Page 32 of Tears and Other Fears

Mrs. Youngblood grabbed my arm, wordlessly instructing me to leave after her ominous threat, but I couldn’t just let that be it. My mouth opened, and the old me barreled out. “If it’s any consolation, I really enjoyed the pornographic photos. Your wife is an enthusiastic lover. You must be so proud.”

Mrs. Youngblood went rigid, and I realized that Young hadn’t told his parents everything after all. President Robinson seemed to finally recognize me then. He was too caught up in his ego before, but now his attention was focused on me. “Y-You! I told you that you were banned from campus. I thought you were institutionalized. You can’t be here.” His face turned an angry shade of red, and I enjoyed the way he clenched his fists.

I was feeling more and more like myself despite the gloom still bottled up in my chest. Maybe the cure for my mind wasn’t pills. Maybe it was power. “Octavia has our family’s support. She was wrongly committed, and my oldest son assisted in getting her out. If I hear that you played any part in sending this grieving sister away, I will end you,” Mrs. Youngblood said while wrapping her limber arm around my shoulders.

Emotion clogged my throat at her tenderness. I didn’t understand how a woman I’d just met could be so supportive of me when my own parents and Noah blindly sent me away. Tears shone in my eyes, but I forced them to evaporate. “I had nothing to do with her medical condition. She’s a liability, Mrs. Youngblood. If this is who you’re choosing to align yourself with, then I wish you luck. The Wilsons were a mistake and have brought nothing but trouble to this campus.”

I wanted to reach out and grab him by the balls and squeeze until he bled. “William was too good for your school, and you know it. I bet you knew Samuel Smith was the one to give him tainted drugs. It’s bad for a school’s reputation to have dealers on your campus, isn’t it?”

President Robinson’s eyes widened, and Mrs. Robinson took a step back, eyeing a taxi in the distance. “If you show up at my graduation, I will have you forcibly removed,” he growled at me before turning to Mrs. Youngblood. “I do hope you enjoy the ceremony, Corinne.”

“We won’t be attending,” Young’s voice boomed at my back, and I found myself taking a step backward and relaxing against his broad chest.

Mrs. Youngblood squeezed her eyes shut, then straightened her spine. “These things are boring anyway. Good day, President Robinson. Hope you can find another student to give a speech last minute. If anyone asks, the Youngbloods have rescinded all support of your institution.”

Both Young and his mother grabbed my arms and yanked me back towards the street, where Mr. Youngblood was talking on his phone. At the sight of us, he hung up and took in our expressions. “Did you cause trouble again, Corinne?” he asked in an exasperated voice, but there was a smile on his face, like he was expecting this sort of thing. Interesting. Very, interesting.

“I had a partner in crime,” she winked while elbowing me. “I think this graduation is overrated. Let’s go grab lunch instead. We have the issue of incriminating photos to discuss.”

Mr. Youngblood rolled his eyes and pocketed his cell. “Lord have mercy, you all will be the death of me.”

“It doesn’t show Nathaniel’s face. I made sure to keep his identity secret,” I piped in.

“Youphotographedit?” she asked.

“Well, yeah, I needed the blackmail,” I replied, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. I wasn’t sure if I was letting my true self shine because I was self-sabotaging again or because I felt comfortable around the Youngbloods. More so, I didn’t know which was worse.

“I like this one, Nathaniel,” Mrs. Youngblood replied, shocking me even more.

“I’ll call my public relations rep,” Mr. Youngblood added.

For possibly the first time in my life, I found myself rendered speechless.

After calling a limo up, Young and I loitered outside while his parents spoke. “Are you mad you’re missing graduation?” I asked.

Young smiled at me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Are you kidding? Public speaking and a three hour long ceremony isn’t exactly my idea of fun. Once again, you’re coming to my rescue, Octavia.”

“I’m not sure I would call it saving. I can’t believe you told your parents. Why didn’t you tell them before?” I asked. If they were so supportive, why wait? He could have avoided all of this.

“My parents are used to sweeping in and saving the day. I don’t know. I was worried if I admitted what I did—stealing the tests and sleeping with Mrs. Robinson to save Samuel—they would have blamed him. I still…cared about my best friend, you know?”

No. I didn’t know. I didn’t understand how he could have willingly supported Samuel to his own detriment, but that’s just who Young was. A martyr. A foolish, handsome, shy martyr. “If I had parents like yours, this entire thing would have been so much easier,” I gritted, thinking back to my stupid mother and Liam.

“Well, now you do. They’re in your corner, Octavia. We all are. You don’t have to do this alone anymore.”

I let his words burrow themselves beneath my skin. “You don’t think it’s weird, though? I mean, you should have taken a psychology course. This has Freud written all over it.”

His face scrunched up in confusion. “I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”

I smiled. “Your mother and I are very similar. You’re dating your mother, Young. The way she handled the President? That was so classically Octavia.”

Young tipped his head back and laughed before placing a hand at my back and leading me towards the parked limo. His parents had already settled in the back seat. “Maybe it’s prepared me for how to handle you.”

“I don’t need to be handled, Young.”

“That’s something my mother would say.” He then paused and cupped my cheeks, those dark eyes burning bright as he spoke. “You admitted it. You said we’re dating. Don’t you dare take it back now.”

I opened and closed my mouth, not sure what to say. Yeah, I guess I did.

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