Page 131 of Hits Different

“Your father’s constituents deserve the full story, Brandon”.

“And what about the person telling that story?” My eyes narrow. “Does the public have a right to know about the morals of the person they’re trusting to deliver the news?”

“I’m not the story here. No journalist is”, Crawley gestures to his colleagues, most of whom avoid making eye contact. “And I think you’re a smart enough kid to realise that, aren’t you, Brandon?”

My dad takes a step forward, but I cut in quickly, “It’s funny, you keep sayingBrandonin such a way that implies we’re friends. Do you remember when we first met?”

“I’d imagine it was at one of your family’s press events”.

“How old would you say that I was?”

“Seventeen, perhaps”.

“Fourteen”.

“Okay, fourteen”, Crawley shrugs. “I don’t see how it matters”.

“And do you remember how old I was when you got me alone?” There’s a stunned silence. A few people lean in. “Because I remember”.

“What? I didn’t—this is outrageous!” Crawley spits, “I’ve never been involved in anything like that”.

“Like what?” I ask, injecting just the right tone of bewilderment into my voice.

“Like being alone with a minor!”

“I didn’t say it was sexual. Your mind went there, not mine”. I take a deep breath. “But I was a minor when you found me after school, surrounded me, and asked intrusive and invasive questions about my parent’s marriage”.

He colours. “I don’t remember that”.

“I was a little boy. In my school, where I should have been safe. And you found me. And you waited for me. And you shoved your camera in my face. And I told you to stop, and you kept doing it”.

“It was national news”.

“It was when you ran it under an exclusive the following day”. I suck in air sharply. “What the hell kind of person does that?”

“Brandon, I don’t think you understand…”

“No,youdon’t understand”. I cut him off cleanly, “You’ve had a target on me for years. You've followed me. Told lies about me. Published crappy supposed tell-all books that read like they’re written by a sixth grader, apologies to your ghost writer— about my family. You've paid for pictures of me. All just to get my attention. Congratulations”. I gesture to the cameras, and he blinks, as if noticing them for the first time. “You now have it. What are you going to do with it?”

“You’re obviously upset”, Crawley holds his hands up, “This is a difficult day for you”.

“No, it’s a difficult day foryou. And once this airs, it’ll probably get worse”, I raise my voice a little, just to make sure everyone can hear me. “You’re a journalist. You have every right to hold public figures accountable. But you also have a responsibility to your readers. To set a standard. And as much as you have levelled accusations at my mother, my father, and me, for the last decade, you’re just as bad, if not worse”.

“Why don’t we talk about this privately?”

“I’ve waited ten years to say this to you. Stay the hell away from me, my family, and the people I care about”. I pause, letting my voice resound firmly. Parker gives me a ‘killing it’ fist pump. “Or I’ll do to you to what you’ve done to me. You understand?”

He nods, red and chastened.

“Call off the dogs”. I lean forward and fix him with a hard stare. “Hunting season on my family is officially over”.

Crawley turns a funny shade of purple, before gathering his papers and storming out. His assistant pulls at his sleeve, but he waves her off. A moment later, he is gone, the door slamming decisively behind him.

I lean forward on the podium. “I hope you guys got all got that. A few break out into smiles. “Great. It’s been a blast”, I wave, “See you around”.

“One final question, Brandon?” It’s Corey Bellinger, a reporter in his late twenties. He’s got a hungry look in his eye. My heart sinks. I guess I had this coming. I opened the door. Now I’m going to get the Brad Fleming treatment. “If you think you can top that, Corey, go right ahead”.

“I’ll try my best. Everyone wants to know”, Corey pauses. There’s an expectant hush in the room. “Are you heading back to the Wolves next semester, and if so, how do you rate your chances in the league?”

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