Page 5 of Run to Me
“But Jace didn’t do anything wrong. He was only defending himself.”
“Bullshit. He’s a psychopath who probably broke my nose,” Kyle protests.
“You’re a damn bully,” Nate says pointedly. “The only one who should be punished is you.”
“Let me handle this, and you get to class like the others,” Mr. Smith says sternly.
“But—”
“Either do as I ask or you’ll be coming to the principal’s office too.” Nate shoots me an apologetic look and I smile to let him know it’s okay. Seems to be what people do when they want to make another person feel better. It didn’t work on me until him.
“Go.” Mr. Smith rests his hands on his hips, his expression hard.
Without another word, Nate heads to class, unable to stop looking back at me until he disappears down the hall.
“Come on you two.” Mr. Smith waits for us to start walking before he trails behind us. We pick up our pace down the stairs, but my steps slow the closer we get to the front office. Mr. Smith opens the door and only has to give us a look to get us moving again. He tells us to take a seat while he speaks to the principal, and Mrs. Keeley emerges minutes later looking disappointed. “You two again. What happened this time?”
“This freak threatened to kill me and my friends during lunch hour,” Kyle lies.
“I never even saw you during lunch hour,” I shoot back. “I was eating with Nate in the courtyard and didn’t see Kyle until we were on our way to class. He attacked us first.”
“Is this true, Mr. Johnson?”
“No,” he says firmly with a gleam in his eye. I really don’t like this guy.
“Sometimes you have to fight to remain the one in control. If you don’t take them down, they’ll take you down.”
I resist the urge to pound my dad’s word from my head. They come to me every time I’m scared. I used to cling to them as a lifeline, and I feel like I still do in unexpected situations. They happen so fast and I react on instinct—the one thing I’ve used to protect myself this whole time.
“He’s lying,” I say. “He approached us in the hall, telling us we should do the school a favor and leave, then shoved Nate when we tried to ignore him.”
“Come on, Mrs. Keeley. You can’t possibly believe this criminal over me. Look what he did to my nose.”
She sighs, pinching between her brows. “I’ll be calling both your parents today, and I want you both to attend detention for the week.”
“What?” Kyle’s muscles bulge in his face. “You can’t be serious.”
“Yes, and if you keep lashing out, Mr. Johnson, I’ll make it two weeks. Head to the nurse’s office and have her look at your nose. Maybe she can get you some ice too. And Mr. Thompson.” her heavy gaze lands on me. “Go on and head to class.”
Kyle huffs in annoyance and I quietly grab my backpack, doing as she asks. The rest of the day drags out, especially when I finally reach detention. At least being quiet and listening to instructions has never been a problem for me. Kyle keeps trying to pull his phone out when he thinks no one’s looking, eventually getting it taken away. His nose didn’t end up being broken, only bruised, and while he holds a bag of ice to his face, I focus on the paper they’re making us write. I don’t put my pencil down until it’s time to leave. Kyle, being the asshole he is, slams his shoulder into mine as soon as we’re outside the classroom, flipping me the bird. “You better watch yourself, freak.”
Clenching my fists at my side, I inhale deeply and then exhale, reminding myself he isn’t worth it, and my anger diminishes when Nate comes around the corner, rushing my way. He takes me in his arms. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” he says. “Want to take the bus home with me? I think it’s better not to deal with mom and dad until we have to. The next one will be here in fifteen minutes.” He steps back a little, his blue eyes catching the light from a nearby window and I no longer have to remind myself of anything.
“Yeah. Let’s go home.” Maybe if I say it enough, it’ll eventually feel that way. When Nate takes my hand and guides me outside, I’m given hope that anything is possible.
Three
Jace
Sixteen years old
Today is my birthday and Nate’s made sure to remind me all week. Mom gave me the option of either a party or fancy dinner. I chose dinner. In order to have a party, you need friends to invite, and the only one I have is my brother. The title’s become easier to use the more we’ve spent time together. I’ve defended him at school and he’s defended me at home, constantly coming to my rescue. Nate’s made it easier to be here. Easier to breathe. I’m never too quiet for him, too awkward or weird. He doesn’t see me for all the mistakes I’ve made.
Last year, when Nate handed me a cupcake, I crushed it between my fingers without thinking, going from smiling to fuming with anger in an instant. Instead of getting mad, he rested a hand on my shoulder and said,“You don’t like cupcakes for your birthday.”It was a statement, not a question. He automatically added to my “don’t like”list whenever I reacted badly to something, and waited until I was ready to tell him why instead of forcing the answers out of me like everyone else.Unlike my mom, Nate took the time to understand me and help me understand myself.
“I think you’re going to love this gift better than last year’s,” Nate says, interrupting my thoughts as he makes himself comfortable on my bed. Leaning against my dresser, I smirk his way. “Oh yeah?”
“Yup. But I’ve decided to give it to you later instead of at dinner.”
