All the Little Secrets

CHAPTER 29. WHERE'S MY LOVE?

Chapter 29. Where's my Love?

Monday morning comes after hours of countless nightmares, and I feel too wrecked to get out of bed. Cage tells my mom that I'm not feeling well, and she excuses me from school. When everyone leaves for the day, Cage comes into my room to say goodbye.

"I'm gonna meet up with Seth, then I'll let you know what we decide."

"Ok," my voice barely whispers, my throat swollen and raw.

Cage leans down to kiss me on my forehead.

"Get some rest. I'll make sure everything is locked up. Do not leave." Cage stays for a moment, expecting me to respond. "Promise me, Avery."

"Where am I gonna go?" Tears form in my eyes. I swallow hard. "I don't know where he is..."

"I know," Cage says, worry plastered on his face. "But we will find him."

Cage leaves my room, closing the doors behind him. I bury my face back into the same pillow that has consumed my tears these last few months and cry myself to sleep.

A few hours later, the sound of a door slam from downstairs awakens me. I glance over at my phone on the bedside table. 10:30 am. No missed messages.

Who would be here? Not my mom; she has a class at her salon from 10 to 12. Not William, he's working on a case with a famous actress and her klepto-habits. Liam? My heart begins to pound as I climb out of the bed. What if it isn't Liam... what if it's... I grab my phone and dial 911, then slip my sneakers on, just in case I need to make a run for it.

I peer out of my door as Parker climbs to the top of the stairs, tears streaming down his face. My phone goes into my pocket as I rush out to him, engulfing him in my arms.

"PJ, what happened?"

"I ruined everything," he sobs into my chest. He cries for a long period of time, and all I do is hold him, my heart aching with each sob from my little brother's mouth. He finally pulls away to go into his room. He lays down in his bed. I crawl in next to him, and we lay facing one another.

"Byron heard me tell you about Kris," Parker begins, then closes his eyes as more tears begin to spill. "He told Laney."

"That stupid jerk -" I begin, but Parker cuts me off.

"He told everyone in the hallway that I was a gay freak, and a cheater, and Laney had to hear it in front of all of her friends." Parker whimpers. "Why did he have to do that to her?"

"Why did he have to do that to you?!" I counter, anger raging in my stomach. "I thought you were becoming friends!"

"I thought so, too." Parker turns over onto his back and covers his face with his arms. "I can't go back to that school. They all hate me."

"They don't hate you, PJ. You have friends..."

"Byron's friends were my friends. Do you really think they'll be now that Byron has turned against me?"

No. Parker has a point.

I say nothing more as I listen to him cry. My little brother, the sweetest, goofiest kid in the world, hurting because he can't change who he is to fit the mold that this society wants him to be.

"You shouldn't have to suffer because of who you love."

My own words hit me in the gut as I swallow hard.

Parker reads my mind and asks, "Where's Liam been?"

"I don't know," I answer truthfully.

"Yea, I don't know where Kris is either. He left school when Laney found out. I haven't been able to talk to him."