Page 130 of Still Bruised
Foster shook his head.
“That wasn’t the worst, though. The worst was the notes they slipped under their front door threatening to kill him.”
“Jesus Christ.”Foster’s jaw dropped. “I didn’t know about all of that. Definitely not the threats. I remember a bunch of people were called to the office and interviewed. I saw cops around that day. No one would talk after—wasthatwhat it was about?”
“The cops came out a couple of times about this,” Anton said. “The policeandthe superintendent of schools interviewed multiple students over the course of a couple of weeks. Not one of them cracked. It was our word against half the school.” Hepaused. “By our word, I mean Jude, me, and Roan—because you weren’t around.”
Foster’s jaw set.
“Jude’s dad had a security camera, but the resolution was shit back then, especially in the dark, so they couldn’t tell who was delivering the threats or vandalizing their place. Rick and his friends always had an alibi when that shit went down, too. Rick had the cops half convinced we were making it all up—or doing it ourselves—in a smear campaign against him. He told them Jude had a crush on him and that he’d rejected him in the locker room. He said Jude had shoved a hand downhispants. By Christmas, they were treating Jude like the accused instead of the victim.”
Foster’s stomach turned. “I had no idea.”
“Yeah. Ibetyou didn’t.”
Foster ignored the comment. Anton was baiting him, and he wasn’t taking it. “Jude was eighteen. Why didn’t he just quit sooner instead of sticking it out?”
“He wanted to—from day one—but his dad laid a guilt trip on him.I promised your mother on her deathbed that I would make sure you crossed that stage.He begged Jude not to quit—but in his defense, I don’t think he understood just how bad it was. Jude loved his dad. He was a good guy and didn’t want to disappoint. As the torture escalated, he didn’t tell his dad how bad it had gotten. Not until the vandalism forced him to. After that, his dad pulled Jude out of school himself. But it was too late. The damage had been done. The threats continued showing up under the door, even after he’d quit. He didn’t feel safe anywhere, not even his own home.”
Silence fell for a few seconds.
Foster fought a wave of nausea. He’d known it was bad, but he’d had no clue the torment Jude had experienced. It had been a living nightmare.
“I thought I understood why he was angry with me,” Foster said. “But now… I don’t get how he doesn’t loathe me.”
Anton searched his face but said nothing.
Foster shoved a hand through his hair, his mind reeling. No wonder Jude had been cold and distant, especially in the beginning.
No wonder why he’d fought his feelings so hard. It was a minor miracle he’d developed feelings at all.
“It couldn’t have been easy watching me avoid the same suffering. It wasn’t fair.”
Anton’s eyes narrowed. “Whydidn’tRick go after you?”
“I have no idea,” Foster replied.
“None?”Anton asked, his tone one of disbelief.
Foster captured Anton’s gaze.“None.”
Anton was quiet a few seconds. “Your best friend caught you both, but he covered for you. It made me wonder if you were in on it.”
“I wasn’t in onanything,”Foster spat, eyes wide. “And Rick wasn’t my best friend. He was barely even a friend. We were teammates and nothing more. Ihatedthat motherfucker.” He hated Rick even more after hearing exactly what he’d done toJude. He clenched his fists, wishing Rick was there to vent his anger on.
“You don’t know how badly I wanted to out you to take some of the heat off Jude. He wouldn’t let me.”
“I almost wish you had,” Foster said.
Anton frowned.
“If it would’ve made his life easier… I wish you had.”
Anton searched his face for a few seconds. His brows smoothed a bit. “I saw you pining for him across the dance floor on Halloween.”
Foster lowered his head.
“You looked miserable.”
