Page 54 of Behind the Bars

Oh, also, I loveyou.

Subject: First time

That’sthe first time you’ve ever said that tome.

-Jazz

Subject: Re: First time

Iknow.

-Eli

Subject: Re: Re: First time

Elliott?

-Jazz

Subject: Re: Re: Re: First time

Yes,Jasmine?

-Eli

Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: First time

Ithinkyour voice is beautiful. Even when itshakes.

-Jazz

Also, I love you,too.

Chapter Fourteen

Elliott

“You know what happens to snitches?”Todd whispered as he walked past me, bumping into my shoulder just slightly. He’d been harassing me each day, but his harassments were much quieter now, almost as if he was afraid to get caught. It was the same with his friends, and the only thing they really called me was a snitch, because I’d gone to Mom aboutKatie.

I didn’t care, though. As long as my sister was okay, I’d take being called asnitch.

I reloaded my emails, checking to see if there was anything from Jasmine. Whenever I reloaded the page, a big knot sat in my stomach as I waited to see if she’d written meback.

When she hadn’t, I just reread her oldemails.

That was good enough forme.

On Saturday, Uncle TJ still made me go to the corner to play my music, even though I didn’t want to without Jasmine there. “Music must live on right beside the broken hearts, Elliott. If it didn’t, how would people everheal?”

I played on the corner, and everyone cheered me on as they always did, but the cheers seemed a bit quieter without her there, a bitlonelier.

Uncle TJ was right, though—music did help me. What helped even more was Mom, TJ, or Katie showing up each night for my performance. That night my sister came and cheered meon.

“You don’t have to come here, ya know,” I said as Katie kept applauding forme.

“I’m not gonna have you out here without any support, brother, and since Mom has to work and TJ is teaching tonight, I’m here. Plus, I love seeing you perform. You’re amazing, Eli.” I awkwardly smiled. Compliments were hard for me to accept sometimes. “Are you going to sit in the alleyway to listen to music?” sheasked.

“Yeah, just for a littlewhile.”

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