whatcha doing?” I asked him.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYRhz05qUB
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwUtIMfKHq
“How was school today?” I asked.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP1vtpNCug
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIen0Nn5ei
“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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzOB2xoih6
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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHVKcpa01E
At least he wasn’t ashamed of who he liked.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxnuVnijtw
“Do you like her?” I asked him. Though I knew the answer, it was funny to see his cheeks turn red.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡBa5qM8Xbrf
“Maybe,” he muttered. Then, it was like he got an idea, and he perked up. “Imma ask her to be my girlfriend.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsN1o9TBfK
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaWcU9B4aD
“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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqb7V6udpX
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡK18PrUYp5q
I shrugged. “Don’t blame me when you’re single.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoYvnOtPQK
copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnABzvLbAV
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLjPXCkMfl
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkm0rh6Vvw
I just never cared. Because the fewer siblings on my back, the better. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfy25ZW3p2
⟴⬉⥦⥦⥦⬈⟴copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3q4FZArba
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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0uI0W07Sv
But whatever the case was, I’m already in the driveway, so there’s no turning back. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡELKcOPcLTB
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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnFesle2Mp
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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9qISrESzw
“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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡndi8q6YCRS
Or, it could be a lot worse.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFgTTIe7L0
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYaXG2olUX
“Teléfonos arriba. Ahora,” he told them. And just like that, both Delcan and Callie put their phones away, sighing at the same time.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡRibarBgpe7
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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡisNylGgzO2
“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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡAl0KiHMH3H
But all I needed to do was be truthful.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUZQ4rslQG
“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.”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡt88gHtWX3L
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-”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50NS1c1VOh
copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E61opIb6M
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmFDR2slSi
“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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMGSCLk57a
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.” copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAjUQ0oNYs
And then I knew what this was about. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZ6F0v4JGb
He wanted me to sell them out.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzXcsAXMF4
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrFhmviKjh
“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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRgjwgOBZv
“Go on,” Mrs. Heslop said, looking at her son. “Say what you told us this morning.”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu5JGxjEkZ
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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡJirozNUSyd
“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.” copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L5q4CGTdG
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0auJR23wm
“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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fEuDehx7P
“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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgAQGFsnyG
For a moment, there was silence. And then, Mr. Heslop cleared his throat.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XGerp5ttB
“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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwRv0vKi3R
“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.” copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7O7IEOn7bW
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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfTttlTzPn
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGU2bUyWdB
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkqV25KqcW
Yeah.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0bguFCoes
My dad doesn’t give a crap.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq8FtkA1gN
“Well,” Callie said, standing up. “That was horrible.”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡD383Yb8IBl
“Your face is worse,” Delcan said.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYlQfPvReK
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.”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5u3pk01FNg
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38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SgOKi1MdP
“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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i5bl3mtMY
“Él no cuenta como un verdadero novio,” she said in Spanish. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrWahb0M3e
And this is when I realized the pattern between their arguments. It was always in Spanish, so I never knew what they were saying. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmeHOTkA8Z
“Could you-”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TbJw3MZoE
copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbhHnDLJ7y
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhu9lTumV99
“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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVZF6hQ64U
“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.” copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBgzi5sDFB
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.” copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡChMUZayKUF
I raised my eyebrows. “House arrest? Dang, next level.”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCBihHz8OD
He nodded. “Yeah,” he said, rolling his eyes. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29ejIxoaa4
“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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNmyHlIf6C
“Wait,” he said. I turned around and looked at him. “I need your...help with something.”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpfwHwdhF1
“And what would that be?”38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡca1tYML0zZ
copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHa91SHp3R
38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCS1mp48ot
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOEQmmc5Ci
To show that I was smart, I laughed. “It’s the same at Oakwood, right?”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxHX3ouhG9
Delcan shrugged. “Yeah...but I need help,” he said. “And someone who actually understands it, not my sister.”copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBRtKSmrip
“Your sister is pretty smart,” I guessed.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMdXDAkPGW
“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. copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ouPmxeQPU
Me:copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08vRBgKYI2
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.copyright protection34ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1PBZtckjS
ns54.162.151.77da2
