Page 75 of Fast Break
“You’ll look after him?” Trey cuts in, eyeballing me. He is clearly as worried about his cousin as I am, and I appreciate that more than he can know.
“I’ve got him,” I assure Trey. He just nods at me, the significance of the moment not lost on me. He’s giving me the reins to his cousin, a role he has always held in the past but one I now want more than anything. He’s mine to take care of now.
Trey squeezes JT’s shoulder and then leaves us alone, back in our own little world that is interrupted once again when Mr Peters comes into view.
“JT. I didn’t see you in class,” Mr Peters says, eyes dipping down to where I am still clasping onto JT’s hand. Confusion marks his face before it is replaced with understanding as he looks back up at JT.
“I’m sorry. I had a … family issue,” JT replies. The dark circles under his eyes confirm his words and I want to burn something down to remove those marks from his flawless face.
“Ah, I see,” Mr Peters says, glancing between the two of us. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“I will.”
“The school has a counselling service too, don’t forget,” he adds just as he’s about to leave.
“I know. Thank you, sir,” JT replies.
We watch as Mr Peters leaves us in the corridor, alone now that next class has started.
“He may have a point about the counselling service you know,” I add gently. I know I haven’t lived JT’s life, but I can only imagine how hard this must be for him, trying to unlearn a whole heap of ingrained value systems. “It might be good for you.”
“Maybe,” JT agrees softly. “I just need you right now.”
“That, I can give you,” I promise, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice. JT threads our fingers together and he feels so right being there, his hand tight in mine. I give it a little tug as we fall into step beside each other.
It’s good being a senior because nobody questions us as we head for the student carpark, no words spoken between us as I open the door for JT before buckling into the driver’s seat.
I don’t have a plan, but I find myself heading towards our duck pond and JT seems to be happy with that as he chews on his bottom lip beside me. We make the walk through the forest to the pond, his hand still clasped tightly in mine.
There are a few other people out on the trail on this nice Monday morning, families of pre-school children and a few older couples who say a cheery hello as we walk past them.
JT sinks onto the grass as soon as we make it to our usual spot, and I am right there beside him. I wait for him to speak, and he finally tells me everything that happened with his parents last night. I am left feeling both indignant and furious on my boyfriend’s behalf, but I keep my emotions in check. The last thing he needs is me adding to the drama so I let him speak, not saying a word until he finishes with this morning’s talk and the tentative agreement they reached.
I kiss the part of his neck just above his school shirt, needing to ground myself before I do something stupid.
“Are you really okay with this, JT?” I ask, laying my arm across his shoulder and pulling him against me. He comes easily, laying his head on my shoulder.
“I know it seems like I’m accepting scraps from them, but I honestly expected them to tell me to start packing this morning,” he tells me. “So this, in comparison, is more than I expected.”
“Okay,” I reply, running my hand up his arm. “As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters. That’s all I care about.”
“I just … I wanted to jump out my window last night and run to you,” he says in a quiet voice. “I thought I was going to end up with no family.”
“You’ll always have a place with me,” I promise him. He doesn’t reply but he burrows further into my neck, and I let him, loving the feel of him beside me like this.
We sit like that for a while, just the sound of the ducks quacking to keep us company. JT lets out a sigh and then lays on his back, pulling me down with him. He looks at me, that smile I love so much back on his face.
“I must be a bad influence on you,” he says. “Ditching school, Quinn Dayton. I don’t even know you right now.”
“You are a terrible influence on me,” I agree. “But I’d ditch the rest of the year for you if you needed me.”
JT sighs, a soft smile on his face. “There you go being a perfect boyfriend again.” He props himself up on his elbow, free hand coming down to play with my tie. “We should go back to your place,” he hints, eyebrow raised suggestively.
“Whatever for?” I reply.
“You know what for,” he grins, leaning down to press a kiss to my neck.
“As much as I love where your mind is at, my mum has her rostered day off today and I’m pretty sure she’ll disagree that midday sex is a sufficient reason for ditching school.”
